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Anedio D2 DAC release
Jul 26, 2012 at 7:10 PM Post #872 of 1,416
Quote:
customnuts said:
@Project86
 
did you get your Auraliti pk90 +psu?? If so can you fill us in how it turned out, specifically against the SBT +EDO??
Click to expand...

 
Nope, I've been really busy so I haven't had time to sell off some spare items... which I need to do in order to pay for the PK90. Soon though. I've already got the Nuforce LPS-1 PSU (modified to work with the 12V Auraliti) sitting here waiting, so I'm definitely committed to the purchase. 
 
I'm hoping that the really low CPU overhead plus the ultra-clean SOtM USB output equates to an improvement. But we'll see. 
 
Jul 26, 2012 at 7:25 PM Post #873 of 1,416
Quote:
project86 said:
Nope, I've been really busy so I haven't had time to sell off some spare items... which I need to do in order to pay for the PK90. Soon though. I've already got the Nuforce LPS-1 PSU (modified to work with the 12V Auraliti) sitting here waiting, so I'm definitely committed to the purchase.
 
I'm hoping that the really low CPU overhead plus the ultra-clean SOtM USB output equates to an improvement. But we'll see.
 
Click to expand...

 
I'm wondering if the same could be achieved with [SBT+EDO] + [USB Filter/Isolator]?... And, at a much lower cost!
Products that come to mind are:
- EA "Short Block USB Filter": http://www.empiricalaudio.com/products/short-block
- AR-T USB Isolator "The Cleaner" (Coming soon): http://ar-t.co/PRODUCTS.html
 
What do you think?
 
Jul 26, 2012 at 7:36 PM Post #874 of 1,416
Quote:
leoduran said:
 
I'm wondering if the same could be achieved with [SBT+EDO] + [USB Filter/Isolator]?... And, at a much lower cost!
Products that come to mind are:
- EA "Short Block USB Filter": http://www.empiricalaudio.com/products/short-block
- AR-T USB Isolator "The Cleaner" (Coming soon): http://ar-t.co/PRODUCTS.html
 
What do you think?
Click to expand...

 
Dunno. The PK90 is "only" $749, which is absolutely dirt cheap compared to some of its competitors (See Cary MS1 for example, which is nothing but a small stock PC in a custom enclosure). It's designed by Demian Martin of Spectral Audio (also done work for Rockport and Constellation Audio among others). I've discussed some of the design aspects with them and they really seem to know their stuff. 
 
The SBT is $299, plus the EA filter at $199, you are getting close to the PK90 already. The Touch has some inherent limitations internally that some people feel cannot be overcome by external PSU or EDO, period. I've taken my Touch pretty far, and I'm curious to see how much farther the PK90 will take me. Consider this my version of "squeezing out the last bit of performance", much like Viper but from a different angle. 
 
Jul 26, 2012 at 7:51 PM Post #875 of 1,416
Quote:
project86 said:
Dunno. The PK90 is "only" $749, which is absolutely dirt cheap compared to some of its competitors (See Cary MS1 for example, which is nothing but a small stock PC in a custom enclosure). It's designed by Demian Martin of Spectral Audio (also done work for Rockport and Constellation Audio among others). I've discussed some of the design aspects with them and they really seem to know their stuff. 
 
The SBT is $299, plus the EA filter at $199, you are getting close to the PK90 already. The Touch has some inherent limitations internally that some people feel cannot be overcome by external PSU or EDO, period. I've taken my Touch pretty far, and I'm curious to see how much farther the PK90 will take me. Consider this my version of "squeezing out the last bit of performance", much like Viper but from a different angle. 
Click to expand...

Well, the SBT can be had for under $250 (shipped, from Amazon)... and, if you go USB, there's not really a need for upgrades (you're not using the interrnal DAC, or clocks for SPDIF).
 
Since you've got an SBT, I'd be interested in hearing your feedback, when you get that PK90.
 
Jul 26, 2012 at 7:58 PM Post #876 of 1,416
Quote:
leoduran said:
Well, the SBT can be had for under $250 (shipped, from Amazon)... and, if you go USB, there's not really a need for upgrades (you're not using the interrnal DAC, or clocks for SPDIF).
 
Since you've got an SBT, I'd be interested in hearing your feedback, when you get that PK90.
Click to expand...

 
I'll definitely post impressions once I have the PK90.
 
I think the theoretical gains are to be had from lack of LCD display, WiFi, network controller, etc, combined with increased RAM, faster CPU, etc. I know you can do some things to the Touch like disable the display and WiFi, but the networking aspect is still there. The PK90 plays directly from a USB connected HD (like the Bryston player), and has great care taken with filtering noise. Again, I'm going into this with no expectations in either direction, so we'll see what happens. 
 
Jul 26, 2012 at 8:51 PM Post #877 of 1,416
Quote:
project86 said:
 
Click to expand...

Can't wait.
Do you know if you can use a quality eq like in foobar when using the pk90? With all my different cans, i need my eq albeit very small adjustments.
 
Jul 26, 2012 at 9:30 PM Post #879 of 1,416
Quote:
viper2001 said:
 
The interwinding capacitance of the new transformer is < 15pf.  Leakage inductance < 0.3uH.
Click to expand...

 
 
haha you guys are going crazy technical on this whole venture arent you? but honestly more power to you trying to get that last teeny little bit of performance out of an already stellar design...Its just making me incredibly jealous, Anedio and Co need to hurry up with that 3rd batch so i can my paws on one! :D
 
Jul 26, 2012 at 9:44 PM Post #880 of 1,416
Quote:
project86 said:
 
I'll definitely post impressions once I have the PK90.
 
I think the theoretical gains are to be had from lack of LCD display, WiFi, network controller, etc, combined with increased RAM, faster CPU, etc. I know you can do some things to the Touch like disable the display and WiFi, but the networking aspect is still there. The PK90 plays directly from a USB connected HD (like the Bryston player), and has great care taken with filtering noise. Again, I'm going into this with no expectations in either direction, so we'll see what happens. 
Click to expand...

Well, I'm here to tell you that a USB-attached HD can have more overhead than network traffic (from NAS/Music Server)... Yes, USB is that nasty!
As for noise, an add-on Isolator/Filter should take care of that... Nonetheless, please do report back.
 
--EDIT--
Actually, USB 3.0 is very efficient... but I don't know if that's how the PK-90 would connect to the HD (I'd suspect, most likely USB 2.0)
BTW, they do mention: Play music files via USB storage or from our forthcoming File Server
So, I'd assume that the "File Server" option would be network-attached (and, most likely using a propietrary interface.. so you'd be locked-in to their NAS/Server $olution)
 
Jul 27, 2012 at 12:26 AM Post #881 of 1,416
Quote:
customnuts said:
Can't wait.
Do you know if you can use a quality eq like in foobar when using the pk90? With all my different cans, i need my eq albeit very small adjustments.
Click to expand...

 
I don't think so. It would have to be a plug-in for Voyage MPD which is the OS (Linux based) that the PK90 runs. So it's possible, but I haven't seen on yet.
 
 
Quote:
leoduran said:
Well, I'm here to tell you that a USB-attached HD can have more overhead than network traffic (from NAS/Music Server)... Yes, USB is that nasty!
As for noise, an add-on Isolator/Filter should take care of that... Nonetheless, please do report back.
 
--EDIT--
Actually, USB 3.0 is very efficient... but I don't know if that's how the PK-90 would connect to the HD (I'd suspect, most likely USB 2.0)
BTW, they do mention: Play music files via USB storage or from our forthcoming File Server
So, I'd assume that the "File Server" option would be network-attached (and, most likely using a propietrary interface.. so you'd be locked-in to their NAS/Server $olution)
Click to expand...

 
Yeah, I know all about that side of things. It's a trade-off either way. But I've had really good results building my own small form factor PC for audio, using the same SOtM card that the PK-90 uses. Plus, the card is modular, so if/when SOtM releases a new USB 3.0 card, it could plug right in. 
 
I have no knowledge of their upcoming server, and I'm not too interested at the moment. 
 
Aug 2, 2012 at 10:58 AM Post #883 of 1,416
Quote:
audiopc2000 said:
 
Hi Viper2001... some more notices about your Anedio D2 mod?
 
Click to expand...

 
A couple brave souls are sending their U2/D2 for me to perform the mods.  I'm in the process of waiting for some parts to arrive and their U2/D2 units.
 
Since then, I've moved to a super regulator to power the Crystek clocks.  The result is even better sound due to higher PSRR (noise rejection) on the 5v lines on the USB bus.  But I'm trying to avoid the use of super regulators, as they're costly and will not fit inside U2.  For now, I use them in my D2 as a reference.
 
I did some computer simulations using LTSpice on filtering high freq noise from the USB's 5v line.  I'm presently waiting for the choke and the ultra low ESR polymer cap to implement this noise filter.  It should provide a 50db noise reduction from 5KHz and up to the MHz range.  My clock circuit will feed on the output of this noise filter, as the regulator on my clock circuit is only effective in rejecting noise from 5KHz and down.
 
Aug 2, 2012 at 12:00 PM Post #884 of 1,416
a choke + low ESR cap? why not look at the murata EMIFIL chip type CRC, CLC, chip type noise filters. pretty much made for this. the local decoupling caps are where the work is done with clocks IMO, for the regulator lowest noise is far more important than low output impedance
 
project86, youre safe with Demian, the man knows his stuff. i'm running one of his regulator/ isolated clock designs (diy) with my i2s fifo buffer (which completely isolates/decouples the dac from the source, so the clock jitter and power supply/ground noise are all thats left to tweak). well just finished the reg, will initiate testing with fifo soon. Probably after the sydney meet though, I dont want to be stuck with my dac in pieces on the bench the week before the meet again.
 
Aug 2, 2012 at 9:38 PM Post #885 of 1,416
Quote:
qusp said:
a choke + low ESR cap? why not look at the murata EMIFIL chip type CRC, CLC, chip type noise filters. pretty much made for this. the local decoupling caps are where the work is done with clocks IMO, for the regulator lowest noise is far more important than low output impedance
Click to expand...

 
The EMIFIL chip type filter has attenuation freq that is too high.  The lowest one starts off at 100KHz, and I want it at 5KHz, so a discrete solution is necessary.  Also, I try to avoid ceramic caps if I can, and they're built-in to the EMIFIL filters.  They don't sound good compared to film or polymer types.
 
For regulator, lowest noise is not necessarily the most important aspect for a clock circuit, noise rejection from the supply is far more important than output noise.
 
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