During our all out RV remodel that will have a great audio system, as much DIY as possible, I am using a 4 year old HP Laptop, USB to E30 Topping DAC on battery power, Martin Logan Vision X sound bar and it is actually quite a decent setup considering $395 into the SB and E30 and battery plus cables🙂
I am a lifelong DIY guy with considerable experience as an electronic tech and some on DIY audio, not an engineer, and know well of the snake oil levels in this great hobby. I have done DIY cables for a very long time, cheap and great and some tested against very high end cables that did not do as well in tests, including blind listening and using super high end test gear, aerospace lab grade .
This is about all the "dirty" computer USB output I keep hearing about yet not hearing in my little temp system. I just received two new batteries for the laptop, original died, so going to do some listening with and without running on battery power.
I use Qobuz for streaming and will build or buy a streamer like the Zen, etc, if I must but for now just not sure really needed so asking here as I know there are many far more advanced into this topic than I am, please help
Note, I will likely be looking more into DSP, etc though I prefer the simplest analog system I can make work.
Thanks,
Rick
I am a lifelong DIY guy with considerable experience as an electronic tech and some on DIY audio, not an engineer, and know well of the snake oil levels in this great hobby. I have done DIY cables for a very long time, cheap and great and some tested against very high end cables that did not do as well in tests, including blind listening and using super high end test gear, aerospace lab grade .
This is about all the "dirty" computer USB output I keep hearing about yet not hearing in my little temp system. I just received two new batteries for the laptop, original died, so going to do some listening with and without running on battery power.
I use Qobuz for streaming and will build or buy a streamer like the Zen, etc, if I must but for now just not sure really needed so asking here as I know there are many far more advanced into this topic than I am, please help
Note, I will likely be looking more into DSP, etc though I prefer the simplest analog system I can make work.
Thanks,
Rick
I use a hp laptop which has 24 bit audio. I use it as my music file storage and playback through headphone socket to transformer coupled preamp and hughes 39 wat se amp and sounds fine to me.perfect probably not enjoyable yes.
The problem with computers ... are ground loops. Easily solved with non grounded PSUs.
I use a Raspberry PI4 with Picoreplayer as a streamer right now and sounds fine with my Hifiberry Hat.
I use a Raspberry PI4 with Picoreplayer as a streamer right now and sounds fine with my Hifiberry Hat.
I use an old Lenovo X1 laptop, connected to my preamp/processor with HDMI, which is brilliant. HDMI supports up to 8 channels, virtually any bitrate and up to 24 bits depth, as well as native DSD and DTS. No ground loop issues either - the external PSU is not ground tied on the secondary side.
Thanks for the responses!
My laptop has a grounded cord from wall outlet to the power supply but no ground wire from PS to the laptop..
I have been dealing with a lot of line noise on the AC and just about have it fully cured, one thing that helped a great deal was two dedicated AC lines to use with my computer and audio system needs. 3 wire twisted inside metal conduit from panel to wall outlets, metal conduit only connected at the panel and not touching anything metal on the way to the outlets. Remodeling RV, new rear wall(added more room for the audio system) is fully shielded, new sidewalls as well and all windows soon to be, floor is done, ceiling will be done, full RV as the build goes. Sucks being in an incredibly beautiful place we love but having a bunch of wifi power meters 20 ft away.
My DAC does not have HDMI, USB is the best port, not sure how I would adapt it to USB but might be able to with just modding an HDMI cable and give it a try, may as well, being retired and in the winter not much remodel work getting done. I will research it a bit before trying it of course.
I have been considering a PI, NUC, tablet, etc....more research needed there but really not a bad sounding setup now that I got rid of the noisy AC.
I will build better shielded AC cords, so easy and cheap I may as well give it a go.
I like AKM DACs sound so looking to upgrade what I have now as bought it as a temp solution anyway. Not really into DIY for a DAC as really great ones made for not that much money. I want one with XLR and RCA outputs that can both be active to make it easier to bi amp or go 2.1 in a simpler setup like I am working to attain.
Thanks again!
Rick
My laptop has a grounded cord from wall outlet to the power supply but no ground wire from PS to the laptop..
I have been dealing with a lot of line noise on the AC and just about have it fully cured, one thing that helped a great deal was two dedicated AC lines to use with my computer and audio system needs. 3 wire twisted inside metal conduit from panel to wall outlets, metal conduit only connected at the panel and not touching anything metal on the way to the outlets. Remodeling RV, new rear wall(added more room for the audio system) is fully shielded, new sidewalls as well and all windows soon to be, floor is done, ceiling will be done, full RV as the build goes. Sucks being in an incredibly beautiful place we love but having a bunch of wifi power meters 20 ft away.
My DAC does not have HDMI, USB is the best port, not sure how I would adapt it to USB but might be able to with just modding an HDMI cable and give it a try, may as well, being retired and in the winter not much remodel work getting done. I will research it a bit before trying it of course.
I have been considering a PI, NUC, tablet, etc....more research needed there but really not a bad sounding setup now that I got rid of the noisy AC.
I will build better shielded AC cords, so easy and cheap I may as well give it a go.
I like AKM DACs sound so looking to upgrade what I have now as bought it as a temp solution anyway. Not really into DIY for a DAC as really great ones made for not that much money. I want one with XLR and RCA outputs that can both be active to make it easier to bi amp or go 2.1 in a simpler setup like I am working to attain.
Thanks again!
Rick
The barrel (-) is usually connected to PE ground.
Did You check with a DVM ?
Try a cheater 3-2 plug first.
There are also aftermarket PSUs without grounded plug. I bought one for my old Vaio at Staples.
You are using battery to generate AC, then back to DC through the AC powered SMPS and chargers...
I would use an all DC circuit, no line noise, power the DAC from battery, use a USB stick to source music, load it with laptop.
The amp and so on can also be used on DC alone.
You will have little noise then, it is your inverter which is making noise.
Try connecting its shield to a ground stake, see if that reduces the noise.
I would use an all DC circuit, no line noise, power the DAC from battery, use a USB stick to source music, load it with laptop.
The amp and so on can also be used on DC alone.
You will have little noise then, it is your inverter which is making noise.
Try connecting its shield to a ground stake, see if that reduces the noise.
MAACO, to be clear the PS has three wires to the outlet but only two out of it to the computer. It should be fine as is since the AC lines are grounded and separately shielded as is the whole wall of the RV and will be even more so when spring comes.
Junior35,
I might have to check out that USB isolator, cheap enough to try it, not snake oil priced either🙂
Junior35,
I might have to check out that USB isolator, cheap enough to try it, not snake oil priced either🙂
NareshBrd,
I will go over what you posted tomorrow, pretty sure I have done most of what can be done at this point, system seems very quite, audio sounds great, will keep tweaking things, DIY cables, etc....just to see if I can make it better for little or no cost.
Thanks!
Rick
I will go over what you posted tomorrow, pretty sure I have done most of what can be done at this point, system seems very quite, audio sounds great, will keep tweaking things, DIY cables, etc....just to see if I can make it better for little or no cost.
Thanks!
Rick