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Post by MartinT on Jan 15, 2021 23:33:48 GMT
Yes - the Android app is a much better way to access it.
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 17, 2021 19:48:53 GMT
I2S connections - DIYaudio to the rescue
"Here is my take on behaviour of I2S signals and how the diy-er should treat them:
This comes down to two things:
Each signal must have independent return path, so that each signal acts as an independent transmission path.
The return path should be as close as practical to the signal.
This is to ensure both the signal sent and received correlate closely AND to minimise the radiated noise that will contribute to the noise in components nearby.
"
Could be why I hear better things now.
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 18, 2021 19:43:03 GMT
After reading more - solder shouldn't be used for I2S connections!
Solder gives variable resistance. A no-no for I2S. It's considered more like RF than current apparently.
Not sure how this pans out on PCB with holes and pins soldered in everywhere?
Back in the day I used to wire wrap custom installations on Ericsson AXE10 telephony test plants, when we needed something bespoke.
Very satisfying seeing the wire tightly spiraled on to the connection pins. Most reliable way of making contacts.
Of course they used gold plated multi connector buses too.
Anyway, I was guilty of soldering the I2S connections😱.
Some of them not too pretty!
I re-did them all, crimped this time.
Damned if things aren't more lush and pure - you know, that super re-clocking sound, once you've heard it!
So pure silver hook up wire and crimped contacts.
Silver dupont connectors next 🙄😀
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Post by MartinT on Jan 18, 2021 20:06:48 GMT
Nice upgrade! I remember servicing wire wrapped boards for early computer systems. Certainly not as easy to troubleshoot as a PCB.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jan 18, 2021 20:46:37 GMT
Sounds like another 'fact' in the bin
Assumed solder was tops
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 19, 2021 8:54:19 GMT
More listening last night.
Only now am I really experiencing what Kali -> I2S -> Najda is capable of!
I used WaveIO for years (USB -> I2S -> Najda) but almost certainly never got the best out of it, due to the connections I made.
You live and learn.
I wonder if shielding the Data/Clock/Frame and there respective earth might be a good idea?
Not sure!
Floating shield (not grounded either end), or to common chassis ground?
Can't think it would be a good idea to ground them to the I2S GNDs!?
Can experiment 🙂
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 24, 2021 19:27:03 GMT
This evening's messin' about!😀 Tube rings. I've used them in the past, on 6SN7s and KT88s. These are not the proper silicone ones. They are from a big box of all sizes - Workzone from Aldi😀 They won't be on long enough to melt! Just to test. They do make the tubes run a little hotter. EL84s run hot, around 240F in old money. The EL84s won't mind, they are Russian military long life. The ECC83s run cooler. Let's see - I'll report back.   |
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Post by tarzan on Jan 25, 2021 0:21:20 GMT
Steve, l have the Herbies Tube Dampers and they really did make a very positive difference in sound quality- have them in my Integrated and phono amp.  |
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 25, 2021 9:13:46 GMT
Steve, l have the Herbies Tube Dampers and they really did make a very positive difference in sound quality- have them in my Integrated and phono amp. That's great to hear. I think I've read about them! Are they the C clip ones with silicone bobbins. Seem as you say, well received and liked 👍 I feel some DIY coming on for a set of them! Modded Circlips of the right size, or just some SS wire made round, with exhaust grade silicone bobbins made in a mould. How hard can it be? 😀 Last night on just the upper mid channel (1200Hz - -11000Hz, the most sensitive ear range), the rings made things a bit calmer. Perhaps over damper. The Herbie's reportedly don't do that. Not night and day but worth experimenting with! Then the rings got a tiny bit smelly so whipped then of and cleaned the tubes. I might have fed that channel a couple more dB had the test gone on longer, and of course can try different crossover slopes and even different 3uF caps. Then onto the mid channel 350Hz - 1200Hz. |
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 25, 2021 19:55:07 GMT
Funny thing enabling a more revealing / detailed sound!
That's what improving the I2S connections has done!
With that came the brains reaction; ooh that's good, then after a few days things are put in context and place, dreams dreamt even 🙂
So it became that I had too much of the good thing.
There was a rising feeling, some tracks were too much.
Hence trying Spotify again and knowing I'd find it a bit softer.
Then thinking of tube rings for the upper 3 channels power amps.
Whilst the DIY tube rings are under creation the Clarity 3uF caps stared up at me. Saying, try me, try me!
So I did.
You may recall I ditched them a good whole ago as a bit boring!
Plumbed in on the upper mid Vitavox S2 compression driver Channel and
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Wow detail, resolution, clarity, poise and composure can coexist!
Will still do the tube dampers though 😉
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Post by MartinT on Jan 25, 2021 21:08:26 GMT
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 26, 2021 9:25:47 GMT
Yes. Spot on. I had a skim read that before. I'm dealing with it and enjoying the process 😁 |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 26, 2021 9:43:46 GMT
Me too. It's still a process but every change I have made has rendered the wonderful resolution more acceptable without the harshness/glare/hotness.
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 26, 2021 17:42:40 GMT
The diversity of our systems and therefore the different solutions implementable makes it interesting too.
Might have the first set of prototype Stevey-tube-dampers to trial this evening!
I happened to have some high temp'(250C) silicone sealer in black (left over from a woodburner flu installation), that I injected into a tube of the right diameter.
Once freed the silicone sausage will make lots of bobbins for the sprung steel clips I've made.
We'll see.
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 28, 2021 23:08:06 GMT
Some learnings. 1. Those EL84s get pretty hot!🔥 2. High temperature 250C silicone lasts about 10 minutes on them 😂 smoke and cursing😄 I'd made some nice little bobbins and threaded them on a stiff steel ring I'd fabricated. Fortunately I already had a tube of silicone, about 1/4 left, so no loss. I found the silicone rings I used on my KT88s. They also ran hot🔥 They were way too big of course but i made a tie of some thin steel wire, so the KT88 rings were looped and a nice push fit over the EL84s. No smoke or smell even after prolonged running - as expected etc. Okay. Then I cut one of the umpteen KT88 rings in to bobbin slides slices and threaded them on some circular stiff steel rod I'd made. First path find with a pin. Then a 1mm Allen key and then onto the rings.  The 3 stages  Here they are in play.  I've found 2 on the EL84s and 1 on the ECC83s to be the right level. Don't want them over damped! I will make the same up for the tweeter amp and the mid horn amp next. The sound is all the detail of the I2S improvements but a balanced luxurious conveyance of it. I might make them prettier. Turning the silicone rod in the lathe and slicing with a knife and a 1mm drill in the lathe would do that. |
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 28, 2021 23:27:19 GMT
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 28, 2021 23:49:54 GMT
Ooh and this one!  That piano solo😎 |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 29, 2021 6:27:29 GMT
They're a fashion statement!
Good choice of test music, they sort the men from the boys.
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 29, 2021 7:45:18 GMT
Would need more bling for fashion.
I like things a bit rough and ready, prototype kind of looking - but oh so effective.
Was fun making them on a stool in front of the hifi and adding them one by one (hot) as I went.
12 more metal rings to make and will see if the lathe cutting and hole making of the silicone is workable.
It's quite stiff should could work.
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 29, 2021 16:54:06 GMT
Then there were 3 sets. Ran out of the nine thin springy steel, so used thicker gauge. Just need to adjust to get the pressure right. Listening now.  |
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