Buffallo Dual Mono 1 Legato

[vitalica]

I thank very much for your appreciation Russ!
I really am very very happy with Buffalo
One thing I'm sorry-F5balanced not work without capacitors (
But I put 33mkf/16v BG (N) and sounds great.

Best regards!

[suffolk tony]

Having read through this topic & studied Rosendorfer's very helpful posts I'm keen to try this.

I've been using a dual-mono Buffalo II the conventional way with two Legatos but this method appeals because I use a single-ended output & currently have to use, in addition to the two Ballsies built into both Legatos, two other Ballsie Lites to convert to SE output. Using the one Legato is much neater and I can use my two HD Bipolar Placids to power either side separately.

My only query is, other than wiring as per Rosendorfer's photos, is there anything else practical I need to do? It appears I don't need to change the input resistors, and if this is incorrect, where are they on the board please? Sorry for these basic questions, I'm not very confident with the DIY stuff yet.

[needsp]

Hi Russ

I'm thinking of trying out a dual mono implementation of Buffalo (II, with a single Legato I/V stage).

Am I right to think that a single VACC regulator per channel- one for each Buffalo board- would be preferable to the two per board used in the standard stereo implementation? I.e. a single reg for all eight now paralleled DACs? Otherwise, unless I've got this wrong, you end up with two paralleled regs feeding the DACs?

If a single reg is appropriate, how much current does it need to provide? should I connect it to just one est of pcb pads, or posiion it more centrally, and feed both sets of pads?

Thanks

Paul

[Rosendorfer]

Originally Posted by suffolk tony

Having read through this topic & studied Rosendorfer's very helpful posts I'm keen to try this.

I've been using a dual-mono Buffalo II the conventional way with two Legatos but this method appeals because I use a single-ended output & currently have to use, in addition to the two Ballsies built into both Legatos, two other Ballsie Lites to convert to SE output. Using the one Legato is much neater and I can use my two HD Bipolar Placids to power either side separately.

My only query is, other than wiring as per Rosendorfer's photos, is there anything else practical I need to do? It appears I don't need to change the input resistors, and if this is incorrect, where are they on the board please? Sorry for these basic questions, I'm not very confident with the DIY stuff yet.

Hi Tony

Hi Tony ...
As per my experience, there is no need for changing resistors, everything works on stock values. But as important factor is that I'm using Volumite with my Buffalo's and that way I can take care about higher Output Voltage values it is 3dB higher, as Legato have to work with double of the input currents.
Well in theory of cause some tweaking with I/U Resistors values could improve things a bit, but having Volumite, You can easily try stock build.

And as small remark... "Preferred" for that configuration would be LEGATO 3.1 thanks to its lower input impedance, but any Legato sounds fantastic.
Anyway if I may say .... getting away with that quite few extra Opamps on Your signal path that are required in "standard" dual mono configuration, and keeping things simple "sounds pretty nice" .

There is I would call "small issue" with Diff 2 SE conversion /Ballisie/ build into Legato board. It is done with LM4562 /Double Opamps in single IC/ and unfortunately there is no easy(!) way to have "True Duall Mono" Separate Power Supplies for L and R channels in SE Out mode, but for start third Placid could be used....

Rosendorfer

[suffolk tony]

Thank you for your very reassuring and helpful reply Rosendorfer. My Legatos are 3.1 versions so that will help. From reading other posts on the TP Forum it appears the higher output voltages will not cause a problem and might be an advantage.

Best wishes!

[Rosendorfer]

Hi

As for higher output levels, if it is advantage or not, it is the question what is next after Your Legato and how You can use that "extra Volume".....

I would rather not recomend to run that config without Volumite ...but again I'm pretty sure that moust of Bufalo owners do have/use Volumite anyway.
Personaly I'm using Volumite and feeding signal directly from Legato to PowerAmp..... but then of cause You have to keep output voltage within resonable level.... .

all the best
Rosendorfer

[Rosendorfer]

Hi Paul

It is actualy interesting question,
I hope Russ will answer...

Rosendorfer

[suffolk tony]

Hi Rosendorfer, the Buffalo feeds into my Naim 552 preamp. I'm tending the think all that will happen with the higher voltage is that I'll need to turn the volume down?

[Rosendorfer]

Hi Tony
I think that Naim pre will manage the higher input voltage pretty well....
But I also think that it would be very interesting to use Volumite and do small test with feeding Your PowerAmp directly from Legato... Well kind of minimalistic approach 2xBuffalo+1Legato+PowerAmp....And see what configuration sounds best for You ...

Rosendorfer

[suffolk tony]

An interesting thought Rosendorfer! I've also CD, sound processor and vinyl sources so it'd just be by way of an experiment.