Digital interface between DAC and source?

[carboncopy]

Hi,

I found the discussion at about 11 min...does anyone has some more info?

 

[Kal Rubinson]

What's it say?

 

[Aries Cerat]

Hello
At the show we rushed to finish and installed a prototype of our new digital interface design. It was supposed to be presented end of the year along with it's launch but we decided to have it a go at the show.

Some preliminary information.The end goal of the device is upgrade/elevate the SQ of the d/a converter.

In short. The streamer/pc/server streams audio using normal USB to the device.(Let's call it Project X)
The X connects to the dac using proprietary connection protocol/wiring .
The d/a usb card is removed and our X-daughtercard is installed (can be done by end user).
X handles the data stream and renders audio to the d/a.

This device effect was tested in presence of a few select, in AB tests, and the delta in performance is ,say, extreme. We plan to have few demos going around before end of year, and ready for end deliveries short after.
More info to follow.

Cheers
Stavros

 

[carboncopy]

Thanks for the information! Sounds very promising!

Which DAC will be compatible? My Heléne for example?

Does it also means that the servers quality will be much less important?

 

[J007B]

Thank you Stavros. I'm looking forward to more details........

 

[Aries Cerat]

Thanks for the information! Sounds very promising!

Which DAC will be compatible? My Heléne for example?

Does it also means that the servers quality will be much less important?

Hi
It will retrofittable to all models
As for the second question, i will leave that question for end users to figure out/realize for themselves once they get first demos out

Best
Stavros

 

[Purasound]

I was lucky enough to hear X on a recent trip to visit Stavros. We did some a/b comparisons using X with a laptop just as was used in Munich and also with a dedicated server.
Lets just say that in my opinion this is a monumental development for digital playback via AC dacs. Listening to a Ref level dac sounded like listening to a DAC much higher up the range using X.
Cant wait to get one.

 

[nonesup]

Hello
At the show we rushed to finish and installed a prototype of our new digital interface design. It was supposed to be presented end of the year along with it's launch but we decided to have it a go at the show.

Some preliminary information.The end goal of the device is upgrade/elevate the SQ of the d/a converter.

In short. The streamer/pc/server streams audio using normal USB to the device.(Let's call it Project X)
The X connects to the dac using proprietary connection protocol/wiring .
The d/a usb card is removed and our X-daughtercard is installed (can be done by end user).
X handles the data stream and renders audio to the d/a.

This device effect was tested in presence of a few select, in AB tests, and the delta in performance is ,say, extreme. We plan to have few demos going around before end of year, and ready for end deliveries short after.
More info to follow.

Cheers
Stavros

Hi Stavros. Is this related to Taiko's new XDMI protocol?

 

[Aries Cerat]

Hi Stavros. Is this related to Taiko's new XDMI protocol?

Hello Francisco.
No, not related. This is compatible with all servers/streamers/pcs/whatever.

Cheers
Stavros

 

[nonesup]

Are you working on adopting the XDMI protocol for Olympus?

 

[Aries Cerat]

Are you working on adopting the XDMI protocol for Olympus?

This is delayed from Taiko side, we are still waiting for first pcbs which were promised months ago.
I understand they have more than their hands full.

Cheers

 

[acg]

In short. The streamer/pc/server streams audio using normal USB to the device.(Let's call it Project X)
The X connects to the dac using proprietary connection protocol/wiring .
The d/a usb card is removed and our X-daughtercard is installed (can be done by end user).
X handles the data stream and renders audio to the d/a.

Stavros, is this Project X limited to usb input only? I use all three inputs to my Kassandra (USB, AES and SPDIF) each from a different source (Oladra, cd transport, Trinnov Altitude). Would be nice for all three sources to be lifted in performance.

 

[J007B]

I guess still no word on Project X?

 

[Aries Cerat]

Hello

We plan to send out demos to distributors(which in turn will send out to clients) in mid Autumn.

Development wise, we are working on a pseudobattery system, Basically, just having the benefits of a large battery (working offline without connected to mains) while having none of the battery issues.

It is coming...

Cheers
Stavros

 

[Aries Cerat]

Stavros, is this Project X limited to usb input only? I use all three inputs to my Kassandra (USB, AES and SPDIF) each from a different source (Oladra, cd transport, Trinnov Altitude). Would be nice for all three sources to be lifted in performance.

Hi,didn't see this questions.

We focused on the server/streamer way , for now..

Best
Stavros

 

[J007B]

Thank you Stavros. It sounds very exciting…….

 

[wil]

Hello

We plan to send out demos to distributors(which in turn will send out to clients) in mid Autumn.

Development wise, we are working on a pseudobattery system, Basically, just having the benefits of a large battery (working offline without connected to mains) while having none of the battery issues.

It is coming...

Cheers
Stavros

Hi Stravos, If there’s anything more you can share about the battery system, I’m sure it would be of interest.
Such as, more specifically, what you mean by pseudo-battery working “off line”? And what issues with batteries you are working to overcome? Thanks

 

[Aries Cerat]

Hi Stravos, If there’s anything more you can share about the battery system, I’m sure it would be of interest.
Such as, more specifically, what you mean by pseudo-battery working “off line”? And what issues with batteries you are working to overcome? Thanks

Hello Will

Batteries have some issues, which makes the exercise implementing them not worth it IMVHO ,problems include transport , life, maintenance, charge time , and "online time". Batteries have long charge times, which means the "charger" is negating the benefits of mains isolation, since now it is not isolated and "on line".

The pseudobattery does not use batteries but big banks of supercapacitors, which alternate their charge, so at each time one is charging and one is feeding, so no down time exists, and not possible to have mains fed into the system.

Cheers.

Stavros

 

[Kingrex]

My preamp has so much capacitive power storage that it runs for about 5 minutes after the power is shut off. It seems it would be pretty easy to design a capacitive storage system.

While I do agree shipping a lithium battery is an issue. And the pricing. I don't see maintenance, charging and battery life as issues. A lithium battery may well last more years than capacitors. They charge extremely fast. They can easily run a large amplifier and front end gear for hours upon hours.

All that has little to do with project X. I have always been suspect of USB. It seems other connections work better. I was told a big benefit of using a CD player over streamer was being able to use AES with the CD player.

 

[DasguteOhr]

My preamp has so much capacitive power storage that it runs for about 5 minutes after the power is shut off. It seems it would be pretty easy to design a capacitive storage system.

While I do agree shipping a lithium battery is an issue. And the pricing. I don't see maintenance, charging and battery life as issues. A lithium battery may well last more years than capacitors. They charge extremely fast. They can easily run a large amplifier and front end gear for hours upon hours.

All that has little to do with project X. I have always been suspect of USB. It seems other connections work better. I was told a big benefit of using a CD player over streamer was being able to use AES with the CD player.

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