This is what I have so far on the order form for a FiFoPi Q3:
5.6448 MHz SC-cut
TWTMC-DIL
TWTMC-DRIXO-F 5.6448 MHz
TWTMC-STS-DX
Are these four items enough for a Q3? I have a LiFePO4 power supply that I can use.
5.6448 MHz SC-cut
TWTMC-DIL
TWTMC-DRIXO-F 5.6448 MHz
TWTMC-STS-DX
Are these four items enough for a Q3? I have a LiFePO4 power supply that I can use.
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Good decision. Kind of a once in a life time opportunity. There is nothing commercially available at these prices and may not be for a very long time.
@wlowes
Thanks, but not a done deal yet.
I've been trying to follow your TWTMC build for a while since you require just a single 5.6448 MHz (Q3) too, but been distracted.
I was hoping to research TWTMC once my build was stable, but it's been in flux all year long with ever-changing requirements.
Since there's a slight surplus, I thought why not.
Number of factors that converged at the right time:
Thanks, but not a done deal yet.
I've been trying to follow your TWTMC build for a while since you require just a single 5.6448 MHz (Q3) too, but been distracted.
I was hoping to research TWTMC once my build was stable, but it's been in flux all year long with ever-changing requirements.
Since there's a slight surplus, I thought why not.
Number of factors that converged at the right time:
- My portable BMS for my portable Q3 gave out, so I'm switching Q3 for desktop.
- I canceled my 12V PC Build which was suppose to replace desktop Q3 build.
- I noticed the slight surplus posting.
- Finished board available. Without finished board, it would probably be too complex.
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I don't know if Ian's FIFO external oscillators inputs are 5V tolerant, if not so you have to add the 100R resistor.
Please, ask Ian.
On the small adaptor board you have to mount the u.fl connector, then you can use a u.fl cable to connect the DIL board to the PPG board.
The DIL small board fits Ian's FIFO, pay attention to the polarity.
why don't extend the sense wire from the ref-d to the oscillator ?
you will gain little lower rout.
Did anyone compare subjectively the first ladder step TWTMC PPG versus the sota DRIXO?
I fear of what I maybe missing out on! But this PPG sounding very good!
I fear of what I maybe missing out on! But this PPG sounding very good!
@wlowes
Many thanks again. I boarded the plane for the last seat and hope to touchdown at my destination. I would not be here if you didn't have these 'redbook-only' requirements nearly a year ago. It would have been too overwhelming for me to go two clocks, but one clock I hope I can manage.
I'm also going with a Amanero Combo384 for I2S extraction as that works well with AudioLinux realtime low latency kernel.
I don't know if there is a better, compatible I2S extraction possible with a BridgePi. Just had a thought, I can also use the Combo384 for Andrea's FiFo. I don't plan on any other purchases until after the clock is assembled, so we can see at that time after summer.
Many thanks again. I boarded the plane for the last seat and hope to touchdown at my destination. I would not be here if you didn't have these 'redbook-only' requirements nearly a year ago. It would have been too overwhelming for me to go two clocks, but one clock I hope I can manage.
I'm also going with a Amanero Combo384 for I2S extraction as that works well with AudioLinux realtime low latency kernel.
I don't know if there is a better, compatible I2S extraction possible with a BridgePi. Just had a thought, I can also use the Combo384 for Andrea's FiFo. I don't plan on any other purchases until after the clock is assembled, so we can see at that time after summer.
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A123.. Glad to hear it is going well.
I am very happy with the way this has turned out. Powered now for 7 days, my WTMC has been a game changer for my system. I had a few HiRes WAV files that I resampled to 44.1 using a little tool called R8Brain. It never ceases to amaze me how much musical info there was in all these CDs or how much untapped potential the audio chain had. It just needed a great clock to unlock the potential in Redbook.
I am very happy with the way this has turned out. Powered now for 7 days, my WTMC has been a game changer for my system. I had a few HiRes WAV files that I resampled to 44.1 using a little tool called R8Brain. It never ceases to amaze me how much musical info there was in all these CDs or how much untapped potential the audio chain had. It just needed a great clock to unlock the potential in Redbook.
wlowes... Glad you found your endgame_for_now solution. It must be amazing.
I'll check out R8Brain. In the past I used iZotope RX, but that was a decade ago. But that's a great idea, I hadn't considered resampling to take advantage of the WTMC.
Redbook works great with toslink-fed Chord DACs. In the past I needed to compensate with HiRes, but no need with Chord. Only with optical though because USB didn't do it for me with Redbook.
So I'm guessing if your system if resolving enough, Redbook is more than perfectly fine. Purely, IMO. With Andrea's clock, it should take up a few notches.
I'll check out R8Brain. In the past I used iZotope RX, but that was a decade ago. But that's a great idea, I hadn't considered resampling to take advantage of the WTMC.
Redbook works great with toslink-fed Chord DACs. In the past I needed to compensate with HiRes, but no need with Chord. Only with optical though because USB didn't do it for me with Redbook.
So I'm guessing if your system if resolving enough, Redbook is more than perfectly fine. Purely, IMO. With Andrea's clock, it should take up a few notches.
I'm happy to admit that a really well recorded and mastered track sounds great on HiRes and marginally better than the same track down sampled to 44.1k.
But here's the deal. 44.1k was chosen by smart audio engineers as the perfect sample rate for human hearing, and it is an optimal balance between file size and quality. For decades, the playback gear has never kept up with the quality required to play 44.1k at its full potential. Instead we had years of bad playback and in some cases in exchange for $40k DACs you got pretty good playback. But the marketing dpt came in and differentiated based on higher resolution. Soon everyone could play at mega high rates and in some cases receive marginally better playback. But 99.9% of all readily available music is on 44.1k. And most of it is bad. And most of the more expensive Hi Res stuff is not much better.
For me it really comes down to is finding great music and a great recording at 44.1 and being happy. You can buy used CD's for nothing, or borrow them from the library. And with Andrea's WTMC it can sound amazing.
But here's the deal. 44.1k was chosen by smart audio engineers as the perfect sample rate for human hearing, and it is an optimal balance between file size and quality. For decades, the playback gear has never kept up with the quality required to play 44.1k at its full potential. Instead we had years of bad playback and in some cases in exchange for $40k DACs you got pretty good playback. But the marketing dpt came in and differentiated based on higher resolution. Soon everyone could play at mega high rates and in some cases receive marginally better playback. But 99.9% of all readily available music is on 44.1k. And most of it is bad. And most of the more expensive Hi Res stuff is not much better.
For me it really comes down to is finding great music and a great recording at 44.1 and being happy. You can buy used CD's for nothing, or borrow them from the library. And with Andrea's WTMC it can sound amazing.
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Agreed. That reminds me I have to check CD shops again for used Target CDs.
I'm a purist so like original flat transfers if possible:
The Target CD Collection: What are Target CDs?
I'm a purist so like original flat transfers if possible:
The Target CD Collection: What are Target CDs?
I finished the 5,6448 MHz board in the morning, the frequency is 5,6447 MHz measured, but there is measuring error, so I thinks its ok.
So I have just 10MHz oscilloscope, the shape of the sine is hardly seen, seems a little unsymmetric, but its not shure.
I will listen to music with this board in the weekend.
So I have just 10MHz oscilloscope, the shape of the sine is hardly seen, seems a little unsymmetric, but its not shure.
I will listen to music with this board in the weekend.
Just a clarification.
About the frequency:
- first of all you need a very precise tool with GPS sync to measure the exact frequency of the oscillator, otherwise the measured frequency is an approximation
- the DRIXO oscillator uses SC-Cut crystals without a oven, so the frequency is not exactly the nominal one since it operates at room temperature instead of at the target temperature. Due to the inflection curve of the SC-Cut crystal vs teperature the operating frequency without a oven will be a little different against the nominal one.
- the operating frequency of the DRIXO oscillator drifts over the time because there isn't an oven
- in digital audio we don't care about precise frequency and long term stability, unless you have to sync several devices with separate clocks. In this case the DRIXO oscillator is not suitable unless you build and install your own oven
About the sine wave:
- the output of the DRIXO oscillator is AC coupled, so you should not see any asymmetry
- to view correctly the waveform the oscillator has to be correctly terminated with a 50 ohm load.
About the frequency:
- first of all you need a very precise tool with GPS sync to measure the exact frequency of the oscillator, otherwise the measured frequency is an approximation
- the DRIXO oscillator uses SC-Cut crystals without a oven, so the frequency is not exactly the nominal one since it operates at room temperature instead of at the target temperature. Due to the inflection curve of the SC-Cut crystal vs teperature the operating frequency without a oven will be a little different against the nominal one.
- the operating frequency of the DRIXO oscillator drifts over the time because there isn't an oven
- in digital audio we don't care about precise frequency and long term stability, unless you have to sync several devices with separate clocks. In this case the DRIXO oscillator is not suitable unless you build and install your own oven
About the sine wave:
- the output of the DRIXO oscillator is AC coupled, so you should not see any asymmetry
- to view correctly the waveform the oscillator has to be correctly terminated with a 50 ohm load.