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Buffalo II

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#421
merlin el mago said:
I'm looking Esstech data sheet ES9018, link:

http://www.esstech.com/PDF/Sabre32 DAC PF 081217.pdf

Possible you have other data sheet from manufacturer that isn't available in the web & only for customers, could you share?
Click to expand...

That's not the datasheet. That's the product brief.

The datasheet is only available to those who sign an NDA from ESS. Yes I have it, but no I can't make it public.

There is so little DXD(352.8/24) music out there right now I hardly see it as worth trouble right now. I am quite happy with 192/24. But its nice to know I can listen to it if I want to. 🙂

Cheers!
Russ
 
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#422
Russ White said:
There is so little DXD(352.8/24) music out there right now I hardly see it as worth trouble right now.
Click to expand...

Indeed. I'm not an audio engineer but as I understand it, even 96 kHz sampling has a dynamic range which encompasses the whole of human hearing (and way beyond the analogue tape/vinyl records that many audiophiles hold up as the pinnacle of sound quality).

Other than as a technical exercise, or making music for dogs/extra-terrestrials, what's the point of 352.8 kHz? I'm genuinely curious.
 
#425
Russ White said:
That's not the datasheet. That's the product brief.

The datasheet is only available to those who sign an NDA from ESS. Yes I have it, but no I can't make it public.

There is so little DXD(352.8/24) music out there right now I hardly see it as worth trouble right now. I am quite happy with 192/24. But its nice to know I can it if I want to. 🙂

Cheers!
Russ
Click to expand...

I supposed that not was the datasheet, ok I understand that you can't share due to the signed NDA from ESS, so I trust you if you said that the B II can play 24/352.8 wow. The only way I know to interfacing PC with B II is with M2Tech Hiface USB 2.0 to SPDIF but you said only I2S can do so I have to ask jkeny to modifie for I2S (100€00 aprox. the interface + 50€00 modd), it's the only way, or do you know other ways to B II can play DXD files?

Thanks in advance
 
#426
Russ White said:
For listening there is very little to gain. Some, possibly. This a purely subjective. From an engineering/production and mastering standpoint it makes a lot of sense because it gives you much more headroom to apply tranforms. Most of this stuff is not done in the analog realm at all.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much what I thought. I can see the logic in recording at the highest quality possible, but when playing it back the law of diminishing returns must come into play. It's hard enough to find the music I like in Redbook quality let alone anything higher (then there's the whole remastering debacle where so much compression is applied that a lot of it ends up clipping).
I know analogue isn't used any more (which makes it even more odd that people want to listen to something on a medium with such limited dynamic range which was recorded digitally - then add some distortion by way of thermionic valves, or even tubes 😉). I'm putting the worm can back on the shelf now, hoping no one notices I opened it.

Anyway, it's good to know that the superb Buffalo II can convert anything you want it to. Apologies for veering wildly off-topic and anxiously awaiting an AC1.
 
#428
merlin el mago said:
The only way I know to interfacing PC with B II is with M2Tech Hiface USB 2.0 modified for I2S (100€00 aprox. the interface + 50€00 modd), it's the only way, or do you know other ways to B II can play DXD files?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

That won't work. There is no consumer audio product I know of that will do 352.8khz PCM output in any form. It would have to be DIY project or something like what Bumpei and Chiaki are doing with the SDTrans.

Anyone familiar with DSP and microcontrollers could whip something up using a beagleboard like I did.

Cheers!
Russ
 
#429
Russ White said:
Hi elecon,

Your result is to be expected if you have used only the SDTrans. Try a different source. I have tried three 352.8khz 24bit sources. I have used 80mhz and 100mhz clocks.

I did some analysis of the condition of the DAC when receiving signal from all three of my sources.

What I found was that reading the 32bit DPLL registers while playing silence from all three sources gave the best indication of which one was working well. I created a logger that tracked the adjustments the DAC made the DPLL. With the two sources that worked flawlessly the DPLL register barely moved. While with the SDTRANS the DPLL would not only swing wildly but occasiionally unlock. Reading the DPLL registers is quite easy, and quite effective. If it is moving a lot (a little is ok) then the DAC is having to work too hard to keep a lock.

Now if you use a faster clock, the DPLL has a bit more headroom to do its magic, but this is really masking the deeper problem which is a less than optimal PCM signal. The issue seems to be with the bit clock to word clock timing, or possibly the bit clock itsself.

Now here is the bottom line. I have used the SDTrans and I very much appreciate the opportunity. I love the idea. I really like the attitude of the two people behind it, Bumpei and Chiaki have been very gracious to me. I am doing my best to help them make their module better.

Here is the great news, at 192khz it works quite well, but I agree the UI could use some work. 🙂

So I think I have explained things the best I can.

My experience is that the ES9018 handles 352.8khz 24bit flawlessly with a 80mhz master clock so long as the source has cleanly encoded PCM.

Cheers!
Russ
Click to expand...

Hi Russ,

Thanks for your very complete and informative reply. I understand perfectly, and I will discuss the content with Chiaki & Bunpei, and I also understand that you have provided them with additional information through "PM".

Cheers 🙂
 
#430
To me, the idea to have the original master files is appealing. No downsampling made - just the pure unspoiled original 🙂

Russ - what version of the SDTrans are you using?

Regards,


Russ White said:
For listening there is very little to gain. Some, possibly. This is purely subjective. From an engineering/production and mastering standpoint it makes a lot of sense because it gives you much more headroom to apply tranforms. Most of this stuff is not done in the analog realm at all.
Click to expand...
 
#431
Russ White said:
Hi elecon,


What I found was that reading the 32bit DPLL registers while playing silence from all three sources gave the best indication of which one was working well. I created a logger that tracked the adjustments the DAC made the DPLL. With the two sources that worked flawlessly the DPLL register barely moved. While with the SDTRANS the DPLL would not only swing wildly but occasiionally unlock. Reading the DPLL registers is quite easy, and quite effective. If it is moving a lot (a little is ok) then the DAC is having to work too hard to keep a lock.

...

Cheers!
Russ
Click to expand...

Interesting. I can see the DPLL is adjusting (by reading the registers) With spdif, it changes very slightly.
 
#434
ACIDbrain is my name and I'm back in tha H🙂USE again !
(never mind the dust) Details & smooth ride Thanks TP !
 

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#438
Okay, I may finally have time over the next couple weekends to start looking at my Buf2. I'm planning on pairing it with an original Ivy which is currently set up for an Opus and so has 2k input resistors. Since I really haven't been paying close attention, I need some guidance. To use it with the Buffalo, should I:
a) just leave the 2k resistors in and use as-is
b) jumper the resistor pads and run the Buffalo in directly
c) replace the 2k resistors with lower but non-zero values (I remember 39R being mentioned somewhere)

guidance appreciated. thanks.
 
#439
dwk123 said:
Okay, I may finally have time over the next couple weekends to start looking at my Buf2. I'm planning on pairing it with an original Ivy which is currently set up for an Opus and so has 2k input resistors. Since I really haven't been paying close attention, I need some guidance. To use it with the Buffalo, should I:
a) just leave the 2k resistors in and use as-is
b) jumper the resistor pads and run the Buffalo in directly
c) replace the 2k resistors with lower but non-zero values (I remember 39R being mentioned somewhere)

guidance appreciated. thanks.
Click to expand...

http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/docs/linestages/ivy_manual_2.0.pdf
 
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