Optocoupler new developments

[johnnycopy]

So ticked, spent a half hour creating a new post, only to lose it due to my own stupidity. Oh well, let's keep it simple.

For those of you who are interested in new developments on this subject read the 11 page thread below. This product seems to be really kicking a$$ against top of the line equipment and easily besting older optocoupler designs (as defined on page 1 of thread below). Oh, and I think it's worth becoming a member of the diyAudio forum just to see pictures of the finished products BLUES is selling on page 16 (cherry wood faceplate, black chrome feet, great parts list, battery powered). I'm PM'ing "Blues" to get more info on his kit and finished product pricing.

Darrel after reading the thread, do you think a top quality pre with 2 outputs (each with a separate volume control) could be of value in your bi-amping needs for your reference speakers. I appreciated "Blues" discussion of how he evaluates a product for musicality on page 1 of thread. Reminded me of you.

Anyways here is the thread. There are others as well.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/vendors- ... ntrol.html

[Darrel Hawthorne]

Hey John,
Short answer is YES!!!!!!

I will read the linked pages just as soon as possible. Thanks.

Cheers,
Darrel

[InfernoSTi]

Did you see in that massive thread a mention of kit pricing? There is a lot of buzz on this product on AudioCircle, too. Trung and Ed I think know about it....

John

[TrungT]

Yes, I got couple kits from Allan (Blue), nice clean sound (maybe just too clean), I like add a tube on it though, just a little flavor
That's my me.
Be extra careful when you try to build it, the optocouple very sensitive to heat, so easy to destroy them.

[johnnycopy]

Thanks for the feedback TrungT.

With my CARINA in triode mode (or even ultralinear mode), plenty of cream from the NOS Mullard and Amperex, so option to clear up layers of volume pot haze, with a beautifully finished product, at kit pricing, is very intriguing. The option with multiple volume pots per output adds flexibility if needed.

It's a journey for all of us, and that's the fun of it. Synergy and the attempt to find it. When we can experiment at low cost, it makes it fun to try.

[johnnycopy]

Did you see in that massive thread a mention of kit pricing? There is a lot of buzz on this product on AudioCircle, too. Trung and Ed I think know about it....

John

If I'm not mistaken prices for the key parts of the unbuilt kit are in first post in the following thread ($155)

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-mee ... l-kit.html

[Darrel Hawthorne]

Hey John,

What are we seeing here?



Thanks,
Darrel

[johnnycopy]

Hey John,

What are we seeing here?



Thanks,
Darrel

3 different built models.

Top one is unbalanced with 2 outputs, each with its own volume controls ontop.

The other 2 are:
- a balanced version (single volume control)
- an unbalanced version (single volume control).

Check page 16 of first post I provided. You'll see front and backs to each.

[Darrel Hawthorne]

Hey John,
Thanks,
I hadn't gotten too far in that thread.
When I saw the pictured I thought perhaps it was a bi-amp or tri-amp setup.

For my wish list I think I would need 4?
One master volume and one gain control for each amp in a tri amp setup...
(7 if we are talking about mono blocks and wanting to totally isolate each channel as well as frequency band.)

Is this basically correct?

Thanks,
Darrel

[johnnycopy]

My understanding would be this.

With 1 of the dual volume control units shown (the top one with 2 volume controls) and using 4 mono amps (2 for mid/tweet and 2 for bass), you could control the output of the mid/tweet amps with one volume control on top, and the bass with the other volume control ontop of the unit.

If you are tri-amping (with 6 monoblock amps), you would want to speak to BLUE to see if he could come up with a TRI volume control unit for you with 3 separate outputs, then you would have ability to separately control 3 sets of monoblocks, 2 for tweets, 2 for mids, and 2 for bass, all in a neat package. If the bass amps had their own volume control, like the rythmiks, the Warpspeed would not need the 3rd volume control, simply an additional set of output RCA's.

Is this making sense. I hope it's the way this will work, I think it is.

[Darrel Hawthorne]

Hey John,
Ok, I am getting closer to an understanding on this.
My usage would be as follows. For the new reference speakers I want an amp ( mono block) for each driver:
Silver Iris AMT
Sterling Mid woofer ('s)
Silver Iris Augie ('s)

For simplicity, lets assume that none of these amps would have it's own gain control. They would be simple power amps only.

I would need a gain control for each driver/amp and I would also need a Master volume that would be used once all the individual amps had been adjusted properly.

Ideally I would like to embed these in the same chassis that housed our line level dividing filters ( Marchand boards). The Master volume control could live in a 'pre amp' or somewhere upstream.
These optocoupler devices would simply replace every needed gain control or volume pot.

Cheers,
Darrel

[johnnycopy]

yes, but the master volume pot is there too, it's on the front of the top unit. so it has master control, as well as independant control of each channel.

Now if Blue can create one Warpspeed unit with 3 volume controls ontop affecting 3 output channels, (as well as the one master control in front) you have everything you need in a 8X8X4 inch box, or thereabouts.

That make sense.

Geez hope I am getting this right.

[Darrel Hawthorne]

Hey John,

Now if Blue can create one Warpspeed unit with 3 volume controls ontop affecting 3 output channels, (as well as the one master control in front) you have everything you need in a 8X8X4 inch box, or thereabouts.

If we go to our own rack mount size chassis on the line level active crossover we should have as much room as we need to also fit in all the optocouplers.
I was looking at needing at the least 6, 24 (preferably46) position stepped mono attenuators and as we know those aren't cheep or small:



With luck these optocoupling devices could be less expensive, higher performance and perhaps smaller or similar in size.


Here is a shot of one of Marchands active xo's showing the attenuaters for a three way XO:



Mine would be of similar size but of course could be larger.


Cheers,
Darrel

[johnnycopy]

More options, exactly what you needed eh?

[Darrel Hawthorne]

More options, exactly what you needed eh?

Hey John,
Yep! With these new speakers I get to stretch my legs a bit and build stuff that is well above the curve. The MSRP supports this sort of exploration into new and better parts and I am having fun seeing just how far we can push performance. Going purpose built, full on line level active xo, purpose built mono block amp designed specifically for each frequency band I would want to have the very best control and user interface. I wonder if the master optocoupler could be remote controled? That would be fun


Cheers,
Darrel