Twisted Pear Audio - Buffalo32S (ES9018 DAC)

[nycavsr2000]

Originally posted by wackyterbacky
Good morning:

I know the Buffalo32S has Single Ended and/or Balanced outputs. I have a tube integrated amp with single ended inputs that are switchable from integrated (with Volume control) to power amp.

I am planning to test the Buff+ Volumite + power amp inputs and compare it to the Buff + integrated inputs.

I am concerned that I will be losing the maximum benefit by not using the balanced outputs, and I am thinking about using some sort of matching transformer on the Buff output to convert to single ended. Of course the Ballsie is also an option, but that adds 6 more op-amps ( albeit good quality ) per channel.

The amp has 470K input resistance integrated, 100K input resistance in power amp mode.

Can anyone comment on the pros / cons of adding a matching transformer?

Any recommendations on a specific transformer?

I am sure the the Buffalo 32S sounds better through the balanced outputs as you have rightly said. It probably sounds good single ended as well but perhaps some loss of fidelity. You can add a input amorphous core transformer to your integrated tube amplifier like the Lundahl 1676. Of course the most ideal situation would be to also use a fully differential, i.e. balanced integrated tube amp as well which most likely is not the case in your situation. I still think that the running the Buffalo in balanced mode and adding an input transformer to your integrated tube amp would be best and provide galvanic isolation on top of that. I use a pair in my gainclone to great effect. The point is you will maximize most of the benefits of balanced connection as opposed to what you suggest where you convert a balanced output back to single ended prior to running the cable between your dac and the tube amp. You will of course need to use a balanced interconnect if you use the former method and a single ended interconnect if you use the latter.

Anand.

[nycavsr2000]

Originally posted by muizel
Wow, second batch Buffalos sold out ! and that in the middle of

a financial crisis, that is what I call a suc6


Congrats Russ and Brian and well deserved

Rene.

Any idea when the next sale will be?

Anand.

[Javin5]

With switch S3, you can select between fast and slow rolloff. Here is a plot which shows how the two modes look in the frequency domain. Most will probably prefer the fast mode because of its superior aliasing rejection.

[Russ White]

Originally posted by Javin5
With switch S3, you can select between fast and slow rolloff. Here is a plot which shows how the two modes look in the frequency domain. Most will probably prefer the fast mode because of its superior aliasing rejection.

Nice plots! Thanks.

[Javin5]

For those who are interested, here is another FFT-plot of an input of two sinewaves at 18 and 20 kHz at -20 dB. The remaining aliasing components at 24.1 and 26.1 kHz are vanishingly small. Also important, there is not a trace of intermodulation distortion at 2 kHz; which shows excellent design of the IVY-circuitry!

High frequencies at such high amplitudes are practically never present in music signals, so you may look at this as sort of a stress test; but the results are certainly reassuring.

Kurt

[BrianDonegan]

Originally posted by nycavsr2000


Any idea when the next sale will be?

Anand.

There will be more pre-orders available next week, with a ship date about two weeks after the second batch. Trying to spread it out a little to keep it manageable.

Since the sales rate seems to be a little more rational, I will forgo the timers and such and just make them available.

[Russ White]

Originally posted by Javin5
High frequencies at such high amplitudes are practically never present in music signals, so you may look at this as sort of a stress test; but the results are certainly reassuring.

Kurt

Indeed! Thanks Kurt.

Cheers!
Russ

[HaLo6]

After a couple of weeks, I love the new Buffalo32 ... very listenable ... female vocals (Norah Jones, The Cranberries, Carrie Underwood, and Sugarland) just sound amazing! I am listening to old cd's over again! This is truly an amazing product!

Dave Matthews acoustic is just amazing as well!

[nattonrice]

Hi Russ and Brian~!

I place an order last night (AU time) and I just wanted to make sure that all is good.
Name is Tom Booker.

Also I was planning on useing the same lcdps to power the digital section and the 4:1mux. I saw the output ratings for the lcdps and the power req of the two boards and they seemed to be fine. Is this a problem?

Also I know the crystal ball is a little cloudy and that you are redesigning it but... do you envisiage the Placid dps to have roughly the same footprint as the lcdps?

Can't wait to get the boards o(^-^)o

Kind Regards
Tom

[HaLo6]

Tom, I use the LCDPS for both the digital section and a mux, it works great!