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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2016 16:19:22 GMT -6
Otherwise, you can send it also to me! I will happily pay the shipping. Just don't think you will ever get it back..... :-D
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Post by dexter on Mar 28, 2016 1:41:54 GMT -6
Did you ever get to work on the Superbeast?
I hope that you're aware that the I/V stage is a dual opamp design. There are 2 opamps on each of those blue BrownDog boards. The adapter Tony shows is for 1 op amp, meaning you have to get the dual version 4898-2 or you must use two of the 4898-1 on those BrownDog boards. I built a new powersupply for mine as Jim recommended and it helped A TON. It was a joke with the wall wart - hum central.
However, I'm doubting that you've even got blown op amps because mine makes that hissing sound too... but it's just the noise floor of the converter. All converters make that hissing noise if they are not attenuated and your monitors are turned up all the way. There is no attenuation on the output of this unit. If you run that thing at full tilt without attenuating your monitors or the level coming from your computer you'll knock your ears off. It's possible that the opamps can blow if that stupid "heatsink" shorts two or more of the pins off to the side of the op amp. That happened to mine and took out 3 opamps and one of the PCM1794. If that were the case you would either get no music playing through or very low output.
The reason it's louder on one side is because it is a poor wiring layout for the input switching that puts noise on the opamps. All of those wires running everywhere are for the voltage supplies and for the input selector knob.
Mine has a problem where I cannot use it in 48khz, 64khz, or 96khz because the clock is messed up on it. It plays music fine but it makes a terrible high pitched whining noise at those sample rates. The noise disappears in 44.1khz and 88.2khz. Ross wasnt able to find any problems when I sent it for repair. I'm currently trying to figure it out myself but have had no luck so far. Does your Superbeast whine in 48, 64, and 96khz?
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Post by dandeurloo on Mar 30, 2016 22:36:24 GMT -6
I had a friend sent me his Super Beast II for listening to and tweaking. I finally listened to it today. Dang, they sound really nice Stock.
I will of course do some tweaks to it and see if it can go to another level.
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 31, 2016 9:46:06 GMT -6
I thought you already had a SB II?
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Post by dandeurloo on Mar 31, 2016 13:12:30 GMT -6
I don't have the II. I have the I.
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Post by kcatthedog on Mar 31, 2016 16:47:29 GMT -6
Dandeaurloo tweaking gear: you got to love that !!
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Post by indiehouse on Mar 31, 2016 18:15:30 GMT -6
I had a friend sent me his Super Beast II for listening to and tweaking. I finally listened to it today. Dang, they sound really nice Stock. I will of course do some tweaks to it and see if it can go to another level. Duude! Let me know how this goes. I've got a MKII sitting here and I would be very interested to see what you could do. You switching out the op amps? You reconfiguring the power supply situation? I read the post above about the power being a weak link, and Jim Williams posted something similar about his MKII mod.
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Post by dandeurloo on Apr 1, 2016 9:54:31 GMT -6
Dang this thing sounds amazing. I am sad that it isn't mine and that is has to be sent off to a client. The SBII and the PCM4222 sound really great after another round of mods.
I had a friend / client here last night with his SBII and PCM4222. I modded both to different levels then mine and we A/B'd back and forth. Listening for what each mod did to the sound and if it was a noticeable improvement. Then modding both the same and then doing more. So, always tweaking and comparing and then moving toward what sounds the best. As is, I will be taking both DAC & AD out of the racks ASAP and start doing more work on my units.
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Post by tonycamphd on Apr 3, 2016 23:08:04 GMT -6
I heard Dan's mods in a BLIND mono L vs R configuration, they both sounded really great, but one was clearly better no doubt, I had been working all day building structures haha, so I gave Dan the disclaimer that "my ears were end of a long day... fried", and proceeded to check them out, here was the text I sent Dan in response to what I heard.... ![](//storage.proboards.com/5388330/thumbnailer/88tI1r9dot9asueQzXd9.jpg) I picked the modded side easily again upon listening the next morning, again a no doubter, and the stock side sounds great to begin with! But the effortlessness, solidity, depth and clarity of image are just stunning on his super modded version.
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Post by dexter on Apr 3, 2016 23:38:00 GMT -6
Can somebody please listen to their Superbeast in 96khz or 48khz and tell me if you hear any strange noise coming through? I can't get it figured out. I sent it to ross but he told me he couldn't hear anything and didnt do anything to help me. I don't have any strange wiring going on - just toslink input coming from my RME interface. I can hear the noise in both the headphone out and the xlr outputs. I have had no problems with apogee converters that I've used in a similar manner. This is how mine sounds cycling through each sample rate from 44.1>48>64>88.2>96khz for 5 seconds each: dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3331450/Superbeast%20sample%20rates.mp3The hum in the clip was eliminated after I fabbed up a new powersupply. But still have the whining noise problem. Thanks.
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Post by tonycamphd on Apr 4, 2016 7:50:04 GMT -6
Can somebody please listen to their Superbeast in 96khz or 48khz and tell me if you hear any strange noise coming through? I can't get it figured out. I sent it to ross but he told me he couldn't hear anything and didnt do anything to help me. I don't have any strange wiring going on - just toslink input coming from my RME interface. I can hear the noise in both the headphone out and the xlr outputs. I have had no problems with apogee converters that I've used in a similar manner. This is how mine sounds cycling through each sample rate from 44.1>48>64>88.2>96khz for 5 seconds each: dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3331450/Superbeast%20sample%20rates.mp3The hum in the clip was eliminated after I fabbed up a new powersupply. But still have the whining noise problem. Thanks. guys like svart , dandeurloo , jimwilliams are far better suited to make suggestions than I, but i'd say try a few things, first switch out every external cable you have, from tos, to xlrs, to power cords, then try taking power from a known separate circuit from the one you've been using, then think about power conditioning..., just a few ideas, sorry for your frustration bud, i know that shit can drive ya nutz!! edit; after listening to the sample, those seem to be harmonics of the lower hum that's there, my money is on a dirty power problem?
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Post by indiehouse on Apr 4, 2016 8:16:11 GMT -6
Can somebody please listen to their Superbeast in 96khz or 48khz and tell me if you hear any strange noise coming through? I can't get it figured out. I sent it to ross but he told me he couldn't hear anything and didnt do anything to help me. I don't have any strange wiring going on - just toslink input coming from my RME interface. I can hear the noise in both the headphone out and the xlr outputs. I have had no problems with apogee converters that I've used in a similar manner. This is how mine sounds cycling through each sample rate from 44.1>48>64>88.2>96khz for 5 seconds each: dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3331450/Superbeast%20sample%20rates.mp3The hum in the clip was eliminated after I fabbed up a new powersupply. But still have the whining noise problem. Thanks. Dude, this is the EXACT thing I'm hearing with mine.
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Post by dexter on Apr 4, 2016 10:22:00 GMT -6
Dude, this is the EXACT thing I'm hearing with mine. THANK YOU!!! It looks like this is a defective design after all. Ross kept telling me "no offense but sounds like you've got a wiring problem." I have combed through this thing and have found that the noise stops when the 24.576mhz clock signal on the dix9211 is stopped. I replaced the crystal with a dedicated CMOS clock osciallator - and it still infects the output with noise when the dix9211 is receiving the 24.576mhz signal. The noise is also slightly audible even when the oscillator is turned on but the output is not fed to the dix9211 - like the oscillator is infecting the ground or voltage rail. Tony, I have already asked all three of those guys for help haha. No luck so far. Now posting here because I'm out of ideas. Svart pointed out to me that the clock signal required for the dix9211 is 24.576mhz, and 48khz, 64khz, and 96khz happen to be multiples of 24.576mhz - so yes these are undoubtedly harmonics. (44.1khz and 88.2khz are not multiples of 24.576mhz - therefore no noise). Yes 60hz goes into all of these as well, but that hum was killed off with the toroidal psupply Jim recommended in the other thread.
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Post by tonycamphd on Apr 4, 2016 11:01:39 GMT -6
I could've sworn I heard a 50-60hz hum on those samples?(I'm at work so can't recheck), if I were u I'd recheck all grounds, and maybe start isolating pins to an alternate ground? I'm just shooting in the dark with those suggestions, but it seems logical its stemming from that 60hz buzz I swear I heard...
keep at it, ull figure it out!
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Post by svart on Apr 4, 2016 11:02:55 GMT -6
Listening to the clip Dexter sent me, it's more square in tonality than sine, IMHO. I believe it might be a downmixed clock or something.
We need to figure out if the transceiver IC is being utilized in a hardware or software mode. Since the problems happen on multiples of 48K, my bet is that something is not being set in software that needs to be set.. Especially since disabling the XTAL seems to kill the noise (but will likely lead to a slow decay of lock on the incoming signal as the PLL/VCO starts to drift).
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Post by tonycamphd on Apr 4, 2016 11:05:19 GMT -6
I'd be curios to see if it'd disappear if u plugged the rig into balanced power supply? If u have access to one of those? It'd be worth a shot....
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Post by actualsizeaudio on Apr 7, 2016 16:52:56 GMT -6
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Post by jrasia on Apr 8, 2016 9:32:39 GMT -6
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Post by dandeurloo on Apr 8, 2016 10:31:24 GMT -6
Can somebody please listen to their Superbeast in 96khz or 48khz and tell me if you hear any strange noise coming through? I can't get it figured out. I sent it to ross but he told me he couldn't hear anything and didnt do anything to help me. I don't have any strange wiring going on - just toslink input coming from my RME interface. I can hear the noise in both the headphone out and the xlr outputs. I have had no problems with apogee converters that I've used in a similar manner. This is how mine sounds cycling through each sample rate from 44.1>48>64>88.2>96khz for 5 seconds each: dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3331450/Superbeast%20sample%20rates.mp3The hum in the clip was eliminated after I fabbed up a new powersupply. But still have the whining noise problem. Thanks. dexter. can you email me hi res photos of the inside of your box? I just fixed a clients noisy headphone amp in his box. I am curious if they are the same issue.
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Post by svart on Apr 8, 2016 11:39:54 GMT -6
Can somebody please listen to their Superbeast in 96khz or 48khz and tell me if you hear any strange noise coming through? I can't get it figured out. I sent it to ross but he told me he couldn't hear anything and didnt do anything to help me. I don't have any strange wiring going on - just toslink input coming from my RME interface. I can hear the noise in both the headphone out and the xlr outputs. I have had no problems with apogee converters that I've used in a similar manner. This is how mine sounds cycling through each sample rate from 44.1>48>64>88.2>96khz for 5 seconds each: dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3331450/Superbeast%20sample%20rates.mp3The hum in the clip was eliminated after I fabbed up a new powersupply. But still have the whining noise problem. Thanks. dexter. can you email me hi res photos of the inside of your box? I just fixed a clients noisy headphone amp in his box. I am curious if they are the same issue. Doesn't really explain why his problem is only on multiples of 48khz though.
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Post by actualsizeaudio on Apr 8, 2016 20:02:57 GMT -6
I know it is a different unit, but I almost ONLY use my DAC at 48K. I've never once had a clocking or noise issue. Of course, I'm always syncing off of AES sync, and not USB or coax.
I do seem to be having either an impedance issue or a ground issue with the DAC integrated into my patchbay. When I send a 1K tone out of my RMA Dac and record it back into Pro Tools, on certain gear I get what could be described as a "hair' of distortion, or I hear what seems like an octave above the 1K tone in slight distortion. Any piece of gear I have where the unit has a wall wart, or has a switching power supply it makes this sound. It also makes this sound when I simply pull the cables out of the gear, and loop them together when the cabling stretches between two bays. The way my two ADC TT patch bays are set up are half normal with DAC out on top, comps and EQ in on the bottom of the top patch bay, then outputs of said comps on top of the bottom bay, with Metric Halo and Manley mixer inputs on the bottom. Like I said, with 80% of my gear I have no issues, but on my Overstayer comps (which have a wall wart), or my Lindell audio 500 series enclosures (switching power supply), I do get the noise. In these same connections when using my Metric Halo boxes I do not have this issue, it is with the RMA Dac, and also with my Sound devices portable mixer (which runs off battery).
I'm stumped as to what the issue is. I am able to go out of the DAC outputs on the top patch bay and into my monitor controller on the bottom patch bay without any issue as well. Again, my monitor controller uses a power supply with a three prong plug. Seems like there is some issue that has to deal with either ground or impedance of the half normalled patch bay connections, though when I stick a cable into any leads that would break the connection the sound does not change.
Truly an enigma. If anyone has any ideas I'b be happy to hear them. I hope this does not count as a thread hijacking. I'm still hoping to mod/repair my Ross Martin DAC, which is the title of the thread.
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Post by actualsizeaudio on Apr 8, 2016 20:10:54 GMT -6
Here is a quick blast of the tone, Good, Bad, Good Bad.
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Post by tonycamphd on Apr 8, 2016 21:27:40 GMT -6
Cool, welcome to the forum, i'm guessing you have the AES 8? I've got 4 of the 8 channel AES units, is this what you have? One of them is going to Dan Deurloo for some proto mods, there will definitely be a major PSU upgrade, these sound really good in stock form, I expect amazing things when they're dialed in. Also, from your description, and everyone else's problems, i'm guessing most are having grounding issues, if not, i'm guessing a serious PSU upgrade would be the difference.
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Post by actualsizeaudio on Apr 8, 2016 22:55:32 GMT -6
Yes, I do have the AES 8.
I'll be very curious about what happens at Dan's with the mods. Please keep me posted.
I'm pretty sure I'm having some sort of grounding issue, though I get no hum or buzz. My unit is dead quiet. Seems weird that it would be an impedance issue though. I'm away next week from the studio, but I have a rare break in between projects then. I'd really like to get the issue sorted.
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Post by dexter on Apr 10, 2016 13:31:29 GMT -6
dexter. can you email me hi res photos of the inside of your box? I just fixed a clients noisy headphone amp in his box. I am curious if they are the same issue. I actually removed the headphone amp completely for diagnosing the problem. The noise is still there. Just so everyone knows, my unit is a Superbeast I, not II. And yes there is 60hz hum in my previous clip, but I said that the new dual powersupply I made got rid of that hum. I also replaced the crystal for the dix9211 with a CMOS clock oscillator -- it changed the noise quite a bit. Listen: Clip
The part of the clip with no noise is from disconnecting the clock oscillator after the unit is locked to the signal. It does still work after disabling the oscillator but as Svart said the PLL will start to drift, so it's not really a suitable fix to just switch it off. PS: This is on the noise floor of the unit. You have to turn it up fairly loud to hear this stuff, but it should not be there. If you were going to use outboard gear like a slammed compressor, or reamp guitars through a high gain amp - it's not going to be usable with this noise.
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