Topic: Woohoo!! Optical/Coax/Line-Stage modSBM1 now complete!

[Todd R]

can you run optical & coax out at the same time??

loooks nice!!

Yep, it'll definitely be able to send out optical and coax signals at the same time.

[Todd R]

How about a line-stage mod to an M1 and skip the SBM completely. Can be done, but damn there's little room for error on that PCB...
dB-

Could be possible, I don't own an M1 so I don't know what the design is like.  One thing to note though, the A/D of the SBM1 is an upgrade from the M1.  The M1 takes a 20 bit signal and uses the basic tdf (triangular dither function) to dither to 16 bits.  The SBM1 uses 24 bits initially and then uses sony's proprietary Sony Bit Mapping dither function to dither down to 16 bits.  The SBM dither process seems to be much more highly regarded than the tdf dither routine.

[Todd R]

Ok, I've had several people now inquire about me doing mods to their SBM1's.  Previously, this hadn't been something I wanted to get into.  But at this point, it looks like Doug Oade is no longer doing mods, so there is no one available to fill the gap like there was before.  And at least at this point, I am unemployed so I've got a lot more time available to me.  Bottom line, I'm leaning towards doing any of the mods I did to my SBM1 (coax, optical, line-stage) for other folks.  I spent some time this week looking into parts, etc., but need to spend a little more time on it.  Once I get things all figured out, I'll get back to the people who have inquired so far.

[MattD]

Todd, is it possible to bypass the SBM function and get a straight 24-bit output from the device? Is there enough room above the noise floor of the unit to even make this worthwhile?

[Chuck]

anyone know where i could find the panasonic TOTX178A that doug talks about?
i tried digikey and mouser but neither carry it.
also, is this really panasonic and not toshiba? i found a toshiba optical transmitter with the TOTX178A code.

http://www.datasheetcatalog.com/datasheets_pdf/T/O/T/X/TOTX178A.shtml

[Todd R]

Todd, is it possible to bypass the SBM function and get a straight 24-bit output from the device? Is there enough room above the noise floor of the unit to even make this worthwhile?

I don't really know the answers to that.  But I seem to recall reading a post by Doug a long time ago on the old Oade board saying the chip that is used by Sony could be used to provide 24 bits.  I have no idea whether the rest of the design/signal path of the SBM1 would allow for 24 bits though.  The SBM1 when it was released was an amazing piece of portable gear for providing high quality 16 bit data.  Even today after some tweaking the SBM1 design can really hold its own over modern designs using present day semiconductors at 16 bits.  But my guess for 24 bits it wouldn't be worth it.  I would imagine that as you say, the noise floor of this whole design would not be low enough to justify modding it and using it as a 24 bit encoder. 

[capnhook]

+T todd......here's to #400   

[Todd R]

Thanks, Cap'n!  Bakatcha.

[Todd R]

Ok, I've decided to go ahead and perform line/opti/coax mods to SBM1's for people who want them.  I've contacted those who have already expressed interest.  If you're interested in one, drop me a line and I fill you in on details.

[plucks]

todd...are you busy one day this weekend?
id love to come up for a few hours for jb3 repair attempt before you get swamped by SBM1s!

[Todd R]

This weekend is probably going to be pretty busy for me, holiday weekend and all.  Weekdays are better -- maybe sometime after work you can swing by?

[silentmark]

Very cool ! +T

[Aaron734]

Ok, I've decided to go ahead and perform line/opti/coax mods to SBM1's for people who want them.  I've contacted those who have already expressed interest.  If you're interested in one, drop me a line and I fill you in on details.

  , +t Todd R, Those mods look great!

[bluegrass_brad]

I can see it now....coming soon little stickers on a bunch of SBM-1's  "This unit modified by ToddSounds".  Todd, no shit you should try modding a UA-5.  Since the Oades will only modify their own you could make a tidy little profit on modding ones for folks who dont have Oade units (like me  ) as well. We should get some of the CO folks to go in on one off ebay for you to experiment on, if successful we could have a community unit that the CO crew could use in times of need. Just thinking outloud.....+T again

[keepongoin]

i have an extra un-modded UA5 that Todd could use to experiment with (if he wants it).

If it gets fried, no biggie. 

If it ends up working out, we coulld put it in the loaner program and pass it around and run some comparisons.

send a PM if you are interested, Todd.