Twisted Pear Audio - Buffalo32S (ES9018 DAC)

[Russ White]

Auto-mute is a completely different feature from normal muting.

But yes, you can implement mute in firmware if you like. The current AC2 firmware I am using does that. And yes, it will work just fine with Buf32.

[C37]

I am also a late adopter of the 32S, bought S/H from a member here after nerve wrecking attempts to buy a BII. Completed a month ago, still in a temporary set (in a old empty chassis from a 100W amp kit from Velleman). So far, really good with volumite directly in a set of active Tannoys in balanced.

May i report that this board seems to respond well to the sand bag tweak à la Jon Risch, i've tested this for the past 3 days much to my (grinning) satisfaction. Other owners might want to investigate...

[C37]

In my case, i am using a zip bag filled with about 800 gr of sand, covering the entire board and + 3cms on L/R lateral side (using what i had handy).
i had concerns about the heat melting the plastic zip lock in the beginning since the board get quite warm on their own, but it turns out sand is getting only slightly warmer than my hand after 24hr turn on (20° ambient) so it's ok for now.

"Amp "( Dac) case is sitting on the floor for now, resting on half inflated inner bicycle tyre.

I will keep this "tweak" when i will put my dac in its final case.

[BrianDonegan]

i had concerns about the heat melting the plastic zip lock in the beginning since the board get quite warm on their own

A bigger concern will be overheating the components on the board, since they will no longer have adequate ventilation. I would not recommend doing this.

That being said, as long as you understand the risks, feel free to tweak and experiment; I in no way wish to dissuade people from doing so.

[C37]

Indeed. Heat is a concern. The Sabre chip was quite hot to the touch on its own. With the sand bag i can't tell for sure.

I did a search today and even the most conservative figures of thermal conductivity for sand and the Polyethylhene film from the ziploc seem to be at least 5...10 times better than air:

Air: 0.024 w/m.°c
Sand: 0.15 >> 0,25 w/m.°c (I've seen much higher figures around)
Polyethylhene: 0,25 w/m.°c

Maybe i am missing something? if thermal build up is a concern, i could heatsink the sand bag itself. Oh well. I do like what hear though. Though decisions...

[avr300]

Originally Posted by C37

.. i could heatsink the sand bag itself...

LoL. Finally something new 'round. That I'll like to see

[Russ White]

Originally Posted by C37

Air: 0.024 w/m.°c
Sand: 0.15 >> 0,25 w/m.°c (I've seen much higher figures around)
Polyethylhene: 0,25 w/m.°c

Maybe i am missing something?

One thing you might be missing is that with free air beside conduction there is convection and radiation to disperse heat.

[Duffy Moon]

Originally Posted by C37

I did a search today and even the most conservative figures of thermal conductivity for sand and the Polyethylhene film from the ziploc seem to be at least 5...10 times better than air:

The way I see it is - air moves and carries heat away, while sand pretty much just sits there getting hot. Maybe you could devise some sort of sand circulatory system .

[Duffy Moon]

Originally Posted by Russ White

One thing you might be missing is that with free air beside conduction there is convection and radiation to disperse heat.

Of course Russ would have to come along and make it sound all scientific, thereby making me look a bit of a dimwit .

[C37]

Originally Posted by Russ White

One thing you might be missing is that with free air beside conduction there is convection and radiation to disperse heat.

Point noted!