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Hi Russ Brian,
A couple a weeks ago i sold my B32. I used it with I2s with no problem. The guy who bought it uses SPDIF, but he has problem. There's something wrong with the sound. He writes:
Let me try to describe the problem. The B32 plays, but i noticed that there was something wrong with it. Especially dynamics were seriously lacking. I did some more testing and came to the conclusion that the sound was mono and not stereo (but now think otherwise). I confirmed this by testing it with songs and a nice stereo test that can be found on youtube. The next day however I listened to the Buffalo again and came to another conclusion. On songs that have a huge stereo separation some sounds, be it vocals or instruments, are absent or 'digitally cut off'. Let me try to explain what I mean by digitally cut off. Imagine a song that has vocals switching from the left to the right channel and back. As soon as the vocals hit the (far) left or right channel distortion kicks in that sounds digital. It is not really clipping or anything that sounds like that. It sounds topped off. It reminds me a little of an old and badly designed onboard soundcard I once had. It shows the best on the song "Wolken by Flinke Namen". You can find it on youtube. Skip the intro etc and listen to it from ~2.30min. There is some 'surround information' there where it sounds as if vocals surround your complete head (with headphones anyway). The Buffalo fails to handle that information. Another song where it shows is (of course) "Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin". I can also compare it with a badly set up surround set. It is as if I am only listening to the front speaker with the left and right channel speakers cut off.
A little about my current setup: Computer with x-fi spdif out
->
Buffalo DAC / Cambridge Dacmagic
->
Goldpoint headphone amplifier
->
Beyerdynamic DT880
I have tried this so far:
1. Try a different transport. We figured my x-fi's spdif signal was weak. I tried my onboard spdif and two dvd-players all with the same results.
2. Tried the spdif switch to no avail.
3. Tried resetting it also to no avail.
What can be wrong? |
HTPC>cMP/Cplay>>juli@>Buffalo32S>AMP4>Focal1037BE |
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Rank: Administration
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The Goldpoint has SE inputs. Does he have the phase reversed on one channel (+OUT and GND for one channel, -OUT and GND for the other)? He should be using +Out and GND for both.
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 12/17/2009(UTC)
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Location: Netherlands
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I am the buyer. :) Both channels use the +OUT and they share the left GND. It can be seen here (outputs are the most far jacks): 
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Rank: Administration
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Joined: 10/24/2006(UTC)
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Have you tried separating the grounds (using each channel's)?
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Rank: Member
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I have not. I suggested it but according to some it should not matter. I can try it of course. Will any wire do? I have some Mogami OFC that's 24awg and I can solder.
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Rank: Administration
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Joined: 10/24/2006(UTC)
Posts: 2,868
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Was thanked: 141 time(s) in 134 post(s)
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The type of wire will not really matter. The grounds of the two channels are connected, but the route is all the way around the perimeter of the board (through the two 0-ohm resistors on the bottom front of the board), so should be considered separate.
Other possible issues:
Mods gone wrong (maybe after moving it around)
Firmware not configuring chip due to power supply sequencing (how it it powered?)
Perhaps damage to the components from static (less likely but possible)
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Rank: Member
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Joined: 12/17/2009(UTC)
Posts: 12
Location: Netherlands
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So should I try 'separating' the ground wires? About the other possibilities I hope hybride will chime in and shed some light. I don't know how this thing was built (nor do I understand it).
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Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration, Customer
Joined: 10/24/2006(UTC)
Posts: 2,868
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Thanks: 2 times
Was thanked: 141 time(s) in 134 post(s)
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Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 12/17/2009(UTC)
Posts: 12
Location: Netherlands
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Update! The problem is probably completely solved. Currently testing but everything seems right.
I am going to state the problem here so perhaps people will benefit from it in the future. Turns out it was an honest mistake from the builder. The builder made a mistake by soldering the ground wires to the positive terminal on the jack. I desoldered the wires and soldered them on the right way and everything seems fine.
Thanks for the help. Much appreciated.
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