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Alien DAC v1.1 Construction Thread - Page 6

post #76 of 1560
7/22/06 at 3:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterX
I waited a week to get a reply to my last order request.
The reply I got said they had nuked all of the emails they had got because they had to much backlog and I should re-send my request.
So I sent them another request.
Care to guess what the reply was to that inquiry as well?
Same thing.

I think you may get better results on the phone but I got sick of messin with them and ordered the Black Gates caps I needed from Parts Connexion.
They were here 4 days later.
OK, seeing as how the front of their catalog says, "... we are usually unable to answer the phone ...", that tears it. Many thanks for your comments ... exactly what I needed to hear.


P.S. Any luck with Handmade? They're the only other source I've found for the Nichicon Muse ES's.
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post #77 of 1560
7/22/06 at 3:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tomb
Any luck with Handmade? They're the only other source I've found for the Nichicon Muse ES's.
The last few times I ordered from Handmade they were very prompt with processing orders and called within a day if there were any problems. This was a few months back though, but I don't think it should be any different now.
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post #78 of 1560
7/22/06 at 4:10pm
I have never had a single problem with Handmade but I know a couple of people that have had a problem with them (in both cases the "problem" was Handmade would not ship to an address that was not the same as the billing address).
In fact I think there was even a tread about them once.
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post #79 of 1560
7/22/06 at 5:00pm
Many thanks - I will post my experiences after ordering.
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post #80 of 1560
7/23/06 at 2:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterX
I have never had a single problem with Handmade but I know a couple of people that have had a problem with them (in both cases the "problem" was Handmade would not ship to an address that was not the same as the billing address).
In fact I think there was even a tread about them once.
But it's not exactly Handmade's fault, right? Better safe than sorry, I guess...
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post #81 of 1560
7/23/06 at 2:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by doobooloo
But it's not exactly Handmade's fault, right? Better safe than sorry, I guess...
Roger that.
I would be the same way if I ran a web store like his.
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post #82 of 1560
7/23/06 at 3:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tomb
Before I get into another Kyoto-Electro fiasco, has everyone had good luck ordering from Michael?
For what it's worth, I have had very good luck Percy, Handmade, and Parts Connexion. Actually, Parts Connexion has screwed up nearly every order I have made (wrong resistor value, missing cap clamp, etc.) but they have always corrected it quickly. I can't speak to any recent problems, but with Percy I have ordered enough to build up a bit of a relationship which makes orders go very smoothly. Not the case with PCX and Handmade, which, while fine are more impersonal. Also, Parts Connexion shipping can be a beast.
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post #83 of 1560
7/23/06 at 5:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 00940
Be extremely careful adding capacitance on the USB bus without putting some resistance in serie before the caps. The USB specs don't allow much current to be drawn and at start up, too much capacitance could kill your USB bus.
I use 3300uF capacitor in one of my test DACs. No negative effects so far.
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post #84 of 1560
7/23/06 at 5:12am
well, everyone can play with fire and I'm doing it quite often myself But when giving advice worth for every computer out there, I'm a bit more careful than I would be for me alone.
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post #85 of 1560
7/23/06 at 5:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Whitewind
So Alf, would you recommend stepping up the input voltage of USB by adding a 1.2v NIMH AA battery in series?

Thanks
I wonder why you would want to combine two evils: USB noise and short battery life.



My first choice would be to have an external PS. It could be either a wall wart or batteries.

If you cannot use external PS and you must have a USB powered DAC, then I would go for the underpowered configuration where USB is regulated down to around 4.6-4.8V.

My last option would be to use unregulated USB. In this case you depend on the quality of your computer’s PSU. Anyway, even having a perfect PSU, you would be better off with either of the two options above.
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post #86 of 1560
7/23/06 at 5:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 00940
well, everyone can play with fire and I'm doing it quite often myself But when giving advice worth for every computer out there, I'm a bit more careful than I would be for me alone.
Agreed. Actually I was careful - I was recommending only half of the fire I play myself with (1500uF vs 3300uF).

I believe that L11/L12 help to mitigate the problem. The computer should be more tolerant because the capacitance is not applied to USB directly.
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post #87 of 1560
7/23/06 at 5:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alf
I wonder why you would want to combine two evils: USB noise and short battery life.



My first choice would be to have an external PS. It could be either a wall wart or batteries.

If you cannot use external PS and you must have a USB powered DAC, then I would go for the underpowered configuration where USB is regulated down to around 4.6-4.8V.

My last option would be to use unregulated USB. In this case you depend on the quality of your computer’s PSU. Anyway, even having a perfect PSU, you would be better off with either of the two options above.
I'm going the external PSREG from Welborne way (6.3V)... I havent' heard much about people using an external PSU.
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post #88 of 1560
7/23/06 at 5:51am
I am going to use the onboard 101/102s except use an external wallwart instead of USB power.

Rob.
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post #89 of 1560
7/23/06 at 7:01am
I'm designing custom front panels for the DAC in a Hammond 1455C enclosure, and I'm wondering what the dimensions were for the USB Jack placement... i.e., what is the distance between the top or bottom of the board and the center of the USB jack? Also, how much of a protrusion is expected when board is flush against the panel?

Thanks in advance!
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post #90 of 1560
7/23/06 at 7:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mb3k
I'm going the external PSREG from Welborne way (6.3V)... I havent' heard much about people using an external PSU.
I'm building one with regulated USB in a 1455C801 case, and one with 6xAAA power with built in trickle charger, in a 1455J1201 powered by a 12V wart. Even when charging it will have to be powered by the batts because of the supply voltage needed for the charger. Unless I add a another reg... I'll figure it out when I get there

I'm very curious to see if there is any audible or measurable difference in the power options.
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