Hands down, the transformer upgrade. My brother brought over his DAC without the mod and the difference was pretty dramatic. My brother said sound like a different DAC!!. His DAC sounds more washed out in comparison. The Farad EtherRegen mod is also a nice upgrade almost as much as the Farad on the Matrix Mod. Just a bit clearer sounding with the mods, but not quite as much as the Transformer mod. It’s really not much of a deal to remove the card and send it. PM @wctaudio. It is worth your trouble.
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I don’t have the 4 screws required to lift the top cover. Do you have suggestion? Thanks.
Just go to a hardware store and get at least 4 pieces 4/40 tread size 2 inch long.
They don’t even have to be all thread, regular machine screws will work. Just unscrew it when the top is away from the chasis. Check this out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR_PFNuyc_k
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If you are opening your DAC for the first time, you should consider upgrading the fuse also. You’ll be surprise, a better fuse also helps the sound.
You don’t need the all thread to remove the cover. You can take out the four screws and use a suction cup device like these on Amazon. [YuanHongLife Heavy Duty Suction Cups, Screen Replacement Repair Tool Kit, Screen Removal Tool, Screen Opening Tool for iPhone, iMac, Phone, Computer, iPad, Laptop, MacBook, LCD, Etc,-2 PCS Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TN6JZZL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_VHXMJXBSQP8APJJ9JDFZ](YuanHongLife Heavy Duty Suction Cups, Screen Replacement Repair Tool Kit, Screen Removal Tool, Screen Opening Tool for iPhone, iMac, Phone, Computer, iPad, Laptop, MacBook, LCD, Etc,-2 PCS Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TN6JZZL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_VHXMJXBSQP8APJJ9JDFZ)
Oh wait, never mind.
Sorry I just noticed it was in the Matrix thread! Sorry everyone that was intended for the modding DSD thread!
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@tedsmith:
" I do list a number of possible mods which are reasonably cost effective and will increase sound quality."
Where is the list ?
I’ve compared the DS with the Mola Mola Tambaqui and I’m sure you understand why I’d like to upgrade the DS.
In various posts on threads about modding. Often there are more details in the smaller posts following the big ones.
In general I used the best available parts I could find so surface mount caps, resistors, etc. are unlikely to be a revolutionary change. The regulators on the analog card are discrete so they can’t be simply replaced, there isn’t any wire in the audio path to upgrade, there aren’t better opamps for the purpose (that will work with the current available), as I mention in the earlier post, using non-surface mount replacements is a bad idea so Jupiter caps, naked Vishays, Caddock resistors, etc. are a bad idea. There are already film caps for audio, NP0/C0G where appropriate, bypassing in the places that it will help, low tempco 0.1% oversized thin film resistors all over the place…
The low hanging fruit is the XS4400 output transformers (there are already separate mounting holes for it), replacing the entire analog power supply with whatever level of supply you like (12V, 1A), RF/EMI shielding (especially the screen and/or the Bridge), but be careful to not short anything and test to see if the shielding interferes with the audio output transformers, HEXFREDs or other quick recovery diodes in the main power supply, remove the Bridge if you aren’t using it, some have replaced the output RCA connectors, but that sounds like a lot of work, just using the XLR connectors instead is probably better anyway, some have used ECT thingys, …
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@tedsmith Thanks a lot. As a newcomer, just imagine if I try to read all threads about modding. I become a paracetamol addict.
In a summary : XS4400 and then just keep enjoying the music
Parts from Digi Key to build harness for external DC psu
@tedsmith , I was wrong : the upgrade was for a Perfectwave DAC, not a DS.
I can’t : I’ve lost the blank panel 
PSA will send you one. They did for me NP.
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Thanx, but I live in Europe
gaffa tape across the slot 
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You can remove the panel from the Bridge II and re-attach it to the DSD. You’ll only have the small square hole left from where the Ethernet socket passed through. Not a good solution if you want to sell your Bridge II however…
I would prefer to be able to resell the DSD with the bridge II when the DSD III will be available in a few months or even the bridge II now whil it’s worth around $350-400. $350 for a blank panel is quite a lot.