And another question Russ:
On my older counterpoint: if I have zero DC offset (or very low anyway) and from memory it is vey low - I could dispense with the output cap altoghether, couldn't I?
Fran
On my older counterpoint: if I have zero DC offset (or very low anyway) and from memory it is vey low - I could dispense with the output cap altoghether, couldn't I?
Fran
woodturner-fran said:
Its your call. 🙂 If its only 1mv or so then your probably going to be fine.
Cheers!
Russ
Re: Re: Re: Progress report
I am not sure how I would describe it. But noise is lower and THD improved. 🙂
Sometimes I wish there were more of me, and so do I.
Cheers!
Russ
dviswa said:
I am not sure how I would describe it. But noise is lower and THD improved. 🙂
Sometimes I wish there were more of me, and so do I.
Cheers!
Russ
OK, I reckon the offset is a bit high to chance it - 10mV one side and 20 the other.
So I added in the 2 wires, and its warming up now as I type - tell you one thing I noticed: I now have a very slight turn on "thump" and turn off "click". Its tiny - I mean when I turn on the desk lamp I have over the turntable, the click is louder - and these are through some full range drivers. But, just wanted to report that slight change.
I'm about to go and have a listen, so I'll report back later.
Fran
So I added in the 2 wires, and its warming up now as I type - tell you one thing I noticed: I now have a very slight turn on "thump" and turn off "click". Its tiny - I mean when I turn on the desk lamp I have over the turntable, the click is louder - and these are through some full range drivers. But, just wanted to report that slight change.
I'm about to go and have a listen, so I'll report back later.
Fran
Yes, very favourable impressions. I didn't A/B it (too late now to go at disconnecting the wires) but I reckon theres a bit more detail in it. Hard to believe that really - more detail!
Fran
Fran
Upgrade question for Brian/Russ.
Hi Brian/Russ,
I now have CD PRO2 - I2S into Metronome into Buffalo 24 into IVY, I wonder when I upgrade to the Buffalo 32s do I still need the Metronome or is the new 32s capable to work direct with the I2S from the CD PRO2.
TIA, Rene.
Hi Brian/Russ,
I now have CD PRO2 - I2S into Metronome into Buffalo 24 into IVY, I wonder when I upgrade to the Buffalo 32s do I still need the Metronome or is the new 32s capable to work direct with the I2S from the CD PRO2.
TIA, Rene.
Wow, I can't wait for the 32S only version!
BTW, I think by loading the balanced output in SE mode may resolve (or improve the problem). I would have no way of trying since I am unable to say I am a proud owner of one of these DACs, yet.
Greets,
MV
BTW, I think by loading the balanced output in SE mode may resolve (or improve the problem). I would have no way of trying since I am unable to say I am a proud owner of one of these DACs, yet.
Greets,
MV
Buffalo32s
Is it a TCXO on the board? 1ppm spec?
I wonder if there will be a second version integrating with 2 Counterpoints on a single board.
Is it a TCXO on the board? 1ppm spec?
I wonder if there will be a second version integrating with 2 Counterpoints on a single board.
sangram said:
Hi Sangram. I am not sure which issue you mean.. 🙁
I had a SPDIF drop out issue every once in a while when I turned off a ceiling fan, but I resolved that simply by isolating that circuit. 🙂
Cheers!
Russ
Hello Russ/ Brian
I have a question about the 1.2 Volt supply. Actually there are 3 1.2V supplies for the chip, analog left, analog right and digital core. I can see that on the new board you still use just one regulator for all the 1.2V supplies. Can you tell us that there is no benefit to use at least 2 1.2V supplies, one digital, one analog? We could get the impression that different 1.2V supplies for digital and analog are important for 1.2V as well.
Thank you
Andre
I have a question about the 1.2 Volt supply. Actually there are 3 1.2V supplies for the chip, analog left, analog right and digital core. I can see that on the new board you still use just one regulator for all the 1.2V supplies. Can you tell us that there is no benefit to use at least 2 1.2V supplies, one digital, one analog? We could get the impression that different 1.2V supplies for digital and analog are important for 1.2V as well.
Thank you
Andre
rolls said:
No there is no benefit to powering it separately, well except to parts vendors. 🙂
I have covered this before, but don't mind covering it again. 🙂
I conversed with Dustin about this at length as well as experimented on my own.
The 1.2V supplies that are on the analog side are actually just driving level shifter gates into the modulators from the core. It makes no difference if they are powered separately whatsoever.
I would not make such an important design decision lightly or without testing. 🙂
Cheers!
Russ
Russ White said:
Russ,
where this has been covered before?
Some explanations about the power supply regulation in Sabre23 chip has also been asked in the other thread, still without answer.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=1765543#post1765543
My experience is that the VREF mod to my Buffalo has dramatically improved its performance.
Carlo
Re: Introducing the Buffalo 32s
Any first impressions on the sound yet?
Nice! Very clean design.BrianDonegan said:
Any first impressions on the sound yet?
Russ White said:
Hello Russ
I thank you for this answer. This was not a hidden critic, but just interest. I would like to know this, because my Buffalo is battery driven, but the 1.2V reg is still in place. By the way, I have thought that I always read both threads, and I feel sorry when I missed a part.
regards
Andre
rolls said:
I feel like you, Andre. I look forward to the coming software upgrade to this forum, which supposedly will make it easier to find information deep inside long threads. Hopefully then we won't have to repeat questions/answers to keep information accessible.
🙂
Frank
Just to add to Woodturner Fran's comments re Counterpoint sound quality.
I've been listening to the Counterpoint (latest revision) with the AVCC bias.
The detail and separation, the kick of bass transients, the musicality and sweetness of the treble - these have put a huge grin on my saggy old face. I thought the Buffalo/IVY rocked, but this elevates the experience to a visceral level.
Terrific.
Mark
I've been listening to the Counterpoint (latest revision) with the AVCC bias.
The detail and separation, the kick of bass transients, the musicality and sweetness of the treble - these have put a huge grin on my saggy old face. I thought the Buffalo/IVY rocked, but this elevates the experience to a visceral level.
Terrific.
Mark
Goto said:
Hello Mark,
I am very pleased your like the Counterpoint.
I am really looking for feedback on it especially in terms of usability and practical aspects like turn-on /turn-off and offset.
The more feedback I get on it the better I will feel about releasing it as a non-beta project.
Cheers!
Russ
I'm not sure if you'll have an answer for this or not, but I am wondering about the output stage of the new Buffalo 32S. I understand it has the IVY 2 onboard. I also have heard that there are plans to release another version of the Buffalo 32S without an onboard output stage.
What kind of improvement could be expected using a Buffalo 32S (without the onbaord IVY) and a Counterpoint vs. a Buffalo 32S with the onboard IVY? I'm just debating whether I should jump on the preorder bandwagon or wait for the special non-IVY version so I can use the Counterpoint. Thanks!
What kind of improvement could be expected using a Buffalo 32S (without the onbaord IVY) and a Counterpoint vs. a Buffalo 32S with the onboard IVY? I'm just debating whether I should jump on the preorder bandwagon or wait for the special non-IVY version so I can use the Counterpoint. Thanks!
Russ White said:
Russ
To be honest, in my eagerness to get a sound out of the Counterpoint I dispensed with the usual checks with a DVM. Foolish as my power amp (UCD180ADs) does not react well to DC on the inputs,
So I just connected up, fully balanced, and it worked. I will measure the dc at the output of the Counterpoint when I get a chance. But it's not causing me a problem.
Also, I tend to turn on my audio chain from transport, through DAC, to power amp in that order, and off in reverse, so I am not likely to hear transitional thumps. On the couple of occasions I did disconnect power from the Counterpoint with the amps turned on, there was a moderate click, but nothing to worry me at all.
Some of the transistors on the Counterpoint get a little warm, but nothing to worry about and they seem stable.
In terms of the kit, I would suggest if the option is available, to add polarity markers on the pcb screen for the LEDs. Anyone without much experience in building up boards might get caught out as the board currently seems to assume you can trace the circuit against the schematic.
The standoffs are not long enough that you can stack a pair of Counterpoints should you need to due to the height of a couple of caps - trivial, but possibly easy to resolve. I just used two standoffs per corner.
Great work.
Thanks
Mikelm - You asked about PSUs. I use the TPA bipolar for the i/v and a combination of super-regs and basic 317 regulators for the other feeds from SPDIF receiver through the DAC. Nothing fancy as yet, though I have been looking at options.
Mark
- Status
- Not open for further replies.