New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Bitzie USB-DAC Preview
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Welcome to the Graham Slee Audio Products Owners Forum

 

Open to all owners plus those contemplating the purchase of a Graham Slee HiFi System Components audio product and wishing to use this forum's loaner program: join here (Rules on posting can be found here)

This website along with trade marks Graham Slee and HiFi System Components are owned by Cadman Enterprises Ltd

Bitzie USB-DAC Preview
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12345 13>
Author
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Graham Slee View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Retired

Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Location: South Yorkshire
Status: Offline
Points: 16314 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Graham Slee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 10:05am
Originally posted by Paulreso1 Paulreso1 wrote:

Very interesting product Graham, can this be hooked directly into a power amp for playback through speakers, or would you recommend adding a preamp ( and,if so, why)?
Cheers,
Paul


I've been using the development Bitzies as USB preamps to drive the Proprius monoblocks which play into the Stirling LS3/5A's.

We even developed the Spatia speaker cable using it. Good enough to hear the difference between Spatia speaker terminal links and some links I made from some tri-rated switchgear wire.

We'll be supplying it with a quality full size jack to 2 x phono(RCA) adapter to enable it to be interconnected using our CuSat50 and Lautus interconnects.

You'd only need a preamp if you wanted to switch to other sources.

Originally posted by Cyreg Cyreg wrote:

Graham, looks goodSmile
 
And do I go from:
PC > USB > Bitzie > HD600             ...OR...
PC > USB > Bitzie > SRGII > HD600
 
Will one way or the other be preferable? 
 


Either... whatever brings the most listening satisfaction. I've been using it PC > USB > Bitzie > HD800 and enjoying every second. Recently I've been passing it through my Solo ULDE - more volume if you want it, but the Bitzie can give you full-size headphone amp performance - almost as good as a UL!

Was listening last night to Tubular Bells (B&W download) using Grado SR60's and the "outro" section Grand Piano introduced by Viv Stanshall floated seamlessly left to right, but the glockenspiel stuck to centre stage. I still get that hairs on the back of the neck sensation when the tubular bells clang in that I remember from when I had a vinyl copy.
That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps
Back to Top
Phil Bishop View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 25 Jul 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 128 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Phil Bishop Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 11:46am
Graham,

Very, very interesting product.

You allude to it above, but how do you reckon the quality of the headphone output compares to say the standard Solo? Has it got the same power, etc?

I'm very tempted to order one Smile

Cheers

Phil
Back to Top
morris_minor View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: 27 Mar 2012
Location: Surrey
Status: Offline
Points: 6197 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote morris_minor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 12:03pm
I predict that the queue to borrow a Bitzie to find out just what it'll do will be round the block ...
Bob

Majestic DAC/pre-amp
Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V
Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50
2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links
Back to Top
Fatmangolf View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: 23 Dec 2009
Location: Middlesbrough
Status: Offline
Points: 9695 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fatmangolf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 12:45pm
I think Bob is right. To join the UK loan queue please pm me with "Bitzie loan" in the subject box.
 
Jon
Jon

Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.
Back to Top
Suggs View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: 07 Oct 2011
Location: France
Status: Offline
Points: 520 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Suggs Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 2:46pm
Likewise me for the European queue
Derek
Back to Top
Graham Slee View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar
Retired

Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Location: South Yorkshire
Status: Offline
Points: 16314 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Graham Slee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 4:09pm
Originally posted by Phil Bishop Phil Bishop wrote:

Graham,

Very, very interesting product.

You allude to it above, but how do you reckon the quality of the headphone output compares to say the standard Solo? Has it got the same power, etc?

I'm very tempted to order one Smile

Cheers

Phil


It won't have the same power as a Solo because of the limitations of the USB standard single unit of current (100mA), which means the entire circuit must not consume more than 0.5W.

Before I go any further, you will see specifications for USB powered DACs consuming more than 0.5W. Given the 5V supply, 0.5 watts complies with the 100mA USB single unit limit, whereas those drawing more, say 2.5W use 5 single units of current - often the maximum output of the USB hub voltage regulator - Ouch! That's hot! The Bitzie is therefore compliant and safe to use whilst the USB bus is being used for other duties.

Having said that, it is sufficient to drive a pair of 32 Ohms Grado's loud - loud enough for me that is.

Quality of performance is also good enough for me to listen for several hours, and my Bitzie analogue output circuit has taught me one or two lessons I might include in future Solo UL's.

On low cost USB DAC's it's apparent you only get a USB DAC chip which does it all, output stage and everything. Extra circuitry costs more for me to make. Adding better voltage regulation gains an octave of bass (subjectively) and substantially reduces distortion. Generously buffering on S/PDIF outputs takes the strain off the DAC chip, again reducing analogue distortion. Correctly grounding unused inputs rather than relying on internal pull downs improves performance more. By adding a quality analogue output amp with the right filter characteristics puts the icing on the cake.

The output amp includes the filtering and that was a toughie. I hate Fourier Mathematics but the filter type used here isn't solved by easy equations. My SPICE/XSPICE simulator came to the rescue enabling me to see the amplitude and phase responses I needed.

OK, quality into high impedance headphones? HD250II: too good! K701: I'm shocked! HD800: almost very natural! All three very revealing... HD800 doing guitar string slides and moist mouth vocals extremely real.

My problem as you know, is I can't design downwards like "proper manufacturers"... Wink
That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps
Back to Top
Phil Bishop View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 25 Jul 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 128 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Phil Bishop Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 4:20pm
Graham,

Thanks for the info. I don't understand all the techie stuff but given the K701's are my cans of choice and you are "shocked", presumably in a good way Smile, that's enough to have me very interested.

Cheers

Phil
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12345 13>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.064 seconds.