πάντως ο τρελλολαμπιζάτορας έχει και εντελώς νέα προσέγγιση στο θέμα spdif.
Εξω receivers και μτσ....
The digital output and input transformer is unnecessary and can be disposed of without penalty or consequences. I tried it in every player including the CEC, Mephisto, Theta and all - and every time I had consistent result - increase of transparency, detail, scene depth, improved bass and removal of veil. None negative effects were observed so far.
That conclusion is explaining the AES/EBU phenomenon : in S/PDIF we can remove both transformers, but on AES/EBU we can not. So a modified S/PDIF beats AES/EBU. Plus - we dont need aes/ebu IN THE FIRST PLACE because it is just a normal SPDIF with doubled up mirror signal by transformer.
One may ask: Why is every manufacturer insisting on installation of series caps and also separation transformers in CD player transport and DAC and why is Mr. Fikus telling it is unnecessary?
That is a good question. When I ask others - what is the separation transformer for? they answer me: it is there to separate. Separate what? I ask - They say : to separate the grounds. Why ? Well, because the grounds must be separated.
Then I ask: what is the capacitor for ?
They answer: son, the capacitor is there to isolate. Isolate what? I ask...
Well, isolate noises or protect from spikes.
What noises? - answer is Digital noises.
So shortly speaking, nobody has a clue what to answer. NOBODY. They are in the fog of stereotypes and meaningless talk.
This is the likely scenario how it happened.
Some engineers met back in 1982 in Eindhoven in the meeting room (as the name suggests) and they decided that they want to move the DAC away from the transport and that they want to standardize the format. But they had no clue how to do it because they were audio analog engineers.
So the boss decided to call the guys from another department downstairs - from data transmission department. They found Mike, the guy who sends industrial controll and automation signals over the distance. Mike knew how he does it for the transmission across the factory grounds or the airport - he uses a transformer to separate the grounds from one building to another. The potential difference between earth in two buildings separated by few miles can reach huge levels. So a transformer is a natural choice. The caps takes care of DC component if any. So far so good. So mike decided he would recommend doing the same in CD players. The CD player engineer greeted that advice with applause , thanked Mike and the solution was wrtitten in stone and thats how it started.
Then the followers copied what Phiips / Sony did without questioning the solution. The transformer had to be there - full stop.
So I am telling you now - REMOVE THE TRANSFORMER. Mike was wrong. Remove the capacitor and let the square be square.
You would not believe but any digital PCB - from CD player, computer, playstation or another device has HUNDREDS of digital chips inside. They have tens of pins each, and every pin may have a square data signal, and these thousands of connections on that PCB are directly talking to each other. AND THEY DO WITHOUT transformers and caps. Why all of a sudden should 3 feet of S/PDIF connection need the same precaution as the long distance connector ? I don't know.
