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Questions regarding bare-bones balanced Buffalo II

post #1 of 14
10/25/10 at 8:43am
Thread Starter 

I'm looking around and am getting a little confused about what's necessary for a basic balanced Buffalo II. Essentially, USB or SPDIF input, XLR balanced outputs, and an IEC intake. The only examples I could find are those from the FS forums.

 

I'd like something as simple as this:

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/470427/sold-buffalo32-dac

 

He only a single Buffalo 32 module, and two Placid power supplies and transformers. However, TPA's page for the Buffalo II says it only requires a single power supply. So am I right in saying I only need these?

 

-(1) Buffalo II board

-(1) Placid PSU (Single or bipolar?)

-(1) Toroid transformer

-(1) USB Receiver (or) SPDIF Transciever

 

So what's with some people and running two sets of Buffalo II's each with their own PSU, transformer, and IVY? Would the IVY be necessary for my application?

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post #2 of 14
10/25/10 at 9:25am

You will need a I/V converter of some sort.  The TP IVY and Legato are both solid options.  They both integrate very closely with BII.  When you add either one you need to power it via a bipolar Placid which also requires a transformer.

 

The Buffalo II board requires a Single Placid PSU and associated transformer.

 

If you go with the USB receiver it is powered via the USB cable.  The SPDIF transceiver likely requires a 3rd transformer.

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post #3 of 14
10/25/10 at 9:59am

You can run the Buffalo DAC in voltage-output mode, then you won't need an I/V, just some DC-blocking caps.

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post #4 of 14
10/25/10 at 10:12am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the info. Would it be fine if I stick these in an unvented chassis?

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post #5 of 14
10/25/10 at 10:17am

You can keep it in an unventilated case, though I suggest going with an active I/V stage like the IVY or Legato.  You won't save much money by going passive.

 

stringgz301 got the requirements correct for the IVY.

 

Buffalo2 : Need a single-voltage PSU and associated transformer

IVY : Need dual-voltage PSU and associated transformer

USB Receiver : Can be powered via USB

S/PDIF Receiver : Don't need one as the Buffalo can accept S/PDIF input.

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post #6 of 14
10/25/10 at 10:45am
Thread Starter 

Why do I see people running dual-mono when the DAC outputs balanced already?

 

And does anybody mind measuring the exact height of the BII/IVY stack including the included standoffs on the bottom of the BII (for case design purposes)?


Edited by haveblue - 10/25/10 at 10:59am
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post #7 of 14
10/25/10 at 11:00am

Dual mono and balanced are not the same thing.

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post #8 of 14
10/25/10 at 11:12am
Thread Starter 

So...I don't need dual BII's and dual IVY's for balanced.

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post #9 of 14
10/25/10 at 1:21pm
Balanced only requires one Buffalo II module,

A dual mono build uses two Buffalo II's for R and L, the full dynamic range of the chip is realized with this configuration.

I've build a dual mono version (2 x Buffalo II's, 4 x placid supplies, 2 x I/V's) and could not hear any difference over a single Buffalo32. I did extensive side by side comparisons, the single Buffalo32 was the older style TPA module before the II, the psu's were not placids either.
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post #10 of 14
10/25/10 at 11:01pm
Thread Starter 

Are the Buffalo II, IVY, and Placid PSU's sensitive to magnetic fields? Do they experience any hum? For my chassis idea, I would like to place the 30VA and 15VA transformers very close to the boards. The boards would also be placed very close to two 50VA's and an additional 15VA transformer.

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post #11 of 14
10/26/10 at 6:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by haveblue View Post

Are the Buffalo II, IVY, and Placid PSU's sensitive to magnetic fields?

 

--Everything is "sensitive", as in susceptible, the Buffalo32S and IVY that I've built had no such issues that I could hear with any amp driving any headphone.

 

Do they experience any hum?

 

--Again, everything bit of gear does, though none that I've noticed personally.

 

For my chassis idea, I would like to place the 30VA and 15VA transformers very close to the boards. The boards would also be placed very close to two 50VA's and an additional 15VA transformer.

 

--That's never a good idea, get the transformers as far away from the DAC & I/V boards as possible, hopefully with the PSUs between the toroids and boards.

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post #12 of 14
10/26/10 at 9:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnwmclean View Post

Balanced only requires one Buffalo II module,

A dual mono build uses two Buffalo II's for R and L, the full dynamic range of the chip is realized with this configuration.

I've build a dual mono version (2 x Buffalo II's, 4 x placid supplies, 2 x I/V's) and could not hear any difference over a single Buffalo32. I did extensive side by side comparisons, the single Buffalo32 was the older style TPA module before the II, the psu's were not placids either.
 


if you wanted t hear a difference, would it not have been better to use a different IV stage? that was the whole point of the buff II as far as my opinion goes ie the ability to use whatever power supply and IV you want. the difference between the onboard IVY and external is minimal

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post #13 of 14
10/26/10 at 1:06pm
mmm....

Regardless of I/V stage if I couldn't hear a difference in stock form between these two configs, it's ringing some big bells to me. Based on my listening, I'd forgo dual mono and like you say upgrade the output.
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post #14 of 14
10/26/10 at 3:00pm

well yeah mate, just doubling up on the same thing will increase measured performance, but as far as audible difference I would not expect much as the IV on the buff32 is pretty much the same circuit as the IVY III, same opamps, same caps used, same filter values used etc etc, just having 2 of them and doing everything else the same may be better for bats and dogs wink.gif but money would be much better spend on trying something different with the IV stage and there are some really good options around at the moment, erno has modified his all JFET IV stage for sabre, there are boards about to be released for the new Pass ZEN jfet, new boards for owen's D1 mosfet IV tuned for sabre, transimpedance amp designs by EUVL using the lovoltech power jfets, discrete class A jfet IV boards by acko for the ackodac could be used etc etc,

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