Caiman+Gator v Benchmark DAC1 - initial impressions

[HighFidelityGuy]

Very interesting, thanks Steve.
Have you done any other mods to your Caiman or is it stock other than the Gator board?

[worrasf]

Thanks Dave,
No - stock Gator board - used the opamp from the original pcb although just purchased an AD826 from Stan as I'm likely to use the headphones on the DAC more now.

Having chatted with Stan my comments about it being a bit "bass light" compared to the Benchmark are almost certainly due to it still being new and needing some burn-in time.

Had a cheeky thought though - having removed the "void if warranty removed" sticker on one of the case screws I suppose my warranty has been Gatored

Regards
Steve

[Covenant]

The other Caimen mods that Dave referred to are well worth considering. I have had many of the caps in mine replaced and fitted the Murata regulators. A 15v linear supply with Super Teddy regulator completes the picture.
It does sound rather good ATM.
The only thing thats worrying me is if Stans new dac will be compatible with my PSU. In other words, I would like Stan to make it 15v as standard!

[worrasf]

The other Caimen mods that Dave referred to are well worth considering. I have had many of the caps in mine replaced and fitted the Murata regulators. A 15v linear supply with Super Teddy regulator completes the picture.
It does sound rather good ATM.
The only thing thats worrying me is if Stans new dac will be compatible with my PSU. In other words, I would like Stan to make it 15v as standard!

Revealing my thickness to one and all what's the nominal voltage of the Caiman? I ask because it may be that one of the Teddy PSU's will fiit the bill - I'm awaiting Mark Bartlett at Audiocom to return my Wadia 170i after a full upgrade and a TeddyDock PSU and so if one of the other Teddy PSU's is the right voltage I might get one at the same time.

Steve

[Reid Malenfant]

15V DC input

There are two internal regulators, one is 12V DC & the other 5V DC

[worrasf]

Thank you

[MartinT]

15V DC input

There are two internal regulators, one is 12V DC & the other 5V DC

As I remember it, the original op-amp reg was 10V. Replace them with high quality 12V and 5V regs of your choosing (I use the Dexa New ClassD regs), replace the reservoir cap with a fast poly and you can push the input voltage to 16V as I do.

[StanleyB]

As I remember it, the original op-amp reg was 10V.

That's the TC-7520. The Caiman uses a 12V reg.

[MartinT]

"void if warranty removed"

An interesting concept