If you are speaking of Cronus - its not really all about reclocking - that's just one small part of it. It's really more about getting all of the time domains together (Source and DAC). So that everything is time aligned and no data is missing. No chance of missed samples.
Also I needed something along the lines to create the kinds of sources I really wanted to produce - like the Hermes-BBB and yet to be announced sources.
It is much more than a relocker.
Also - I have never thought reclocking was a bad thing - in fact I have always maintained it very much depends on how you have things configured - and what your needs are.
In the case where you want to run say an ES9018 with sync clock input - or say with the OSF off - well yes it makes a lot of sense to reclock to the exact clock as is driving your source. No mixing of time domains.
Also we make DACs that do not do ASRC - and those DACs would most definitely do better reclocked - and I have never said otherwise.
In any case - I have always admired Ian's FIFO and I won't speak ill of it. It is fine engineering. It comes at the problem from a different, but very valid angle.
Cheers!
Russ
Also I needed something along the lines to create the kinds of sources I really wanted to produce - like the Hermes-BBB and yet to be announced sources.
It is much more than a relocker.
Also - I have never thought reclocking was a bad thing - in fact I have always maintained it very much depends on how you have things configured - and what your needs are.
In the case where you want to run say an ES9018 with sync clock input - or say with the OSF off - well yes it makes a lot of sense to reclock to the exact clock as is driving your source. No mixing of time domains.
Also we make DACs that do not do ASRC - and those DACs would most definitely do better reclocked - and I have never said otherwise.
In any case - I have always admired Ian's FIFO and I won't speak ill of it. It is fine engineering. It comes at the problem from a different, but very valid angle.
Cheers!
Russ
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Thank you so much skybug,
Very good points.
FIFO II will have an additional I2S input port (backdoor) on it.
And based on your suggestion, Dual XO II will have it's own power input, no need change anything with/without isolator when work with FIFO II.
I'll take you suggestion on spdif board into consideration.
Regards,
Ian
Hi RollE2k,
Just placed Dual XO II production order yesterday. Hopefully I can get them available by the end of this month.
I'm working on upgrading FIFO II now. On my schedule, it will be one month later.
They are coming, I won't keep you waiting too long
Ian
Very exciting happenings on this thread Ian! The new clock board looks great and thanks for including dual mono compatibility and less need for those pesky u.fl connectors ;-)
Can anyone point me to a feature list of the FIFO II as I seem to have missed mention of it (apart from mention of a multi-channel, DSD compatible board)...or maybe that's it? DSD playback would be superb.
Thanks for your continuing efforts and dedication Ian,
Crom
Can anyone point me to a feature list of the FIFO II as I seem to have missed mention of it (apart from mention of a multi-channel, DSD compatible board)...or maybe that's it? DSD playback would be superb.
Thanks for your continuing efforts and dedication Ian,
Crom
+1
Though it is good Ian keeped also the little uf-l pads to have both possibilities to choose between it and the screwed plug.
this is the only way without sharing between designers to have good interlink quality between some boards (simple uf-l are more common : e.g. Wave I/O has a MCLK output uf-l plug (non isolated for the moment) and the I2S to PCM fro Ian has an input MCLK uf-l plug which must be connected
I wait the born of FIFO 2 with hurry
Will all those connectors will be soldered already for better quality (in the factory?) and for poor skilled member like I am ?
Though it is good Ian keeped also the little uf-l pads to have both possibilities to choose between it and the screwed plug.
this is the only way without sharing between designers to have good interlink quality between some boards (simple uf-l are more common : e.g. Wave I/O has a MCLK output uf-l plug (non isolated for the moment) and the I2S to PCM fro Ian has an input MCLK uf-l plug which must be connected
I wait the born of FIFO 2 with hurry Will all those connectors will be soldered already for better quality (in the factory?) and for poor skilled member like I am ?
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Yes please, while we are at it, let's show the input board some love.
It'd be nice to make it easier to use both the inputs and outputs and still enjoy battery-powered isolated clocks.
An extra improvement would be to add ufl headers for the SPDIF I/O board -> FIFO II connection, so that it's trivial to insert another module between them (e.g. a DSP board
), allowing a setup like this: Input -> DSP -> FIFO -> Output
Hi AR2,
I'm so sorry for the late updating. The good news is everything on schedule.
Got Dual XO II productions last week. Busy testing. All good so far. One cable is on order and will be arrived next week.
I2S FIFO II production order was placed last week and is coming W3 of this month.
I can either run Dual XO II GB in advance or run both of them together at end of this month. It will save me some time if I can run them together.
Please let me know what do you think.
Regards,
Ian
Hello Ian,
Good news ! I'm hurry to have the Fifo 2 & the clock 2 for my AYA2 2014 DAC to go further (though it is frankly already very musical with the I2StoPCM I have).
Do you sucess to source 2" uf-l cables ?... to allow us to make the links shorter between all the boards !
Are all the uf-l plugs already soldered in factory benchs ?
Any advices please for choosing the crystals frequencies for a TDA1541 and an AD1862 DAC ? Did you check the Laptech XOs vs the Crysteks ?
best regards,
Eldam
Good news
! I'm hurry to have the Fifo 2 & the clock 2 for my AYA2 2014 DAC to go further (though it is frankly already very musical with the I2StoPCM I have).Do you sucess to source 2" uf-l cables
?... to allow us to make the links shorter between all the boards !Are all the uf-l plugs already soldered in factory benchs ?
Any advices please for choosing the crystals frequencies for a TDA1541 and an AD1862 DAC ? Did you check the Laptech XOs vs the Crysteks ?
best regards,
Eldam
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New Ian I2S FIFO II (1)
New I2S FIFO II design and prototype testing were finished. Production order was placed last week. Hopefully I can receive all them by the end of next week. I’m trying to make them available for the next GB as soon as possible.
Addition to FIFO I, it has two I2S input ports. Both of them are rated up to 384KHz, they are 3.3V logic but tolerant to 5V logic. Back door is no longer needed for another I2S source, such as an USB interface. A jumper or a toggle switch can be used to change between I2S inputs.
Glitch free function was designed into the internal switching logic. When a new I2S source is switched to, FIFO output will keep working without any stop but data signal will be 0 until new I2S signal is locked.
Each I2S input connector has a LED to indicate the working port. Both switch and LEDs can be accessed from jumper connector, so it is possible to connect them to a front panel.
Ian
New I2S FIFO II design and prototype testing were finished. Production order was placed last week. Hopefully I can receive all them by the end of next week. I’m trying to make them available for the next GB as soon as possible.
Addition to FIFO I, it has two I2S input ports. Both of them are rated up to 384KHz, they are 3.3V logic but tolerant to 5V logic. Back door is no longer needed for another I2S source, such as an USB interface. A jumper or a toggle switch can be used to change between I2S inputs.
Glitch free function was designed into the internal switching logic. When a new I2S source is switched to, FIFO output will keep working without any stop but data signal will be 0 until new I2S signal is locked.
Each I2S input connector has a LED to indicate the working port. Both switch and LEDs can be accessed from jumper connector, so it is possible to connect them to a front panel.
Ian
Attachments
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Raspberry Pi Question
Ian, those boards look really great.
Would it be appropriate to use the I2S FIFO II and the Dual XO II together with a Raspberry Pi 2 and a suitable DAC to create a networked audio player? Is there anything else that should be considered, such as an isolator?
It seems that this may be a good combination to allow the use of different DAC boards and to enjoy audio fun.
Ian, those boards look really great.
Would it be appropriate to use the I2S FIFO II and the Dual XO II together with a Raspberry Pi 2 and a suitable DAC to create a networked audio player? Is there anything else that should be considered, such as an isolator?
It seems that this may be a good combination to allow the use of different DAC boards and to enjoy audio fun.
Ian, those boards look really great.
Would it be appropriate to use the I2S FIFO II and the Dual XO II together with a Raspberry Pi 2 and a suitable DAC to create a networked audio player? Is there anything else that should be considered, such as an isolator?
It seems that this may be a good combination to allow the use of different DAC boards and to enjoy audio fun.
Thanks BryceJ,
Yes, FIFO II can work with Pi 2. Together with a carefully designed DAC, it can be a good player. An isolator is a good choice to cut PC/MCU ground for an audiophile system.
Regards,
Ian
New Ian I2S FIFO II (2)
Dimensions and mounting hole positions are fully compatible with previous FIFO I. To save DAC space and get better integration, more mounting holes were added to make it possible to stack isolator board and clock board on top of it. But it’s quite flexible according to your project. I2S input connectors, power connectors and jumpers of FIFO II can still be accessed from the edge in this case, since boards on top are smaller. The new anti-vibration grommet solution of Dual XO II also works very well for this configuration.
Both 7pin PH2.0mm cables and u.fl cables can be use to connect I2S signals before clock board without affecting sound quality. For 384KHz stream, u.fl cables could be slightly better on signal integrity. However, u.fl cables are highly recommended for any signal after clock board.
Ian
Dimensions and mounting hole positions are fully compatible with previous FIFO I. To save DAC space and get better integration, more mounting holes were added to make it possible to stack isolator board and clock board on top of it. But it’s quite flexible according to your project. I2S input connectors, power connectors and jumpers of FIFO II can still be accessed from the edge in this case, since boards on top are smaller. The new anti-vibration grommet solution of Dual XO II also works very well for this configuration.
Both 7pin PH2.0mm cables and u.fl cables can be use to connect I2S signals before clock board without affecting sound quality. For 384KHz stream, u.fl cables could be slightly better on signal integrity. However, u.fl cables are highly recommended for any signal after clock board.
Ian
