Jump to content

fierce_freak

High Rollers
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    502

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by fierce_freak

  1. Best method for I to V?

    in Do It Yourself

    Posted

    I think a volume-matched DBT between single ended m3 and balanced b22 would be interesting :)

    I'd love to see that. I've gone back and forth so many times on whether I think the balanced b22 is any different from my 2-channel b22. As it is, today I think the balanced b22 is a little more clear on low-level stuff (cmrr?)

  6. Best method for I to V?

    in Do It Yourself

    Posted

    Thanks for the further info guys. I just say that Jay now has a cd player with transformers on the output and likes it pretty well, but I'd love to hear any impressions on comparisons anyone else has done between different I/V solutions like discrete vs. opamp vs. transformer/passive.

    On a side note: the Buffalo DAC, even with no I/V stage (it can operate as voltage out with decreased specs) sounds really incredible. Really, really nice. Did I mention that the sound is killer?

    :horsey:

  11. Best method for I to V?

    in Do It Yourself

    Posted

    You know what's funny...I was thinking about doing just that last night while I was laying in bed O.o

    -edit- of course, in their IVY stage they've recommended using 178R for the actual I/V resistors. might have to use a less conductive metal for resistors that big

  13. DIY cable gallery

    in Do It Yourself

    Posted

    Yeah, right? Of course, I've already disassembled the whole thing and tried to do something else with it. I ended up just getting pissed off and doing the mogami cable super quick so I could actually listen to music (I sent the cable I had been using to John Broskie as he wanted to try his HD-650's balanced).

  14. Best method for I to V?

    in Do It Yourself

    Posted

    Here's a copy/paste of an email I sent to the TPA guys:

    I received the Buffalo today and saw your email, so I switched stuff around in the IVY as you suggested. I already had everything else for the buffalo setup ready, so all I had to do was drop it in and test. I'm getting some odd results.

    When I first turned the DAC on, I initially thought I was only getting a signal out from one channel (the right one). I pulled out the connection between the right output and my amp and noticed I was getting a signal from the left output, but at a much lower volume. I connected the amp to the right output again and just sat there for a few minutes while thinking about possible problems, and the left output popped up to the same level as the right out of nowhere. I listened for 5 minutes and was thoroughly impressed.

    I decided to turn the DAC off and back on to make sure things were OK, and I experienced the really low volume on the left output again. I reset the DAC, and now only listening for 5 minutes or so, I only get sound out of the right output, but it's now at the level the left was previously at when it was really low. I don't hear the left channel no matter how loud I turn it.

    That was last night. Today I took it all apart and reflowed all the solder on the IVY. After I put it back together, it just burns up the fuse when I power on. I haven't had time to look any further than that as I had to get to work. I'll figure it out, but I'm in no rush (not like I have time to do anything, anyways ;D).

    I'm not asking about I/V options due to those problems, though. I'm just interested to see how other stuff might compare. I'll look forward to your impressions, grawk.

  15. Best method for I to V?

    in Do It Yourself

    Posted

    I got my Buffalo DAC yesterday. I'm having a few problems with the IVY stage, but when I've had it working correctly it sounds flippin' sweet. I do wonder, though, if I can do better for an output stage. Of course, there's the zapfilter, but I imagine using some nice transformers for the I/V conversion or maybe some autoformers would be pretty tops.

    Anyone have any experience on best sounding method for I/V conversion? Tubes? Opamps? Transformers? Simple resistor (and differences between resistor brands)?

  16. DIY cable gallery

    in Do It Yourself

    Posted

    Made a pair of interconnects using some UP-OCC 22ga I bought from Nate. I modified Chris VH's silver IC recipe, using a core of 1/4" polyethylene tubing, and spiraled the wires on 2" turns, wrapped it with teflon tape, then some techflex I had laying around. They are actually more flexible than I though they would be (not bad at all).

    I made a headphone cable using the silver IC recipe with some 26ga jupiter cotton-covered copper, wrapped in teflot tape. It was super flexible, but then I realized I couldn't fit the whole assembly through the boot of the 4 pin neutrik xlr. me-> :stick: <-me

    Talk about hours of lost time. I'm just using some Mogami w2893 for the 650 cable for now. I'm not complaining ;D

    I've thought about using some of the Neotech stuff, but I hate to use any solid conductor bigger than 26ga.

  17. Buffy and Angel and other Whedon stuff

    in TV

    Posted

    I've only seen about an episode each of Buffy and Angel (mostly because SMG generally drives me nuts), but I've been considering giving both a shot again for the past couple years. I'm a Browncoat (big Firefly fan), so I suppose I should give some of Whedon's other works a shot.

  22. Best Tube Amp Today? Cost maybe an object

    in Headphone Amplification

    Posted

    Somebody double check me on this. I haven't really ever tried calculating impedances across a transformer before.

    Say I use the 2.5k primary impedance transformer I mentioned before. Off the 16 ohm tap, the impedance ratio is 156.25, correct? So I multiply that number by the 300 ohms of the HD650 to get an impedance of 46,875 ohms reflected back on the tube. I know some run their tubes into high impedances, but that seems a bit too high. Will that just kill voltage output?

    For a 300 ohm load, to get 5k reflected back on the tube I'd need roughly a 4:1 primary to secondary turns ratio, if I'm calculating right. Can anyone tell me how far off the mark I am?

  24. Best Tube Amp Today? Cost maybe an object

    in Headphone Amplification

    Posted

    Ok, as I'm sure everyone is pretty tired of this topic, let's put it to rest. I've added a poll asking which amp I should build.

    I think I'm leaning towards the tubelabse. I think the combo of 45 tubes with a good OPT could be pretty good. I see OPT's with a 5k primary impedance recommended for 45's, but of course those OPT's only have 4/8/16 ohm secondary impedances (if you're lucky enough to get all three). I plan to use the HD650's, so is my best option to get some transformers custom wound, or can I use say a 2.5K impedance primary OPT and use the 16 ohm tap and be ok?

    For Aikido, that could mean adding OPT's to my current 24v aikido, building a balanced Aikido, or just going crazy with a regular high-voltage aikido.

    I could go with an over the top Morgan Jones or Van Waarde amp, like the singlepower amps or the Menace.

    Lastly, there are the differential amps like the Raven pre-amp, the first two stages of the Karna, or the differential L'espressivo.

    Whatcha think?

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

  I accept