Looks good Manolo, glad you're really enjoying the sound. I'm looking forwards to getting this up and running too, want to know what you're hearing.
The TP digital products are indeed very good, and excellent value for money. I love my current setup just want more of the same.
The TP digital products are indeed very good, and excellent value for money. I love my current setup just want more of the same.
Anyway, did a bit more soldering this week. standoffs and headers came some days ago.
mercury-buffalo headers soldered in place.
mercury-buffalo headers soldered in place.
The 10mm M3 standoffs fit pretty perfectly. Admittedly 9mm would have been even better but good luck finding those. I want the actual headers sealed as much as possible to avoid oxidation of the contacts so used the below setup.
headers on the buffalo placed to accept my regulator mounting board. Perfect match.
Only then soldered in place to avoid alignment chaos. Made that mistake many many years ago but only once, he he.
and the trident mounting board for the mating male headers. couple of jumpers and couple of links that needed to be installed too. I like to use headers and solder the pins together for reversible links. You have the assurance of a solid soldered connection and it only takes one wipe of a soldering iron to undo it, easy.
Only then soldered in place to avoid alignment chaos. Made that mistake many many years ago but only once, he he.
and the trident mounting board for the mating male headers. couple of jumpers and couple of links that needed to be installed too. I like to use headers and solder the pins together for reversible links. You have the assurance of a solid soldered connection and it only takes one wipe of a soldering iron to undo it, easy.
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But I can't actually use it as stands because of my board error. So the Buffalo bodge for now consists of male pins on the trident mounting board and hookup wire bodge on the Buffalo as below:
Digital volume control bypass applied as on above picture, I use a preamp and volume pot.
LEDs next.
... and soldered, shaky hand obviously as not the straightest, he he.
LEDs next.
... and soldered, shaky hand obviously as not the straightest, he he.
Digital output hook wires soldered in place ready for the cronus.
Wonder why Russ decided to do away with the header to the cronus? Ah well not a big drama.
Wonder why Russ decided to do away with the header to the cronus? Ah well not a big drama.
So does it all fit together? Yip!
trident mounting board pins align perfectly to buffalo, my main initial concern. The Buffalo/mercury obviously does
trident mounting board pins align perfectly to buffalo, my main initial concern. The Buffalo/mercury obviously does
Buffalo dip switches were a pest. These are not well documented from a user perspective IMO. Took a while to figure out.
Ive settled for the following:
SWITCH BANK 1
SPDIF / PCM-DSD
SWITCH BANK 2
Automute
Ive settled for the following:
- Switch Bank 1: OFF: 1, 4, 7
- Switch Bank 2: OFF: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8
SWITCH BANK 1
SPDIF / PCM-DSD
1: OFF (PCM-DSD)
PCM format (I2S or LJ/RJ)2: ON (I2S)
3: ON or OFF (I2S) either is fine
PCM word length (16, 24, 32 bit)4. OFF(24 Bit)
5. ON (24 bit)
8x FIR filter selection (fast/slow/brick wall rolloff, apodising/Hybrid, linear/min phase).6. ON (Fast roll off, Minimum phase)
7. OFF (Fast roll off, Minimum phase)
8. ON (Fast roll off, Minimum phase)
SWITCH BANK 2
Automute
1. OFF (enabled)
OSF (8x oversampling. Needs to be on or causes glaring sound)2. ON (enabled)
IRR filter bandwidth @ 44.1Khz (47.44K, 50K, 60K, 70K) 47.44K is default3. ON (47.44K)
4 ON (47.44K)
4bit DPLL Bandwidth (5 is low bit: 0-0-0-0= off, 1-0-0-0= lowest. 1-1-1-1 = highest | logic: off=1, on= 0)5 OFF (highest)
6 OFF (highest)
7 OFF (highest)
8 OFF (highest)
Here's info straight from TPA...
https://github.com/twistedpearaudio/Buffalo-III-SE-Pro-On-Board-Firmware
Interesting question above regarding filtering of Mercury outputs. I'd be shocked if you heard a difference between 30k and 40k, unless you live beside a commercial radio transmitter, or the like! In case of expected interference, perhaps uFl interconnects (shielded) into the buffalo would be advisable. The coaxial connectors are waiting if you choose to use them. However, they are not intended for multiple cycles of connect/disconnect.
Looking good!
https://github.com/twistedpearaudio/Buffalo-III-SE-Pro-On-Board-Firmware
Interesting question above regarding filtering of Mercury outputs. I'd be shocked if you heard a difference between 30k and 40k, unless you live beside a commercial radio transmitter, or the like! In case of expected interference, perhaps uFl interconnects (shielded) into the buffalo would be advisable. The coaxial connectors are waiting if you choose to use them. However, they are not intended for multiple cycles of connect/disconnect.
Looking good!
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Sorry if I may ask, I'd like to add current Trident to a Buffalo II, I've read the integration guide. Are them still good for a BII ? Thanks gf
The notion of the Buffalo 3 being in its twilight may be premature!
https://trackingangle.com/equipment/wells-audio-cipher-ii-level-ii
In this interesting DAC review, note the actual circuit boards for DAC admin, power, and I/V! No surprise, really. Though I particularly wonder about the vregs that replace the tridents. As for the triode output buffer, my experience with triodes is that when you run them hot enough to sound wonderful, their life is fairly short. No thanks.
Frank
https://trackingangle.com/equipment/wells-audio-cipher-ii-level-ii
In this interesting DAC review, note the actual circuit boards for DAC admin, power, and I/V! No surprise, really. Though I particularly wonder about the vregs that replace the tridents. As for the triode output buffer, my experience with triodes is that when you run them hot enough to sound wonderful, their life is fairly short. No thanks.
Frank