Well, I can now weigh in on the BatteryBUSS (BB) as I have had mine for a while, and a recent addition showed how truly awesome it is
First, I would like to thank Dave for allowing me to be part of the group buy. Besides that, the customer service and knowledge that he is willing to share are truly unusual these days. My BB is slightly special in that it actually has 5 outputs. 3 Regular XLRs and 2 minis. I also got 4 assembled cables and 2 for me to assemble in the future as required. The system this is going in is as follows:
PC Engine Alix Linux based music Server (Battery Power)
V-Link USB-SPDIF (Originally USB Powered, now battery Power)
Modified Lite Audio DAC-60 (AC)
Dodd Audio Tube Buffer (Battery Power)
Class-D SDS-254 (Battery Power)
Polk Audio LSi9s modded to the hilt by the Ninja
Kinetik HCA 1400 SLA Batter in a Battery Box with 4 outputs and 1 input
Cabling is mostly DIY VH Audio Silver RCAs and then a braided DIY Speaker cable made from Electra Cable Wire
I will discuss future changes later on, but that is the system as it sits now. So, before I was running everything that was battery powered off the battery box with no filtering or cleaning at all. I started with the V-Link powered from the Alix, but now I have a single cable from the battery box to the BB, and then 4 cables going to the various equipment. Initially, while the V-Link was powered by the Alix, there was an improvement with the BB, but not dramatic. The noise floor went down slightly, and instruments seemed a little more separate, but overall it was not much of a change. I was able to truly try all the possibilities as I had all the outputs on my battery box, plus I had an extra SLA battery and charger that I could even put something on a second battery. I figured out that the system sounded it’s best with everything fed through the BatteryBUSS. But, with the Dodd at listening volume and no music, I had an oscillating noise that was audible at about 1-2 feet from the speakers and would not go away. It was quieter when all equipment was running off the BB, but it was there. It was loud enough to hear anywhere in the room with the volume pegged. Moreover, it seemed to be creating an “edge” to the music with was more noticeable on some songs than others. (Everything is flac and cd quality atleast, with some high resolution thrown in) This is the point when I started e-mailing Dave questions. And, that is when he offered to let me try a new cable he has been cooking up. So, I of course bit
This cable takes the data from the Alix and routes it to the V-Link, but the power for the V-Link comes from the BatteryBUSS. Literally, from moment one with the cable added I was floored. Here is the actual e-mail I sent to Dave after hearing the cable.
“Before, at listening volume (Dodd Buffer at about 9 o'clock), the digital oscillating noise was noticeable if the music was stopped and I got my ear within about 2 feet from the speaker. When the music was playing, there was an "edge" that I couldn't identify. At full volume and no music, the noise was noticeable anywhere in the room...
Now, the noise is virtually gone. At listening volume, it is not present with my ear against the speaker. At full volume, it is BARELY there, again with my ear against the speaker. The "edge" is gone in music.
Now, the superlatives.
Honestly, I was not prepared for the change that is there. And this is with NO TIME on the cord. The music is just there. It floats in the room with nothing to make you think it came from a computer. The problems I had with the Alix set-up are now gone. This is atleast as big a change as the BatteryBuss itself made. Well, I say that with the qualifier of the V-Link USB power bringing the whole set-up down.”
Truly, everything I hoped this set-up would be, it is. There is no noise. There is only music. The music is there, and it seems ULTRA realistic. This is especially true of good Live recordings. One of my favorite to listen to (as a former drummer) is the 3rd song on the 2nd disk from the Dave Matthews Band album “The Best of What’s Around Volume 1”. The song is “Say Goodbye” and starts with a very fun Drum solo that really highlights the great recording they did of the band. You get to hear where each piece of Carter’s set is on the stage, and it sounds like you are there. Then you have a flute solo which begins. When it is playing you can tell where the flutist is on the stage, and which direction he is facing. Overall, it is a wonderful test/show song. So, before the BatteryBUSS and USB cord, this song was very fun, but it had the small “edge” to it, and the soundstage was compressed. Now the soundstage is well beyond the speakers and is quite large front to back as well. The only way to describe it is to say that it feels like I am there, watching live. Hope that makes sense…
Anyway, the BatteryBUSS is amazing, the new USB cable is amazing, and Dave is an all around great guy
Ted
Oh yeah, at some point the V-Link/DAC-60 combo will be replaced by a Buffalo DAC running off battery. The LSi9s will be replaced by the N2xs I am currently building. Then I guess I will build a servo sub to integrate nicely…
