Hey Russ/Brian,
Is there an ETA for when Placid HD BP will be available in stock again ? (for powering a Mercury)
Thanks
Is there an ETA for when Placid HD BP will be available in stock again ? (for powering a Mercury)
Thanks
I don't think you will find any lack of meat on the Mercury. 🙂 The ES9038/Merc combo is very satisfying to my ears. Of course everything is subjective - and I am biased - I put a lot of work into that design specifically for that combo. 🙂
Cheers!
Russ
Cheers!
Russ
Sure thing. I will get it eventually since I need 4Vrms for my 300B 🙂 anyway ...
BTW Russ, maybe few words on this project: Centaur Power Supply, unless there is another thread for that already.
BTW Russ, maybe few words on this project: Centaur Power Supply, unless there is another thread for that already.
Centaur is a high current single low noise single linear power supply - suitable for B3SEPro etc. It has bigger input smoothing cap and a higher current rating and lower noise regulator than the LCDPS it is designed to replace. It was designed to better cope with the higher current demands of these DACs.
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Sorry, life has been getting in the way. I will get that page completed soon. Kits are ready...
Russ, is it possible to power mercury with lower voltage -/+12V? If so, what are the consequences?
I am planing to power my legato 3.1 with 2xLifePo4 and then one day Mercury. However the most common voltage is 12V for LifePo4.
I am planing to power my legato 3.1 with 2xLifePo4 and then one day Mercury. However the most common voltage is 12V for LifePo4.
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Yes - it will work just fine with +/-12V supply. There really shouldn't be any perceptible negative consequences as we are not operating at all close to the rails.
Thanks Russ. I have some crazy idea to power ess sabre with ultracaps 3.3V and i/v with 2xLifePo4 -/+12V . Ultimately do it with es9038pro (just leaving 1.3V LT3042) and Mercury 🙂
Ping... I'm holding off on an order for the Placid HD BP... I've read in some of your documentation that it would be the best choice for Mercury (as well as Legato and IVY). Is there an estimation on when it will be back in stock?
Brian and Russ,
FYI, I just posted a question about power-up behavior of the Mercury when a DAC input is not connected over on your support forums... please either put my mind at ease so I can continue forward or tell me I messed up and need to buy another!
TIA!
Greg in Mississippi
FYI, I just posted a question about power-up behavior of the Mercury when a DAC input is not connected over on your support forums... please either put my mind at ease so I can continue forward or tell me I messed up and need to buy another!
TIA!
Greg in Mississippi
Assuming Russ & Brian are overworked or on vacation recovering from overwork.
I did have the thought that terminating the input should allow the input servo to function correctly. Can anyone weigh in on whether it makes sense and would be ok to put a 200R-500R across each input to the input ground connection?
I'm just eager to hear what the Buff-IIPro ES9038 & Mercury can do!
TIA!
Greg in Mississippi
I did have the thought that terminating the input should allow the input servo to function correctly. Can anyone weigh in on whether it makes sense and would be ok to put a 200R-500R across each input to the input ground connection?
I'm just eager to hear what the Buff-IIPro ES9038 & Mercury can do!
TIA!
Greg in Mississippi
Sorry, was visiting the parents 😀.
Short the inputs (in+ and in-) to ground for offset measurements.
Thanks Brian! I'll be re-testing & implementing this weekend, then.
I understand needing to take time off... ESPECIALLY for the relatives. Thanks again for the response!
Greg in Mississippi
I understand needing to take time off... ESPECIALLY for the relatives. Thanks again for the response!
Greg in Mississippi
Brian,
Again, thanks for the quick note. I shorted the inputs and rechecked the input and output offsets again... zero or near. So I hooked it up and it's making music.
So far I've run a BuffIII ES9028 with a 'truncated IVY'... just 1 OPA1632 per channel and lighter filtering AND with a Legato.
The BuffIII ES9038 of course with the Mercury.
The ES9038 wins my head... but that ES9028 with the Legato wins my heart. I think I'll leave that one in awhile!
Greg in Mississippi
Again, thanks for the quick note. I shorted the inputs and rechecked the input and output offsets again... zero or near. So I hooked it up and it's making music.
So far I've run a BuffIII ES9028 with a 'truncated IVY'... just 1 OPA1632 per channel and lighter filtering AND with a Legato.
The BuffIII ES9038 of course with the Mercury.
The ES9038 wins my head... but that ES9028 with the Legato wins my heart. I think I'll leave that one in awhile!
Greg in Mississippi
Could you please describe in more details your subjective perception of difference in sound between 9038 and 9028? Tnx.
AS...
The output stage used is different, it is going to be difficult to come to any real conclusions about the differences between 9028/9038. One will have to build a 9028/Mercury DAC and a 9038/Mercury DAC to get a good idea of the difference. Typically output stages make for more of a sonic difference than the DAC used.
On paper the 9038 has the advantage with its higher S/N ration, otherwise my understanding is that the two models are identical. So the 9038 is technically "better" if the output stage is good enough to realize the difference. I am listening to the 9038/Mercury (with a few tweaks to parts) and it is exceptional. I am oversampling to DSD 256 as well, which i prefer with 9018/9038 chips. Fantastic sound. Big stage, "live" sounding, with superb dynamics, and excellent timbre/tone.
The output stage used is different, it is going to be difficult to come to any real conclusions about the differences between 9028/9038. One will have to build a 9028/Mercury DAC and a 9038/Mercury DAC to get a good idea of the difference. Typically output stages make for more of a sonic difference than the DAC used.
On paper the 9038 has the advantage with its higher S/N ration, otherwise my understanding is that the two models are identical. So the 9038 is technically "better" if the output stage is good enough to realize the difference. I am listening to the 9038/Mercury (with a few tweaks to parts) and it is exceptional. I am oversampling to DSD 256 as well, which i prefer with 9018/9038 chips. Fantastic sound. Big stage, "live" sounding, with superb dynamics, and excellent timbre/tone.
But you can try directly in voltage mode without the output stage. Technically "better" doesn't mean musicaly better as well.
I don't like stereo, and waiting for BIV 8ch version comeout. Before Russ mentioned BIV is ready, but he is digging in 8ch output stage for it. I would suggest to start design amplifiers capable to accept current input.
I don't like stereo, and waiting for BIV 8ch version comeout. Before Russ mentioned BIV is ready, but he is digging in 8ch output stage for it. I would suggest to start design amplifiers capable to accept current input.