Twisted Pear Audio - Buffalo32S (ES9018 DAC)

[Russ White]

Originally posted by scanspeakman
If you want to be sure, and use a output cap with the buffalo32s, what should be the value? I see people use values between 0.47microF and 4.7microF.

Scanspeakman

Unless you are playing DC samples there is no need for one, but if you want one the value will depend on the load. Google "RC filter". But usually 1-2uf suffices.

[Russ White]

So, here it is folks.

I have for you the first measurements for Buffalo32S.

Naked board no case or any shielding.

I am very, very, pleased.

I could have achieved a bit better DNR if I used some more aggressive filtering, but the trade off would have been higher output impedance. All in all I am extremely happy. Especially since you can drive headphones etc directly from this DAC.

For instance the ESS demo board measures slightly better, but has a very high output impedance. That's the trade off. Now if you drive cables with a high impedance and have to add an additional stage to drive your headphones you will probably end up with for worse spec then if you went directly out of the Buffalo32S.

Anyway I am very very pleased. 127db DNR is perfectly fine by me.

I enjoy listening to it much better than measuring it.

 
DNR          THD+N 1kHz  THD+N 20kHz
Single Ended Output
-123                -117             -117
Single Stage Differential Output
-129                -116             -117
Normal Differential Output(low impedance)
-127                -118             -117

Cheers!
Russ

[mikelm]

mmm - very impressive that ur 20kHz Figures are the same as 1KHz

Can I ask what power supplies you used during this test and what is the current status of placid ?

can't wait to hear it

mike

[Joshua_G]

Hi Russ,

Excellent compromise. Bless your hands and mind.

[Russ White]

Originally posted by mikelm
mmm - very impressive that ur 20kHz Figures are the same as 1KHz

Can I ask what power supplies you used during this test and what is the current status of placid ?

can't wait to hear it

mike

Thanks.

Huge kudos to Brian for getting the prototypes done so quickly. It would not have happened without him there.

The supplies were bone stock LCDPS and LCBPS.

Placid works well and I use it form time to time, but it still needs some redesign to be ready for the public.

I will keep you guys posted on our site about Placid.

Cheers!
Russ

[HaLo6]

So this means "out of stock" should change soon!!!

[BrianDonegan]

I will be opening pre-orders early next week. Details to follow soon.

[Russ White]

Here is the FFT at 1khz 0db.

[cuibono]

Thats pretty smooth!

[Beefy]

Looks great Russ

Any opinions on how much of the new improvements are the Sabre32 chip, versus the IVY II and new board design?