A novel way to massively improve the SQ of computer audio streaming

[Jonder]

But, on the Buffalo and the Melco switch the led’s are not integrated with the rj45’s but on a separate board so @Neno’s theory doesn’t apply.

[sandyk]

2 hours ago, Fourlegs said:

See Nuno's post in link below which clarifies why he thinks the inclusion of LEDs can be noisy.

 That's not what you said in your reply.

LEDs are not inherently noisy, so LEDs when drawing a continuous fixed current from a non noisy D.C.  power supply, such as an indicator LED powered via a suitable resistance value do not generate any readily measured noise .

In fact, you will see a LED used as a voltage reference used in the ultra Low Noise Jung Voltage Regulator

[MarcelNL]

https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/35821-noise-measurements-leds-zener-diodes.html Also read with interest that many LEDs become more noisy when they are exposed to light 🤔

 

Noise from LED's is not really a new topic, though I'm not aware of LED design changed a lot since or that newer LEDs have been measured for noise... that design guide telling designers to avoid LED's may really actually mean something, so do responses by people reporting to hearing a difference.

 

[sandyk]

35 minutes ago, MarcelNL said:

https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/parts/35821-noise-measurements-leds-zener-diodes.html Also read with interest that many LEDs become more noisy when they are exposed to light 🤔

 

Noise from LED's is not really a new topic, though I'm not aware of LED design changed a lot since or that newer LEDs have been measured for noise... that design guide telling designers to avoid LED's may really actually mean something, so do responses by people reporting to hearing a difference.

 

I have had a copy of that almost 17 years old article for years. 😉

 You probably can't even buy most of those old LEDs these days, due to markedly improved processing and in many cases a huge leap in efficiency.

 We are talking about different things here, You are talking about the quite low measured noise of those older LEDs and Zener diodes, where they are talking here about levels of noise generated by LEDs sufficient to generate interference.

The noise generated by those LEDs would be far below the needed amount to generate any interference if drawing a specified continuous current.

In fact, there are now some IR LEDS where the noise is so low, you need several in series to readily measure the noise generated. This has also been verified in. the Jung Regulator by Walt Jung recently who was working with an E.E. friend of mine in NSW Au.

 

See also :

 http://www.dicks-website.eu/noise_in_voltage_references/part1.html

[MarcelNL]

great info! Nice, so that is one worry less if the power supplied to the LEDs is clean (meaning no PWM)

If Walt Jung is using them it's fine for me too...I have him in high regard!

 

[sandyk]

Just now, MarcelNL said:

great info! Nice, so that is one worry less if the power supplied to the LEDs is clean (meaning no PWM)

If Walt Jung is using them it's fine for me too...I have him in high regard!

 

Some interesting info in the link I just added.

Regards

Alex

[amolan]

9 hours ago, Soul Analogue said:

Indeed on the buffalo, turning off the leds does sound substantially better than keeping them on...

much less harshness and having more clear and holographic image

so i purposely put a toggle switch to turn off the leds...

 

How did you turn off Buffalo leds ?

[Fourlegs]

1 hour ago, sandyk said:

That's not what you said in your reply.

I think possibly you are confusing me with someone else and their reply?

[Soul Analogue]

1 hour ago, amolan said:

 

How did you turn off Buffalo leds ?

One of the pins on the 10pin ribbon cable to the leds panel is the 3.3v supply to the panel .. use a dmm to locate that pin... 

Remove that supply male pin from the connector on the main switch board.. solder a wire from that pin to a “switch”.. solder another wire from the “switch”  back to the leds panel 3.3v supply... 

Thats it

[Soul Analogue]

Just now, Soul Analogue said:

One of the pins on the 10pin ribbon cable to the leds panel is the 3.3v supply to the panel .. use a dmm to locate that pin... 

Remove that supply male pin from the connector on the main switch board.. solder a wire from that pin to a “switch”.. solder another wire from the “switch”  back to the leds panel 3.3v supply... 

Thats it

however in my experience.. the buffalo does not seem to boot up properly if the leds panel is off..... so it has to be on during boot up.... after boot up the panel can be turned on and off as desired

[MarkusBarkus]

1 hour ago, sandyk said:

The noise generated by those LEDs would be far below the needed amount to generate any interference if drawing a specified continuous current.

@sandyk, others: Would continuous be a caveat in this discussion?
 

In other words: would flashing LEDs such as in a switch be suspected to be a noise(ier) source, however small, as opposed to the steady-state indicators we see indicating "on" status, etc.? Cheers...

[soares]

10 hours ago, Soul Analogue said:

Indeed on the buffalo, turning off the leds does sound substantially better than keeping them on...

much less harshness and having more clear and holographic image

so i purposely put a toggle switch to turn off the leds...

Extraordinary modd! Barely recognized the Buffalo. 

[Gavin1977]

16 hours ago, BOBO said:

have you guys tried to overclock the dac`s usb port to 1000hz using hidusbf ?

What’s the basis of this?

[BOBO]

it`s basically something used to overclock or downclock gaming mice, but it works with other stuff as well.

i tried it with my dac out of curiosity and there is a noticeable change in the sound, try it and see if you like what it does.

 

just follow this video or some other one on youtube cuz there`s a million of them:

 

[Exocer]

11 hours ago, Soul Analogue said:

however in my experience.. the buffalo does not seem to boot up properly if the leds panel is off..... so it has to be on during boot up.... after boot up the panel can be turned on and off as desired

Strange, I just removed the ribbon cable to the front panel and the switch turned right on without a fuss. This is externally power via DIY SJ DC3.

 

Can't wait to listen for improvements.

[austinpop]

If any of you have experienced the SQ effects of alternative energy sources to the grid, please report your experiences. I opened a separate thread, since I think it may be its own topic. The thread is here:

 

 

[Jonder]

I have now upgraded my Buffalo switch using an L C Audio XO3 clock. The initial improvement was that one upgraded switch was equal to two stock switches in series. After 48 hrs of burn in the upgraded switch is now league’s away from stock.

The separation between instruments is much much better. The sound stage has grown in height and depth. Voices and instruments are much clearer with much more texture. Music with a heavy bass is very tight with more texture.
A very worthwhile upgrade. I will be doing the same upgrade with the other switch using the other clock output. I just wonder how much better the Pink Faun clock is considering the substantial difference in cost. I doubt it is worth it!

I will post photos and a description of how to do the upgrade in another post.

[lake_eleven]

I have a question on SFP <-> switch compatibility. I have been using Cisco 2960 switch with TPLink MC200CM fmc, Cisco SPFs and multimode fiber cable without issue on my streamer. As many in this forum has been using Finisar FTLF1321P1BTL SFP with single mode cable, I tried this with my Cisco 2960 switch. But the streamer is not getting internet. Wanted to know if Finisar single mode SFP is compatible with the 2960 catalyst series switch.

[charlesphoto]

1 hour ago, lake_eleven said:

I have a question on SFP <-> switch compatibility. I have been using Cisco 2960 switch with TPLink MC200CM fmc, Cisco SPFs and multimode fiber cable without issue on my streamer. As many in this forum has been using Finisar FTLF1321P1BTL SFP with single mode cable, I tried this with my Cisco 2960 switch. But the streamer is not getting internet. Wanted to know if Finisar single mode SFP is compatible with the 2960 catalyst series switch.

Nope. Not unless it has the Cisco compatible code baked into it. Not sure if Finisair offers that. There might be a way in console to get a non-Cisco compatible switch to work, but that's beyond me. 

[BOBO]

Has anyone done an A-B test with USB 2.0 vs USB 3.0/3.1 ?

[jean-michel6]

On 3/4/2021 at 10:49 AM, Jonder said:

I have now upgraded my Buffalo switch using an L C Audio XO3 clock. The initial improvement was that one upgraded switch was equal to two stock switches in series. After 48 hrs of burn in the upgraded switch is now league’s away from stock.

The separation between instruments is much much better. The sound stage has grown in height and depth. Voices and instruments are much clearer with much more texture. Music with a heavy bass is very tight with more texture.
A very worthwhile upgrade. I will be doing the same upgrade with the other switch using the other clock output. I just wonder how much better the Pink Faun clock is considering the substantial difference in cost. I doubt it is worth it!

I will post photos and a description of how to do the upgrade in another post.

Thank’s ,  very interested in your tutorial on how to do it .

Jean-Michel 

[Jonder]

I’ve now managed to replace the clock on my second Buffalo BS GS2016 with the L C Audio XO3 clock with great results. I found the only way to remove the existing clock, which is only 3mm wide, is to slowly pick away at it with something sharp and pointed. The clock appears to be made of some form of ceramic. I tried swamping it with solder to soften the existing solder but that didn’t have any effect so I removed the top with pliers and then picked away. You must be VERY careful when doing this because the solder pads on the board are quite delicate and it is easy to loosen them as I found when doing the first switch.

Once you have removed the clock you will be left with four pads. I first tinned the wires of the new clock wire so that they where the correct distance apart and then hot glued the wire to the board to hold it in place while I soldered it to the pads. I then tested the switch to make sure it booted up properly before covering the connection in hot glue. This was done to give additional strength to the connection but also to insulate the wires to stop the heat sink from touching them when it was replaced. Both boards now run from one clock.

I’ve added some photos to help if you are thinking of doing this.

 

[MarcelNL]

next time you could try some desoldering wick, it is loaded with flux and sucks up the solder. Or a desoldering vacuum thingy.

[Jonder]

Next time. I don’t think there will be a next time!

 

Both of those suggestions are great for smd’s that have legs but they don’t work when the smd is soldered straight to the board.

[Lauritsvd]

I agree it not easy to remove the stock clock from a Buffalo switch. In this case it’s a model 2008. 
The clock is newclassD Neutron Star from Denmark. Ps is from newclassD for the clock circuit, and MPAudio for the switch itself. Im very pleased with the result. Music has come “alive”, with much more dynamics.