Hi Diy'ers,
Now as the year is coming to an end, and the New Year is enticingly approaching, I'd like to say a thank you to these many people here on Diyaudio whom:
- I've either "met" in one of diyaudio's many threads throughout the year,
- have been so kind as to reply and help with one of the questions I've been asking,
- one way or another have been inspiring by sharing the knowledge they have.
Although altogether these are indeed many of the members here I'd like to say a particular thank you to 1audio, andrea_mori, abraxalito, acko, calvin, DDDAC, richiem, jackal29, JensH, Joe Rasmussen, marce, RayCtech, qusp, samuel groner & soekris, who each in their way have been helpful or of much inspiration throughout 2014.
A thank you from me to each of you 😉
Also, it never ceases to amaze me how active and flourishing with ideas, knowledge and "inquiry" this forum seems to be ... This in and by itself is most inspiring to me ... And by so saying I'd also like to extend an "overall" thanks for the existence of these forums and all the effort & contributions that goes into it 😉
A wish
And then I do have a wish for 2015 which - although it matters to me personally - I realize may not be entirely along the normal subjects of communication here on diyaudio. And that relates to sustainability in audio. As some of you may know some time ago I started this thread:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/everything-else/237696-sustainability-audio.html
with a key post here:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/everything-else/237696-sustainability-audio-2.html#post3594599
with an aim to systematically gather information about which companies actually do make an effort to include sustainability as part of their business. This is an almost herculean task to take on for one or a few persons but for many people sharing their insights I am thinking it could be possible. And although there have been some replies to the thread I somehow hope that it will pick up more interest in 2015 ...
... not least because music and music listening is a most important part of my joys and in my experience the most "uncompromised or non-complex" joys come about when there's not really any "downside" to being part of this particular joy. Maybe some of you know of this in other parts of life
?
A metaphor could be that it's like growing organic vegetables in a kitchen garden: There's not really any downside to that (except maybe for the time involved 😱 )- just the option of enjoying the freshness, taste and nutrients coming from these foods ... And I'm thinking that wouldn't it be attractive if buying audio (discrete components or finished products) could be "the same"? Just enjoying it/the music knowing that neither CO2 wise nor in other ways did it have any negative impacts ...
I realize this is not where things are today - yet with my understanding that diyaudio:
- through many of its members has connections/links into many existing or upcoming audio companies I reckon there is a potential to support such a development by gathering sustainability information here and supporting the companies that both makes good products and make a genuine effort on sustainability.
- members probably in general is a worldwide knowledge resource on audio they, when interacting with the rest of the audio interested people in the world, may effect a change both audio & sustainability-wise ... if the relevant sustainability information becomes available.
I have noticed such buyer-effected developments in many other areas: E.g. foods, clothes, energy, cosmetics, healthy plastics - why not (over time) in audio as well?
So, my personal "audio wish" for 2015 would be that this would pick up more interest and effort in these forums - as the people here would wish to do so ...
And now - letting be the sustainability topic - my wishes for a Happy New Year to people here
Cheers,
Jesper
Now as the year is coming to an end, and the New Year is enticingly approaching, I'd like to say a thank you to these many people here on Diyaudio whom:
- I've either "met" in one of diyaudio's many threads throughout the year,
- have been so kind as to reply and help with one of the questions I've been asking,
- one way or another have been inspiring by sharing the knowledge they have.
Although altogether these are indeed many of the members here I'd like to say a particular thank you to 1audio, andrea_mori, abraxalito, acko, calvin, DDDAC, richiem, jackal29, JensH, Joe Rasmussen, marce, RayCtech, qusp, samuel groner & soekris, who each in their way have been helpful or of much inspiration throughout 2014.
A thank you from me to each of you 😉
Also, it never ceases to amaze me how active and flourishing with ideas, knowledge and "inquiry" this forum seems to be ... This in and by itself is most inspiring to me ... And by so saying I'd also like to extend an "overall" thanks for the existence of these forums and all the effort & contributions that goes into it 😉
A wish
And then I do have a wish for 2015 which - although it matters to me personally - I realize may not be entirely along the normal subjects of communication here on diyaudio. And that relates to sustainability in audio. As some of you may know some time ago I started this thread:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/everything-else/237696-sustainability-audio.html
with a key post here:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/everything-else/237696-sustainability-audio-2.html#post3594599
with an aim to systematically gather information about which companies actually do make an effort to include sustainability as part of their business. This is an almost herculean task to take on for one or a few persons but for many people sharing their insights I am thinking it could be possible. And although there have been some replies to the thread I somehow hope that it will pick up more interest in 2015 ...
... not least because music and music listening is a most important part of my joys and in my experience the most "uncompromised or non-complex" joys come about when there's not really any "downside" to being part of this particular joy. Maybe some of you know of this in other parts of life
?A metaphor could be that it's like growing organic vegetables in a kitchen garden: There's not really any downside to that (except maybe for the time involved 😱 )- just the option of enjoying the freshness, taste and nutrients coming from these foods ... And I'm thinking that wouldn't it be attractive if buying audio (discrete components or finished products) could be "the same"? Just enjoying it/the music knowing that neither CO2 wise nor in other ways did it have any negative impacts ...
I realize this is not where things are today - yet with my understanding that diyaudio:
- through many of its members has connections/links into many existing or upcoming audio companies I reckon there is a potential to support such a development by gathering sustainability information here and supporting the companies that both makes good products and make a genuine effort on sustainability.
- members probably in general is a worldwide knowledge resource on audio they, when interacting with the rest of the audio interested people in the world, may effect a change both audio & sustainability-wise ... if the relevant sustainability information becomes available.
I have noticed such buyer-effected developments in many other areas: E.g. foods, clothes, energy, cosmetics, healthy plastics - why not (over time) in audio as well?
So, my personal "audio wish" for 2015 would be that this would pick up more interest and effort in these forums - as the people here would wish to do so ...
And now - letting be the sustainability topic - my wishes for a Happy New Year to people here
Cheers,
Jesper
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Hi Diy'ers,
I have noticed such buyer-effected developments in many other areas: E.g. foods, clothes, energy, cosmetics, healthy plastics - why not (over time) in audio as well?
So, my personal "audio wish" for 2015 would be that this would pick up more interest and effort in these forums - as the people here would wish to do so ...
And now - letting be the sustainability topic - my wishes for a Happy New Year to people here
Cheers,
Jesper
Its already happening, in my little world, on my website: Shady Tree Projects
I want to move towards environmentally sustainable projects which stem the tsunami of planned obsolescence but I cannot do it alone.
Most of my projects will be able to work on a 12v DC nominal system and are designed around using easy to find components so you can recycle a lot of things by simply reclaiming components from thrown out electronics.
The TDA2822M for example is a very common IC and will run from 9v provided you have a LM317 or 7809, this isn't a steep drop from 12v nominal which is great because I can run the circuit directly from battery power without much loss, which was the purpose of the TDA2822M in the first place.. The next step will probably be to go towards car audio amplifier IC's.
Finding DAC chips in everyday appliance/device circuitry however is fairly difficult, But you can get DAC chips from older DVD players.
http://shadytreeprojects.com/index.php?title=TDA1541_Analog_Metric_DAC
My TDA1541 IC came from a thrown out Marantz CD-65 and it can run on a solar powered system provided you have an inverter, I also try and design it so that I do not waste power burning it up in the voltage regulators. So input transformers are used which give a 2-3v buffer between the input vDC and the output vDC.
For +5v I use 9v windings (instead of 15v windings) for example, which also work for the -15v bus which works at -14.23v (a bit low but it still works), on the raindrop hui dac the same 9v windings feed both a 5v voltage regulator and a -15v lm337, very inefficient, I may have to modify the PCB at some time or remove that regulator to make it more energy efficient, two of the linear voltage regulators run pretty hot, ideally they shouldn't need a heatsink at all..
And R-Core transformers already have a low standing power draw so they are ideal for efficiency.
I still haven't measured the actual power draw from the wall yet, I'm still waiting for LR44 batteries to arrive for my Kill-A-Watt meter. Seeing its the end of the year I may be waiting a few more weeks yet.
I also received low-ESR capacitors which have a 105c temperature rating and a 5000 hour lifetime rating, which using a calculator can in 40 degree weather and 22v (rated for 35v) last for:
Projected Life at Operating
Conditions (L2) = 719,963 hours.
And I've reclaimed a cheap and nasty DVD player (Mediatek MT1389DE based) from the tip by reusing it as a SPDIF transport:
http://shadytreeprojects.com/index.php?title=SPDIF_output_from_Aldi_Vivid_DVD/USB_Combo_player_%28Mediatek_MT1389DE%29
I will also soon be reviewing a very power efficient laptop, as soon as it arrives. It has a 17" screen and a Celeron N2930 cpu with integrated graphics.
There is also a Linux distribution called WattOS but I found it a bit lacking in features, its pretty well polished though.
And here is my rant on planned obsolescence:
http://shadytreeprojects.com/index.php?title=Planned_Obsolescence
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Hi Freax,
First ... although I mention my wish for more focus on sustainability in audio in my post here my main aim really was to say "thank you" to the people I've met here or who have been so kind as to help out with some of my questions during 2014. I do not see this thread as being a "sustainability thread".
And then ... through what you write I sense enthusiasm for what you are doing, and I'm thinking "good luck with it". However, although I myself reuse components to a large extent (and generally make low power circuitries) I also don't see it to be feasible in a production context: Reusing components in a larger production probably is not feasible due to cost, lack of stable sourcing, issues of reliability when getting the components out of PCBs etc. Recycling (cradle-to-cradle philosophy) IMHO is more realistic - or some of the other stages in the LCA image I've illustrated in this post:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/everything-else/237696-sustainability-audio-2.html#post3594599
Best regards,
Jesper
First ... although I mention my wish for more focus on sustainability in audio in my post here my main aim really was to say "thank you" to the people I've met here or who have been so kind as to help out with some of my questions during 2014. I do not see this thread as being a "sustainability thread".
And then ... through what you write I sense enthusiasm for what you are doing, and I'm thinking "good luck with it". However, although I myself reuse components to a large extent (and generally make low power circuitries) I also don't see it to be feasible in a production context: Reusing components in a larger production probably is not feasible due to cost, lack of stable sourcing, issues of reliability when getting the components out of PCBs etc. Recycling (cradle-to-cradle philosophy) IMHO is more realistic - or some of the other stages in the LCA image I've illustrated in this post:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/everything-else/237696-sustainability-audio-2.html#post3594599
Best regards,
Jesper
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