Just put electrical tape over the open slot or try the PCI slot cover from a desktop computer.
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Does anyone realize that with this unexpected ideas you are ruining my chance to get a blank plate ? Thanks Folks, thatās all. Case dismissed
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@jamesh - send āem a blank plate man 
(edit - please)
After reading this long thread, the Sunlight, the Matrix and ER threads, I plan to do the transformer upgrade next.
For those who have upgraded/added all or some of the following into your system:
A. Sunlight (from Windom)
B. Edcor 4400 Transformer Upgrade
C. DS Sr Analog LPS upgrade
D. Matrix/I2S with external LPS
E. EtherRegen w/ LPS (like Farad, Sbooster, etcā¦)
F. EtherRegen w/stock PS
How would you grade/rank perceived improvement in SQ from #1 to #6, with #1 the highest?
For me I have auditioned A, D, E, F so I would rank: #1 A #2 D #3 E #4 F
I assume you canāt compare one set of upgrades to another set, or one upgrade might result in worse SQ when you added another on top, but may be you would be able to gauge which ordered list would yield most improved SQ in your system/setup.
Hope this makes sense. Thanks for any input.
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I rank only three complete. B.A.D. Iād say 25, 15 and 8 for percenr improvement. Matrix needs a good USB, LPS, and HDMI to get out of single digits.
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Completely agree with @Vmax
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This is a nice idea, to rank some of the best sounding changes.
I agree with Vmaxās top ranking of B and then A.
I donāt have a matrix but will do the psu upgrade soon. I also like the USBe Perfect which makes a very nice improvement in my system, maybe the same amount as the Matrix.
@tedsmith
Iāll start the mod path during the next weeks and found a modding expert who also works for a few high end companies.
I now would like to check maybe a few topics heāll address with you if thatās okā¦the first is he says why use the Edcor 4400, there are better ones (he mentioned lundahl, no clue if Jensen is generally even better) with better bandwidth, the non pin compatibility with the board would be no problem for him.
Was there any other reason not to take an even better one than the Edcor except size, pin compatibility which is easier to solder for the less experienced and price? Any other technical,spec to consider?
Thanks!
there is a reason for limited bandwidth transformer - itās working like a low pass filter for DS
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So if thereās a better transformer with just 60 MHz bandwidth (in case that is possible), that would be fine?
I found this from Ted, but the question ramains, if thereās any better one if oneās willing to find a way for the non pin compatibility.
The leakage inductance of the transformer is a part of the output filter. The lower leakage of a better transformer isnāt necessarily good. There is a physical space problem when changing transformers. I donāt believe that any Jensen transformer will directly fit. Some might with a klugy mounting system. The Edcor 4400 (https://www.edcorusa.com/xs4400 ) is a pin compatible but better transformer which fits the space. I havenāt tried it, but it was one of the transformers that the DS was originally designed to accommodate.
The circuit board already has the holes in it for the XS4400. As was mentioned the transformer is a part of the analog output filter, but itās the transformerās leakage inductance that matters more. If you want the 20dB attenuator to work correctly the transformer canāt filter the top end down into the audio band when itās loaded with 15 Ohms on each phase. I like high quality Jensen transformers, but the DS was designed for the two Edcor transformers and itās quite unlikely you can find a transformer with the same quality that will physically fit in the space provided and have the other features needed. Basically too good of a transformer will be a problem in that it will let too much ultrasonic noise thru.
You may or may not like other transformers, I can say that the XS4400 is an improvement over the stock transformer and the DS was designed to work with both the XS4400 and with the stock transformers.
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Thanks, thatās convincing finally!
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Waiting for my XS4400 transformers. Makes me a little nervous going under the hood of an expensive piece of equipment to make a modification, but I trust Tedās advice. Will hire a professional to do the job. Iāve already changed the fuse in the unit (can open the box again). Wish me luck!
Count me as yet another very satisfied customer of @wctaudio. Turnaround was one day and the DAC has never sounded as good as it now does with the XS4400 transformers (and thatās without any real break-in time, if itās needed). He is a real gentleman and a pleasure to deal with. Others have described his prices as āvery reasonableā. Iād say ātoo low to advertise.ā Heās really doing it for the benefit of the community, not to make money. Thanks again buddy!
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Ordered the Edcor XS4400 transformers Wednesday as a hedge. Once they arrive Iāll decide if I actually install them. It will depend on the release date for the DSD MKII, or my confidence in PSA hitting an announced date. What with chip delays and parts availability in general Iād imagine the release date is a moving target, thus the hedge.
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@stevem2 , could you please tell how the XS4400 transformers mod affects the sound in the highs and mid-highs compared to the base DSD Sr, especially regarding ensemble of high pitch voices (e.g. chorals) ?
Great to hear! Iām waiting for mine to ship! I hope Brad from RAL isnāt making these things!
Sorry but I donāt really listen to that type of music and I have had only very limited amount of time with the modded unit (and five days since my last listening session with the unmodded unit). All I can really say is that there seems to be an across the board improvement in clarity and definition.
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They are clear smooth never oversaturated or sounding even remotely close to break up. Think of a harmonica live versus recorded. Opera singers or acapella mezo sopranos you can hear separate voices in chorus very natural sounding.
Neil Youg doesnāt grate your ears.
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