Parks Audio Waxwing measurements

[dougi]

Here is an additional measurement of mm mode THD with 23dB of attenuation added to the RME output (with it's level adjusted up by 23dB), to minimise the RME noise contribution. Measurement range a bit different from the original (20-20k vs 10-22.4k). Noise improvement really just due to the restricted range (A-weighted) the same.

The same method cannot be used for mc mode due to the low load impedance. I will repeat the THD vs level measurement as, as you can see in this one and the original, the digital level at 5mV is --11.9dBFS, so headroom should only be 12dB, as Amir measured for the Puffin, not to 27mV as I had indicated.

 

[antcollinet]

If you feel compelled do the digital conversion it is not an improvement.

Nor is it a detriment - but it does allow some seriously cool features to be added.

 

[Joachim Herbert]

Overload is poor.

Don't know their internal structure, but if you do RIAA (or whatever eq) in the digital domain, you need lots of headroom as illustrated here.

Edit: Learned that the hard way digitizing LPs. Once you realize you need keep well below -20dB all is fine. Great results, with lots of flexibility using VinyStudio. Not well suited for live use, though.

 

[markstein]

Don't know their internal structure, but if you do RIAA (or whatever eq) in the digital domain, you need lots of headroom as illustrated here.

Music does not have a flat spectrum but a downward tilting spectrum.

Did you measure the spectrum of music captured from a LP without RIAA correction applied? I would guess it is more flat than what is discussed here. The high frequencies and very low frequencies will probably be lower in level than the average level.

 

[markstein]

I am using my RME UFX II mic preamp as phono pre for my AT 33 PTG/II MC cartridge. The UFX II automatically adjusts gain for 6dB headroom above max. level ("autoset" functionality). I end up with a gain of 57dB after playing some LPs (meaning there still are 6dB headroom before clipping).

Cartridge sensitivity is 0.3mV/5cm/s.
UFX II mic pre max. input level is +18dBu (6.15 Veff).
Max gain before clipping is 57+6=63dB.

Edit:
If I am doing the math correctly this correlates to approx. 73 cm/s max. velocity, given the cartridge spec is correct.

This seems to somehow correspond with the data in this article as posted by @MaxwellsEq

Stereo Lab - Maximum recorded velocities on gramophone records

Stereo Lab Maximum recorded velocities on gramophone records

www.pspatialaudio.com

 

[undeakyetonde]

Might as well post here

Parks Audio Waxwing dynamic range measurements, plotted together with 12, 14 and 16 bit tpdf dither noise floors

Optical output, powered from a laptop

Same cart hits around -13 to -10 dB peak RIAA output for clean 12" 33 rpm records

Background noise difference between connected and disconnected cartridge setups is 1.5 dB RMS

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?attachments/123-png.386863/

 

[milosz]

I'm still waiting for someone to measure the SINAD of actual vinyl playback.

 

[Thomas_A]

I'm still waiting for someone to measure the SINAD of actual vinyl playback.

Around -70 dBA as best? THD+N below seems wrong though; THD at -62 dB and Noise at -55 dB.

 

[markstein]

Around -70 dBA as best? THD+N below seems wrong though; THD at -62 dB and Noise at -55 dB.

View attachment 387160

Try mono bass below 150Hz, and you will significantly reduce noise in that area.

 

[Thomas_A]

Try mono bass below 150Hz, and you will significantly reduce noise in that area.

I know. One unit on the way. However, cancellation will be max 6 dB but likely 3 dB for random phase. Bass is anyway mono < 100 Hz through my AVr-> two subs.

 

[markstein]

I know. One unit on the way. However, cancellation will be max 6 dB but likely 3 dB for random phase. Bass is anyway mono < 100 Hz through my AVr-> two subs.

It will be more than 3dB

Edit: the measurement does not Show the Waxwing but my own solution, however, the effect might be comparable with the Waxwing I guess

 

[Thomas_A]

It will be more than 3dB

Edit: the measurement does not Show the Waxwing but my own solution, however, the effect might be comparable with the Waxwing I guess

View attachment 387191

What N+D do you get (dBA) and what level of the 1 kHz tone?

 

[markstein]

What N+D do you get (dBA) and what level of the 1 kHz tone?

Just measured again, with LF X-Feed @150Hz active.

 

[Thomas_A]

If I mono-combine I see reduction as well 5-6 dB dBA for range 20-20k; signal is 5 cm/s (peak) mono 1 kHz (CA-TRS1007).

My coming unit to be tested will be the KAB filter which is both mono <150 Hz and 18 dB filter at 20 Hz.

 

[markstein]

If I mono-combine I see reduction as well 5-6 dB dBA for range 20-20k; signal is 5 cm/s 1 kHz (CA-TRS1007).

View attachment 387218

My coming unit to be tested will be the KAB filter which is both mono <150 Hz and 18 dB filter at 20 Hz.

Will you post a review? Looking forward to read about your experiences with this unit.

 

[Thomas_A]

Will you post a review? Looking forward to read about your experiences with this unit.

Likely yes.

 

[dtaylo1066]

Hello All,

Keep it analog.

I went on ebay and purchased a Audiowind A400 assembled PCB for about $40.

Just for fun I put together a perf board with the 7815 and 7915 15 +/- regulator power supply as used on the Pearl 3 PCB's. Turns out that the Bugle Pre-amp uses Op-Amps without other noise sources like JFETS. Pluss the Op-Amps all on their own have high power supply noise rejection.

Since the early days Op-Amps have come a long way, they have low noise and distortion below the ability of the current crop of audio analyzers ability to measure without special tricks.

I replaced the Op-Amps that came with the Bugle clone with OPA1656's on BrownDog SOIC-8 DIP Adaptors.

With 5mVrms input the voltage output is 0.494Vrms.

The gain is 39.9dB

The THD+N is 0.036%

the SINAD is 68.3dB

There are no distortion peaks above the noise floor.

There are no power supply Harmonics above the noise floor.

At 40dB gain this RIAA Pre-Amp measures as good as any.

This Bugle clone sounds awesome. At 40dB gain there is plenty of headroom and there is no need to burn a lot of gain in the the volume control.

See the attached plots.

Thanks DT

View attachment 385797View attachment 385798View attachment 385799

Where did you find that on eBay?

 

[restorer-john]

Where did you find that on eBay?

There's a model A-300. Maybe @DualTriode meant that.

AUDIOWIND A-300 Stereo Phono RIAA Preamplifier Preamp Module (For MC Pickup).

AUDIOWIND A-300 Stereo Phono RIAA Preamplifier Preamp Module (For MC Pickup).

www.audiowind.com

and MM

AUDIOWIND A-300 Stereo Phono RIAA Preamplifier Preamp Module (For MM Pickup)

AUDIOWIND A-300 Stereo Phono RIAA Preamplifier Preamp Module (For MM Pickup)

www.audiowind.com

 

[pogo]

According to UPS, the wait will soon be over and I will connect the Waxwing via the optical input of a remote Bluesound HUB. I won't be running the Waxwing and HUB on battery power for the time being.

 

[dtaylo1066]

There's a model A-300. Maybe @DualTriode meant that.

AUDIOWIND A-300 Stereo Phono RIAA Preamplifier Preamp Module (For MC Pickup).

AUDIOWIND A-300 Stereo Phono RIAA Preamplifier Preamp Module (For MC Pickup).

www.audiowind.com

and MM

AUDIOWIND A-300 Stereo Phono RIAA Preamplifier Preamp Module (For MM Pickup)

AUDIOWIND A-300 Stereo Phono RIAA Preamplifier Preamp Module (For MM Pickup)

www.audiowind.com

OK, thanks.