[SACD-Man]

Great News!!

Jude will be bring the Topaz and the Emerald to the Detroit mini-Meet on 2009-04-18 (Saturday).

This is in thanks to Lee from CryoParts.

 

[.Sup]

Hi,
what is the main difference between the two products?

 

[SACD-Man]

Here are a few examples of the differences..

Topaz:
Size
75mm(W)*30mm(H)*126mm(D)
Spec
1) Main DAC : BURR-BROWN PCM1792
- 24 Bit 192 KHz Sampling Advanced-Segment Audio
Stereo DAC
- Dynamic Range : 123 dB / THD+N : 0.0005%
2) Digital Controller : Cirrus Logic CS8416
- 32KHzto 192Khz Sample frequency range
- Low Jitter Clock Recovery
3) USB Controller : BURR-BROWN PCM2707
- Full speed transceiver (Real Audio 1.1)
- 32Khz ~ 48Khz / 16bit delta-sigma stereo
4) OPAMP : TOTAL 8 pcs (DIP type)
- Output : Analog Device AD817 x 2 pcs
- I/V : Texas Instruments NE5534 x 4 pcs
- Headphone : Burr-Brown OPA2134 x 2 pcs
5) TCXO : 1.0ppm
6) Output level : 2Vrms
7) 1 x 5.5mm Gold-coated Stereo Headphone Jack
8) 2 x selector (Power & Output selection)
9) 1 x Volume controller & 1 x topaz color power LED
10) Gold-coated RCA jack (Left / Right)
11) DC 6V In
12) USB and Optical input
Features
2) USB & OPTICAL input
3) HEXAD type OPAMP : Dual mono design
- Right 3 OPAMP / LEFT 3 OPAMP
4) Sanyo OS-CON / Wima / Vishay Dale, Siver Mica
5) 24bit, 192KHz support
6) Output level 2V: 24 ~ 300 ohm headphones welcome
7) 4 block isolated design (Input, Digital convert, Main
Power, Analog)
8) Plug & Play, no installing drivers or software.
9) Full Aluminum anodizing case, high quality brass metal
foot and aluminum volume knob.
10) Recommended break in time : 150 hours
11) 0) MS Windows 2000, XP, VISTA and Mac
Included Accessories
1 x USB cable / 1 x User’s manual / DC 6V power adapter

Emerald:
Size
75mm(W)*30mm(H)*126mm(D)
Spec :
1) DA converter : TI PCM1793, 24bit / 192Khz
2) USB controller : TI PCM2707, full speed
3) 24-Bit Delta-Sigma Stereo DAC
4) TCXO : 1.5PPM
5) 3 OP AMP : TI opa2134 / opa2604
6) Output level : 2Vrms
7) Dynamic range : 113 dB, THD+N : 0.001%
8) 1 x 5.5mm Gold-coated Stereo Headphone Jack
9) 2 x selector (Power & Output selection)
10) 1 x Volume controller & 1 x Green color power LED
11) Gold-coated RCA jack (Left / Right)
12) DC 5V In, DC5V &
13) USB In
14) Brass metal foot – anti-shock & anti-vibration
Features :
1) 24bit, 192KHz support
2) Out sound level is 2Vrms (same level as Hi Fi CD
players), so it can accept upto 300 ohm Hi Fi headphone.
3) MKP level of WIMA’s coupling condenser, Resistors from
Vishay Dale, Silver Mica, etc., which can present very high
performance.
4) ‘TCXO’ 1.5ppm which is normally using by the very highend
audio product and DAC.
5) Three opa AMP system
6) 4 different block design (Input/Digital convert, Main
Power/Analog)
7) Power level filtering function
8) USB power in or DC5V power adapter. User can select to
USB power-in or separate DC5V power-in.
9) Plug & Play without installing drivers or software.
10) MS Windows 2000 professional, XP and VISTA and Mac
OS (Mac OS’tm’9.1 or later Japanese/English edition, Mac
OS X 10.0 or later English edition, Mac OS X 10.1 or later
Japanese edition SP)
11) Full Aluminum anodizing case & high quality Brassmetal
foot, which can reduce any kind of external noise and
resonance as much as possible.
12) User’s easily select output-channels using this selector.
13) Gold-coated RCA output can be connected to Hi-Fi
integrated AMP.
14) Small size & Portability : it is easily to take out with the
notebook out side.
15) Aluminum volume knob.
Included Accessories
1 x USB cable
1 x User’s manual
DC 5V power adapter

The Topaz added the Optical input.

 

[fkclo]

So, in a nut shell,

The TOPAZ provides :
1. More dynamic range
2. Less distortion
3. Better clock and parts
4. Better headphone amp circuit
5. Additional Optical input
6. Different DAC chip (PCM1792 vs 1793 in Emerald?/)
7. Different power supply (6V d.c. vs 5V d.c.)

All this for a $100 difference.

Am I missing anything ?

F. Lo

 

[SACD-Man]

Yea, nice summary. I was trying to avoid the "sales pitch", however thank you for helping that along!!

One quick thing, the Emerald is powered by USB or power supply and can be categorized as a portable device.

Craig

 

[morphsci]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SACD-Man /img/forum/go_quote.gif For optimum performance from your USB source and this DAC, we recommend that you purchase a CryoParts USB cable from Whiplash Audio: ...

What exactly are the advantages of the CryoParts USB cable over a standard USB cable? Thanks.

 

[guitarplayer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by morphsci /img/forum/go_quote.gif What exactly are the advantages of the CryoParts USB cable over a standard USB cable? Thanks.

I'll take this one.

Here is the quote from my website:

"We start with our cryo-treated USB cable as seen below and then add two layers of shielding, one of these a being a very trick (read expensive!) carbon fiber based material. We also cut the end back a bit, add some ERS fabric and damp the ends and the junction where the end attaches to the cable. These tweaks, while seeming like they would make be insignificant, to our ears, made quite a difference. Why? Hmmm..."

The CryoParts cable grew out of requests from my customers for an inexpensive USB cable.

If you want a custom USB cable, have Craig get you one of my Locus Design Spotlight (exclusive to him for now), Polestar, Axis, or Nucleus USB cables.

Peace,

Lee

 

[blessingx]

Could you talk a bit about the USB v. TOSLINK performance on the Topaz?
Also are the RCAs line or variable?
Finally, what is the guarantee/return policy?

 

[guitarplayer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blessingx /img/forum/go_quote.gif Could you talk a bit about the USB v. TOSLINK performance on the Topaz? Also are the RCAs line or variable? Finally, what is the guarantee/return policy?

The optical input will support up to 24/192, the USB supports 16/48.

RCA outputs are not variable, the volume controls the headphone out.

One year warranty, return policy depends on the retailer, in this case Craig. Give him a few days to respond and he can answer that for you.

Peace,

Lee

 

[Murugesh]

Hi SACD-Man


Thanks to Jude, I got the chance to listen to Topaz today at Detroit meet. Very impressive amp/dac indeed. I tried it with HD 650 and very pleased with its performance.

Before I think about ordering one, I would like to know couple of things.

1) I noticed that the power supply accepts input from 120V to 240V. I liked that because I don't need to buy separate 230/240V converter when I travel to Asia. Are all units have 120-240V feature or only the piece Jude carried to the meet has it.

2) One year warranty seems to be pretty good. What about the return policy?

 

[fkclo]

My TOPAZ also comes with a universal power supply. So, I think this is standard.

I have around 50 hours on my TOPAZ and initial impression is very positive. But I would reserve my comments until I have at least 100 hours on the unit.

F. Lo

 

[guitarplayer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murugesh /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi SACD-Man Thanks to Jude, I got the chance to listen to Topaz today at Detroit meet. Very impressive amp/dac indeed. I tried it with HD 650 and very pleased with its performance. Before I think about ordering one, I would like to know couple of things. 1) I noticed that the power supply accepts input from 120V to 240V. I liked that because I don't need to buy separate 230/240V converter when I travel to Asia. Are all units have 120-240V feature or only the piece Jude carried to the meet has it. 2) One year warranty seems to be pretty good. What about the return policy?

Glad you liked it!

1) The Topaz and Emerald units I import into the US are supplied with a universal power supply.

2) One year warranty is for parts and labor. I will only warranty units that I import into North America. Demo/return policy is up to the individual retailer.

Peace,

Lee

 

[Murugesh]

Hello SACD Man,

I hope you are back from vacation. I have couple of questions for you. Can you please answer them?

1) What is the recommended burn-in time for this amp? User manual says 50 hours but the pdf file in Cryo-Parts site says 150 hours. Don't know which is true. Also, please tell me whether I should just leave it powered on or I should play some music during the burn-in period.

2) As I was asking before in this thread, what is return policy for this amp? Note: I won't return it unless if there is any kind of defect.

 

[guitarplayer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murugesh /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hello SACD Man, I hope you are back from vacation. I have couple of questions for you. Can you please answer them? 1) What is the recommended burn-in time for this amp? User manual says 50 hours but the pdf file in Cryo-Parts site says 150 hours. Don't know which is true. Also, please tell me whether I should just leave it powered on or I should play some music during the burn-in period. 2) As I was asking before in this thread, what is return policy for this amp? Note: I won't return it unless if there is any kind of defect.

Craig should be back Monday the 27th.

1) I recommend (and updated the Styleaudio literature to reflect this) 150 hours for break in. 50 hours gets it in the ball park, but by 150 hours its pretty well done. Plug some headphones in and run some music (or test tones) through it to break it in.

2) Up to Craig.

Peace,

Lee

 

[SACD-Man]

The return Policy for any of the Styleaudio products is 30 days from the purchase date.

Thanks Lee for helping out while I was on vacation!!

Oh, in addition, I agree with the 150 hours of burn in.