My Batcave - MA rack, Rives designed room - Page 11

Hmmm...

Just saw this thread on a planned Emotiva DAC.



Hmmm...


Mike


Addendums:
- estimated cost - $300 - link
- 1 RU high

In learning mode...

What makes a good DAC?

Comparisons of ERC and other DACS - link
Quote:

"If it measures good and sounds bad, -- it is bad.
If it sounds good and measures bad, -- you've measured the wrong thing."
Daniel R. von Recklinghausen


So, what DAC measurements correlate well with subjective improvement in sound?

Mike

I finally used this external RS232 for a Lumagen RadianceXE FW update.
It worked.
No problem.
Thanks Wayne/funlvr1965 for suggesting it.
I'd still like to see a front FW update port incorporated in the Lumagens...

Mike

Wayne -

So remind me of your setup for external (front) connections:
- RS-232 - Oppo BDP83
- RS-232 - Anthem D2
- Ethernet -- is this because you can't hook up your ethernet from behind the rack?

Will you be using an ethernet switch to hookup to your various components?

I had to crawl behind my bookcase (through bass traps) because the pull out MA rack is too heavy for one person to pull out (maybe not for Wayne ) and pushed in a loose HDMI for my XBOX 360.
I then connected to my computer and played MP3s from my music library and watched some family pics.

I realize that is all very basic stuff for people, but I hadn't done it before.

Mike

Got it.
I misspoke/wrote.
I knew you had the Lumagen and Anthem.
The Oppo doesn't update via RS232, that is only for control.
Your wireless must have interference to make it tough to reach the basement.

Cool.

Mike

I was digging around in another thread and googled some old speakers --
Infinity SM-152.
I found this AVS link (and specs -- not even on the Infinity website support):

Woofer: 15" (381mm) polypropylene coated
Power Rating: 10 - 300 watts
Frequency Response: 44Hz - 25kHz (+/-3dB)
Midrange Drivers: TWO - 4.5" (114mm) polypropylene coated
Tweeter: 1" (25mm) high-output polycell
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
Sensitivity: 102dB (1 watt/1 meter)
Crossover Frequency(ies): 500Hz, 5.5kHz

------
Man, a 102 dB sens -- no wonder they were great for college house parties!

It's also interesting to see that what I thought had a lot of bass had a -3dB point of 44Hz. Nothing beats a dedicated sub.

Mike

I ordered this Computer Soundcard - link to search thread at AVS - for my Russound-based whole house audio system:

Audiotrak Prodigy HD2
Link
Potential purchase site: link



Prodigy HD2 shows the latest technology in high end audio playback for audiophile users.

Prodigy HD2 supports 192 kHz at 24-bit with a sensational dynamic range of 120dB(a) for playback - no other hardware in this price range provides this high level of output quality. Even better: the hardware is equipped with 3 OpAmps on sockets, this makes it possible to swap and exchange the OpAmps based on specific requirements.

Prodigy HD2 is a Low Profile PCI card, shipping with a metal bracket for a conventional PCI slot and with a bracket that allows the installation in Low Profile slots - this makes Prodigy HD2 perfect for media center and home theater solutions where small PC cases are used.

The included driver software is providing perfect compatibility (ASIO, GSIF, WDM) under all current Windows versions including Windows Vista 32-bit & 64-bit, offering high performance and low latency operation. DirectWIRE 3.0 support in the driver allows you to virtually patch your digital audio sources internally between different software applications running at the same time.





Features

• PCI audio interface based on VIA VT1721 (Envy24HT-S)
• PCI card supplied with standard and low profile metal bracket
• 24 bit / 192kHz playback (analog & digital)
• 24 bit / 96kHz recording
• high quality AKM AK4396 120dB(a) S/N ratio DA converter for extremly high quality 2 channel audio playback via RCA output connectors (5Hz - 40kHz frequency response)
• triple OpAmp design for audio output with three high quality Fairchild NE5532 OpAmps on separate sockets (can be exchanged for tuning & customization)
• headphone output with 1/8" connector routed via JRC4580 dual OpAmp
• analog line input with 1/8" connector via AKM AK5353/7 102dB(a) S/N ratio AD converter (20Hz - 40kHz frequency response)
• optical S/PDIF digital output following IEC-958C standard, can be used for stereo audio playback (PCM) and multichannel streams from such sources (AC-3 or DTS data)
• EWDM driver based on ESI technology for all current Windows Versions

---------------
Computer (desktop, home)
- Cyberpower
- CPU: Intel Core i7 920 @ 2.67 GHz
- Audio: Creative SB X-Fi Extreme Fatal1Ty (not working ??? -- having intermittent problems with output. Unclear of problem exactly)
- Video: ATI Radeon HD 4870
- Monitor: Del 2408WFP
- Memory: 6 GB
- OS: Windows Vista Ultimate - 64 - SP1


Use:
1) headphone output to computer monitor speakers
2) RCA output to Russound house sound amps

-------------------------------------------------

I'm now thinking about the Squeezebox...

- Squeezebox Duet or
- Squeezebox Touch
--- other Touch links -- Slashgear, Gizmodo, AVForums




DABDig (specs and more pics):
Page includes FCC report and specs:
4.3 LCD panel with capacitive touch screen
High quality analog and headphone outputs (24bit/96k)
Optical and coax S/PDIF outputs
802.11g wireless
64MB SDRAM & 64MB NAND flash
SD card slot & USB host connector
Internal speech-grade microphone and speaker - sound effects and preview
IR sensor for remote control
Ambient light sensor for dimming screen at night
IR proximity sensor for detecting user approaching
Digital temperature sensor for home automation




Audiocircle (specs and pics)

Technical Specifications

o Audio formats:
-MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, Apple Lossless
-WMA Lossless, APE, MPC and WavPack supported through transcoding
-Some formats may require additional software installation
o Internet radio
-Support for MP3, Ogg Vorbis, and WMA formatted Internet Radio streams
o Wireless interface
-True 802.11g wireless networking
-Support for 802.11b and 802.11g routers and access points
-One-touch setup (with compatible WPS-supporting routers)
-Supports WPA Personal, WPA-2AES, and 64/128-bit WEP encryption
o Ethernet interface
-Connects to any 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps network (with Auto MDX)
o General:
-USB host connector for accessing music and photos via USB drive or USB key
-SD card slot for music and photos
-Supports sampling rates up to 24 bit / 96 kHz
-Stereo analog (RCA), headphone jack, digital optical, and digital coax output
-4.3-inch 24-bit color LCD with capacitive touch screen
-Ambient light sensor to adjust display brightness according to environment
-Infrared proximity sensor to detect presence



Mike

Audiotrak - Prodigy HD2 soundcard installed and back to both desktop monitor audio and Russound whole house audio.
Nice!

Mike

TCA WAF-1 vs. av123 ELT525M Mini-monitor Comparison

TCA Ordering: TCA efficient, fast response and delivery
TCA Packaging: WAF-1 was well packed, double boxed.
Exterior: I like 525 veneer and corners better.
525 more narrow, but both are nice.
One of my WAF-1 grills came off. TCA replacing.

Caveats:
- suboptimal setup in office - but how I am really using my system
- no A/B switch
- not SPL or voltage matched and unblended
- known biases - I really liked my 525M's before this. I like the TCA company.
- Early comparison and I'm not a "real" audio reviewer

Sound:
- Immediately noticed that the WAF-1 slightly louder than 525M (likely due to sensitivity difference 83 vs. 86 dB) - adjusted by ear to compare
- WAF-1 more neutral, and clear/articulate
- WAF-1 more forward

Conclusions:
- either WAF-1 or 525M are great bookshelf/office speakers
- the 525M may be more forgiving of bad sources (warm/softer)
- the WAF-1 in comparison is more clear/articulate/forward
- the 525M is lower sensitivity
- aesthetic styles are different

Other comments:
- a front ported system might be easier to integrate in some bookshelf type settings
(however, craigsub noted that plugging the rear port results in a FR cutoff around 75 Hz, which is okay if integrated with a sub -- link)



iPhone Pics....
(iPhone doesn't capture how good the speakers look)

TCA WAF-1 packing




TCA WAF-1 (rosewood) and av123 ELT525M (cherry) mini-monitors in office w/ old Denon AVR and Emotiva UPA-2



Mike

My APC AV H10 surge protection arrived.
$79 + S/H from Circuit City online.
Nice.
Old Denon AVR removed for tinkering or recycling.

(iPhone pics)

Updated Oppo BDP-83 beta FW.
Awaiting a chance to do the new FW production update to Lumagen (allowing PIP).

Also, updated some posts with pictures to embed them.
Cleaned up post #1 and added an index -- I got the idea from someone's HT thread and I'll credit him when I remember whom.



Mike

PS - Wife got home from surgery today, so just chillin' out at home.

Empiric rationale for using 4:2:2 for Oppo BDP-83 posted in Oppo thread:

Link

Oppo BDP-83 - 4:2:2 better than RGB better than 4:4:4

From that post (minus pics):

"I have compared the performance of the different color spaces available in HDMI using the Spears and Munsil Zone Plate and Multiburst tests : RGB video levels, YCbCr 4:2:2 and YCbCr 4:4:4.

The Oppo BDP-83, firmware 905, is connected in an Eizo HD2442W monitor through HDMI (1)

The differences are small. I don't know if this could have any visible effect in a movie. So it's mostly an academic exercise.

YCbCr 4:2:2 performs best, followed by RGB, followed by YCbCr 4:4:4, which darkens the most the edges of the pattern.

I've taken some pictures of the screen (2). The pictures are intentionnally blurred from the lens in order to avoid extra moire and bandwidth issues in the camera."



Mike

Blu Ray/SACD/DVD-A: Oppo BDP-83 with RS-232 modification
-- BDP-83 Settings:
----- Default = Link
----- My settings: 4:2:2 (rationale: craigr post link & empiric data), Source Direct, Deep color: Off (Dithered, w/ FW 38-0905 - why dither links - #1, #2), DVD 24p conversion off, CEC off
-- BDP-83 FW:
----- Main Version: BDP83-38-0905
----- Loader Version: BE2600
----- Sub Version: MCU83-24-0630

-----------------------------------------------------------

From Pio2001:


Link #1


Link #2



Mike

Thanks.
I think it is fixed.
I dropped off the old Denon AVR at Best Buy for recycling.

Mike

New FW update for Lumagen RadianceXE is cool...

Link

The PIP mode does moves the PIP window around the screen.
The default is a 3x3 grid:

0/1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9

That is, Mode 0 (or 1) in left upper quadrant (LUQ), 2 in upper center, 3 in RUQ, 4 on left center, 5 in center, 6 right center, 7 LLQ, 8 lower center, 9 RLQ.

As far as I can see you can't move the position "on the fly" or change size or transparency without going into the menu.

In Menu -> Other -> Pip Setup
you can change/select:

- Mode#
- X
- Y
- Size
- Density

X, Y change position
Size goes from 10-95%
Density - 10-100% - changes the transparency


Very cool.

WISH LIST:
- PIP SWAP function
- analog input support (not just HDMI)
- "on the fly changes" - eg -- arrow keys to move the PIP around the screen and/or change size as well.
- 50% split screen


Mike

Rats!

...and thanks (again).

I added files, embedded and closed and re-opened and they are there for me.
Work now?

Mike

I'm a good AV enabler.


Mike

Here's a DAC a friend pointed out to me:

AMB Laboratories γ2 Compact High Performance DAC
http://www.amb.org/audio/gamma2/

DIY - ~$70 (link)

Basic feature set

• Designed for the Box Enclosures B2-080 series extruded aluminum case, available in various colors.
• 24-bit 192KHz top-of-the-line Wolfson WM8741, WM8742 or WM8740 DAC chips.
• Texas Instruments/Burr-Brown SRC4192 or Analog Devices AD1896 ASRC.
• Ultra-low jitter onboard CMOS oscillator for I²S master clock.
• The upsampling process eliminates jitter, and optimizes the DAC chip's digital filter performance.
• ASRC chip and oscillator may be omitted and bypassed with jumpers.
• Plugs into γ1 for USB and S/PDIF (coax and optical) inputs and power. γ1's onboard WM8501 DAC is retained for two DACs sharing one enclosure.
• Unbalanced-to-balanced converter, analog 100KHz low-pass filter, output buffer based on the Texas Instruments/Burr-Brown OPA2365 or Analog Devices AD8656 CMOS rail-to-rail dual opamp.
• Analog line outputs (RCA jacks and 3.5mm stereo mini jack), with high output current and low output impedance.
• Onboard power supply voltage regulation (separate LDO voltage regulators for the digital and analog sections), with extensive use of ferrite beads for noise rejection.
• Through-hole resistors, capacitors, ferrites and other parts to reduce build difficulty. The only SMD parts are the various ICs and voltage regulators.
• In default configuration, all parts (including jacks) are PCB-mounted. No internal wiring necessary.
• The printed circuit board has three copper layers, two of which contain largely contiguous, low-impedance ground planes which are tightly-coupled with a matrix of vias. This minimizes current loops. Traces are carefully routed to assure maximum signal integrity and minimum jitter.

I was thinking about getting a Logitech Harmony 900 remote.

Link




Not for my main HT room (which will likely get an AMX or Crestron or ???), but for my family room.


Family Room
TV: Mits WD52628 DLP
Cable box: Samsung SMT-H3090 (on 4/11/09 replaced a SA8300HD)
DVR Expander: WD 500GB MyDVR Expander via eSATA
BR: Samsung BD-P2550
DVD: Oppo DV-980H
CD changer: Sony CDP-C350Z
Tape: Onkyo TA-W450
Surge: Brick Wall PW2RAUD2 & APC AV H10 (Silver)
House Amps (2): Russound CAM6.6 & 6.6T amps, speakers
-- amp cooler - link
House speakers: Russound in wall/ceiling and outdoor speakers


It also would need to control 3 IR based motorized (Hunter Douglas
UXURC4U remote) window shades.
Maybe a Squeezbox Duet in the future as well.

Any other competing products that I should consider for this application?

The RF part would be useful as I have the gear behind a wood door cabinet.
I currently either open the doors (or theoretically) use a Russound universal remote with IR blasters.


Thanks

Mike

PS - I was thinking about buying from Amazon - $356 now.


EDIT:
The Hunter Douglas UXURC4U remote looks like it isn't in the database, but can be learned.
Official Logitech Harmony 900 Thread

New thread for above post in Remote subforum - link

Screenshot.
My son's head is in the shot for size perspective....



Looks like a line of white in center bottom.
Will need to look at that a little.

Pics of family room setup...

Family Room
TV: Mits WD52628 DLP
Cable box: Samsung SMT-H3090 (on 4/11/09 replaced a SA8300HD)
DVR Expander: WD 500GB MyDVR Expander via eSATA
BR: Samsung BD-P2550
DVD: Oppo DV-980H
CD changer: Sony CDP-C350Z
Tape: Onkyo TA-W450
Surge: Brick Wall PW2RAUD2 & APC AV H10 (Silver)
House Amps (2): Russound CAM6.6 & 6.6T amps, speakers
-- amp cooler - link
House speakers: Russound in wall/ceiling and outdoor speakers

Thanks.

I don't have a pic, but here is the link with specs...
link



Let me know if you need a picture from my setup.

Mike