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The upgrades focus on removing power supply
noise from the unregulated and regulated DC supplies, improving bypassing and
decoupling throughout the circuits, removing jitter from the local clock and
eliminating jitter at the digital output.
We also highly recommend upgrading the
switching power supply to a very high quality linear type. The TeddyDock
linear power supply based on the SuperTeddyReg discrete, ultra-low
noise regulator. Unlike other linear power supplies based on LM78xx or LM317
varieties, the SuperTeddyReg is far superior at rejecting ripple noise and
achieves a much lower output noise, output impedance. Adding the TeddyDock to
the Wadia 170i is a major upgrade by itself, combined with the 170i
modifications they form a tour de force for computer audio.
Wadia 170i Transport Upgrades
The 170i upgrades are available in 3 performance levels,
levels 1, 2 & Signature. The sound quality improvements are scalable moving
up from level-1 through to Signature.
The first level-1 upgrade kicks off with improvements to
the DC power supplies. The stock unit uses standard LDO regulators from ROHM,
the BD39350 (3.3V) and 05CC0 (5.0V). The ripple rejection of these regulators
in a poor 58 db up to 500 Hz which is reduced on the frequency range to a very
poor 25 db at approx. 22 KHz. The output noise level is not quoted but we can
calculate from the ripple rejection that noise is in the region of 60µV and
increasing with frequency in the audio band. We replace these regulators with
“Super-regulators”, now in version 3 these discrete regulator’s have excellent
rejection of noise at the input and delivers a wide bandwidth, clean, accurate
DC output. Next we replace the stock Tantalum bypass capacitors with Speciality
Polymer capacitors (S-CAP), this type of capacitor uses a uses a conductive
polymer as its electrolyte and is superior to any Tantalum. The benefits are
ultra low ESR, excellent transient response. Similarly, we upgrade the Tantalum
capacitors with S-CAP which de-couple the PCM2706 chip, lowest noise here is
crucial to execute the USB to SP/DIF conversion without losses. In addition to
lowering the noise of the DC supply rails we add a Bybee Slipstream purifier to
the unregulated DC supply line.
The level-2 upgrades the internal clock of the PCM2706
chip with a ultra-low jitter external clock, the Superclock 4. This removes
jitter and noise at all digital processing and analogue levels of the PCM2706
enabling more accurate, error free processing. We add a Bybee
Slipstream purifier to the digital output to ensure the cleanest digital
signal. To finish we further upgrade Tantalum decoupling with the S-CAP
capacitors.
For the ultimate Ipod dock we have the
Signature upgrade. This installs a reclocking board for the S/PDIF using the
WM8804 eliminating jitter at the digital output. We then add RF absorbing
techniques are employed in key locations to ensure the cleanest environment for
digital playback.
Wadia 170i Level-1 Upgrade
■ Super-regulator 3 for +3.3V supply
■ Super-regulator 3 for +5.0V supply
■ Polymer S-CAP capacitors for regulation bypass.
■ Polymer S-CAP capacitors for PCM2706 decoupling.
■ Polymer S-CAP decoupling capacitors.
■ Bybee Slipstream purifier for DC supply.
■ WBT NextGen RCA phono.
Wadia 170i Level-2 Upgrade
■ Super-regulator 3 for +3.3V supply
■ Super-regulator 3 for +5.0V supply
■ Superclock 4 ultra-low jitter clock.
■ Polymer S-CAP capacitors for regulation bypass.
■ Polymer S-CAP capacitors for PCM2706 decoupling.
■ Polymer S-CAP decoupling capacitors.
■ Bybee Slipstream purifier for DC supply.
■ Bybee Slipstream purifier for digital output.
■ WBT NextGen RCA phono.
Wadia 170i Signature Upgrade
■ Super-regulator 3 for +3.3V supply
■ Super-regulator 3 for +5.0V supply
■ Superclock 4 ultra-low jitter clock.
■ Polymer S-CAP capacitors for regulation bypass.
■ Polymer S-CAP capacitors for PCM2706 decoupling.
■ Polymer S-CAP decoupling capacitors.
■ Bybee Slipstream purifier for DC supply.
■ Bybee Slipstream purifier for power ground.
■ S/PDIF Re-clock board for digital out to eliminate Jitter.
■ RF absorbing techniques are employed in key locations.
■ WBT NextGen RCA phono. |
