Introducing the Buffalo III-SE-Pro 9028/9038

[francolargo]

Sorry, didnt mean to imply that the Buffalo was comparable. I bought as D10s as a modding platform and possibly to use with andrea's FIFO+clocks in future, If the impressions of Buffalo were positive then it would give some idea if it's worth pursuing it with D10s.

Definitely some large improvements needed in the power supply of D10S,
Since the op amp I/V wouldn't be loaded as much its possible it has some benefits for SQ of I/V stage with only 2 channels.

I've heard some very nice 9038Q2M DACs so there is potential. Too bad there is no balanced output from the little D10s. Enjoy the project!

 

[lasercut]

Just cutting the PC USB power and powering the D10s with an ultrabib pretty much fixed all the glaring problems with the sound, it absolutely baffles me that this (apparently) doesnt show up in any form in the entire ASR measurement set.

 

[daansan]

I'm running into something strange with my new BIIISE-Pro.


On both serial and SPDIF inputs I can play music, i hear both Left and Right speakers.
But when I try to play channel test files "this is the left channel", "this is the right channel", etc.. The right channel displays complete silence.


I attached a test file to this post for the sake of clarity.



Why does music play (also right) and do these channel tests fail? When I play the files on my computer i'm hearing everything.


Somebody have a clue?

 

[lasercut]

When test file plays 'this is the left channel' does it play in both channels or only left?

 

[daansan]

Only left, the center and surround channels play from both

 

[lasercut]

'When I play the files on my computer i'm hearing everything.'
Do you mean you can hear both channels from the computers built in audio output, just not through Buffalo?

Did you try playing it in a different software?
What i2s and spdif interface are you using?

 

[daansan]

Ok, my testing:


Playing the file on my macbook pro with headphones: left channel sounds on left earbud, right channel sounds on right earbud, center and surround channels sound on both earbuds


Playing the file on my BlueSound Node2 streamer with analog out to my preamp: same experience as above on the macbook pro


Playing the file on my BlueSound Node2 with SPDIF to buffalo: left channel sounds on both speakers, right channel is silent/inaudible/skipped, center and surround channels play on both speakers

Playing the file on my raspberry pi outputting via USB Audio to Amanero/Hermes/Cronus combination outputting i2s serial to Buffalo: left channel sounds on both speakers, right channel is silent/inaudible/skipped, center and surround channels play on both speakers

 

[lasercut]

It is really unusual, the file you uploaded also says its only a 2 channel file.

 

[daansan]

yeah, i'm not focussing on the center and surround anyway.. just really strange the right channel does not play in this file.

I've had those files for years and never had an issue with them, yet I fail to understand what the problem might be here


I've also tested a frequency sweep song on spotify that tests left first and then right, that gives the same issues.. So i'm inclined to think it's not related to the file.

 

[daansan]

Need to correct my test results as i doubted myself for a second, and indeed. With the buffalo "this is the left channel" sounds out of both speakers, not just the left one.
i'm thinking if my buffalo is running in some kind of a mono mode??

 

[lasercut]

Hmm so it seems like audio might play in the right channel only when there is something playing in the left channel.

You could try making a new test file in audacity, 2 different sound for the left and right channels (e.g a 'left' voice clip and 'right' voice clip) and align them so they play at the same time, then see if what comes out of the right channel is actually the 'right' sound clip

 

[lasercut]

Ok, so then basically the left channel audio is playing in both channels?

The Buffalo board has a mono mode, right? I would guess you have that enabled by mistake.

 

[daansan]

how would i have done that - actually just searching for it - but to my knowledge the B3 requires different firmware for mono... it's not just the flick of a switch. or am i missing something?

 

[lasercut]

http://216.119.91.88/docs/community_docs/leonvb-Buffalo_III_DAC_Integration_Guide_V2.1.3.pdf

Page 21 here has info on dual mono setup.
It says if your board has a firmware controller you should be able configure for dual mono via the dip switches

Hopefully this is some help until someone more knowledgeable arrives.

 

[daansan]

That covers the "regular" B3, i have B3se-pro where that is not the case afaik.
I am going to try to flash the original 'master' firmware and see if I experience a difference. Hope to report back later today.

 

[lasercut]

Right, could be shipped with wrong firmware.

I didnt see an option for a 'dual mono' flashed version on the product page, just that it supports it, so thought it might be configurable.

 

[daansan]

Turned out to be a firmware issue indeed.

I just received a new attiny85 and flashed it with the 1.0 release version of the firmware. That did the trick!

For some reason the non-release version in the master branch did not work for me.

 

[BrianDonegan]

Sorry to be so late to the party.

The supplied firmware chip had the wrong firmware installed?

 

[daansan]

Yes, i can’t confirm which firmware was actually installed on the included attiny85 but i’m pretty sure it had mono firmware. Only left channel audio played over both outputs. Ordered a new attiny85 and programmer and programmed the 1.0 release version of the stereo firmware and the problem is now solved.

 

[drone]

Toslink module volume

Hi,

I use my Buffalo IIIproSE mainly for music over I2S. I goes to a preamplifier.

I have it set up that the Volume is nearly the same as listening to my turntable. The only other digital source I feed to the BIII is my TV over your Toslink module. But I have to turn the Volume on my pre way up have decent Volume. Now it happens that I forget to turn volume down before switching to I2S or turntable an music is so loud (fear to damage my speakers).

Is there a way to elevate the volume of the Toslink/Spdif module. I would like to dial it in to be nearly the same es my other sources.

BR

Branko