DCX2496 upgrades

[Don Richard]

I don't know if this has been posted here or not, but this company has a number of improvements for this product. Some of these upgrades seem as though they would be good for home use:

http://www.selectronic.fr/dcx2496_US.asp

Don

[PrestonTom]

Don, there is quite a bit of activity regarding mods on the Behringer DCX and DEQ 2496's. They are dirt cheap compared to the competition and if you use the digital inputs (rather than going through the ADC), quite a few headaches can be avoided.

There are several approaches that focus on the power supply, on the clock, on upgrading the DAC (although the original is not a bad one) and on upgrading the op-amps & caps on the output.

It is the analog output that is probably the weakest link in these units. One approach is to replace the opamps and caps on the outputs and simply take the output of the DAC into a transformer and then its output will go to the XLR jack. This has several advantages; however transformers can be expensive and cheap ones can trash the signal.

In one of the other forums it looked like DJK was tracking down an appropriate Edcor transformer that could be used. They would cost between $5-10 each and take the op-amps and electrolytics out of the signal path (on the output). It seems like an elegant and possibly simple solution.

Unfortunately it was never made clear which specific part number was the best choice and whether any other parts would also be required, or whether there were any special issues on the wiring between the DAC and the transformer. If this ever gets resolved, I will happily make the mods myself.

Good Luck,

-Tom

[sfogg]

"It is the analog output that is probably the weakest link in these units."

It is fairly complex. Some of its problem is simply the high signal levels. Some compensate for that be either feeding in less signal or turning down the outputs, both of which reduce resolution through the unit. What it needs is analog attenuation on its outputs or at the amplifiers inputs.

Most of the aftermarket boards for the DCX put out considerably lower levels which helps reduce this problem.

Of course when I finish up on the amps I'll be avoiding the analog outputs all together on the Behringer.

Shawn