[anubisgrau]

hi everyone

i've been using altmann's amp and DAC for some time with exide maxxima blue

i know that altmann himself uses it with red optima.

some users told me that there is a sound difference between these two batteries, not big, but clearly audible in transparent systems.

also people use yellow optima.

i recently exchanged some emails with charles regarding a sound quality of the BYOB and he told me that a battery can produce quite an impact on how is BYOB sounding.

i'm wondering if anyone ever tried to experiment a bit with this and what are the results.

as i have (a dying) exide maxxima blue, i would now love to buy optima. though charles recommends red (claiming he has never heard any other), my battery seller claims it's the yellow to go because of frequent cycles of charging. what are your thoughts.

TA

gordan

[kaaos]

Gordan,
I've been using my Altmann DAC with Yellow Top only... it is an excellent combination.

Better or worst than Red Top?
I don't know... but with Yellow Top I have no desire to change anything.

Regards
Goran

[anubisgrau]

Thanks Goran, AFAIK the Altmann DAC is pretty much independent from a battery choice, i know someone who feeds it from a simple SLA accu and it works fine. On contrary, the BYOB is critically dependent on a battery choice and Charles is reluctant in recommending anything else apart from Optima Red Top. I believe he knows his own baby the best. I currently have a bit of colouration on the upper mids of the BYOB however this well would be a consequence of my dying Exide Maxxima Blue. We will know that in a day or two when I borrow a brand new Optima Yellow Top.

[jcpix]

Not to change the subject too much, but what about the AC options for the altmann?  I know Charles will not go along with this method, but it seems more convenient, and I've read good things.

[anubisgrau]

well, the quality of AC here where i live is really bad and i have no any conditioning so a car battery is actually very convenient for me. it's much less hassle than i've thought, all i need to do now is to make a nice wooden case so it's truly harmless.

btw i bought yellow top optima. i brought my exide maxxima to battery diagnostics this morning and they found out it works with 10.5V only due to (probably) a damaged cell.

i'm now curious to hear if there is any sound change:=), i will be shocked if not.

[kaaos]

Gordan,
Let us know how it worked... I hope it will improve the sound of BYOB to the point that you will not have any desire to look for a new amp.
That would make me interested to try BYOB again in my system 

Goran

[Imperial]

There is also the Paul Hynes psu for that one to consider...
http://www.paulhynesdesign.com/page7.html

Imperial

[tanchiro58]

I recently use RWA SLA/Smart module (same design which Vinnie build in his Signature 30.2 and 70.2) for both BYOB amp and Attraction DAC and very satisfied with the sound. However, I will try to build another PS by using Felix model with a japanese switching PS TDK 12V to compare to SLA, Optima Yellow top battrey PS.

[denjo]

I have tried different SLA batteries (but not the Optima since Singapore does not have it) but Paul Hynes' PSU consistently sounded the best. Remember that no matter how good a SLA battery is, there will always be voltage fluctuations (sometimes as much a 15- 20% less) and from my experience this had a discernible impact on the quality of the music. On the other hand, a good PSU (like Paul Hynes') is stable throughout and allows you to enjoy the best of music at any point in time, with no issue of voltage dip.

WAF is way better too! 

[jaspal kallar]

I have tried different SLA batteries (but not the Optima since Singapore does not have it) but Paul Hynes' PSU consistently sounded the best. Remember that no matter how good a SLA battery is, there will always be voltage fluctuations (sometimes as much a 15- 20% less) and from my experience this had a discernible impact on the quality of the music. On the other hand, a good PSU (like Paul Hynes') is stable throughout and allows you to enjoy the best of music at any point in time, with no issue of voltage dip.

WAF is way better too! 

Hi denjo, thanks for your opinion on Pauls PSU together with the Altmann Dac.

One thing though. Paul's PSU that you use for powering the Dac will not work for the BYOB amp. He would have to build a much costlier version. He recommended that it better to stick to the Optima red top ... he thought it was more than good enough.  Just relaying back info Paul provided for me.

  jaspal

[denjo]

Jaspal

Thanks for your reply and the clarification! I have no experience with the BYOB but Paul's PSU for the Attraction DAC probably has no equal.

Best Regards
Dennis

[tanchiro58]

One thing though. Paul's PSU that you use for powering the Dac will not work for the BYOB amp. He would have to build a much costlier version. He recommended that it better to stick to the Optima red top ... he thought it was more than good enough.  Just relaying back info Paul provided for me.

That is true. Paul Hynes emailed me long time ago that he would design a special PS for Altmann BYOB amp but he did not know when(?). Does someone own Paul Hynes PS for Attraction DAC in USA? I would like to send my RWA SLA/Smart battery PS to exchange for listening with PH'sPS. Let me know. Thanks.

Regards,
Tan

[anubisgrau]

i bought a yellow top optima and certainly it´s obvious even from a blue LED that the power is now stronger....
the altmann DAC is more transparent and open
the same for BYOB except there's more emphasis on mid hardness that makes organic instruments sounding a bit unatural and some voices squeaky. i really didn´t notice it before i got a truly revealing and transparent speakers. maybe the byob is not fully run in, or just it's what it is (as i suspect)....