AQ Jitterbug Measurements

[jkeny]

I'll admit I don't get that. It purifies the USB bus feeding the DAC without being in the port feeding the DAC? I'd still like to know how that works, though it may be a challenge for me to understand it.

Tim

Maybe by reducing noise in the USB Vbus & USB ground network?

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Maybe by reducing noise in the USB Vbus & USB ground network?

Maybe. Is this all one circuit so plugging into an unused USB port could potentially impact another one?

Tim

 

[Joe Whip]

Im a bit confused. The literature i have seen from AQ clearly states the first place the Jitterbug should be used is between your usb cable and DAC. Then in parallel as a second priority. You seem to be suggesting something different..can you clarify?

I switched the Jitterbug out of the unused slot and into the slot feeding the Wyrd and DAC. Sounds the same as when I used the unused slot. So......

 

[Orb]

Maybe. Is this all one circuit so plugging into an unused USB port could potentially impact another one?

Tim

I am a bit leery with that set-up myself, but neither of us have heard it in both scenarios or tested it in a way like the Melco N1A.
The motherboard is pretty noisy and quite a few USB ports will share the same bus, btw did you check that guide/application note I posted earlier from a Japanese manufacturer that designs noise/EMI/RFI suppression components for various sectors?
It would be interesting to see the jitterbug,Melco N1A (only using direct-local USB), and MacBook tested at same time in a few scenarios-setups, with battery operational DACs.
Cheers
Orb

 

[Andre Marc]

I switched the Jitterbug out of the unused slot and into the slot feeding the Wyrd and DAC. Sounds the same as when I used the unused slot. So......

Even more interesting. I trust your findings. Please keep reporting back. Especially when the second JB arrives.

I have no preconceived notions of what users will report with these devices, so I hope we get a decent sampling of experiences to establish some pattern.

 

[Andre Marc]

Maybe. Is this all one circuit so plugging into an unused USB port could potentially impact another one?

Tim

Correct.

 

[jkeny]

Maybe. Is this all one circuit so plugging into an unused USB port could potentially impact another one?

Tim

If the USB ports share power & ground, then it seems possible that anything that cleans up this power and/or ground could well have a beneficial effect on SQ, even if the cleaning device is plugged into a different USB port from the one being used by the audio device.

 

[Orb]

If the USB ports share power & ground, then it seems possible that anything that cleans up this power and/or ground could well have a beneficial effect on SQ, even if the cleaning device is plugged into a different USB port from the one being used by the audio device.

Yeah some of that was touched upon in the Murata manufacturer document I linked before: http://www.murata.com/~/media/webrenewal/support/library/catalog/products/emc/emifil/c35e.ashx
Cheers
Orb

 

[dallasjustice]

My RF engineering mafia friend tells me that Gordon Rankin wasn't the jitterbucks designer.

 

[Andre Marc]

My RF engineering mafia friend tells me that Gordon Rankin wasn't the jitterbucks designer.

That is a bold claim, and needs to be backed up by facts and names. A post citing an anonymous source accusing Audioquest of being liars is
simply amateur hour. There has to be a higher standard.

"The design of Jitterbug involved a number of people including Gordon Rankin (who also designed the AudioQuest DragonFly DAC), and Steve Silberman, Garth Powell, Bill Low, and Joe Harley all from AudioQuest. Here's a bit more from AQ:

Gordon had been discussing ways to reduce the noise that plagues computing devices and it seemed clear to him that two distinct filters were needed: one to address the noise over the data line and a second to address the noise over the 5V power line. Additionally, Gordon had explored where such a device might be most effective and decided it should be at the host (computer), rather than at the client (DAC). Later, we learned that placing the filter at the host offered the additional benefit of using two filters (one in series and one in parallel) per bus, or of using USB filters on the unused ports of streaming devices."

http://www.audiostream.com/content/...b-data-power-noise-filter#BFbEf6Ziud55epKc.97

 

[amirm]

That is a bold claim, and needs to be backed up by facts and names. A post citing an anonymous source accusing Audioquest of being liars is
simply amateur hour. There has to be a higher standard.

"The design of Jitterbug involved a number of people including Gordon Rankin (who also designed the AudioQuest DragonFly DAC), and Steve Silberman, Garth Powell, Bill Low, and Joe Harley all from AudioQuest. Here's a bit more from AQ:

Gordon had been discussing ways to reduce the noise that plagues computing devices and it seemed clear to him that two distinct filters were needed: one to address the noise over the data line and a second to address the noise over the 5V power line. Additionally, Gordon had explored where such a device might be most effective and decided it should be at the host (computer), rather than at the client (DAC). Later, we learned that placing the filter at the host offered the additional benefit of using two filters (one in series and one in parallel) per bus, or of using USB filters on the unused ports of streaming devices."

http://www.audiostream.com/content/...b-data-power-noise-filter#BFbEf6Ziud55epKc.97

It doesn't say he designed it. The design as I understand the architecture, is just electronics hobby level anyway so it really doesn't matter one way or the other.

 

[Orb]

It doesn't say he designed it. The design as I understand the architecture, is just electronics hobby level anyway so it really doesn't matter one way or the other.

Well it would be wrong to say he was not involved (until proven otherwise), which is how Dallas post could be interpreted.
As it involved multiple engineers, his involvement may had been consultancy (but that is still active involvement), that said I do remember Gordon commenting on this subject relating to noise and possibly in context of the Jitterbug (I need to try and remember where I got that.... and I may have it totally ass about face lol - could had been the Uptone USB regenerator *shrug*).
Cheers
Orb

 

[mauidan]

01/15/2015
"AudioQuest’s new USB bizzo was so named by founder andchief designer Bill Low whilst the initial idea sprang from a conversationbetween Steve Silberman and Gordon Rankin. Rankin designed the circuit withGarth Powell adding his power supply nouse during the second phase of theJitterBug’s development. That’s a goodly number of people for a product that’sno bigger than your thumb."

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2015/01/audioquest-demo-pre-production-jitterbug-at-ces-2015/


PS, I know Perry Mason's RF engineering mafia friend.

 

[Andre Marc]

It doesn't say he designed it. The design as I understand the architecture, is just electronics hobby level anyway so it really doesn't matter one way or the other.

"The design of Jitterbug involved a number of people including Gordon Rankin.."

The statement form AQ is clear as day, so what are you talking about?

Also, it surely does matter. People will in this hobby will buy a product with confidence if certain designers are involved.
Your statement is really puzzling.

 

[Andre Marc]

01/15/2015
"AudioQuest’s new USB bizzo was so named by founder andchief designer Bill Low whilst the initial idea sprang from a conversationbetween Steve Silberman and Gordon Rankin. Rankin designed the circuit withGarth Powell adding his power supply nouse during the second phase of theJitterBug’s development. That’s a goodly number of people for a product that’sno bigger than your thumb."

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2015/01/audioquest-demo-pre-production-jitterbug-at-ces-2015/


PS, I know Perry Mason's RF engineering mafia friend.

"Rankin designed the circuit"...pretty clear, eh?

We have to have a higher standard than drive by posts that are highly questionable factually.

 

[amirm]

"The design of Jitterbug involved a number of people including Gordon Rankin.."

The statement form AQ is clear as day, so what are you talking about?

"involve" is not the same as "designed." A lot of people are involved in a company to get a product to fruition but that doesn't mean a lot of them designed it. And regardless, as I said, this is just a step beyond electronics 101 from circuit design point of view so it doesn't matter if he gets or doesn't get credit. I am sure he wouldn't lose sleep one way or the other over it.

Also, it surely does matter. People will in this hobby will buy a product with confidence if certain designers are involved.
Your statement is really puzzling.

This is not any old "product." It is just a filter. It is not an amplifier, loudspeaker, etc.

 

[Andre Marc]

"involve" is not the same as "designed." A lot of people are involved in a company to get a product to fruition but that doesn't mean a lot of them designed it. And regardless, as I said, this is just a step beyond electronics 101 from circuit design point of view so it doesn't matter if he gets or doesn't get credit. I am sure he wouldn't lose sleep one way or the other over it.


This is not any old "product." It is just a filter. It is not an amplifier, loudspeaker, etc.

I think it is a rather dismissive attitude. And I am SURE Rankin cares. He makes his living outsourcing his talents.

 

[Orb]

Amir,
a military grade capacitor is just a capacitor, but it can have big implications (without it would not work) in making a very loud and very explosive bomb
Quite amusing tried to do a search for the ones I am thinking of and funny enough nothing coming up in search engine... oh well got a feeling that is me on a temporary hot list

Cheers
Orb

 

[amirm]

I think it is a rather dismissive attitude. And I am SURE Rankin cares. He makes his living outsourcing his talents.

I am not trying to be dismissive at all. I am simply saying the circuit design is trivial, and is something you give to an intern to do in a couple of days. No engineer I know of would want to brag or attempt to get credit for it. The concept may be novel but not the "design." I know I would not care if anyone gave me credit if I had designed this circuit.

 

[YashN]

I have no preconceived notions of what users will report with these devices, so I hope we get a decent sampling of experiences to establish some pattern.

I have seen a couple of very enthusiatic reviews over at CA with people using 2 JBs on the source: one in series, and the second on an unused port, and then feeding the Regen.