Middy Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 Hi Gavin, Nick linked your article and gives me hope it might be right in my simple chain. No DSD or upscaling. Just bypassing the internal USB on the Qutest. Until my aerospace job has a bit more security I've cut right back. I am only of using a friend's free Spotify Prem and pimped a Win 10 Nuc for as low latency hacks I could do.. Pro audio tips no power savings on usb bus Ethernet.. opened the cores, FSB, bios ect... QuickCPU prog to. Open the cores... Nothing fancy but I sold some bits nearly gets me there for the SRC DX... Why I've been lurking not much to add on AS just enjoying others journeys😉👍 I watched the DX and the opto get released with great interest and Raydude go for the opto links.. I didn't think a non upsampling Low data rate would be worth getting the DX for my Qutest... No power pc HQP or upscaler.. Wasn't sure what extra benefit dual BNC gives, what my little USB chain can add.. isoregen lps1 IFI bits.. Nick tried it and liked on his old Qutest. But he's has those beautiful cables.. I said I may, as I am so on the fence he'd have me for trespassing.... An indecisive rambling post Gavin... sorry mate.. Marginal gain refinement in my case? Or a worthy boost well worth a punt..? I don't want to waste my little Audio savings or waste anyone's time or good will... But thank for your impressions and nice to see you post, thank you 👍 For a bargain basement set up In your opinion and no pressure.. either way do it? Lol Take care Dave 😉 Link to comment
Middy Posted June 26, 2021 Share Posted June 26, 2021 Thanks ever so much gents.... Ultimately it's not about the expensive gear just getting the best out what you have. Sorry if my worries are coming out a bit.. but AS has become so bleeding edge and I am holding the handle... Far down the other end... You can still glean great tips from these experiments. Finally wrapped with metallic fabric tape/ RFI shield all the internal wires power cables, SSD. another little boost. The Pro audio/ Daw's Mixer engineers low latency tips.. All about turning off Win 10 power savings bios tweaks.. like the kids playing with all the dimmer switches at once... QuickCPU for opening the cores ..ect max power.. All have got me dam close to Linux on this headless fanless Celeron NUC apacer ram.. easier set up with connect and when Spotify HIfi comes out that bit closer.. until we have a more normal life... The Singxer SA1 DC coupling modded sounds fantastic and got me refining/experimenting again. I've fallen in the IFI trap and could had 2 DXs by now.. but margin gains... Ironically the isilencers 'not' in the signal path just on the unused ports have worked quite well to quieten the USB bus...plug in circuit noise dampener.. X3 sweet spot.. I thought as I am not upscaling so the DX would be a waste in my use case... another decrapifier in the spares bin.. Even optical sound different on different cables.. this hobby drives you crazy... Nick's on the Chord owners Facebook page and reignited my interest. being Mr Chord and very knowledgeable.. Same as you Gavin, was not sure and importing from Canada when we have a backyard supplier... Not posting for so long I am like an old auntie not seeing his nephew 🙄.. I'll shut up.. are you courting now Gavin.. Both your thoughts have been invaluable.. cheers both and lovely to be back.. for a bit.. Take care Auntie Dave.. BlueDL 1 Link to comment
Middy Posted June 27, 2021 Share Posted June 27, 2021 The only other option I have considered and a little cheaper was the Singxer SU-2... An optional World clock interface and a chance to mod with an LPS... Like most of this hobby..in your system is the proof of the pudding... Link to comment
Middy Posted June 27, 2021 Share Posted June 27, 2021 Thank you all for the suggestions, I am dancing around cost that's all and justification. 3 year old costing me nearly a Dave a year and worth every penny..... My secret savings got me a new HPA.. that opens up the headphones then the need to tinker and improve off the great ideas of A/S.. It is a great deal from Mr Bacon and done us Brits a service. You guys are coming off nice gear and feeding quality upsampling, bending my head my celeron NUC and lps1 isoregen can give me a taste with the SRC DX... Cheers lads I'll give it more thought. Appreciated as always 👍 Fourlegs 1 Link to comment
Popular Post Middy Posted June 28, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 28, 2021 I pulled the trigger and see if it works out ok..Please dont tell my wife.. Fourlegs, Gavin1977, Womaz and 2 others 3 2 Link to comment
Middy Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 Of course with a big pinch of salt but I'll do my best.. Until reading about the extreme server Amanero USB issue/ weakness a while back, i'd not had much luck on the USB chain... My chain is low end, I follow the developments generally but thought the SRC DX and Opto's were Dave/ Upscaler toys. Or a powerful PC required. I am turning Gravel into a blood bank... A few toys I can jiggle around IFI's Intona and Lps1 + ISOREGEN .. Anything in my limited ability I can add I will with pleasure ☺ Take care Dave Link to comment
Popular Post Middy Posted June 29, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 29, 2021 It's a few hours in the normal caveats.. Not rebooting installing the driver caused an issue I think? Some pops... now no issues.. smooth detailed.. Simple answer yes it's nice, another guy is doing real testing on nice equipment... Mines cable is similar to the intro cheap 4k / video China BNC amazon £7 cable.. single. Whats best had it spot on the Chord USB is a bottle neck and I've got a new DAC.. more of everything bass detail vocals ++.. I have a decrapifier filled wonky chain to add and remove on the SRC DX to see what helps or not.. No real testing I am using Spotify prem 320kps and fidelizer audiophile on a celeron Nuc.. Not even bare minimum... but its what I have.. Its staying put ..I am happy as its such an easy change... More to come but just nice. Sorry I haven't a huge list of DDC upscales hardware I can compare. Regardless the Amanero USB interface is not good enough to make this DAC shine... as shown by using the DX... Very happy.. Sorry typing fast as little one is jumping on me.. David.. Gavin1977 and NoNaim 2 Link to comment
Popular Post Middy Posted June 29, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted June 29, 2021 To play with for your delectation and edification.. Original intona.. The ISOREGEN with the fabulous LPS1 IFI I purifier. Gen2 I have x4 I silencers not in the chain but sat in unused USB ports. As plug in USB BUS noise filters.. it worked for me.. I already had 2 before.... Headless..NUC low latency as I can for Win 10 Pro audio hacks.. Just EMI RFI shielded the internal cables... just a touch of Mu metal to go.. The ISOREGEN is pulling 7v pre moat so that's not an issue I think. And just raw from the front USB port.. The big boys on the PGGB thread know more and this backwards Rajiv Ray et al.. cutting edge stuff... To be honest just the ISOREGEN normally, but with tinkering and a new toy, I can see if helps or not... Up stream... I don't think I'll have Nenon or Raj asking me for advice soon😁 But their good work got me here and better for it... when spotify do real music soon I'll be happy.. simple connect. Easy peasey budgeted... Dx is really the 🍒 on the 🎂 Nick Bacon's super cables add more and those inbetween... I hear.. so more wiggle room... My system is a bottom draw bits box to some here.. but sounding great... soares and Fourlegs 2 Link to comment
Middy Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 A Chord Qutest lurkers tale. SRC DX Everything matters..does it? I watched the SRC DX and optos come out and thought yer ok, another toy. Maybe another Nth degree small improvement. Ray Dudes great review on head fi was for the Optos and all the optional extras... power lps's and if wanted RFI EMI shielded boxes to maximise the SQ delta ect.. Out of my league and no chance of an Chord upscaler anyway.. in my case its the Starter Chord Qutest... Finally backed up in reference to using Dave's Amanero USB implementation and the Uber TAIKO extreme thread on WB's forum. Its holding the Dave back.. Even the with PBBG or HQP, with a good powerful PC and more apacer 'RAM' than a super tanker full of male sheep.. explored here on AS. The SRC DX is for the high-end upscaling guys only and good on them, for pushing the envelope and their enjoyment in this hobby.🙂👍 But those 2 BNC's connectors just keep mocking me.. sat there doing nothing... Wheres my up scaler Middy? In conclusion the SRC DX is a no brainer for me.. put simply its made the DAC sound like the DAC i hoped it would be. Not a little but a lot more. Thrilled if it was just another layer of micro detail or a bit more sound stage. This is everything just better.. details SQ bass vocals..smoothness transients...better than USB alone. whats that means to you ? I don't know, it's the audiophile trap sorry.. The price of admission is knowing for yourself...but no doubt in you can't miss its effects .. Is the chord USB that bad? Probably not but things move on. Rob always had Chord owners filling forum threads with glass Toslink arguments and giant car batteries tripping up wife's in bedrooms around the world.. Anyone want 3 Toshlinks going cheap.. Is the SRC DX that good? Our hobby is full of well made DDC's, low phase noise world clock box's and USB converters I can't compare too. I can't tell you if DSD sounds good, i am only using a single cheap 30cm BNC cable..i have its twin coming today and a simple CCTV coupling later.. I just know it works well and makes the DAC shine... or finally show Mr Watts creative designs in its best light. Will it scale up the Chord family...? Posts seem to say TT2 users and Dave owners seem too anecdotally... I am i getting a free TT2 i hope so or near!! But doesn't matter i am happy. Everything matters and never a free lunch.. ? My Qutest has an LPS1.0, A DXP-1A5DSC and a IFI DC purifier 2 hanging of it... fed by an IFi AC purifier and balanced isolation transformer... 4 expensive black and blue fuses... My euphony trial £90 ebay Celeron NUC with Apacer Ram, Mu metal and tape shielding fanless case added.. not even Roon tidal or Qobuz.. win10 and Basic fidelizer... ISOREGEN and LPS1.0 and more cleaning the stream up.. No not at all is this hobby ever a free lunch. At what ever level...😐 The point being i am positive better upstream equipment would still be of benefit using a Chord DAC in the sense scaled benefits.. streamers and PCs. I am just basking in my play list to try experiments with the USB cleaners or think about a Mid-fi cables upgrades.. There still plenty of tinkering we love there to play with.. For that extra % gains.. I am not here to convince you either way. Just give another perspective and option And I hope it helps... i am the least of us and not even that knowledgeable... This tiny box give me freedom to use my current setup and bypass the Chord USB. Everything matters should be qualified with ..Everything matters if it matters to you. The SRC DX matters in my set up and I really like what its made my DAC into... Thank you to everyone on AS and beyond for your help, I hope this pays a fraction back.. Good luck regardless Kind regards Dave Gavin1977 1 Link to comment
Middy Posted June 30, 2021 Share Posted June 30, 2021 30 minutes ago, Gavin1977 said: Good to know that it’s working well for you. I might have mentioned that in so many words.... 100% yes... Fair comment though Gavin? For others thinking of investing? Or a trial Link to comment
Middy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Hi @edwardseanreally glad its improved your setup. I am still not sure of whats so special about the DX. Would any old DDC do the job? But sounds so much better than USB alone. My experiments are paying off on my little set up. Shielding, RAM cables, USB connectors on my pc worked but adding EMI absorber much more so.. 3M AB5030. The xilinx in my intona some ICs and USB connector shells.. a touch more SQ with 3m Custom shielded supra cable shortened...Tick... Windows debloater and scripts very nice..opening cores ect no power saving throttling for low latency... Big tick.... The main drive being EMI RFI the DX designer bases his products and engineering principles on.... The Qutest will be the last to be stripped and shielded.... i never knew about noise being reflect about the case not just noisy FPGAs and clocks transmitting RF emi.. pure luck but its working out and better SQ. Fingers crossed for the dac... Lastly i just got this... from his website. The intona ipurifier should block DC but it seems to help... subtle YMMV ECT One thing you'll need is an adapter as its a male/female in-line filter.. From a DX you need a female to female.. "DC•BLOCK Leakage Current Isolation – AudioWise" https://audiowise-canada.myshopify.com/products/gnd-zro-signal-ground-isolation https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BNC-MALE-to-MALE-COUPLER-ADAPTER-FOR-TV-CCTV-CAMERA-CABLE-JOINER-CONNECTOR-/332086047040?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0 If you asked me 2 weeks my system was ok. Eye's closed i could be tricked into believing its a good streamer TT2. Finally a real step up in sound quality not perceived mini gains or marginal at best... So happy.. Dave... Link to comment
Middy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Lol, i have a passing interest as i am an Electronics ME, the real brains sit upstairs programming FPGAs, designing circuits for Trent 1000 engine controllers.. EMC testing costs a fortune...like i said i am a monkey with a roll of tape and a screw driver at best... Most have been done by members here in part.. better power.. mundorf custom wire, faraday shielding cables. Daniel Mance DX designer must think its important, so go the extra mile in my madness.. pure luck if it works. EMC is so highly specialised... Its £2000 an hour on a 2 year contract.... i am only cheap as its my first EMC job......🤣 Don't feel the need to rush out and get some, i got it on a whim and you guys need 2.. the adaptor is solid with one twisting ground BNC shell..£2.. Here's what it looks like in situ.. Link to comment
Middy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 1 hour ago, Gavin1977 said: You are right that you can get the qutest to (almost) scale upto SQ of a TT2 - will be interesting how far TT2 scales above this. * as a wild guess only... but its all added up Gavin.. Sudo Linux effect using pro audio/gaming hacks stripping everything on Win10... Basic industrial EMC shielding.... i would have been fooled with a blindfold that it was an expensive replacement... My TT2 and Dave are at the dry cleaners... Some things were subtle, like using Apacer DDR3 or going fanless but obvious not expectation bias. New song details aren't concentration in a dark room but valid gains... I'd love a chance to know but i am confident it can now hold its own... Leveraging what you have and getting the best out of it.... all part of the fun of getting that magical transient or wispy breath on a song.. i honestly don't envy you guys and the fabulous set ups but I do hope, you find that next SQ milestone. Nick called today and mentioned your good self.. Such a nice guy seeing if i had it and everything was ok 👌. Keep smiling all i hope it helps Cheers Dave🙂 Gavin1977 1 Link to comment
Middy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 5 minutes ago, MarkusBarkus said: Hey there @Middy! Did you happen to listen with the filter direct, per your pic, and with a cable added? Cheers, fella... Not with a cable yet as i had this adaptor and it saves space.. i have the basic onès, like on the Audiowise site off ebay.. £7 for experimenting and stole Nick idea and tried a ferrite... not the same 😔 If you have one of Nicks beautiful cables you don't want.....we can swap..ill pay the P+P😇 I should have in principle DC blocking already from my NUC... Random mishmash of INTONA> IFI IPURIFIER > ISOREGEN LPS1> into SRC DX.. From chasing the SQ dragon, small purchases on here over the years. They are staying as they are my baseline until i can shield my DAC then look at what works or not.. Even the website says its subtle, i wouldn't bet the house on it. Not like adding the DX effect... But you guys know whats feeding your DACs and may scale better.. I only post if i think it could help someone or just interested, I'd be gutted if it didnt.. i am the opposite of an expert... Link to comment
Middy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 11 minutes ago, BlueDL said: Hi Dave. Is that the DC-Block filter from Audiowise that you linked to? Has it had a tangible impact similar to the SRC-DX? Yes the very one and nice adapter for £2 top's As I just posted the site says subtle, i am supposed to already have some DC protection in my random spares draw chain... I'd say yes just but I've just got it this afternoon at 4 pm.. So no late night electrically quiet in the dark critical listening.. I'd hope you guys with more resolving systems, upstream streamer scaling uber boxs yes.. But and a big but.. yes only if you don't mind sending it back if it doesn't work for you.... Nick.. 4legs said he saw a review but i lucked out for anything close to a mention... as I know I am the only one.. Not much help i am i...🤔 Link to comment
Popular Post Middy Posted July 9, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 9, 2021 The wife complaining there's a full on mil/MI6 spec comms secured EMI tent in the living room as it helps the top end/ bass response... and it matches the new couch... BlueDL, MarkusBarkus, kennyb123 and 4 others 7 Link to comment
Middy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 @MarkusBarkus But thank you for the extra confirmation and not me leading people up the garden path.. Link to comment
Middy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 @seeteeyou From the DX and opto release and the Whats best confirmation i still didn't believe the Amanero was that bad/ was holding the Chord back so much from its true potential.. As always you are the king of great information... thank you.. Link to comment
Middy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 The thing thats so nice is anything short of a BNC out like a world clock..all the upstream USB chain stays in place... feeding the DX... I know what you mean Markus..it seems that bit better Fields of gold by Eva that bit intimate sharp but smooth... Nancy Sinatra.. Janis Ian at 17... Lovely..another few millimetres in the right direction... Link to comment
Middy Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 News just in..man at headfi meet found beaten to death with a Poweradd pilot pro2... as a regulator argument got out of hand..... Heres the section that made me go OTT on 3M EMI tape. 3m PHD development Engineer... "Introduction to Composite Electromagnetic Noise Absorber Technology" https://interferencetechnology.com/introduction-to-composite-electromagnetic-noise-absorber-technology-1/amp/ Attached Directly on Noisy Components One of the most common approaches in the EMI debugging process is to find the second and third harmonics stemming from a specific clock frequency. Attaching a die-cut composite absorbing sheet to the noisy component can significantly attenuate the noise level (Figure 5). In this case, the composite absorbing sheet works by increasing impedance and thus reducing the coupled noise. Generally, an absorber sheet has high intrinsic electrical resistivity so electrical shorts do not occur even when the absorber is attached directly to the lead wire. Absorbers are most frequently applied to high-speed CPUs and video signal processors, memory chips, and oscillator chips in electronic systems. Wrapped Around the Interconnecting Field Programmable Circuit Board (FPCB) Cable Figure 6. Sheet wrapped around the FPCE cable. When debugging an interference problem, designers often focus their attention primarily on critical components. Meanwhile, the system FPCB cable that interconnects each of the components is frequently overlooked. Often, a FPCB cable exhibits noise coupled between the signal lines, picks up noise from other sources, and emits noise to other areas traversed by the interconnection. Sometimes, the FPCB acts as a noise-radiating antenna within the system. EMC ferrites, with their high magnetic permeability and ferromagnetic resonance characteristics, are a cost-effective material as an inductor and common mode noise filter. Composite absorber sheets have very similar EMI characteristics to EMC ferrites (Figure 6). However, while ferrite cores are bulky and rigid, composite absorber sheets are thin and flexible. Consequently, these sheets can be installed easily in a very compact enclosure without the need to change the PCB layout. The impedance composite absorber sheets often are a more practical solution than ferrites in reducing high frequency noise because of their relatively lower magnetic permeability and smaller effective volume. Figure 7. Sheet attached on the inside of the shielded can. Applied to the Inside of a Shielded Can The preferred way to design out crosstalk is to isolate components and circuits with different frequencies on the same circuit board. Unfortunately, in the newer miniaturized and densely packaged mobile communication equipment, it is almost impossible to separate circuits for each frequency band. Also, electromagnetic waves can reflect repeatedly off the shield wall, causing transmission interference and, ultimately, poor performance. In these cases, a shield by itself cannot provide a sufficiently effective solution for the system. However, attaching an absorber sheet on the wall of the shield can reinforce the effectiveness of can shielding (Figure 7). This absorber sheet soaks up the electromagnetic wave energy, converting it to an imperceptible degree of heat. This technique is also beneficial for the cavity resonance of the shield can and the small opening between the RF block wall and the PCB. Attaching an appropriate absorber sheet on the shield can or conductive body results in a wave impedance matching condition as mentioned in Equation 3. In such an instance, this surface can attenuate the electromagnetic noise of a specific frequency. For example, the signal sensitivity of a GPS system using a 1.574-GHz satellite signal can be improved by attaching an impedance matching absorber with a controlled thickness. Enhanced the Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Control System corruption from ESD can occur via two modes: actual contact and air discharge. High-frequency electrical current is generated during the discharge, resulting in both direct and secondary radiated noise within the system. Composite absorbing sheets are also effective for suppressing external noise generated by ESD. For example, a high-speed microprocessor surrounded by a conductive chassis can be the victim of radiated noise generated from the current loop passing through the adjacent body. In this case, the composite absorbing sheet not only attenuates self-radiated noise from the microprocessor, but also protects the microprocessor from the external noise caused by ESD. Figure 8. Sheet inserted between RFID tag and metal part. Protected from Magnetic Fields A magnetic shield works by changing the direction of magnetic flux. The shield is achieved by placing a high magnetic permeability material between the field source and victim component. A Hall sensor and other magnetic field sensitive components can be protected easily with high permeability material, such as a composite absorber sheet. In general, the higher permeability materials give more shielding effectiveness, but their effective frequency range is inversely proportional to permeability value. Composite noise absorber sheets have lower magnetic permeability value than soft magnetic alloy sheets, but they are still an effective magnetic shield up to the range of several tens of MHz. An application of an absorber sheet in conjunction with a 13.56-MHz RFID tag illustrates the value of the absorber. This RFID system uses magnetic coupling for communication between the reader and the tag. When the tag is attached on the metal surface, the diamagnetic field between the tag and metal object can interrupt the communication between the tag and reader. When a composite absorber is inserted between the tag and metal, the magnetic field radiated from the tag is unimpaired by the metal and the RFID tag works with the reader. (Figure 8 ) CONCLUSION This paper describes the theoretical background and application examples of composite noise absorbers. As detailed above, composite absorber sheets can solve a variety of EMI issues without costly modification to PCB layout or equipment re-design. Considering the pressures to reduce development time and to speed products to market, this product can provide innovative solutions for many electronic design engineers. Also, it allows manufacturers to meet the varying demands of EMC regulations or standards that differ from market to market. Absorber materials as described here are a new, viable means for controlling EMI noise that set them apart from conventional shielding methods. MarkusBarkus 1 Link to comment
Middy Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 Apologies to Gavin if the thread has gone slightly sideways but relevance to EMI RFI principles of Audiowise products.. The experiment continues with the ISO REGEN next in the chain with my one tape fits all approach. Similar in some aspects to the intona. Chips covered apart from transformer and regulator ICs. Main being the Crytek clock and hub chip. USB shells power port and inner case surface. so...yes that touch more a difference at least. Another small step forward in the right direction... i won't touch the SRC-DX but want to see what it looks like 🤔 Next stop the Chord Qutest itself. I am out of warranty also i am using ESD protection throughout this process... All this extra bass and detail is addictive. So far I've got lucky 🤞👍 Link to comment
Middy Posted July 10, 2021 Share Posted July 10, 2021 A bit more reading for the layman "Flexible EMI absorber sheets" https://hollandshielding.com/Flexible-EMI-absorber-sheets Link to comment
Popular Post Middy Posted July 12, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 12, 2021 I am probably the only happy person in the UK as of 23:38 11th July....Football..😬 Long story short...Bypass the Qutest Amanero USB, SRC-DX USB to BNC sounds really good doing it. Thank you Dave W, Nick B and Gavin. For pushing me off the fence... Don't tell my wife.. EMI absorbing material applied from reading a few articles on Industrial EMC techniques.. Works well on the Qutest... I de-bloated Win 10 low latency hacked with pro audio tips and forum posts here on AS.. Over shielded a USB cable... I put EMI tape on any RFI EMI HF noisy device IC.. my Intona, NUC ISO REGEN and QUTEST..ill defy any one blind tested that this is a standard Qutest it sounds fantastic now.. disclaimers at end.... See above posts for details... On previous progress.. The Chord Qutest I've just just completed my Qutest EMI Absorbing shielding MOD. I didn't go crazy on the PCB.. Just the Xilinx FPGA + clock, USB clock and chips. 3M AB5050 0.5mm. Just one piece on the connectors at the back facing the PCB. BNC'S in, USB in, RCA out...Pictures at end Nothing near any power related i could discern... I am not an EE/EMC Guru.. A random guy trying his luck.. But all the internal faces on the case work. 0.1mm 3M AB5010 Covered. 1 Bit of OCD i scrubbed the earth bonding points pads both sides with swab and alcohol. Ultrasoniced the case and PCB screws in Alcohol and deoxited the lot for hopefully better earth.. Don't know it it helped? I am always nervous about stating gains.. This, with everything else is like magical EMC fairy dust.... Been waiting, hoping for a Tweak..MOD, configuration, anything at all from the community that makes a difference.. since the Qutest came out Just power discussions... and cables... Relevant of course but.... A bit more.. My custom chopped down Supra USB for fun I added 0.1mm 3M AB50 on top of the shielding... yes just a touch more ish SQ.. 1%+ Holland shielding mentioned it as they do tubing.. 2 mylar shields and 2 drain wires in Supra, + new tinned copper braid with 3rd drain wire with the AB5010 on top... shell to shell connected drains ... my first.. a cable made a difference to SQ... Sorry i am proud of it..😇 Not even Gamma or Neutrinos getting in...🤥🤞 Why do this at all you crazy fool This started as a nervous buy getting the Audiowise SRC-DX. The Audiowise basic design philosophy being around EMI RFI.. Whats best forum mentioned the USB controller in the Chord's are holding back its potential... Me then applying the basics of shielding NUC, copper tape, then EMI tape. Intona had copper foil on the internal plastic case from 2 years before, now EMI tape on case and chips..The ISO Regen case and ICs. Small gain's, as these are well made/ designed devices.. but tangibly there.. making the effort..... Helen Keller would notice.. The Qutest has just blossomed, the biggest being vocals.. Eva Cassidy Fields of gold just lovely, ethereal holographic and crystal clear... S+G sound of silence magic.. Please insert standard audiophile superlative trope here... I love my EDM, a dime store Darko.. the best sounding have better transients, deeper bass, shimmer... Everything better in my limited way of espousing the benefits... I want to borrow TT2 as i joked with Gavin its like the wife swapped it for one in secret.. now i want to see if a jest is true.. Disclaimers I am nobody, my kit is the best i can do. Adding bits as i go along and can afford. Hoping for that next bit of detail to appear. If you have read this far don't go crazy.. someone will.. let them try and prove me right or wrong before miles of EMI tape fly of the shelves... £10 of amazon but its never just that.. Esd, Allen keys, craft knifes, isopropyl 100% bits and more bits.. I left the chain as is, so i can gauge the changes in 'my' setup. My Qutest is old and out of warranty. I know about ESD damage as part of my job. Find out yourself.. My flowery descriptions are all i can now hear in my chain.. an accumulative effect. Not one thing! A loose IMHO benefit in no order...of total gains..from my base line.. Low latency NUC WIN 10 + 10% SQ SRC-DX 10%+ no brainer plug and play EMI application NUC 4% USB cable 1% + Intona 2% ISOREGEN 2% Qutest: i can't subjectivity quantify as it just pops everything into focus. Bass deeper than top end sparkle but everything better.. The wife test.. It sounds different and i like it better now... nothing more needs to be said really....the gold standard.. EMI material, placement, attenuation are specialised Professional skill sets and high tech lab's.. i did the basics with cheap easy to get hold off tape... A bit of fun and random luck... I followed the pro articles and hoped for the best. Not even dsd dxd or flacs just bog standard highest rate Spotify. I think all together beats my linux trial easy. What I hope is.... it helps everyone no matter what you have.. Qutest owners yes But i hope it can leverage what you have. SRC DX USB bypass been proven already. PC shielding EMI and low latency confirmation already. Higher spec Chords, I'd like to think it would.. Up scaler / TT users say space them apart. RFI issues.. See this as a working theory for others but the price of admission is trying. The audiophile trap... If one person benefits them all this was worth the effort... Nail biting and scary... Good luck Random bloke off the internet. Dave🙂 INDUSTRIAL EMI INFORMATION https://hollandshielding.com/Flexible-EMI-absorber-sheets https://interferencetechnology.com/introduction-to-composite-electromagnetic-noise-absorber-technology-1/amp/ CHORD OWNERS? "SRC•DX USB to DX Bridge – AudioWise" https://audiowise-canada.myshopify.com/products/src-dx-usb-to-dual-spdif-interface EMI TAPE I TRIED 3M AB5030 0.52" x 15M Black Acrylic AB5010 and AB5050 ASRMichael, BlueDL and MarkusBarkus 2 1 Link to comment
Middy Posted July 12, 2021 Share Posted July 12, 2021 Oh yes... Uptone LPS1.0 as it doesn't have more of the LT3045s of the 1.2 so i got the regulator DXP-1A5DSC.. 7v out to for Vdrop 5v. Penny pinching all the way.. Another feeding the ISOREGEN chain but on this own.. Inbetween them the new IFI DC purfier with 2 Ghent quad core DC cables. The DC i purifier added a hairs breadth of extra detail.. The extra is there but refined.. not boom in your face better. Polish to me.. A SR7 would do the trick, but i dont like eating food from behind tesco and erm..staying married... I've only had time to do all this, as I've had the chest infection from hell and wiped me out non covid.. Reading loads and itchy finger's.. kennyb123 1 Link to comment
Popular Post Middy Posted July 12, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 12, 2021 57 minutes ago, BlueDL said: I am surprised that the ifi DC iPurifier made a difference given what was already in the chain. I know what you mean about being careful with the spends. Getting a Farad Super3 to power my M-Scaler was somewhat extravagant by my standards. Not sure what the score is with the Paul Hynes business? The Sean Jacobs DC3 was the go-to ‘affordable’ boutique power supply until it was discontinued recently. I personally think that was an own goal, because it struck me as the performance-value sweet spot. [I cringe at using a football analogy after last night’s farce 🤦🏻♂️] As the only real avenue for Qutest and above improvements before were with better Power. I did fancy a Paul Hynes Turbo but it does look like he has gone to the wall.. And I am sick of tiny improvements for a lot of money.... The DX an easy boost , I doubted everything said, as thats the norm and stung too many times for exaggerated benefits or not for my system... USB on the Qutest is a big bottleneck sound wise.. But the couple of pieces of cheap 3m EMI tape on the Xilinx clocks and case.. Not in a million years did i think it would work... just ..Yippieee... Something cheap and makes it sound great beyond my limited expectations I got 3 lots 2 tapes Amazon and ebay precut thicknesses and came to £30... i could do 35 Dave's with all of it... I did this for fun and help out Qutest owners, give back to the community here and all the other forums scrambling for SQ and not spending a fortune... Cheap and easy ish... I really hope the EMI tape MOD can help other Chord DACs scale....and people confirm it.. But this needs at least a few people to try and confirm as a positive... that guy with the scissors is crazy... Real EEs knowledge to confirm and any caveats i missed and as i am just guessing... Chord wouldn't try it and say so... There maybe more to do or i did too much ?? I was worried about impedance on the power as i remember this can be an issue to circuit balance.. i think... Clever guys like Barrows would know.. lots of brains on AS to ask i suppose.. EMC seems like voodoo to some and a necessary evil you live with.. Most manufacturers only use EMC tape/board shields or enclosed milled cases to pass EMC regulations. SQ is the last thing industry thinks about and its a manufacturing cost and labour intensive for mass production..... I don't know 😕 i am just a guy with tape, scissors and a screw driver.. BlueDL and EagleKent 2 Link to comment
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