mwhouston Posted April 9, 2021 Posted April 9, 2021 One guy on youtube with a strong accent claims Pis only sound good with linear PSs. When i went to Pi 4 i just went with the recommended SMPS. Who knows it could be better with a different PS but I’m very happy with my overall sound. Now on Tidal through premium Volumio.
mloutfie Posted April 9, 2021 Posted April 9, 2021 18 minutes ago, mwhouston said: Pis only sound good with linear PSs It's all relative to what you compare it to. Even with SMPS power supply pi will still beat any non audio purpose built PC I've tried. Even when I said USB through pi sound harsh I still use it for desktop usage over my laptop since it still best it 1
aussievintage Posted April 9, 2021 Posted April 9, 2021 (edited) 29 minutes ago, mwhouston said: One guy on youtube with a strong accent claims Pis only sound good with linear PSs. When i went to Pi 4 i just went with the recommended SMPS. Who knows it could be better with a different PS but I’m very happy with my overall sound. Now on Tidal through premium Volumio. My experience is that it performs so well compared to the original*, that it isn't a problem. *For example, a digital recording of a reel to reel tape (better than CD quality, and playing as I type this, just by coincidence) sounds identical to the analogue original, when played through a Pi 3 or 4 powered by the original Pi power supply. Edited April 9, 2021 by aussievintage 1
mwhouston Posted April 9, 2021 Posted April 9, 2021 (edited) After help building speakers for another where i suggested Altronics 12” ploycone, i decided to get a pair myself. I had a chance to hear them in my main system and thought them good. Cheap enough and very efficient at 95db. These will work well with my flea powered SE UL tube amps. They have replaced my 12” Beyma concentrics (up for sale - PM if interested) in 30Lt vented boxes. On cals f3=87hz, fr=60hz and efficiency at 97db. Ive added FailtalPro tratrix horns with FailtalPro mid range compression drivers. Only very minor mod to the current Xover. Sounds more detailed and immediate with my 6L6GT SE UL amp (see image). Edited April 9, 2021 by mwhouston 7
itsparks Posted April 9, 2021 Posted April 9, 2021 17 hours ago, mwhouston said: After help building speakers for another where i suggested Altronics 12” ploycone, i decided to get a pair myself. I had a chance to hear them in my main system and thought them good. Cheap enough and very efficient at 95db. These will work well with my flea powered SE UL tube amps. They have replaced my 12” Beyma concentrics (up for sale - PM if interested) in 30Lt vented boxes. On cals f3=87hz, fr=60hz and efficiency at 97db. Ive added FailtalPro tratrix horns with FailtalPro mid range compression drivers. Only very minor mod to the current Xover. Sounds more detailed and immediate with my 6L6GT SE UL amp (see image). Should put something under the bottom of the CD so the waveguide is fat to the baffle 2
mwhouston Posted April 10, 2021 Posted April 10, 2021 8 hours ago, itsparks said: Should put something under the bottom of the CD so the waveguide is fat to the baffle This was a quick knockup. Some fine tuning to do. Also have to tweak the Xover a little more. 1
RankStranger Posted April 13, 2021 Posted April 13, 2021 Does anybody know or can recommend someone who does aluminium anodising and is happy to do small jobs? I have the panels and heatsink for my chip amp case and I thought there used to be someone in my area who would take on small jobs but they all seem to have a minimum $100 or $200 job cost now and it’s honestly not worth that to me. If I could get it done for under $50, that would be great. Happy to post interstate if the job cost is right. Let me know if you know of someone. Cheers
Steffen Posted April 13, 2021 Posted April 13, 2021 4 hours ago, RankStranger said: Does anybody know or can recommend someone who does aluminium anodising and is happy to do small jobs? This seems like a fun DIY activity, actually: However, with larger parts, you’ll likely end up at over $50 if you have to buy the chemicals etc., and in particular the ink.
RankStranger Posted April 13, 2021 Posted April 13, 2021 1 hour ago, Steffen said: This seems like a fun DIY activity, actually: However, with larger parts, you’ll likely end up at over $50 if you have to buy the chemicals etc., and in particular the ink. thanks, I did look into doing it myself. Gathering the necessary kit is substantially more than I want to spend and I don’t have plans to use it again 1
Ihearmusic Posted April 17, 2021 Posted April 17, 2021 Finally been able to give my new tube buffer with LDR remote a test run. Testing is done driving a 300B SET and a DK Designs VS.1 Reference Mk.III integrated amplifier. LDR is a Tortuga ePotV3 Mini from the US. It arrived 3 weeks after ordering. ( I still have not received my board from NZ around seven month and counting) The Tortuga is small enough to fit into the buffers enclosure witch is a big plus. It is also nicely made on quality PCBs. As for the improvement of the sound.....? No noticeable to my other tube pre amplifier with a ALPS pot. But then this is not comparing apples with apples so I just leave it at that. I don't like to blah blah on since this is only my personal opinion and what I hear does not necessarily agree with someone else. 3
itsparks Posted April 17, 2021 Posted April 17, 2021 I love having access to a 10x14 cnc unit Ribbon is Neox-2.0 and the 5" driver is the SB15MFC30-8. This weekends project ! Anyone want to guess what color they will be ? 8
mwhouston Posted April 18, 2021 Posted April 18, 2021 Silly me. Recently i made two MM phono stages. One chip based (Mimic Carbon) the other tube based - Mantra. I sold both not thinking i need at least one for my second TT when i do a temp set up and listen on phones or use my mono cartridge. I have some premium Burson discrete chips to try and here is the cct. brd. (Vero-brd) finished. All the parts i had on hand and have an enclosure of good size to mount it all in. The parts are average but i enjoy most of my builds for their character as long as it is not bad - must be good. Differential PS is onboard. It will run on two 9V batteries as do all my Mimics. 2
Bunno77 Posted April 18, 2021 Posted April 18, 2021 Does this count as DIY?? Luckily found the correct connector today from Altronics for the Chromecast Audio fed from Ifi PSU 3 1
muon* Posted April 19, 2021 Posted April 19, 2021 Swapped my Tocos Cosmos Pot for a Premium EIZZ stepped attenuator with Amtran AMRS resistors. Only 24 steps but I like the feel of it not clunky at all, only the Cosmos pot was a linear pot and this a log, so instead of volume at 9 O'clock it is now at 1 or 2 O'clock The Cosmos pots are well known for being very good sounding and some say better than the old Alps Black Beauty, but I think this has the edge maybe. 2
Jehuty Posted April 19, 2021 Posted April 19, 2021 3 minutes ago, muon* said: Swapped my Tocos Cosmos Pot for a Premium EIZZ stepped attenuator with Amtran AMRS resistors. Only 24 steps but I like the feel of it not clunky at all, only the Cosmos pot was a linear pot and this a log, so instead of volume at 9 O'clock it is now at 1 or 2 O'clock The Cosmos pots are well known for being very good sounding and some say better than the old Alps Black Beauty, but I think this has the edge maybe. That's quite a step up in terms of $ value. Keep us posted on how you like the new pot Ian. Cheers.
muon* Posted April 19, 2021 Posted April 19, 2021 (edited) 18 minutes ago, Jehuty said: That's quite a step up in terms of $ value. Keep us posted on how you like the new pot Ian. Cheers. Yeah, the Cosmos pots are great value but many have balance issues between channels especially at low levels and why hificollective stopped selling them. I'd have to say this EIZZ is better, measuring both the EIZZ was much closer matched even though the Cosmos wasn't bad so would expect better sound staging, with the Amtran Carbon resistors it has a nice natural tonality also. The EIZZ is well made from what I can tell. I did make the same old mistake in swapping the 98 Taiwan TDA1541A for an 88 Holland single crown at the same time so how reliable any comparisons will be I'm not sure as those two chips while both good have very different presentations. Although I am familiar with each chip. Edit: I noticed EIZZ now have a 33 step attenuator that might be a series/ladder hybrid (can't remember) but it's priced pretty high. This one is a series type. Edited April 19, 2021 by muon* 2
Jehuty Posted April 19, 2021 Posted April 19, 2021 Oh wow from non crown chip to S1...It is quite another step up in terms of sound quality. But yeah, I really like the look of your new pot so no doubt they would sound better than the old Cosmos. 1
muon* Posted April 19, 2021 Posted April 19, 2021 Just now, Jehuty said: Oh wow from non crown chip to S1...It is quite another step up in terms of sound quality. But yeah, I really like the look of your new pot so no doubt they would sound better than the old Cosmos. The 98 A chip from Taiwan had the edge in detail over the Holland chip and was quite nice, but of course a brighter presentation compared to the holland chip, but yes, pretty different in sound. I have two 87 holland single crowns, fatter sound with less detail, but nice in their own way. I do think I prefer the 88 holland S1, but the new EIZZ is nice also, I think i got a benefit from both changes as you suggest.
Jehuty Posted April 19, 2021 Posted April 19, 2021 6 hours ago, muon* said: The 98 A chip from Taiwan had the edge in detail over the Holland chip and was quite nice, but of course a brighter presentation compared to the holland chip, but yes, pretty different in sound. I have two 87 holland single crowns, fatter sound with less detail, but nice in their own way. I do think I prefer the 88 holland S1, but the new EIZZ is nice also, I think i got a benefit from both changes as you suggest. I reckon you'd love my Taiwanese double crown It's all system dependent though. I still prefer my Holland S1 single crown because they got more weight and body. The Taiwan double crown is probably better in specs and technicality but not for my preference in sound, especially after listening to my Tascam 42B reel to reel 1
AccuTidal Posted April 19, 2021 Posted April 19, 2021 Abit out of topic... not speakers nor poweramps diy, rather power supply for my server. An ATX compliance for an i7 9700K CPU. 7 1
mwhouston Posted April 20, 2021 Posted April 20, 2021 Diy, a blessing and a curse. For a very long time now i have lived by a DIY mantra - “ if you can build it then you must”. Which means i can’t buy any commercial gear if I have the ability to make it. For example of things i have made over 50 years;- tube and SS power amps, tube and SS preamps, tube and SS phono stages, many speakers, music servers, tube and SS headphone amps both home station and portable and DACs. Not to mention, speaker wires and interconnects. OK above is the blessing but here is the curse. Because I stick strictly to the above mantra I cant buy two pairs of speakers I would love to hear in my system. Thats it, only two pairs of speakers, you would think I would brake the mantra and buy the bloody things. But no! The speakers are a pair of Zus ( I'm easy on the model) and Heresy IVs. Thats it. Can’t do it. I can afford to and have the room but I’m stuck. On another note I did change the woofer in my old 12” Beyma boxes and now run a 12” ploy cone, FaitalPro Tratrix horn with FailtalPro compression drivers I am very, very happy with the results. Still would love the Zus or Heresys. Blessed DIY.
AccuTidal Posted April 20, 2021 Posted April 20, 2021 (edited) Absolutely @mwhouston. Though, I feel time is a most critical commodity pending on your line of work. Personally for me, doing diy while practicing my engineering day job and along with two little ones in primary had limited my creativity and potential. However, I found doing diy gave me the mental therapy needed outside listening to my audio setup. Regardless..., my previous project if I may sharing...! Edited April 20, 2021 by Chanh 3 1
mwhouston Posted April 20, 2021 Posted April 20, 2021 1 hour ago, Chanh said: Absolutely @mwhouston. Though, I feel time is a most critical commodity pending on your line of work. Personally for me, doing diy while practicing my engineering day job and along with two little ones in primary had limited my creativity and potential. However, I found doing diy gave me the mental therapy needed outside listening to my audio setup. Regardless..., my previous project if I may sharing...! and it is?
AccuTidal Posted April 20, 2021 Posted April 20, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, mwhouston said: and it is? It is a NOS DAC. With 22 DAC chips in paralleling to minimise timing issue and possible iron out residual jitter. The DAC chip is PCM1794. Each channel consists of 11 dac chips stacking. Each dac chip is powering by individual isolated shunt regulated psu from raw dc with LCLC filtering. DAC input direct i2s with Femto Clocks from BeagleBone via MPD player that UPND direct from LAN port that directly connected into LAN port of the controlPC (JRiver Operating). Operation software is in Linux ARM. Sound pretty darn good until I got the flagship Accuphase DC-950. The design is from Doede. http://www.dddac.com/dddac1794.html Edited April 20, 2021 by Chanh 1
mwhouston Posted April 20, 2021 Posted April 20, 2021 Finished and going. I’d like to say went first on but no. Two bad mistakes but fixed and now paying. Having a larger enclosure allowed 4uf Russian paper-in-oil (PIO) output caps to be fitted. I have installed these in the more compact Mimic enclosure in the past but this time a lot easier. Yet to have a big listen but on a very short test sounded as most Mimics do;- solid, smooth and neutral. Had all parts on hand and one of the reasons for the build was to use those parts, particularly the smaller enclosure (not big enough for what i usually used this type of enclosure for) and I needed one additonal phono stage. Win-win. If anyone is interested in one in the more standard compact cast Al enclosure (see image) PM me.
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