Hi All,
I have an Arcam Delta Blackbox 1 Dac, the Dac have only 1 coaxial digital input.
I would like to modify the Dac digital input section with a DIR9001 based input board which have both coaxial and optical inputs and I2S output.
My question is, can I connect the DIR9001 Data and LRCK or BCLK outputs directly to ARCAM's IC304 custom chip inputs (DATA and CLOCK) ?
or I need to omit IC304 and connect it directly to the digital filter inputs (or going NOS and connect the I2S directly to the TDA1541?
Thanks
I have an Arcam Delta Blackbox 1 Dac, the Dac have only 1 coaxial digital input.
I would like to modify the Dac digital input section with a DIR9001 based input board which have both coaxial and optical inputs and I2S output.
My question is, can I connect the DIR9001 Data and LRCK or BCLK outputs directly to ARCAM's IC304 custom chip inputs (DATA and CLOCK) ?
or I need to omit IC304 and connect it directly to the digital filter inputs (or going NOS and connect the I2S directly to the TDA1541?
Thanks
Attachments
I made a input digital board for my Arcam BB1, see here.
If your Arcam is still in original state and working I would have a question: at very low volumes do you hear some kind of distortion? I recorded an example of the output of my Arcam and posted about it here. Would you be so kind and playback this recording on your Arcam for me and let me know if it sounds similar through headphones?
If your Arcam is still in original state and working I would have a question: at very low volumes do you hear some kind of distortion? I recorded an example of the output of my Arcam and posted about it here. Would you be so kind and playback this recording on your Arcam for me and let me know if it sounds similar through headphones?
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Hi jpk73,
using your audio file I cannot deteact any distortion from my BB1.
The only changes I've made (for now) is replacing the TDA1541A with TDA1541 S1 and runing it in NOS (saa7220 removed and bypassed).
I also changed the 490r resistor in the LM337 to drop the - 6.2v to the TDA1541A negative voltage input to - 5v (360r).
Btw how you disabled the muting function for connecting your digital input board?
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There is a transistor muting the data line, just cut that track between R322 and Q305.
Thanks for testing my ripped track. Distortion is probably not the correct term: it sounds more like a background noise similar to wind blowing onto a microphone, but very very faint and only during fade in. Did you compare with my recordings from the analog output?
Thanks for testing my ripped track. Distortion is probably not the correct term: it sounds more like a background noise similar to wind blowing onto a microphone, but very very faint and only during fade in. Did you compare with my recordings from the analog output?
No, I didn't compare the files, I'll compare it and reply.
Btw is there a reason for the very low level of the audio file?
Btw is there a reason for the very low level of the audio file?
I compared your "audio" file(contains Arcam, Naim and 2 Philips) all sound the same in comparison each one to another.
The "rip" file has a very low level output (had to raise the volume to about 12 o'clock in my amp) but it still sounds the same as the others.
All the files have some hiss and low "hum", can you attach/upload the original file in normal output level?
The "rip" file has a very low level output (had to raise the volume to about 12 o'clock in my amp) but it still sounds the same as the others.
All the files have some hiss and low "hum", can you attach/upload the original file in normal output level?
Thank you so much!! The ripped file is the original, and the "distortion" occurs only at very low levels. What I did is playing back the ripped file on the black box, plus on Naim and Philips cd players and recorded from their analog outputs to compare against the original file that was ripped from the CD.
If you turn up the volume so that all files sound the same there will be significant differences during fade-in (maybe it sounds like very bad dithering). If you play back the ripped file on a modern dac there is no "distortion" at all (i.e. it sounds like the Naim file), but played back through my black box it sounds like the Arcam file. Do you understand what I mean?
EDIT: it would be even interesting to compare NOS to the SAA7220 with this particular file (I mean the ripped one) as the SAA applies noise shaping. But I can't do that any more with my black box...
EDIT2: the SAA comes after the custom IC, so you need to inject your digital lines that come from the DIR9001 after the custom ic. I would recommend to take out the custom IC (and the other DIP ic near it) and try to get it work with the SAA7220 in place.
If you turn up the volume so that all files sound the same there will be significant differences during fade-in (maybe it sounds like very bad dithering). If you play back the ripped file on a modern dac there is no "distortion" at all (i.e. it sounds like the Naim file), but played back through my black box it sounds like the Arcam file. Do you understand what I mean?
EDIT: it would be even interesting to compare NOS to the SAA7220 with this particular file (I mean the ripped one) as the SAA applies noise shaping. But I can't do that any more with my black box...
EDIT2: the SAA comes after the custom IC, so you need to inject your digital lines that come from the DIR9001 after the custom ic. I would recommend to take out the custom IC (and the other DIP ic near it) and try to get it work with the SAA7220 in place.
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Hi jpk73,
I just want to mention that I'm streaming your files, not playing it on a CD player.
Why your "rip" file is so low in level?
I played your files on 4 different DACs and in all of them there is no difference, they all sounds bad (the sound is not clean) and have the same noisy background, I don't think the Naim file sounds better, just higher in level.
Another question, I would like to start recapping the Arcam BB, strating with the TDA1541 chip power supply lines, I have few different capacitor types in hand and I would like to know your idea and suggestions which one of them is the most suitable for this purpose.
I have:
1. Panasonic Os-con caps
2. Nichicon UKZ
3. Elna Silmic II
4. Panasonic FC
5. Tantalums
6. Panasonic FM
Thanks
I just want to mention that I'm streaming your files, not playing it on a CD player.
Why your "rip" file is so low in level?
I played your files on 4 different DACs and in all of them there is no difference, they all sounds bad (the sound is not clean) and have the same noisy background, I don't think the Naim file sounds better, just higher in level.
Another question, I would like to start recapping the Arcam BB, strating with the TDA1541 chip power supply lines, I have few different capacitor types in hand and I would like to know your idea and suggestions which one of them is the most suitable for this purpose.
I have:
1. Panasonic Os-con caps
2. Nichicon UKZ
3. Elna Silmic II
4. Panasonic FC
5. Tantalums
6. Panasonic FM
Thanks
Yes, perfect, all files are meant to be streamed, only the original ripped file played back on the Black Box will reveal a difference. The level is super low because it's a classical orchestra recording with wide dynamic range from the 80s. The noise I am describing was only apparent with the ripped file played back on my black box. The other files prove that the noise it not there with my other players, and I thought my black box should sound the same - but it doesn't: instead it sounds like the file "Arcam"...
As for the caps: I normally don't use low esr caps in vintage kit unless the stock cap suggests low esr. But I would just use what's in my parts box, i.e I was surprised how good NHG caps sound in my black box. UKZ, FC etc. should at least sound as good if not better...
As for the caps: I normally don't use low esr caps in vintage kit unless the stock cap suggests low esr. But I would just use what's in my parts box, i.e I was surprised how good NHG caps sound in my black box. UKZ, FC etc. should at least sound as good if not better...
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Just an update with a must mod for the Arcam BB1/2 IMHO.
Replace the 4 470nF tantalum caps of the TDA1541 DEM decoupling caps with 470nF foil caps and "bypassing" the last 2 with 2.2uF Elna silmic II (started just as an expriment that ended really well, waiting for Wima mkp2 to replace the 2 Elna silmic caps) , maybe it's just my ears playing tricks on me but I feel a huge improvement in the upper frequencies region, Alice in chains unplugged sounds almost perfect now, no more unpleasant guitar strings "sharpness" (-:
Looking forward recapping the whole BB.
Replace the 4 470nF tantalum caps of the TDA1541 DEM decoupling caps with 470nF foil caps and "bypassing" the last 2 with 2.2uF Elna silmic II (started just as an expriment that ended really well, waiting for Wima mkp2 to replace the 2 Elna silmic caps) , maybe it's just my ears playing tricks on me but I feel a huge improvement in the upper frequencies region, Alice in chains unplugged sounds almost perfect now, no more unpleasant guitar strings "sharpness" (-:
Looking forward recapping the whole BB.
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