The All Purpose Advice Thread

Question for the electronics-savvy: the vintage CD transport (laserdisc player!) I purchased emits some sort of high-pitched whine while powered on. It is not through the audio outputs but physically. Any ideas? Is this a transformer or capacitor issue? What should I check first?

 

I jumped onto the hype train and bought the Flare Audio Isolate, both in aluminum and titanium. I have tinnitus from being stupid with high frequency testing and I don't want it to get worse. Plus a bunch of loud concerts I went to before could not have been healthy. Otherwise I probably would have bought these

https://alclair.com/monitorshop/custom-hearing-protection/

 

Transformers would not give a high pitched whine because mains power is 50Hz or 60 Hz. As far as I know capacitors do not make a noise either. I would presume that it comes the laserdisc motor itself.

 

Thank you. I suppose the true solution is likely taking the top off and seeing what part of the board it emanates from.

 

Capacitors can make noise. You can't fully rule out the transformer either, as components upstream may be injecting crap that wiggles back down. Linustechtips has an interesting video on coil whine

Does it live up to the hype? Some of the claims are a bit hard to believe and even the video from the guy is a bit fuzzy on technicalities.

 

Yeah I'm young, so I figured the best thing to do was to prevent hearing loss before it happens.

 

True, I was speaking in context of sound coming from the transformer itself. But it could still be the origin of issues later in the chain. Although I tend to believe a well designed power supply would filter out a lot of transformer issues.

They don't ship until the end of the month. I'll let you know when I get them. Flare audio deals more in the pro space so I want to think I am safe from audiophoolery. They posted FR graphs that shows how they attenuate, which look good. The most attractive part for me though is the low frequency attenuation which is where snoring falls. I am willing to send them to a 'Friend' with measuring equipment for independent verification though.

 

Cool, thanks for your 2¢! I realize this is apples to oranges... I guess I need to decide what I'm really looking for, a basic DAC and volume control for my monitors or a great DAC without analog volume control but with a useable portable amp instead.

Just focusing on my original use for this, DAC and volume control for powered monitors, I wonder how much the volume control is responsible for the overall sound quality? On one one side you have a very quality DAC with a high end digital volume control, on the other an entry level DAC and entry level analog pot, I wonder which will perform better at the end of the day? I have zero experience with digital volume controls, maybe I need to just test the waters myself. On a side note don't all Geek Outs's use the built in 64 bit (or was it 32?) volume control built into the Sabre chip (as opposed to the volume control on your computer sound card or OS)?

I guess what Im thinking is IF the GO2A will perform as good or better than something like the Origen or uDAC5 as a DAC and volume control for my monitors and its also a really great general purpose DAC and portable HP amp, that would probably be the ticket for me, but since its primary use is going to be used with my monitors, I'm not sure I would want to compromise that just to have a better DAC amp.

 

hello,

@zerodeefex, thanks for the clarification. so, why doesn't Leckerton just make a stand alone amp so we aren't paying for the additional circuitry?

seems strange.

 

Yeah but he said it was a vintage player, and factoring in age really it could be old caps or expired components, glue or dampening materials that have dried out, a bolt that needs to be tightened, or any other random thing.

 

Lucky I can't even afford those 200$+ tubes lmao. Got some NOS Amperex Orange Globes and Siemens E88CC matched pairs from ebay for really good prices.

I mostly use the Ether C 1.1s which is supposedly a good pairing with the MJ2. (Using the Chord Mojo atm and I feel like the sound can be improved some)
Most notably looking for more bass, dynamic punch, more soundstage, tamer highs yet a bit more air(?) The Chord Mojo really is not expansive sounding and is very focused.
Would be perfect if the image was bigger yet the focus stayed.

 

I want to solder something. What's a good first project?
I could build a cmoy or o2 but I don't really want a cmoy or o2.
I don't really have a budget but I don't want to screw up a TIII on my first build either.

Thanks

 

We've been waiting for an amp-only from Leck for years. Last I heard, he was working on one but there has been no updates or progress so far. I have the Neco v5 right now and @FlySweep's description of it as a souped up Leck is pretty spot on. I'll be sending it out for the loaner program soon, once I receive my new amp.

 

Have you done some cables yet? That is the best place to start. Low parts cost, low risk, easily undone and done again, learn (how and why) to tin, learn to make clean joints. If you have already played with that, I recommend dismantling / remantling the next thing in your house with a PCB that breaks.

 

Bottlehead Crack is a good first project. That or build some cables.

 

@aufmerksam I've reterminated a couple (exactly 2) cables to balanced.
I bought the entire kit to terminate some cables and it was pretty good fun.

@BrettMatthews I have a Valhalla2 but Crack might be a good bet anyway. Thanks for suggestion.

 

To echo Brett, the Bottlehead Crack was my first "real" project and it was fantastic to learn on. I've built three of them since then.

 

Alright I've had Moby in the house for 24 hours. I listened to some familiar tracks on the D100II, then hooked the Moby up in its place. MBP > Toslink > Moby > Lyr 1 > HE500. First thought was whoa, this sounds way different. Much bigger difference than I remember hearing when I compared a few DACs years ago (or maybe my current system is more resolving than what I had then). My D100 sounds more similar to other sources I own, Fiio X5ii, Emotiva XMC-1.

Second thought was where did the bass go? Theres just way way less bass through Moby. Moby bass also seems less extended defined and dynamic.

Next thing I noticed was a totally different soundstage presentation with the Moby. Soundstage is much more focused and has more depth than D100II. Stereo effects seem more obvious through the Moby. Overall a much more 3 dimensional presentation. Nice.

Treble seems a little more forward on the Moby. My he500s actually got a little harsh on a few tracks, I've never really had that happen with the D100.

Tonality seems much more natural on the Moby. D100II does have a dry tonality that some might find overly analytical or "clinical". To me it sounds really tight, especially in the bass, like a sealed Rythmik subwoofer. I actually grew to like it but in comparison the Moby seems to have no real sound of its own, it sounds natural.

I haven't really figured this one out yet but the Moby just seems a little compressed dynamically compared to the D100II. Tracks that I'm used to having particularly dynamic crescendo's seem smoothed over. It almost reminds me of using Audyssey Dynamic EQ.

So far it hasn't really been the floor wiping I expected. My initial impression is that the Moby has better tonality, more weight in the mids and superior soundstage, but the D100II has more and better defined bass, puts vocals more forward and delivers more micro-detail in the treble.

The D100 has 1/12 the THD as the Moby and 16db more dynamic range, I wonder if this has any relevance at this level of performance?

I plan on putting some serious hours on the Moby over the next 14 days, very possible I just need to let me brain burn in to the new sound. At the moment I feel like I'm missing something. Maybe I just have weird taste.

 

You might try a different optical cable, and maybe see if switching to the USB input makes a difference (MBP gets a bad rap for it's USB outputs, so I'm suggesting this merely as something to experiment with).

Also, you started talking about "Mojo" towards the end of your post? Are you referring to the Chord DAC or did you still mean Moby?

 

I haven't tried Modi MB, but the D100 I had was rather weak at dynamics, comparable with a Clip+ really.
Some have said that the Modi MB is a bit lean, and weaker than it's large brothers. Dunno, maybe someone who has tried on vs whatever Yulong can share thoughts here.

One thing most S-D dacs tend to do is compress sounds like a compressor, ie soft sounds and loud sounds are closer together in intensity. This might fool you into thinking music is more dynamic. With already compressed and/or with limited dynamics swing recordings the s-d can have more perceived slam (which is not the same as dynamics swing).
An analogy that might make sense to you: bass from open cans vs bass from closed cans. The closed ones tend to have more impact/slam but at the same time are weaker from dynamics pov.

I'd give the Modi some time and do not hesitate to try recordings that made you go 'meh' before. You might find surprising stuff with a real dac.

NO

These are two separate things.