- Joined
- Feb 21, 2005
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Hi groovyd,
Thank you!
Hi Fairwell,
Yes, and I plan to offer "specialty" faceplates and knobs in the future, so one can really get a custom look (different colors) that they will enjoy - and the customer can easily install them.
Correct, and the actual AC/DC conversion process happens external to the LIO - via a small power adapter the plugs into the back panel of the LIO. So there is no 120 / 240Vac even entering the LIO, and no power transformers to introduce noise onto any of the audio circuitry.
Correct - absolutely no need for power filters, conditioners, cables, dedicated mains, etc.
Yes - the customer can easily add modules (new features, or upgrade modules in the future) very easily. Early next year, we'll be taking video shoots to show how simple this is. You don't even need tools! No joke
- Every module has its own dedicated, low-noise linear voltage regulation stage. So they all get fed via the clean, isolated Ultracapacitor bank and are also isolated from each other via their own dedicated linear regulators and filtering.
- Ultracapacitor power grounds, analog grounds, and digital grounds are all isolated. On the main board that the modules connect to, we essentially implement a star ground right to the chassis.
- And as mentioned above, there are no power transformers inside.
All of this avoids interference problems, and (in the case where you don't use an external source, amps, etc) you don't have interconnect cables. The best sounding cable is NO cable - and no chance of noise pick up or a rats nest.
Clean. Pure. Simple.
I agree - placing a power supply in a separate unit is important to not allow the 120 or 240V AC line noise and the associated power transformer noise from getting close to the audio circuitry. In the case of LIO - I do this as well, as mentioned above.
LIO takes 24Vdc at the power input jack - and that is used to charge the Ultracapacitor banks. AND (this is the most important part!), the ultracapacitor bank that is feeding the audio circuitry is 100% isolated from the incoming 24Vdc power. It is just like high-current battery power (think LiFePO4 like our Red Wine Audio components), but BETTER! Even lower-impedance than battery, no play-time limitations like battery, no need to replace the ultracaps.... it is unlike anything else out there!
Thank you - and yes - LIO is a big evolution (game-changer!) for me in that it goes above and beyond what I was doing with battery power, and goes above and beyond in terms of the audio and control circuitry, and give me a proverbial sandbox to play in for a long time in terms of designing new modules and upgrades to continually improve and have fun with.
For my customers, they get to easily add new features when desired. They get to try any new upgraded modules (with a 30-day money back guarantee, so they can decide if the improvements are worth the cost). They can easily and quickly try the modules, make comparisons, etc. and not be inconvenienced with things like:
- Shipping back their LIO for upgraded modules
- Shipping back their LIO for added features
- Having to sell off their LIO (and losing lots of money on the used market) because "the next model with the next feature" comes out.
- Having to send in the LIO if a module was damaged or there is a defect (hey, it does happen from time-to-time). We just ship the replacement module and you are back to listening in a couple of days!
- Getting stuck with a color if your other equipment, or tastes, end up changing. Some of us like to change-up the look of our gear, too! Now you can, and very easily.
- Getting stuck with certain circuit topologies, and not being able to experiment with others*
* For example:
- The first LIO Tubestage we are offering uses the 6922 family of tubes. We will later be working on a tubestage that is designed around different tube families. This allows one to try different tubes (they all have a different sonic signature) and see what they prefer. It is not always about 'better' - it is about 'different' and what sounds better to you, and with your current set of headphones.
- The first LIO dac we are offering uses dual AK4399 DSD/PCM d/a chips (one per channel). We later will be working on a d/a board that you can easily swap-in that lets you play with offer d/a's and output stage topologies. Again, they all have a different sonic signature.
- The first LIO HPA stage has been designed to sound excellent with a wide-range of headphones from 16-ohm to > 600 ohm. We later will be working on customize HPA modules that are fine-tuned (optimized) to work with certain makes/modules of headphones.
So when your headphones, speakers, or just your tastes in sound and music change, LIO can easily change with you - for more much less money than having to sell your gear on the used market to buy the next component and the next cable.
LIO is designed for longterm ownership. Overtime, one would describe THEIR customized LIO by the specific modules that they have installed (as different LIOs will deliver different sonic presentations based on the modules / configurations). And in the longterm, the cost for "new stuff" (new modules / new features) will end up being much less expensive than having to buy new separate components. Also a lot easier than trying to sell off gear on the used market.
Other recent suggestions I received via emails with customers:
- Custom LIO travel case to hold LIO and Headphones [great idea!]
- Clean, tinted top cover with LIO logo laser engraved [nice!]
- A headphone DSP module (examples given with DSPeaker and Smyth Realizer. I will have to look into these
because I am not very familiar with them). However, I have heard the Shaker Logic Audio product and thought it
was intriguing!
- Stillpoints feet [I confirmed that they do make something that can easily be installed by the user. Just one screw
per foot. I need to order and test samples. Some people swear by them].
Too much to do, too little time - but TOO MUCH FUN!
Vinnie
Thank you!
Hi Fairwell,
Yes, and I plan to offer "specialty" faceplates and knobs in the future, so one can really get a custom look (different colors) that they will enjoy - and the customer can easily install them.
Correct, and the actual AC/DC conversion process happens external to the LIO - via a small power adapter the plugs into the back panel of the LIO. So there is no 120 / 240Vac even entering the LIO, and no power transformers to introduce noise onto any of the audio circuitry.
Correct - absolutely no need for power filters, conditioners, cables, dedicated mains, etc.
Yes - the customer can easily add modules (new features, or upgrade modules in the future) very easily. Early next year, we'll be taking video shoots to show how simple this is. You don't even need tools! No joke
- Every module has its own dedicated, low-noise linear voltage regulation stage. So they all get fed via the clean, isolated Ultracapacitor bank and are also isolated from each other via their own dedicated linear regulators and filtering.
- Ultracapacitor power grounds, analog grounds, and digital grounds are all isolated. On the main board that the modules connect to, we essentially implement a star ground right to the chassis.
- And as mentioned above, there are no power transformers inside.
All of this avoids interference problems, and (in the case where you don't use an external source, amps, etc) you don't have interconnect cables. The best sounding cable is NO cable - and no chance of noise pick up or a rats nest.
Clean. Pure. Simple.
I agree - placing a power supply in a separate unit is important to not allow the 120 or 240V AC line noise and the associated power transformer noise from getting close to the audio circuitry. In the case of LIO - I do this as well, as mentioned above.
LIO takes 24Vdc at the power input jack - and that is used to charge the Ultracapacitor banks. AND (this is the most important part!), the ultracapacitor bank that is feeding the audio circuitry is 100% isolated from the incoming 24Vdc power. It is just like high-current battery power (think LiFePO4 like our Red Wine Audio components), but BETTER! Even lower-impedance than battery, no play-time limitations like battery, no need to replace the ultracaps.... it is unlike anything else out there!
Thank you - and yes - LIO is a big evolution (game-changer!) for me in that it goes above and beyond what I was doing with battery power, and goes above and beyond in terms of the audio and control circuitry, and give me a proverbial sandbox to play in for a long time in terms of designing new modules and upgrades to continually improve and have fun with.
For my customers, they get to easily add new features when desired. They get to try any new upgraded modules (with a 30-day money back guarantee, so they can decide if the improvements are worth the cost). They can easily and quickly try the modules, make comparisons, etc. and not be inconvenienced with things like:
- Shipping back their LIO for upgraded modules
- Shipping back their LIO for added features
- Having to sell off their LIO (and losing lots of money on the used market) because "the next model with the next feature" comes out.
- Having to send in the LIO if a module was damaged or there is a defect (hey, it does happen from time-to-time). We just ship the replacement module and you are back to listening in a couple of days!
- Getting stuck with a color if your other equipment, or tastes, end up changing. Some of us like to change-up the look of our gear, too! Now you can, and very easily.
- Getting stuck with certain circuit topologies, and not being able to experiment with others*
* For example:
- The first LIO Tubestage we are offering uses the 6922 family of tubes. We will later be working on a tubestage that is designed around different tube families. This allows one to try different tubes (they all have a different sonic signature) and see what they prefer. It is not always about 'better' - it is about 'different' and what sounds better to you, and with your current set of headphones.
- The first LIO dac we are offering uses dual AK4399 DSD/PCM d/a chips (one per channel). We later will be working on a d/a board that you can easily swap-in that lets you play with offer d/a's and output stage topologies. Again, they all have a different sonic signature.
- The first LIO HPA stage has been designed to sound excellent with a wide-range of headphones from 16-ohm to > 600 ohm. We later will be working on customize HPA modules that are fine-tuned (optimized) to work with certain makes/modules of headphones.
So when your headphones, speakers, or just your tastes in sound and music change, LIO can easily change with you - for more much less money than having to sell your gear on the used market to buy the next component and the next cable.
LIO is designed for longterm ownership. Overtime, one would describe THEIR customized LIO by the specific modules that they have installed (as different LIOs will deliver different sonic presentations based on the modules / configurations). And in the longterm, the cost for "new stuff" (new modules / new features) will end up being much less expensive than having to buy new separate components. Also a lot easier than trying to sell off gear on the used market.
Other recent suggestions I received via emails with customers:
- Custom LIO travel case to hold LIO and Headphones [great idea!]
- Clean, tinted top cover with LIO logo laser engraved [nice!]
- A headphone DSP module (examples given with DSPeaker and Smyth Realizer. I will have to look into these
because I am not very familiar with them). However, I have heard the Shaker Logic Audio product and thought it
was intriguing!
- Stillpoints feet [I confirmed that they do make something that can easily be installed by the user. Just one screw
per foot. I need to order and test samples. Some people swear by them].
Too much to do, too little time - but TOO MUCH FUN!
Vinnie
I would probably spend the extra coin on them. Perhaps each module has a couple grooves milled out in each corner to snap a can into.
