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i^2s into Majestic?
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BackinBlack View Drop Down
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Joined: 05 Feb 2012
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Points: 2139 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote BackinBlack Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Sep 2025 at 8:54am
I2S signals need very careful "handling". Preservation of phase integrity is vital, pcb tracks and/or leads should be electronically identical in length, capacitance and inductance. The existing I2S connections would also need removing and a suitable connector substituted. Some implementations I've seen use micro coax cable and connectors.
Frankly I doubt the effort would bring improvements.
Perhaps that's why SPDIF and Toslink are most commonly used for digital connections. Wink
Happy Tinkering
Ian
Just listen, if it sounds good to you, enjoy it.
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BAK View Drop Down
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Points: 1831 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BAK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Sep 2025 at 9:34pm
Originally posted by Ash Ash wrote:

The intention is to bypass SPDIF/Toslink/USB altogether. Skip all of the extra encoding and decoding steps; i^2s straight into the Majestic's decoder chip. It would require a loaned open-case Majestic with a very short cable soldered to the necessary pins on the decoder chip and a male HDMI connector on the other end plugged straight into the digital transport outputting the i^2s signal.

Not even sure whether you'd be able to hear a difference, even if the transports were powered by Graham's 5V 3A Linear PSU.

  As Ian states...
"I2S signals need very careful "handling". Preservation of phase integrity is vital, pcb tracks and/or leads should be electronically identical in length, capacitance and inductance.
 Perhaps that's why SPDIF and Toslink are most commonly used for digital connections. Wink"

SPDIF and Toslink (optical) are used as an interface that provides common mode rejection and isolation between unit chassis and the circuits inside.
 Bypassing the isolation they provide can only make the circuits more susceptible to noise induced.

I cannot see any improvements in Graham Slee's design of the DAC circuitry as he was in R&D with the "Big DAC " for a few years. He definitely addressed all noise sources and interfaces... and included many suggestions from friends and other engineers.
 Graham's attention-to-details is why it sounds so good. To Me, it sounds the best.


Edited by BAK - 06 Sep 2025 at 9:43pm
Bruce
AT-14SA, Pickering XV-15, Hana EL, Technics SL-1600MK2, Lautus, Majestic DAC, Technics SH-8055 spectrum analyzer, Eminence Beta8A custom cabs; Proprius & Reflex M or C, Enjoy Life your way!
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Points: 9695 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fatmangolf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Sep 2025 at 1:49pm
Agreed.
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.
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