RSA Hornet Mod

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RSA Hornet Mod; Bypassing the output miniplug jack
Topic Started: 17 Dec 2008, 07:50 AM (500 Views)
lewislink	17 Dec 2008, 07:50 AM Post #1
Posts: 79 Group: Members Member #2,071 Joined: 23 October 2008	I finally did it. I much prefer the use of RCA connectors to that of fragile and unreliable miniplug connectors and decided to use a set of of male RCA plugs...I didn't have females...soldered to some 16 GA stranded wire and then solder the wires to the circuit board miniplug jack soldering points. I had to modify the case of the Hornet to accommodate the wires coming out the front but it works outstandingly. The first thing I noticed of the signal seemed to be more robust. Granted, I'm using an RCA to miniplug adapter on the other end to connect into the source, but it's a minor interference. I'm using top quality interconnections from there to the amp and am no longer dependent on the fualty miniplug. I fully recommend to everyone to give this a try on your current amp because the signal quality seems to be much stronger. there is no permanence to it and can be easily undone if desired. The only factor is modding the case of the amp for the wires.
	My portable rig: COWON D2/Sony NW-A1000/NW-A1200 through Line Out > Ray Samuels Hornet M > Ultimate Ears Triple fi-10 Pro/Klipsch Image X10/UE Super fi-5 V.2


Habba	20 Dec 2008, 03:56 PM Post #2
Posts: 5 Group: Members Member #2,089 Joined: 26 November 2008	any pics?



lewislink	20 Dec 2008, 04:45 PM Post #3
Posts: 79 Group: Members Member #2,071 Joined: 23 October 2008	I'll have some up tomorrow. It isn't pretty because of it being the first attempt. I usually do a "rough draft" type of thing to explore it and get it working and then later finesse what I'm working on into a much cleaner version.
	My portable rig: COWON D2/Sony NW-A1000/NW-A1200 through Line Out > Ray Samuels Hornet M > Ultimate Ears Triple fi-10 Pro/Klipsch Image X10/UE Super fi-5 V.2


lewislink	21 Dec 2008, 12:26 PM Post #4
Posts: 79 Group: Members Member #2,071 Joined: 23 October 2008	Here's the pics I promised: Edited by lewislink, 21 Dec 2008, 12:31 PM.
	My portable rig: COWON D2/Sony NW-A1000/NW-A1200 through Line Out > Ray Samuels Hornet M > Ultimate Ears Triple fi-10 Pro/Klipsch Image X10/UE Super fi-5 V.2


Fongalv	24 Dec 2008, 08:42 AM Post #5
What member? Posts: 1,998 Group: Member Member #7 Joined: 15 October 2006	Oh boy...you totally killed the faceplate! I'm just curious why you did this mod tho, it seems to have too many additional parts now. If you were unhappy with the miniplug connectors, I think sourcing for better ones(like switchcraft) would have been less drastic? I just thought unless you are intending to experiment with more RCA ICs, wouldn't it probably be easier to hardwire the circuit board of the amp straight to the lineout, or even the miniplug itself to remove some bulk and also shorten the chain greatly. As far as I remember, the signal does not "improve" because you are using superior components. Superior components degrade less the original signal(thus a shorter chain has lesser chance of degrading the original signal), and yet the first component in the chain(the miniplug) is probably the weakest link in the whole chain. My 2 cents but heck, if it indeed sounds better to you, great job there, and theres probably room for more improvement!
	Music, without life is lame...Life, without music is crippled... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rigs(outdated image): 32Gb S9 →SMicroIV → e500C → me 2200mAh H140(RB) → Grover S → SMacro3v6/Diablo → e500C → me Philips CD850(circa '90s!) → 1694A → DA7.2x(TCXO) → Grover UR8 → SP MPX3 SLAM → '03 DT880 / DBE V3 → me Bushguy @ Head-fi Fongalv can have my firstborn in trade for his pair(of Darths)... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


lewislink	24 Dec 2008, 10:04 AM Post #6
Posts: 79 Group: Members Member #2,071 Joined: 23 October 2008	That's why I used the old case. I bought a newer, red case that I keep in decent shape. The main reason for this is because I needed to do something to solve the signal loss issue when the miniplug is wiggled or nudged in the slightest. I tried to get support from RSA but after numerous emails I received no replies. So I decided to fix the issue myself with these two RCA plugs. I had to determine the connections with a continuity tester for purposes of soldering the wires for proper channel configuration. I thoroughly love the result, even though it doesn't look that good. It still looks technically interesting, though. The sound, as I mentioned, does seem to be more robust. I'm actually so satisfied with the results of this that I doubt I will do any more with it. If ever I desire to, I can put the board in the other case and it would be as though nothing was ever modified. I didn't remove the miniplug jack and it still functions as long as it isn't used in a portable manner. By the way, I didn't bother to dust the rig off prior to taking pictures, so the main ugliness visible in the pic is dust. The main part of the faceplate is unblemished beside the cutout. Edited by lewislink, 24 Dec 2008, 10:08 AM.
	My portable rig: COWON D2/Sony NW-A1000/NW-A1200 through Line Out > Ray Samuels Hornet M > Ultimate Ears Triple fi-10 Pro/Klipsch Image X10/UE Super fi-5 V.2


denging	3 Aug 2009, 01:28 PM Post #7
Posts: 20 Group: Members Member #2,085 Joined: 19 November 2008	lewislink 21 Dec 2008, 12:26 PM Here's the pics I promised: just to make sure that you did not know Noordin M Top bro... (or did you?) LOL....
	Lucian: I've lived by their rules my entire life. I've protected them. Envied them. And for what? To be treated like an animal. We are not animals! Is this what you want? We can be slaves, or we can be... LYCANS!


ahdui	3 Aug 2009, 03:54 PM Post #8
aux! Posts: 5,256 Group: Administrator Member #1 Joined: 15 October 2006	LOL, terrorist device. =x
	Transportable: iRiver h120(2300mAh)→Sysconcept Optical Cable→AOS Electornics Co. Piccolo DAC→ahdui's CryoFreeze� TCu IC→ahdui's Enfo PA-1→Custom Shure SE530 Backup: AMB y-1 DAC (MisterX Mod) Cycling: Sansa Clip 4GB→Philips SHS3200 Earhooks Portable: Rio Karma→UltimateEars Super.Fi 5eb Backup Rig: RedWineAudio 40GB iPod Photo→ahdui's CryoFreeze� RBT IC→iBasso P3 Heron(ahdui Mod) →Custom Shure SE530 Home: "Upgrading In Progress"→Alessandro MS Pro/JVC HP-DX1000 Desktop: PC→Belden 1505F→CityPulse DAC 7.2x II→Belden 89207→KRK Rokit Powered 5


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