AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Owner's Circles => Channel Islands Audio Owners => Topic started by: CIAudio on 29 Aug 2007, 10:18 pm
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The VDC•SB will be available in a few weeks.
I've had a lot of fun doing this project...The sound we're getting with a Squeezebox/VDC•SB fed into a VDA•2/VAC•1 combo is very impressive.
Preliminary info on VDC•SB is as follows:
discrete Schottky diode bridge
4A low output impedance transformer
20,000uF capacitance
regulated 5v output
can be configured for 120 or 240v input
$259 (includes shipping)
Our first production run is 100 pieces, so call to get on the order list!
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Seems good Dusty. At that price it should fill the gap between wall warts and the Bolder power supply.
Can't wait for one of local audiofests to gather all them for a shoot out .
Just wish my Squeeze Box experience had been better. :(
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Is it safe to assume it looks like the VAC-1?
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Is it safe to assume it looks like the VAC-1?
Very similar in looks to a VAC•1, with a blue power LED added.
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Dusty,
Can you give us a better idea of the affect the VDC•SB has on the Squeezebox's sound?
Adam.
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Can you give us a better idea of the affect the VDC•SB has on the Squeezebox's sound?
By replacing the the stock switching supply with VDC•SB, switching noise is eliminated providing a more analog sound...smoother, more dynamic, and extended.
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Can you give us a better idea of the affect the VDC•SB has on the Squeezebox's sound?
By replacing the the stock switching supply with VDC•SB, switching noise is eliminated providing a more analog sound...smoother, more dynamic, and extended.
Sounds good. I am even more interested than before because I recently picked up a CEC TL-51X belt driven transport and it clearly betters the Squeezebox in several areas running into my VDA-2 w/VAC-1 (and that's without having levelled the CEC (supposedly necessary to get the most out of them) which is simply sitting beside my TV on my cheapo Ikea TV stand). If you really want the analog sound the TL-51X with the VDA-2 is one hell of a way to go. The TL-51X/VDA-2 combo is far more nuanced than the SB3/VDA-2 combo, though some might find it too laid back. If the VDC•SB can help the SB3 compete with the CEC I would be very happy.
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I'm currently slumming with an Oppo 970, but plan on adding a VDA-2 soon, and have considered the CEC down the road. Please keep us informed how that combination works after you've fully set it up.
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VDC•SB's are now available and will start shipping on monday (9/24)!
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What is the lenght of the umblical powercord between the VDC-SB and Squeezebox? Sent a google mail to you a couple days ago but no response :(
WoonPing
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What is the lenght of the umblical powercord between the VDC-SB and Squeezebox? Sent a google mail to you a couple days ago but no response
The DC cable is 26" long (for placement near the Squeezebox)
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Hi Gents,
I got one and love this "little cute cube" which brings my SB2 to another level of music. :thumb:
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Can you give us a better idea of the affect the VDC•SB has on the Squeezebox's sound?
By replacing the the stock switching supply with VDC•SB, switching noise is eliminated providing a more analog sound...smoother, more dynamic, and extended.
Will this have a noticable improvement when the SB is connected to a DAC (i.e. the SB analog circuits are not being used)?
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What is the lenght of the umblical powercord between the VDC-SB and Squeezebox? Sent a google mail to you a couple days ago but no response
The DC cable is 26" long (for placement near the Squeezebox)
Thanks for the info. I am interested to get one. Please check PM.
WoonPing
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Has anyone else purchased this? If so, have you noticed an improvement in sound?
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Hi Gents,
I got one and love this "little cute cube" which brings my SB2 to another level of music. :thumb:
Do you have this connected via Digital or Analog RCA connections?
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Hi Gents,
I got one and love this "little cute cube" which brings my SB2 to another level of music. :thumb:
Do you have this connected via Digital or Analog RCA connections?
Hi,
It is a power supply and connected to the DC source via a power cord just like from a walwart to the unit. You can power your SB2 or SB3 instead of your stock one and the difference is the VDC-SB sounds way better than the stock one or even a custombuilt I did build before. This does nothing to do with your digital and analog connections. Any questions please feel free to ask.
Best regards,
Tan
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Tan:
What power supply did you use before you got the VDC.SB?
Cheers
Charlie
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Tan,
Thanks for the reply, but I understand what the VDC-SB is/does.
My question is how do you have your Squeezebox hooked up to your stereo receiver? I've heard that changes made to the Squeezebox power supply don't make much difference if your Squeezebox is connected to a receiver via digital connections (optical or cable). So I'm curious how your system is setup.
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Tan:
What power supply did you use before you got the VDC.SB?
Cheers
Charlie
Charlie,
This is my list of SB PS from okay to best one:
1. Bolder modded Elpac
2. Basic Bolder modded PS
3. My custombuilt PS with Power-One
4. CI VDC-SB
5. Paul Hynes Shunt regulated PS
6. RWA/SMART battery charger
Notes: I have not owned 5 and 6 yet but I will consider to purchase them. But I know for sure the RWA is the best one IMO since I own one for my Altmann Attraction DC and BYOB amp.
Tan
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Tan,
Thanks for the reply, but I understand what the VDC-SB is/does.
My question is how do you have your Squeezebox hooked up to your stereo receiver? I've heard that changes made to the Squeezebox power supply don't make much difference if your Squeezebox is connected to a receiver via digital connections (optical or cable). So I'm curious how your system is setup.
Jam2001,
The connection is as followed:
Squeezebox 2 or 3 has a two digital connections optical and RCA. I do not connect to the RCA analog connectors but with a digital cable from SB3 to DAC which has RCA analog connection to your preamp (either tube or SS or your receiver) inputs or you can connect to your amp if it has volume control.
IMO I do not think that if you upgrade your PS for the SB3 it does not make change to the sound even though you connect to any preamp and/or receiver.
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Tan,
In an earlier post you said...."I got one and love this "little cute cube" which brings my SB2 to another level of music."
But in the last post you said ... "IMO I do not think that if you upgrade your PS for the SB3 it does not make change to the sound even though you connect to any preamp and/or receiver."
So if I'm understanding correctly, you have a SB2 and a SB3 and you like the sound difference with the SB2 but not with the SB3. Is that correct?
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So if I'm understanding correctly, you have a SB2 and a SB3 and you like the sound difference with the SB2 but not with the SB3. Is that correct?
jam2001,
I am sorry that my statement makes you confused. Actually both of my SB had been modded with pulse transformers (SB2 with Newava and SB3 with SC947-02) and they both sounding good with an upgraded PS except I can hear a slight difference between them (SB2+CI VDC-SB PS sounds warmer and musical than SB3+VDC-SB PS). I prefer a warming sounding source. However, if I switch different preamp and/or amp there will be different story.
I have heard by Denjo that the combination of unmodded SB3 and Paul Hynes Shunt regulated PS are sounding good too.
Tan
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Yes, I use a stock SB3 (digital out) feeding a Altmann Attraction DAC, both units separately powered by a Paul Hynes shunt regulated PSU. It sounds very analog-like and transparent! :)
Best Regards
Dennis
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Dennis,
Have you ever tried the SB3 with the PH power supply but without the externalDAC, while hooked up through Digital out? If so, do you think the third party power supply made a difference? Or do you think the Altmann Attraction DAC is responsible for the analog like sound?
Bottom line I'm trying to get to....Does an after market power supply make a difference with the SB3 when it's hooked to a receiver via digital out connection? I know that the external DAC's make a difference, and I hope to get the CI Audio VAC-2 in the near future.
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Jam2001
I have tried the stock SB3 as follows and observed incremental improvements in musicality, with the first being the worst and the last, sonically the best:
SB3 with stock wallwart (RCA out - that is, no external DAC)
SB3 with PH PSU (RCA out - that is, no external DAC)
SB3 with stock wallwart (digital out to external Altmann DAC powered by ordinary linear PSU)
SB3 with stock wallwart (digital out to external Altmann DAC powered by Vinnie's SLA)
SB3 with PH PSU (digital out to external Altmann DAC powered by separate PH PSU)
You will observe that the Altmann DAC added to the SB3 made a big improvement, even though both the SB3 and Altmann were powered by stock power supplies. I attribute the superiority of the Altmann for the big leap forward. Obviously, once you power the Altmann DAC and SB3 with a premium PSU, you will discern another big rung up the ladder to sonic nirvana - more analog sounding, deeper and wider soundstage, effortless fluidity. I know that others have argued that the SB3's digital should be modded and with this, one would probably get the ultimate. While I have no way of confirming if this is so or not, I feel that the SB3's digital out is already quite good (mute volume altogether and disengage from analog circuit), and any changes to the digital out would probably be marginally better. I have since added a Bybee slipstream to the SB3 digital out and there was a subtle change of smoothening the edges.
I hope this helps!
Best Regards
Dennis
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Excellent! That's what I was looking for.
I'm not planning on modifying my SB3 because I feel the improvements from a good external DAC will be a better use of my money. Although the Altmann DAC sounds good, I'm planning on getting the CI Audio VAC-2.
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hey guys! i emailed you this question but i figured i would put it in this thread in case anyone else is wondering. i have (and love) the power supply but would like to move my SB away from the unit. can i get a longer dc umbilical (say 10 foot) either from you or if you know any aftermarket (seems to be hard to find custom built dc cords)? any drawbacks with this?
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hey guys! i emailed you this question but i figured i would put it in this thread in case anyone else is wondering. i have (and love) the power supply but would like to move my SB away from the unit. can i get a longer dc umbilical (say 10 foot) either from you or if you know any aftermarket (seems to be hard to find custom built dc cords)? any drawbacks with this?
We only carry the cable in the standard 24" length. The 2.5mm connectors can be easily found at your local electronics store if you'd like to make a longer one.
I'd recommend keeping the cable as short as possible as long lengths could degrade performance (you want the p/s output capacitors close to the circuit being powered).
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thanx for the info guys. i would also like everyone out there to know that you guys are very quick at responding to email also, i got this same response from you the day before the above reply was posted.
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Dusty,
Will you be releasing a version of the VDC-SB for the new Squeezebox Duet? (With it's lower power consumption?)
http://slimdevices.com/pi_duet.html
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Yes, I use a stock SB3 (digital out) feeding a Altmann Attraction DAC, both units separately powered by a Paul Hynes shunt regulated PSU. It sounds very analog-like and transparent! :)
Best Regards
Dennis
Dennis, I may have missied it, but is there a link for the PH supply?
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Tonyptony
Please check your pm.
Best Regards
Dennis
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Will you be releasing a version of the VDC-SB for the new Squeezebox Duet? (With it's lower power consumption?)
We are already working on this...
I met with the Logitech folks here at CES and this looks like it will be pretty cool.
It runs off of 9v (instead of 5v) and uses a different power connector.
They could not give me a release date on the Duet for testing purposes, so I'm not sure
when the new power supply (or Duet) will be available.
This is not a replacement for the Squeezebox, but a sister product.
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Does anyone out there know if this CI VDC-SB power supply will work with a Trends UD 10.1 USB Converter? I'm thinking it will but it would be nice to confirm this before purchasing one and getting stuck with a 10% restocking fee.
Anyone?
Cheers,
Robin
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Does anyone out there know if this CI VDC-SB power supply will work with a Trends UD 10.1 USB Converter? I'm thinking it will but it would be nice to confirm this before purchasing one and getting stuck with a 10% restocking fee.
Anyone?
Cheers,
Robin
Wayne Waananen of Bolder Cables helped me out on this one. He says this power supply is totally compatible with the Trends UD 10.1 USB Converter. Even tho Wayne thinks the modded ELPAC would give a slightly warmer analog-like sound, my order will be placed for the Channel Island power supply. :thumb:
Cheers,
Robin
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Are the SB power supplies in full production now? Is there a waiting list, or is there likely to be a bit of a wait?
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There was no waiting list when I ordered mine months ago, what makes you think there's a waiting list or that these power supply's aren't in full production? :scratch:
Cheers,
Robin
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It was just that the last post I could I find about their availability mentioned a limited production run of 100.
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Well it's still being listed as a new product on CI's website with no mention of a limited production so I'd say it's a fair guess that you'll have one within 5-7 days after ordering one. :D
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Are the SB power supplies in full production now? Is there a waiting list, or is there likely to be a bit of a wait?
VDC•SB is in production and in stock.
VDC•9.0 for Duet is also in stock/$279...but not yet on our website.
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Can this power supply be used on a Trends 10.1???
Someone else said , yes.
The output is 14VAC. The Trends uses 12VDC.
D
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Can this power supply be used on a Trends 10.1???
Someone else said , yes.
The output is 14VAC. The Trends uses 12VDC.
D
I think I already answered that question but here ya go again,,,,,
Wayne Waananen of Bolder Cables helped me out on this one. He says this power supply is totally compatible with the Trends UD 10.1 USB Converter. Even tho Wayne thinks the modded ELPAC would give a slightly warmer analog-like sound, my order will be placed for the Channel Island power supply.
I've been using the VDC-SB power supply with the Trends UD-10.1 USB transport for a few months now and love the quality upgrade the CI provided over the optional battery pak. I can't be more clearer than that. :D
Cheers,
Robin
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Sorry Robin,
I was talking about the Trends T10.1 amp not the DAC.
My mistake.
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Opps! :oops: :lol:
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Can this power supply be used on a Trends 10.1???
Someone else said , yes.
The output is 14VAC. The Trends uses 12VDC.
The VDC-SB will not work for your application...it is 5vDC. At this time, we do not make a 12vDC supply.
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VDC•9.0 for Duet is also in stock/$279...but not yet on our website.
Will the VDC-9 work with the SB?
Trying to decide which one to buy.
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Will the VDC-9 work with the SB?
Use the VDC•SB for Squeezebox (5.0v DC)
and VDC•9.0 for Duet (9.0v DC)