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Post by Sovereign on Jan 31, 2015 23:11:01 GMT
John, Bring your DAC to Sovereign Towers in Feb. As soon as I've finished making my Pre Amp I'll be back at modifying my DDDAC, should be interesting.
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Post by John on Feb 1, 2015 6:52:40 GMT
I no longer have a DAC moved to Direct Digital Amplification. But can bring that if you wish Can run by USB Coax or Tosh and even stream
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Post by Sovereign on Feb 1, 2015 8:58:59 GMT
Blimey, sounds space age!
Start a thread on it, if you haven't already, so I can see more of what your talking about .
Yes bring your Spok amps to my place.
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Post by John on Feb 1, 2015 10:26:02 GMT
It is in my blog
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 25, 2015 18:45:34 GMT
I strongly recommend that you use it with a 12V battery such as the Ankaka or many similar ones, on the basis that it makes a considerable difference to sound quality and is the only way to yield the C-II’s maximum performance. Could you provide a link for this Martin? I couldn't find this on Ankaka ... |
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Post by John on Feb 25, 2015 18:58:45 GMT
You can borrow mine
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Post by MartinT on Feb 25, 2015 19:37:19 GMT
Looks like it was withdrawn, Jules. Try John's first, see how you get on with it. There are several equivalent batteries out there, I'm now using an XTPower, available on Amazon.
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Post by julesd68 on Feb 26, 2015 14:41:34 GMT
Thanks chaps!
John, I'll hope to take you up on your kind offer and will be in touch when I'm up and running ... cheers.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 2, 2015 15:31:39 GMT
New V6-xx ROM
I've been testing out Stan's new (still under development and testing) ROM code for the Caiman-II. This is a radical change from the V5-xx code which most of us have been using. Without giving away any of Stan's development secrets, I can say that he has combined the efficiencies of a new compiler with a novel way of ensuring analogue output accuracy by making use of every scrap of on-chip memory available.
I have been trialling it extensively with standard red book files, hi-res up to 24/96 and compressed streaming data from the likes of Spotify and Radio Paradise. I've also done a lot of listening to the Sky Arts HD Channel and Blu-ray discs. It sounds cleaner with a little more ambience audible, especially at a decent listening level. There is just a little more realism all over and, dare I say it, a non-fatiguing analogue-like sound especially on ride cymbals and the like. This is good code and well worth obtaining if you know your Caiman-II well and want to squeeze every last drop of performance from it (which is considerable).
When Stan is ready to start shipping, you will be able to order the new ROM as a chargeable upgrade, which seems fair considering it's a true upgrade in SQ and will help to fund Stan's ongoing R&D. |
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Post by tony on Mar 3, 2015 1:50:12 GMT
Thanks for the update Martin, I will go down this route when it becomes available.
Is it a chip swap?
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Post by MartinT on Mar 3, 2015 6:47:43 GMT
Yes Tony, a simple chip swap which is mounted in a socket. Case off, swap chip, case on. 10 minute job at most.
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Post by tony on Mar 3, 2015 11:50:17 GMT
Martin,
Great, did the battery optimisation chip swap with my BM2-it was really straight forward....
Any indication of when it will be available?
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Post by stanleyb on Mar 3, 2015 12:58:49 GMT
I have ordered the blank chips, which should be with me tomorrow. I hope to be able to send the two early requests out tomorrow with a bit of luck. PM or email me if anyone is interested. Normal guarantee applies: if you can't hear a clear and present improvement, etc etc.
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Post by tony on Mar 4, 2015 2:54:35 GMT
PM sent..
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Post by stanleyb on Mar 4, 2015 8:42:56 GMT
Some important additional info:
1. The battery optimization facility is a piece of code that is built into the V5 and V6 firmware as well.
2. The chip is not actually a ROM, but a RISC processor with ROM, RAM, etc. running at 20MHz in the case of the existing CII. So it is a bit more advanced than the average chip that is normally used by other designers for this kind of task.
3. The V6 Firmware should not be confused with the production version of the Firmware. The production firmware is still the V5-xx range, and is subject to the normal upgrade and improvements as they are deemed necessary.
4. The V6 is a rewritten code designed for high quality source material played back via a good or better digital connection from a good or better source. So it might not work well with the Airport Express, which uses too many irregular transmission methods across various production versions of the AE. Other pieces of digital sources or transmitters might also fall down with the code. That could include some cable boxes, and TV digital outputs. Don't ask me which ones, since I don't know! I only tested the code on my own equipment.
5. The V6 code might also not sync well with poor or heavily encrypted wireless connections.
6. It might not show much benefits with mp3 and other lossy compression material.
7 The V6 supports 176.4KHz and 88.2KHz
8. The V6 is strictly for all out sonic performance, rather than steady and consistent operational reliability from a wider range of digital playback devices. So keep that in mind. If you got several different types of equipment plugged into the CaimanII, the performance gains on your "better" equipment and connection might show a higher consistency and better result when compared to your other equipment.
9. My usual guarantee applies: if you can't hear an obvious and clear improvement, you can send the firmware back for a refund minus postage. Due to its reliance on a better than average performance capability of your existing audio equipment, it might not work for everyone. Or the improvements might not be large enough to justify the cost.
Sorry for the long caveat. But I do get the occasional pedantic moaners who might complain about a 20 millisecond glitch in the music once every hour. Or noise for the speaker when you press your ears against the drivers and got the music in Pause mode. If you are one of them, then the V6 might not be for you. I would suggest that you stick to the regular V5 firmware revisions.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 4, 2015 9:17:44 GMT
Here is what I have tested with the V6 firmware, all of which have shown a significant lift in sound quality: - Raspberry Pi B+ / Digi+ via both optical and co-ax: both work, optical sounds slightly better. The Pi is ethernet cable connected, no guarantees with wi-fi, which can glitch a lot. Using files, internet radio and Spotify as sources
- Sky HD+ satellite box (Samsung) via optical
- Pioneer BDP-LX55 Blu-ray player via optical
Optical cables are Stan's own excellent ones and an older Kimber.
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Post by stanleyb on Mar 5, 2015 20:29:42 GMT
A couple of the V6 firmware are now in the post to the persons who put their name on the list.
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Post by tony on Mar 6, 2015 12:10:59 GMT
Got my chip this morning-plumbed it in and fired up the main rig.
For Caiman users this is a fine upgrade. Ticks all the boxes sonically but most noticeable is the frequency extremes cymbals/tambourines/double bass all sound that bit more natural.
Separation and placement has improved-sounds very organic and natural if that makes sense.
Will try it on the cans later and try to get my head round what its done.
As is, Im very pleased.
Many thanks Stan.
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Post by stanleyb on Mar 6, 2015 13:05:45 GMT
I don't want to say too much about how I managed to do it, but I spent a lot of time on getting the Caiman II to live up to the reputation of its predecessor.
The CamanII is actually powered by a RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) processor that is running at nearly twice the clock frequency of the DAC chipset. That increased processing speed is allowing me to spend a bit more time to check the accuracy of the data, and keep everything in check. Most DACs don't use a processor to drive them, partly due to cost and complexity of the software required to drive the thing. So if the I2S data at the output of the data receiver sends a start bit command to the DAC chip to indicate that a new string of data is on its way, the DAC chip tends to drop everything it is doing, or starts to jump over the data it is processing, in order to be in synch time wise with the new incoming data on the I2S lines. In doing that, the DAC chip discards some of the low level signal details.
In the CaimanII Super Firmware I am using the increased processor clock speed to check the SPDIF data on the input of the receiver chip and tell the DAC chip that the receiver chip is busy converting a new set of SPDIF signal into I2S data. So the DAC chip has a bit more time to finish what it is doing in an orderly manner, before it has to start the new task.
To get an idea of the difference, you should try the CaimanII with a good pair of headphone and with both the standard and the Super Firmware. On my D7000 and HD800 it is a startling difference. My HD650 seems to wipe away some of that difference, which shows up the limitation of the HD650.
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Post by tony on Mar 6, 2015 16:48:21 GMT
Stan,
I will press the hd700s into service when I get the chance....
For want of a better expression the new chip sounds "organic" just very natural letting you listen to music as opposed to the hi fi if that makes sense!
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