Products > Dodgy Technology

Sketchy claim from audiophoole brand Audioquest

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JonHendry:
So Audioquest, of the overpriced magic ethernet and HDMI cables, has a USB DAC called the Dragonfly https://www.audioquest.com/dacs/dragonfly/dragonfly-red

Among the marketing spiel for it is this bit, which I find hard to believe:


--- Quote ---AudioQuest and DragonFly designer Gordon Rankin worked alongside Microchip Technology to develop a new high-performance, full-speed USB microcontroller solution that delivers improved signal-to-noise ratio and significantly lower power consumption. Drawing 77% less current than the previous microcontroller, the new Microchip PIC32MX microcontroller enables true compatibility with Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. Further, we simply cannot overstate the significance of Gordon Rankin’s contributions to AudioQuest. The new DragonFly models embody many of Gordon’s most innovative, creative, and elegant digital-audio solutions to date.
--- End quote ---

Is it just me, or does anyone else think Microchip probably didn't need to collaborate with an outfit like Audioquest to design a new microcontroller?

Also, they have a $50 USB noise filter called the "jitterbug":

--- Quote ---DUAL DISCRETE NOISE-DISSIPATION CIRCUITS
Reduces the noise and ringing that plague both the data and power lines of USB ports.
Measurably reduces jitter, unwanted noise currents, and parasitic resonances.
Packet errors are sometimes eliminated completely.
Improves dynamic contrast, warmth, and resolution.
--- End quote ---

And there's this gem: "Use an additional JitterBug in parallel for improved playback performance."

As in, "plug a second one into the empty USB socket next to the socket you're using for your DAC, which is connected through a Jitterbug."


And: "Use JitterBug with other locally connected USB devices, such as hard drives, printers, and cameras, to effectively reduce audio interference."

And: "Use JitterBug with USB-enabled network devices, such as routers, NAS devices, and streamers."

Very important to filter that USB port on the router that you're not using.

It's small enough that I wonder if there's anything in it at all.

glarsson:
It could be a capacitor between +5V and ground. Then it would "make sense" to add more devices in other USB ports nearby. :-)

gedong:
or maybe galvanic isolation ? it's usefull for reducing any EMI / RF.

don't know about jitter though.

Bud:
PIC32MX is a general purpose type microcontroller family and was introduced quite a few years ago.

NiHaoMike:
I'm surprised they didn't use a PIC32MZ for USB 2.0 and 192kHz support.

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