CryoParts Presents Sonicweld 24/96 USB to S/PDIF Converter

cryoparts · « **on:** 8 Jun 2009, 12:41 am »

We are proud to introduce the Sonicweld Diverter USB to SPDIF converter.

Please visit the link below for more information and ordering instructions:

CryoParts Sonicweld Diverter 24/96 USB to SPDIF Converter

Peace,

Lee

low.pfile · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Jun 2009, 08:17 pm »

As an industrial designer I am very curious about the enclosure design of this converter. Any background on the purpose of the four through holes? It appears modular or a subpart of a system Or is it a matter of billet for billet-sake?
Pretty wild.

ed

cryoparts · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Jun 2009, 05:57 pm »

Quote from: low.pfile on 9 Jun 2009, 08:17 pm

As an industrial designer I am very curious about the enclosure design of this converter. Any background on the purpose of the four through holes? It appears modular or a subpart of a system Or is it a matter of billet for billet-sake?
Pretty wild.

ed

Here is the answer from the horses mouth (the engineer) on how he designs a product:

"It's a fundamental difference: most engineers have to look at what standard chassis sizes are available, then design a board to fit that target. On the other hand, I design and optimize the circuit blocks for best performance and shortest signal path first, THEN the circuit board size and shape flowed naturally from that, THEN I designed the chassis to wrap around it and provide a well-damped and very effective EMC shield."

As far as the holes:

"Actually, the reason I grooved the insides of those holes (beside looking cool) is that it provides a positive grip surface when you pick the thing up through the holes using your fingers (the proper way to pick it up, so you don?t leave prints all over it!). It?s very handy for me when I?m making them, because when they?re covered with coolant they tend to slip out of your hands very easily, resulting in either deep cuts or ruined parts. With those grooves, I can snatch it up with a thumb and pinky and not worry about dropping it. Everything I do has a purpose."

Peace,

Lee

jrebman · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Jun 2009, 05:30 pm »

Lee,

There's a lot of information regarding the circuit layout, power supplies, etc, but I cannot find one key piece of information, and that is whether this uses the USB Adaptive or Async mode -- i.e., is the computer in charge of the master clock, or is the device itself?

Also curious as to why no BNC option.

-- Jim

cryoparts · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Jun 2009, 02:29 am »

Quote from: jrebman on 23 Jun 2009, 05:30 pm

Lee,

There's a lot of information regarding the circuit layout, power supplies, etc, but I cannot find one key piece of information, and that is whether this uses the USB Adaptive or Async mode -- i.e., is the computer in charge of the master clock, or is the device itself?

Also curious as to why no BNC option.

-- Jim

Adaptive, for a number of reasons.

We originally went with an RCA connector as it is so prevalent and ultimately, that seems to be the connector that everyone prefers to use, be that a bad thing or a good thing. The designer/engineer, in working on the upgrades for the Diverter Gen III went to such trouble (literally weeks of work) to optimize EVERYTHING and he was very bothered by the mismatched impedance of the RCA connector. He talked me into changing to a BNC connector and providing an adapter with the unit.

So...BNC is now the standard output connector. The newest, GEN III units that will start shipping in about 3 weeks will have a BNC connector with a BNC to RCA adapter included for those who want to use their existing RCA terminated digital cables.

FYI--We are upgrading all customers who purchased a GEN II unit to a Gen III unit for no charge!

I am also working on a BNC terminated digital cable to complement the Diverter, hopefully I'll have it ready soon.

The introductory price is still on, however, not for much longer.

Peace,

Lee

cryoparts · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 Jun 2009, 06:42 pm »

Hi everyone,

Just a quick heads up, I am going to be ending the introductory price soon on the Diverter, so if you want one, now is the time to buy and get a deal.

Also, Amarra has officially included both the Sonicweld Decoder and Diverter in their compatible devices:

http://www.sonicstudio.com/amarra/faq.html

Peace,

Lee

santacore · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 Jun 2009, 11:32 pm »

Cool! I can't wait for my Decoder.

*Scotty* · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 Jun 2009, 11:58 pm »

It's not clear whether or not the Diverter is an asynchronous or isosynchronous USB connection. It is also not clear if the SPDIF output is transformer coupled or not. Both of these questions need to be answered in order to make an informed buying decision.
Scotty

whubbard · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Jul 2009, 12:21 am »

I would say that case serves one function (I believe all the other reasons are just silly benefits noticed later):

$$$$$

Until I see a circuit board layout that requires a case looking like that I will refuse to believe it. It's just good marketing, expensive products need to look expensive. There is nothing wrong with that, but I wish the designer was just more honest on that fact.

Lee,
Where is this products true use? I have a S/PDIF DAC. So the idea is that by going to USB then S/PDIF instead of just using the good S/PDIF output on my soundcard that it would sound better? Frankly, why bother going to S/PDIF why not just integrate this product as the input stage of a USB Dac? (Am I missing something here?)

-West

p.s. You have S/PDIF spelled wrong in the product title. Just a heads up.

JDUBS · « **Reply #9 on:** 1 Jul 2009, 12:30 am »

There's a big (relatively speaking) market for such a product. You have a favorite DAC that only takes coax as its input. You get one of these and you can now serve your music collection to this DAC via your computer. Not everyone has their DAC sitting next to their computer and USB cables can run up to 4 meters (I think) before needing a repeater or the like.

cryoparts · « **Reply #10 on:** 1 Jul 2009, 01:23 am »

Quote from: JDUBS on 1 Jul 2009, 12:30 am

There's a big (relatively speaking) market for such a product. You have a favorite DAC that only takes coax as its input. You get one of these and you can now serve your music collection to this DAC via your computer. Not everyone has their DAC sitting next to their computer and USB cables can run up to 4 meters (I think) before needing a repeater or the like.

Yes, exactly. It will pass 24/96 as well, which only a few other USB devices will do, most are limited to 16/48. We (meaning the engineer) also accomplish the 24/96 pass via a different way than anyone else.

USB cables are fine up to 5m, generally speaking.

Peace,

Lee

cryoparts · « **Reply #11 on:** 1 Jul 2009, 01:23 am »

Quote from: santacore on 30 Jun 2009, 11:32 pm

Cool! I can't wait for my Decoder.

I can't wait for you to have your Decoder, ha!

Peace,

Lee

cryoparts · « **Reply #12 on:** 1 Jul 2009, 01:27 am »

Quote from: *Scotty* on 30 Jun 2009, 11:58 pm

It's not clear whether or not the Diverter is an asynchronous or isosynchronous USB connection. It is also not clear if the SPDIF output is transformer coupled or not. Both of these questions need to be answered in order to make an informed buying decision.
Scotty

Circuit design, PCB layout and skill of the designer/engineer are the most important things to consider in a design like this. Some will get it, some won't, and that's cool.

Lee

cryoparts · « **Reply #13 on:** 1 Jul 2009, 01:40 am »

Quote from: whubbard on 1 Jul 2009, 12:21 am

I would say that case serves one function (I believe all the other reasons are just silly benefits noticed later):

$$$$$

Until I see a circuit board layout that requires a case looking like that I will refuse to believe it. It's just good marketing, expensive products need to look expensive. There is nothing wrong with that, but I wish the designer was just more honest on that fact.

I think your insinuation that the designer/engineer is dishonest in your post is mean spirited and out of place in an "industry ads" thread. Especially coming from a moderator of a different forum.

FWIW, the designer has been a friend of mine for a very long time and is a the expert in the field of high speed digital design, I had to convince him to even take on a small project like this. His priorities are design for the medical and military industries, not designing relatively inexpensive products like this. FWIW, there is a six layer PCB inside the unit with multiple ground planes, you probably have never seen a PCB like this, unless of course you work in a company that does high end/high speed digital design.

As far as the way the chassis looks, here are his words:

"It's a fundamental difference: most engineers have to look at what standard chassis sizes are available, then design a board to fit that target. On the other hand, I design and optimize the circuit blocks for best performance and shortest signal path first, THEN the circuit board size and shape flowed naturally from that, THEN I designed the chassis to wrap around it and provide a well-damped and very effective EMC shield."

As far as the holes:

"Actually, the reason I grooved the insides of those holes (beside looking cool) is that it provides a positive grip surface when you pick the thing up through the holes using your fingers (the proper way to pick it up, so you don?t leave prints all over it!). It?s very handy for me when I?m making them, because when they?re covered with coolant they tend to slip out of your hands very easily, resulting in either deep cuts or ruined parts. With those grooves, I can snatch it up with a thumb and pinky and not worry about dropping it. Everything I do has a purpose."

So, sure, it looks cool, but it does have a purpose. What's wrong with that?

EDIT--sorry didn't realize I had posted his reasoning for the enclosure looking like it does above.

Lee

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #14 on:** 1 Jul 2009, 01:54 am »

Makes sense to me Lee. I've been in electronics packaging and have seen and designed some wild things for the military and commercial aerospace and automotive. Having freelance ability to design a board from the ground up with no packaging restraints would be a Godsend. I can totally relate to what has been done and am very confident that your designer knows what he is doing just by what is described here and the words of the designer himself.

Very excited for you and the team. What I would like to see is all audio designers to use this level of discipline. Kudos!

SACD-MAN · « **Reply #15 on:** 1 Jul 2009, 01:59 am »

I must say having my diverter in my rig has made me an official digital man....I was purist in the fact that analog all the way through was important. This has completely changed my thinking. In addition, when you have this GORGEOUS piece in your hands, you realize that finger prints all over it is like grabbing your "work of art" painting from the middle of the canvas.... the holes are cool - its as simple as that!!

Craig

cryoparts · « **Reply #16 on:** 1 Jul 2009, 02:15 am »

Quote from: Big Red Machine on 1 Jul 2009, 01:54 am

Makes sense to me Lee. I've been in electronics packaging and have seen and designed some wild things for the military and commercial aerospace and automotive. Having freelance ability to design a board from the ground up with no packaging restraints would be a Godsend. I can totally relate to what has been done and am very confident that your designer knows what he is doing just by what is described here and the words of the designer himself.

Very excited for you and the team. What I would like to see is all audio designers to use this level of discipline. Kudos!

Thank you. He does indeed have free reign as not only does he design the circuit, he lays out the PCB, AND he machines the enclosures himself. In addition to being a talented circuit designer, he is a very gifted machinist that owns his own CNC.

Peace,

Lee

cryoparts · « **Reply #17 on:** 1 Jul 2009, 02:16 am »

Quote from: SACD-MAN on 1 Jul 2009, 01:59 am

I must say having my diverter in my rig has made me an official digital man....I was purist in the fact that analog all the way through was important. This has completely changed my thinking. In addition, when you have this GORGEOUS piece in your hands, you realize that finger prints all over it is like grabbing your "work of art" painting from the middle of the canvas.... the holes are cool - its as simple as that!!

Craig

About time you made it over here, I've been after you for months.

Wade in, we don't bite...well, most of us.

Peace,

Lee

SACD-MAN · « **Reply #18 on:** 1 Jul 2009, 02:23 am »

Bitting is cool!! I need photos first..LOL

I know, I'm just been focusing on new toys and getting ride of old ones..

I like toys~~

cryoparts · « **Reply #19 on:** 1 Jul 2009, 02:28 am »

Quote from: SACD-MAN on 1 Jul 2009, 02:23 am

Bitting is cool!! I need photos first..LOL

I know, I'm just been focusing on new toys and getting ride of old ones..

I like toys~~

Update your sig to reflect you are an industry member.

There is a headphone forum here too:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=147.0

Peace,

Lee