My (very) mini review of the Singxer SU-1 DDC

[Quasar]

Hello.

In the absence of changing a pair of LT3045, more or less, already assembled and ready for installation in the corresponding box with the other USB components. The iFi micro feeds all the circuitry of the SU-1. In this case the LT3045 use them only to reduce the voltage, the output noise of the micro iFi is theoretically much lower. At the same time, a pair of LT3045 will power the iFi micro.

I hope that when I have it finished, I will get the same level of quality as in the first eventual installation.

 

[elan120]

Another new discovery...

 

It's been a short while since I post more findings for SU-1 here, and think it is time to share my latest finding.  I have been making Gotham JSSG360 cables for a while, replaced all DC power supply cables, PC CPU, SATA, and soon 24pin ATX power cables, as well as few other devices internal DC cables with very good success, finally I decided to give SU-1 the same treatment, and the improvement is very noticeable from the moment I power everything back up.  The improvement from this short section of cable is quite surprising, not only the overall detail retrieval took another step forward, sound stage, dynamic, layering all moved up nicely.

 

This cable isn't difficult to replace, and for the amount of additional enjoyment it provided, I would highly recommend to give it a try.

 

Here are couple pictures of this Gotham JSSG360 cable.

 

New cable installed.  Connecting to the 5VDC input:

 

Closer look:

 

 

[rafa]

@elan120 those RF sockets, are the standard UFL SMD sockets? 

I was thinking to do something similar. It's cleaner.

[elan120]

3 hours ago, rafa said:

@elan120 those RF sockets, are the standard UFL SMD sockets? 

I was thinking to do something similar. It's cleaner.

Yes, those are Hirose uF.L connectors.

[Soma]

Singxer SU-6 is released!!!

https://m.tb.cn/h.3O0verE?sm=d4b420

 

[R1200CL]

@Soma

 

That link isn’t working. 

 

Can you feed us with more informations and specification ?

[Soma]

3 minutes ago, R1200CL said:

That link isn’t working

Please try this. Hope it works this time. It's on Taobao.com

https://a.m.taobao.com/i581802405856.htm?abtest=5&rn=a2f3317be68fde9cc616520b7ca45cdb&sid=9a3d34eb1fdf4d8584650bbfdad7f6fb

[Soma]

27 minutes ago, R1200CL said:

 

Can you feed us with more informations and specification ?

I don't have more information at this stage. Sorry.

I checked with them and English manual should be available in couple of weeks soon. Until then we just need to use google translate from the above link.

[R1200CL]

The Singxer ship interface (Chinese registered trademark) of the ship USB interface SU-6 was officially released. At present, the official delivery will take about 3-4 weeks.
Due to the rush of time, the official photos have not been completed, and the photos sent temporarily are photos of the slag photographed by the mobile phone. Please forgive me.
The official retail price of SU-6 is 4390RMB, and the overseas price is 690USD; the current preferential booking price is 3950RMB.
The first batch of new products is limited in quantity, and you want to purchase as soon as possible. When the price returns to normal, it is the time to end the booking. (Old users have exclusive offers, this need to consult the owner)
 
In addition, in order to ensure that each user gets a new machine (this shop does not support 7 days no reason to listen, so there will be no returned second-hand machines), the products sold in this store do not support audition for seven days no reason to return.
We will launch a dedicated audition service at the right time.
Only when there is no unpacking or product quality problems, support for seven days no reason to return. If you unpack, you can't return it for seven days. Thank you for your understanding.
More information, follow-up slowly.
 
Product introduction:
  The SU-6 digital interface is a new generation of high-performance USB digital audio interface developed by the Singxer team. It uses XMOS' latest xCORE-200 series and Xilinx's high-performance large-scale PGA chip. The SU-6 is a digital interface using a thermostat-level clock system. Crystek's two CCHD-957 femtosecond crystal oscillators provide a solid foundation for the superior audio signal quality of the SU-6 output. The SU-6 digital interface uses a standard USB2.0 input interface, while the SU-6 has a rich output interface, including S/PDI for fiber/coaxial RCA and BNC outputs, AES/EBU for XLR balanced output, RJ45 and HDMI interfaces. Output I2S (including DSD ON signal), clock output supports MCLK main clock and WCLK word clock.
 
 SU-6 is our newly developed USB interface, which is positioned at the high-end interface. Compared with our previous products, we mainly use the following four new self-developed technologies:

      1, built-in CPLD pre-shaping technology, FPGA-based source synchronization technology re-shaping the isolated I2S signal, thus eliminating the additive jitter caused by the isolation chip.

      2, the newly designed FPGA algorithm, built-in FIFO buffers the data and then outputs, SPDIF output is re-encoded by FPGA, so that the coaxial output can support PCM 384K and DSD DOP128 at the highest.

      3, using CRYSTEK's CCHD-957 high-performance femtosecond crystal oscillator, with the self-developed constant temperature system and ultra-low noise power supply system, further improve the short-stability of the clock.
      4. Original single clock system, all circuits of the whole machine adopt synchronous clock design, in which USB clock is synthesized by PLL derived from femtosecond clock.

 

 

 

Technical indicators:
Sample rate supported by each output interface:
PCM: 44.1KHz, 48KHz, 88.2KHz, 96KHz,

   176.4KHz, 192KHz, 352.8KHz, 384KHz

  [I2S out and WCLK out support all sampling rates, S/PDI and AES/EBU support up to 384K, of which fiber supports up to 192K]

DSD: 2.8 MHz (DSD64) - DoP, native

  5.6 MHz (DSD128) - DoP, native

  11.2 MHz (DSD256) - DoP, native

  22.5 MHz (DSD512) - native

  [I2S out supports all DSD formats, S/PDI and AES/EBU support DSD128 DOP mode, of which fiber supports up to DOP64]

Bit width: up to 32 bit over I2S output

   Up to 24 bit over S/PDI, AES/EBU

 

 

 

Electrical standards for each interface:

1, USB input socket is a standard USB-B type female socket, USB power supply range is 4.5V-5.1V;
2, DC POWER input socket uses DC2.1 socket, supports 7.5V-9V DC input (power supply requirement is 3A).
3, BNC interface and RCA interface output standard S / PDI signal, the level is 550mV (connected to standard load), the output impedance is 75 ohms;
4, XLR interface output standard AES / EBU signal, the level is 3.3V (connected to standard load), the output impedance is 110 ohms;
5, the word clock (WCLK) output uses BNC interface, the level is TTL (no load), the output impedance is 75 ohms;
The 6, 2 HDMI-I2S signals are output through the HDMI socket. The output four signals include MCLK, BCLK, LRCLK, and SDATA signals. The standard LVDS differential level is used, and the impedance is controlled at 100 ohms. The PIN13-15 of the HDMI socket is the DSD_ON signal, the high level is the I2S working in the DSD mode, the level is LVTTL; the PIN18 is the 5V weak power output (the output current is less than 20ma), which can be used as the interface plug-in indication; 2 output The I2S line sequence is the same.
7, RJ45-I2S output I2S signal is CMOS (5V) single-ended signal, low-impedance output, the output of four signals including MCLK, BCLK, LRCLK, SDATA signal.
8, the optical fiber port outputs the standard optical signal.
 

plan the details:
1. Implement the design concept of electric power as the mother of sound, pay attention to the design of power circuit, adopt external DC input, built-in super capacitor power supply, with high performance, low noise and fast response LDO. The whole board is powered by up to 6 independent LDOs. The digital audio board is powered by a secondary LDO. The clock part even uses ADI's ultra-low noise LDO, which lays a solid foundation for ensuring the ultimate performance of the output.
2, in order to ensure excellent electrical transmission performance, XLR sockets are made of Swiss Neutrik products, USB-B sockets are made of TE, and enthusiast BNC and RCA coaxial sockets are made by Taiwanese manufacturers. Even the fuses are selected from the United States. Litteluse model.
3. The audio board is designed with a 4-layer board to ensure a complete ground plane and power plane. High-speed digital design is used to ensure signal integrity and power integrity of the board. Special processing of the clock signal, using packet design and accurate impedance control, to ensure the signal quality of the clock and improve its anti-interference ability.
4, input and output signals are in accordance with the standard design, especially the USB high-speed signal uses 90 ohm impedance control, also built-in anti-static TVS protection circuit; I2S signal uses LVDS differential level standard, impedance control is 100 ohms, 4 outputs are used A separate LVDS driver.
 
System compatibility:

1, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10; 32/64 bit, need to install a dedicated driver
2, Native MacOS 10.6 and later, using the system comes with a driver
3, Native Linux with UAC2 compliant kernel, using the system's own driver, (tested on Ubuntu and Daphile systems, based on INTEL X86 platform)
4, Android OS 4.2 and above, the device needs to support OTG function, in general, the Android 5.0 system is supported by default, and the following 5.0 recommendations are used with a dedicated player.
 

HDMI -I2S interface output:
1. LVDS differential signal with a level of 3.3V;
2.DSD ON signal, 5V power supply (small current), the internal PGA of the MUTE signal has been processed, and the MUTE signal will not need to be output;
3. The DSD ON signal can be defined by itself. The DSD ON signal can be arbitrarily output to the PIN13, 14, 15, and 16 pins of the socket.
4. The phase of PIN1-3 and PIN7-9 is adjustable, and the user can configure the phase of the two pairs of outputs through one switch.
 
Flexible I2S and clock configuration:
1. Switch 1-4 corresponds to the PIN13-16 pin of the HDMI socket. When it is pulled to the ON position, it means that the PIN pin has the output function of the DSD_ON signal;
2. Switches 5 and 6 are modes for configuring the clock output:
  When the switch 5 is at O, the clock outputs MCLK, and when it is ON, the clock outputs WCK;

  Switch 6 configures the frequency of MCLK, which is 22.5792M/24.576M for O and 45.1584M/49.152M for ON.

  The configuration of switch 6 is valid for CLK OUT, RJ45-I2S, and HDMI-I2S.

3. The switch 7 can separately set the left and right channels in the DSD mode of the I2S signal.
4. Switch 8 can set the line sequence of BCLK in I2S signal; when O, PIN4 is BCLK+, PIN6 is BCLK-;
5. Switch 9 can set the line sequence of LRCLK in I2S signal; when O, PIN7 is LRCLK+, PIN9 is LRCLK-;
6. Switch 10 can set the line sequence of DATA in I2S signal; when O, PIN1 is DATA+, PIN3 is DATA-;
   Note: Coaxial, optical fiber, AES/EBU output is not affected by the above code switch; RJ45-I2S wire sequence is fixed, need to adapt to different interfaces, you need to customize the network cable.

Chassis size and packaging:
The length and width of the chassis: 238MM*170MM*46MM, excluding the height of the feet and the protruding part of the connector behind the chassis.
The weight of a single machine is about 1.6KG.
The length and width of the carton packaging: 350MM*230MM*110MM.
Package weight: about 2.0KG
Accessories: a USB cable, a power adapter (global, support AC100V-240V), a power cord

[rickca]

Deleted

[R1200CL]

I was for a moment attempted to switch out my modified SU-1, but with a 3A requirement, the LPS-1.2 won’t be able to supply it. 

 

I wonder if anyone can comment on the chosen CRYSTEK's CCHD-957 high-performance femtosecond crystal oscillator, with the self-developed constant temperature system and ultra-low noise power supply system, VS a Crystek 575

 

They doesn’t explain how this low power is utilized, anyone able to see from the pictures?
     

Also that all circuits of the whole machine adopt synchronous clock design, in which USB clock is synthesized by PLL derived from femtosecond clock.

 

Is this a good way to implement the usb (re?)clocking ?

[Soma]

19 minutes ago, R1200CL said:

3A requirement, the LPS-1.2 won’t be able to supply it. 

I got to know month ago that they are releasing new one. So I waited and this made to hold my purchase. 

I am also wondering about the clock. Need to do some research.

[paulinus]

IMHO, so much power (3A) necessary for clock oven.

[Franatic]

35 minutes ago, paulinus said:

IMHO, so much power (3A) necessary for clock oven.

Yes, I'm in the same boat with the LPS-1.2. It would be nice to if there was a separate power connection for the oven. I will send Leter@singxer an email.

[Cortes]

Looks a very interesting unit, probably better than current SU-1 and compentece such as Mutec mc3. However, SU-6 + good LPS will be >1k. More expensive than many DACs and streamers, no cheap if no more than one output is required. 

 

USB is galvanically isolated?. I ask because ground loops in usb cables are not rare. 

 

 

[rickca]

59 minutes ago, paulinus said:

IMHO, so much power (3A) necessary for clock oven.

It's not clear what they mean by 'self-developed constant temperature system'.

[R1200CL]

Maybe the https://kitsunehifi.com/product/kte-su-1-kitsune-tuned-edition-3-2uv-output-noise-125db-psrr-usb-digital-to-digital-convertor-xmos-xu208-cpld-dsd256-dop-free-shipping-with-coupon-code-singxer/ 

 

is a better choice. Tim doesn’t recommend an external power. 

 

I haven’t read this thread for a while, so not sure if someone has tested this version. 

[Cortes]

56 minutes ago, rickca said:

It's not clear what they mean by 'self-developed constant temperature system'.

I guess that means no OCXO, otherwise they would tell.

[rafa]

1 hour ago, Cortes said:

USB is galvanically isolated?. I ask because ground loops in usb cables are not rare. 

Yes, it's visible on pcb design.

[rafa]

19 minutes ago, Cortes said:

I guess that means no OCXO, otherwise they would tell.

CRYSTEK's CCHD-957 it is VCXO

[Cortes]

9 minutes ago, rafa said:

CRYSTEK's CCHD-957 it is VCXO

 uhm! that's what I was suspecting. This  clock if not sota implemented might have the same phase noise as a cheap not oven version. 

 

 

[Cortes]

31 minutes ago, R1200CL said:

Maybe the https://kitsunehifi.com/product/kte-su-1-kitsune-tuned-edition-3-2uv-output-noise-125db-psrr-usb-digital-to-digital-convertor-xmos-xu208-cpld-dsd256-dop-free-shipping-with-coupon-code-singxer/ 

 

is a better choice. Tim doesn’t recommend an external power. 

 

I haven’t read this thread for a while, so not sure if someone has tested this version. 

 

 We have to wait and see (or hear). From the specs, this mod looks like they have  upgraded the voltage regulators to LT3045 and the caps. Disclaim: I've not idea if that's the case, just guessing. If this is the case, a SU-6 can achieve the same voltage noise with an appropiate LPS.   

 

If the above is right the main difference between SU-1 and SU-6 (apart from outputs) might be the clocks. The VXCO of the SU-6 is quite risky with the regulatory feedback required. Really, at this point we have to wait and see whether SU-6 > SU-1 or ~. 

 

 

 

 

On the

 

 

 

[rafa]

To me it looks like modded SU-1

 

I just bought Gustard U16 so I am not interested XMOS anymore...

[R1200CL]

1 hour ago, rafa said:

Gustard U16

 

Link please ?

 

Google didn’t serve me well. 

[rickca]

45 minutes ago, R1200CL said:

Link please ?

https://www.shenzhenaudio.com/gustard-u16-es8620-support-pcm32bit-768k-dsd512-dop-and-native-dsd-digital-interface.html

 

So if the ES8620 is so good, why did the SU-6 go with XMOS?