Gaudi Rev.2.1
2018/12/29 created
2022/10/24 updated
Rev.2.03 of Gaudi has been modified based on the system design Ver.2.1.
(September, 2021)
The DAP is replaced with PC audio. This is a big modification to expand
the function of the system. So, I raised the revision to Rev.2.1.
The old amplifiers built for the old Gaudi system (Ver.1) are still being
used.
Configuration
I repleced the DAP, SONY HAP-Z1ES, with PC audio, following the system
design Ver.2.1. The PC audio subsystem features a silent PC, OlioSpec canarino
Fils9, and a DAC, TEAC UD-301-SP/S.
The PC audio is an impotant component for expanding Gaudi II to an audio/visual
system.
The PC audio is used for not only music replay but also replaying visual
sources. Besides, some measurement features like oscilloscope will be installed.
By using headphones, the PC audio subsystem can be used as a small audio/visual
system without the other Gaudi II components.
I had been considering PC audio since 2004, but SQ (sound quality) didn't
reach the level that I am satisfied with. In 2019 and 2020, I upgraded
my audio subsystem in the study room, which uses PC audio. At last, I was
satisfied with SQ of PC audio.
In January 2021,I finally made up my mind and began building the PC audio
subsystem for Gaudi II. I took me as long as half a year to complete it.
For details of the PC audio, please refer to the topic "Introduction of PC Audio".
The old amplifiers that used to be used in Gaudi Ver.1 are still used.
I postpned building new amps because the amplifers don't affect the total
sound quality so much compering with the other components.
The BD player has been removed from Gaudi II. The STB, Technicolor BD-V570,
has been replaced with Panasonic TZ-LT1500BW, because BD-V570 was instable
when it was connected to PC via Wi-Fi.
Layout
The component layout is as shown on the right (click to zoom up).
The TV is fixed on the wall behind Gaudi II instead of being planced on
the TV rack.
PC radiates far more amount of EMI than audio equipment. So, the PC is
placed on the bottom tier (1st tier) of the audio rack (AR-416) to reduce
EMI to devices that include analog circuits. The peripherals are placed
on the 2nd tier.
The crossover network (CD-211B) and MC head amp (HA-213) are placed on
the DAR (MR-2000S). This layout is not so good because CD-211B and HA-213
are not designed to be placed on another audio device. I will change the
layout when I replace the crossover network in the near future.
The keyboard and mouse are set on a very small table and the table is set in front of the listening position. The reason I chose the very small table is that it doesn't interfere the sound waves from the loudspeakers. That prevents acoustical distortion.
The following figures show the layout of the whole system.
No change has been made from the previous revision (Rev.2.03) except the
small table.
Since the system-level tuning hasn't been made yet, this is a tentative
plan.
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Cabling
The cables used in Gaudi II are as shown in the table below.
Quad-core shielded wires are used for the first time to connect the DAC
to premap.
| From | To | Wire | Length | Sender connector | Receiver connector | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADP (SL-1200GR) |
MC head amp (HA-213) |
Low capacitance unbalanced wire (1-core shielded) |
1.5m | RCA plug | RCA plug | SL-1200GR's accessary Tied with earth wire Stereo pair |
| MC head amp (HA-213) |
Preamp (PA-210) |
OFC balanced wire (2-core shielded) BELDEN 8412 |
1.5m | Teflon insulated RCA plug Cold-GND connected |
Teflon insulated RCA plug | Unbalanced Stereo pair |
| DAC (UD-301) |
Preamp (PA-210) |
Quad-core shielded wire Canare L-4E6S |
1.5m | RCA plug Canare F-10 Cold-GND open |
RCA plug Canare F-10 Cold-GND connected |
Unbalanced Stereo pair |
| Preamp (PA-210) |
DAR (MR-2000S) |
OFC balanced wire (2-core shielded) BELDEN 8412 |
3m | Teflon insulated RCA plug Cold-GND open |
Teflon insulated RCA plug Cold-GND connected |
Unbalanced Stereo pair |
| DAR (MR-2000S) |
Preamp (PA-210) |
OFC balanced wire (2-core shielded) NEGLEX 2549 |
3m | RCA plug Neutrik NYS373-0 Cold-GND open |
RCA plug Neutrik NYS373-0 Cold-GND connected |
Unbalanced Stereo pair |
| Preamp (PA-210) |
Network (CD-211B) |
OFC balanced wire (2-core shielded) BELDEN 8412 |
1m | Teflon insulated RCA plug Cold-GND connected |
はんだ付け Cold-GND connected |
Unbalanced Stereo pair |
| Network (CD-211B) |
Tweeter amp (MA-208) |
OFC balanced wire (2-core shielded) BELDEN 8412 |
3m | Soldered Cold-GND open |
Teflon insulated RCA plug Cold-GND connected |
Unbalanced Stereo pair |
| Network (CD-211B) |
Squawker amp (MA-215) |
OFC balanced wire (2-core shielded) NEGLEX 2549 |
3m | Soldered | RCA plug Neutrik NYS373-0 Cold-GND connected |
Unbalanced Stereo pair |
| Network (CD-211B) |
Woofer Amp (DAD-M100pro) |
OFC balanced wire (2-core shielded) NEGLEX 2549 |
3m | Soldered Cold-GND connected |
RCA plug Neutrik NYS373-0 |
Unbalanced Mono x2 |
| Tweeter amp (MA-208) |
Tweeter (T925A) |
OFC speaker cable Audio Technica AT365S |
2.8m | Soldered | w/o plug Titan oil applied |
|
| Squawker amp (MA-215) |
Squawker (D1405+H400) |
OFC speaker cable Audio Technica AT365S |
2.8m | Soldered | w/o plug Titan oil applied |
|
| Woofer Amp (DAD-M100pro) |
Woofer (FW305) |
0.65mm ETP copper single wire 47 Lab Stratos |
1.8m (Amp to woofer terminal) |
w/o plug Titan oil applied |
Soldered | Two wires twisted at 30cm pitch |
I've been making the cables without elaborate designing; no drawings,
no manuals. I've chosen the parts without full consideration. This way
could cause a problem. Actually, I've experienced some problems concerning
the cables.
I reflected and have changed my way. I'll give consideration to choose
parts and make drawings and assembly manuals before making a cable.
As the fisrt step, I designed the LINE cable connecting DAC with preamp,
and assembled it following the drawing and assembly manual.
The wire I've chose for the LINE cable is shielded quad-core wire, Canare
L-4E6S, because it has high performance (low noise, low signal loss). Besides,
it is inexpensive.
The plug I chose is Canare F-10. It is cheaper than Neutrik and Tomoka,
though, it is of high quality.
As a result, the new LINE cable is much cheaper than the previous ones.
BELDEN 8412: 734 yen ==> NEGLEX 2549: 173 yen ==> Canare L-4E6S: 110 yen (price per meter when I bought, incl. tax)
Teflon RCA plug: 357 yen ==> Canare F-10: 310 yen (price when I bought, incl. tax, the price of NYS373 slipped my mind)
For the details of the cables, I'm going to write on the page, "System Design".
The first cable I carefully designed
I gave full consideration to appearance, too
AC Power Supply
The figure on the right shows the AC power connection (click to zoom up).
The three-outlet power strip with switch has been added for PC audio. The
standby power consumption of the PC (canarino Fils9) is substantially high,
so AC power should be shut off by the switch of the power strip.
The switch also turns on/off the DAC.
The power strip is placed on the left of the PC. The power strip is inevitably seen when the user pushes the power button of the PC. The power strip can't be seen from the listening position since the PC hides it.
The 200V outlet is unused as in Rev.2.03.
Room Acoustics
I continued to use the acoustic goods I had employed for Gaudi.
For details, please see the page "Problems in Gaudi".
Self-evaluation
The PC audio, which has been a long-term pending issue, has been finally
installed to Gaudi II.
The functionality and user-friendliness could be better, as I expected.
As for SQ, the PC audio is a bit better than the previous DAP, SONY HAP-Z1ES.
I am satisfied.
However, the SQ of the PC audio is still not as good as analog source to
my ears.
I'll continue to research for digital audio that excels analog.
For the details of my review of the PC audio, refer to the supplemental info, "Introduction of PC Audio".
