The DAC1 rebuild is coming together very slowly. I have built the I2C isolator using the ADUM1250 as recommended by Corpius.

I've been playing with the code & going around the twist but if I can get it working I have a few suprises, if I can get it working :)

DAC 1 is almost together, I am trying the whole star ground thing but am finding it a bit confusing.

In my system at the moment I have a bit of noise (other than the crappy AC) which I'm sure is from the grounding of the different components, I have read David Davenports article (diyAudio) on grounding components a couple of times & think I know what to do, but when I try & do it, things get confusing, hopefully someone can help.

Keeping the BIII & Arduino separate shouldn't (famous last words) be a major issue, I have installed the I2C isolator which is the only direct connection between them.

As the 4 way SPDIF has isolated inputs that shouldn't cause any issues. The issue will arise (I think) with the RCA outputs.

I have created a separate grounding hub for the BIII, at the moment both power supply grounds come directly from the PSU's to the hub, then ground wires are taken back from the hub to the BIII & IVY power ground inputs.

The RCA Output grounds are taken directly for the RCA inputs to the hub & ground wires run from the hub to the IVY SE Ground outputs.

Is there anything else I should ground with the BIII/IVY setup.

I intend on installing an isolator for the Amanero but for the moment, I was going to run the Amanero ground to the BIII hub and the Sidecar input ground to the hub.

I have been trying to get the Touch Screen function on the screens I have used (18 months)but have never managed to get it to operate properly, until now.

After many hours of coding & recoding it finally all came together last night, I'm sure somebody with more code experience could have got it working much quicker than I did.

I have created what I call a simple screen that is the default display & the standard HiFiDUINO settings screen is called as necessary.

The touch screen is a work in progress.

Thanks, I have been slowly modifying the Touch screen, the aim is to eventually be able to remove the Rotary Encoder and do everything via the remote and or Touch screen.

I have run into a different issue though. With DAC 2 I connected the Amanero to the BIIISE & it played straight up but I am not having the same luck with the BIII.

I have had to use the Sidecar with the BIII to integrate the Amanero into the system, when I switch to the Amanero I do get music but is deeply buried in a lot of noise. I am just switching the Sidecar using a relay that connects VD & S.

I have triple checked the Amanero connections & swapped out the other Amanero from DAC 2 to check for issues there.

I have include the photos below in the hope they might give a clue to my issue. The wierd thing is at the start I only had dropout issues, then the noise came, I'm not sure what changed.

The Squeezebox plays fine via the 4 way SPDIF

Edited by user Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:34:27 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

If reversing the relay doesn't work, than try to add some termination resistors in series with the I2S lines. I have experienced sort of like the same thing and it turned out that because of the somewhat long I2S lines reflections started to occur along these lines. Your I2S lines also seem a bit long to me. Placing some 68R series resistors at the front end (Amanero) of the lines took away these reflections, thus the noise.

DO'H how embarrassing.

Thanks

The latest screen changes;



I'm just about over playing with the code, I appear to have everything working so it's time to put it into the system for more prolonged testing listening, then I might do something radical and put in a case :)

I cannot workout whats causing the dropouts when the oversampling (OS) is ON with the Amanero.

Does anyone have any idea why I would get dropouts with the OS ON and no dropouts with the OS OFF?

High marks on your progress David!

Finally got around to putting the ACKO Isolator on the Amanero (no reclocking for me) & have the Amanero isolated from the BIII & running on a separate power supply.

Sounds so much better

Edited by user Wednesday, July 24, 2013 8:54:59 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

The case is started but still a long way to go, the pieces are cut out & I have done some test samples with the carbon fibre. I was hoping to spray straight over the CF but it looks like I'm going to have to put a texture coat on first to get the look I'm after.

I have been playing around with the audio isolation side of things. I always wanted to have the Arduino & SMPS that runs the arduino and Amanero (via low noise regulator) isolated from the BIII. I have an isolator on the I2C connection an isolator (ACKO) on the Amanero & the inputs are isolated via the 4way SPDIF.

From what I can tell so far with the test setup, I'm all good on the isolation front EXCEPT, when I use my PC to play via the Amanero which is earthed, this forms an earth loop because the BIII outputs are earthed via the amps, so what I am wondering is;

Is there a good quality cost effective (I'm joking right :) ) way to isolate the BIII outputs?

I assume I would use some sort of output transformer, as long as there ok to put after the IVY, any advice would be welcome.







Yes I stuffed up the dimension of the top piece :)

Edited by user Tuesday, August 13, 2013 11:21:40 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified