331 replies to this topic

[JeroenD]

I am also using the same card. Tha card is swiched off , but still charging the supercaps. On every 7.5 minutes I charge one pair and use the second pair of supercaps to supply USB card ( I am using an bistable relay and a simple programable relay )

I think the supercapacitors are also ideal charging the OCXO clock upgrade.
I did read the clock only uses 1,5w after warm-up.

I expect the UCpure, balancing board, supercapacitors to be delivered this week.
I will report my expenses after testing.
I will also test powering the XE net card with the supercapacitors.
My system is very revealing regarding changes so I hope to have similar positive experiences like you did describe above.
If that the case I probably have to order more supercapacitors and create a similar solution you made to switch between 2 sets of supercapacitors to have constant clean power for both the XE cards.
Maybe later also powering the clock upgrade with the same set of supercapacitors.
Will be an interesting project.

[Marcin_gps]

Hi, did you receive any answer on your question?

I have also plans to power the XE USB and XE NET with 2 supercapacitors and test what this will do regarding sound quality.
Also want to calculate how much time a card can run on a fully charged supercapacitors  before charging will kick-in.

I am planning to use the IAN CANADA UCPURE MKIII to chanrge and control the supercapacitors.

 

The USB Card XE requires 1.5A min. Sound quality scales with the quality of the PSU. 

 

Best regards,

Marcin

[Marcin_gps]

 

 

Now I need to know the OCXO upgrade board dimensions, I need to check if I can put-it inside the NUC or not ...

 

TY in advance for the info

Dimensions of the Master OCXO Clock board 86 x 49 x 23 mm

[lorde73]

So you probably are using the external trigger on the UCpure board to activate charging or did you use a different solution?

Did you test, using 1 set of supercapacitors, what the impact on sound quality is when the UCpure switches to charging?

Are you using a NUC as computer to stream to your DAC?
So the XE is inside this NUC?
 

 

[lorde73]

So you probably are using the external trigger on the UCpure board to activate charging or did you use a different solution?

Did you test, using 1 set of supercapacitors, what the impact on sound quality is when the UCpure switches to charging?

Are you using a NUC as computer to stream to your DAC?
So the XE is inside this NUC?
 

 

No external trigger, I am NOT using the output of the IAN board, just the charging output, the one you connect to the supercaps. The board is even swithed off, since the output is not used ...

The charging output is routed to supercaps via the bistable relay. The bistable relay (DOLD) has 4 contacts, on position 1 charges supercaps1 and load supercaps2 and  on position 2 viceversa ... 

 

Yes, I tested with 1 pair of supercaps as well, no significant impact when charging  i would say... However the solution with 2 pairs brings peace of mind ...

WHAT IS IMPORTANT ---- THE DC CABLE. I had ramm audio ( 1m xlr ) it was good. Now I have 1m xlr neotech, it is better  ... No matter what cable, shield needs to be grounded

 

Yes, using NUC, XE inside ...

[lorde73]

The Supercaps / battery solution is not new, it  is cheap and works very well , but using it requires some precautions , since huge energy it is stored inside the supercaps , so be carefull ...

 

Also, Supercaps are NOT filtering caps, they are not fast enough to filter small spikes may occur, that s why I thinkit is a good ideea to further

filter the output voltage   Filtering caps behave as a buffer for the time you switch from Supercaps1 to 2 

[JeroenD]

Hi Lorde73,

 

I did build my first super capacitor LPSU with great result.

On the XE net card the difference compared to using the HDPLEX LPSU I am using is small.

Using the super capacitor LPSU in combination with the XE USB is a big step up.

Next week I am going to test my super capacitor LPSU at a fried his system who also uses a XE USB and net card.

If the improvement is also very clear to hear at his system I am going to build the next step kind of similar like you did.

But instead of using a bistable relay and a filter cap I want to build something with relays which I can control with an Arduino.

 

So as soon 1 set of super capacitors needs to be charged I want to connect the output of the fully charged set of super capacitors to each other so the common output is a nice ± 5,3v.

After that I can disconnect the capacitor set that needs to be charged.

After that I can connect the charging current to capacitors that need to be charged.

This way I can toggle between both sets of super capacitors and always have "pure" power at the XE USB card.

I think I do this time based by programming the Arduino.
I am using the 2,85v Eaton super capacitors who have 3400F capacity.

So 1700F in series.

This is enough to provide pure power for about 18 minutes.

Charging takes about 6 minutes.

So easy to control by for example charge a set of capacitors each 15 minutes and no filtering caps required.

With the Arduino I also want to build a pre-charge indication or a "non-pure" state when detected that both sets of super capacitors need to be charged.

What do you think about that?

 

Regards,

 

Jeroen

[OctavianH]

 

You can run the Asmedia tool. It will detect the currently loaded version. 

 

https://www.dropbox....vldkq9u71n&dl=0

 

Password is: asmedia

 

Best regards,

Marcin

 

It seems my firmware was from 2019 and I upgraded it. Worked flawlessly. Thank you, now I am safe to upgrade my PC with newer motherboards.

[lorde73]

 

What do you think about that?

 

 

Hi Jeroen !

No matter how you controll the relays, the ideea is, indeed, to be always disconnected from the charging supply. And the result will be great, i am sure of that.

Arduino probably needs more time to set-it up, I was using an easyer way , 4 register timer relay that you can buy with 30 EUR from market.

 

Now, if you have 2 sets of supercaps connected in paralell, they will be equaly discharged, I don t see how you can decide which of them needs to be charged again....

That is my dilema

 

If you switch supercaps, then is mandatory to have 3 sets, not enough to have 2 .

Be carefull, 2 sets of supercaps in paralell may result in huge current loads from one to the other after the switching , because they have different voltages. And the current circulation can have a negativ impact on the sound and on the switching relays contacts also ...

 

In my solution I had used 2set of supercaps  + 1 set of regular, filtering capacitors

The regular, filtering  set of caps has double role, to suply the USB card during the switching ( switch through zero ) and to filter the voltage.

They charge fast and don t require huge current to charge

[tottyi]

Hello, I would like to ask if I need an external source or do I just have an analog source installed in my computer? And will the Jcat usb XE card work in my configuration? I still want to ask, I have to pay for the products plus duty when I want them to Europe?

 

Mainboard: ROG STRIX B760-I GAMING WIFI

Procesor: Intel i9 13900T

Ram: Kingston FURY Beast EXPO/ DDR5/ 16GB/ 6000MHz/ CL36/ 2x8GB/ RGB/ Black

Streacom FC10

Analog PSU: https://www.mzxaudio.eu/product/lpc250

Attached Files

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[Marcin_gps]

Hello, I would like to ask if I need an external source or do I just have an analog source installed in my computer? And will the Jcat usb XE card work in my configuration? I still want to ask, I have to pay for the products plus duty when I want them to Europe?

 

Mainboard: ROG STRIX B760-I GAMING WIFI

Procesor: Intel i9 13900T

Ram: Kingston FURY Beast EXPO/ DDR5/ 16GB/ 6000MHz/ CL36/ 2x8GB/ RGB/ Black

Streacom FC10

Analog PSU: https://www.mzxaudio.eu/product/lpc250

Hello, 

It will work if you have one free PCI Express port. 

 

There are no extra fees involved. The product is shipped from Poland (EU) and the price includes UPS Express shipping.

 

BR,

Marcin

[tottyi]

Hi, has anyone tested the + Riser cable to how much it interferes with the sound of the JCAT USB XE card? Or is it better to use without? Because if so, I will remove the rear side of the FC10.

[Marcin_gps]

It is better without, If you can avoid it.

[lorde73]

I do not have place where to put the external clock board inside the NUC

How long is the clock cable ?

I am considering to install the board on the top of the NUC.

For that I need to take the clock cable out of the NUC ( trough a hole i have to make on the USB XE bracket ) and to bring -it to the top plate ...

[Marcin_gps]

I do not have place where to put the external clock board inside the NUC

How long is the clock cable ?

I am considering to install the board on the top of the NUC.

For that I need to take the clock cable out of the NUC ( trough a hole i have to make on the USB XE bracket ) and to bring -it to the top plate ...

The RF cable is 20cm long. You can place it outside and fix it with the included self adhesive tape. 

[koblongata]

So I am still waiting for single card Master OCXO USB card really, I think it's about time?

 

The Emerald version is still amazing, I would rather pass it to one of my family members and get myself a single card Master OCXO card instead. Please give me some good news!

[baramzisyan]

Marcin, hello!  What jcat PSU i can use with usb Wx+ocxo? 

[Marcin_gps]

So I am still waiting for single card Master OCXO USB card really, I think it's about time?

 

The Emerald version is still amazing, I would rather pass it to one of my family members and get myself a single card Master OCXO card instead. Please give me some good news!

You mean a next version that is prepared to accept the Master OCXO clock without upgrade service? 

[Marcin_gps]

Marcin, hello!  What jcat PSU i can use with usb Wx+ocxo? 

You may use INITIO with 2 DC cables

You may use OPTIMO 3 DUO

You may use ULTIMO wiht a Y-shaped DC cable

And you may use 2x OPTIMO nano in combination with other PSUs. 

 

Best regards,

Marcin

[abase21]

Hi
..has someone compared this card to the Holo Audio Red as USB Device?
I have the Holo Audio Red and thinking about to go direct from the server to the DAC (Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE)