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Author Topic: Gumby popularity  (Read 5214 times)

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atomicbob

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Re: Gumby popularity
« Reply #30 on: September 16, 2015, 01:17:15 PM »
Quote from: SoupRKnowva on September 16, 2015, 06:17:25 AM
I thought this was something you were using instead of the Jensen iso max Marv has been recommending. But it's a balanced to balanced converter instead. So I have to ask, why use the balanced to balanced transformers to go single ended into the sunrise?
The Jensen PI-2XR and older Radial Twin ISO have very similar if not the same transformers. PI-2XR is pre-configured for balanced to unbalanced. Either a PI-2XX or Twin ISO is more flexible allowing balanced both sides or converting to unbalanced through use of an XLRF to RCA pin 2 hot adapter cable. In the studio it is handy to have XLR iso boxes on the shelf depending on a given day's needs. Same for an acoustic lab. I own an acoustic lab. So I have them on the shelf. Experimentation is the reason why I tried this combination and I rather enjoy the results.
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Deep Funk

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Re: Gumby popularity
« Reply #31 on: September 16, 2015, 01:29:06 PM »
Quote from: audiofrk on September 11, 2015, 05:03:52 PM
So I am seeing a lot of people stating that they are getting the gumby to use with their Valhalla's or other smaller/single ended amps.  My question is why get the gumby? Why not wait till the MB bifrost? Am I missing something?


I could no longer resist...

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SoupRKnowva

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Re: Gumby popularity
« Reply #32 on: September 16, 2015, 01:39:16 PM »
Quote from: atomicbob on September 16, 2015, 01:17:15 PM
The Jensen PI-2XR and older Radial Twin ISO have very similar if not the same transformers. PI-2XR is pre-configured for balanced to unbalanced. Either a PI-2XX or Twin ISO is more flexible allowing balanced both sides or converting to unbalanced through use of an XLRF to RCA pin 2 hot adapter cable. In the studio it is handy to have XLR iso boxes on the shelf depending on a given day's needs. Same for an acoustic lab. I own an acoustic lab. So I have them on the shelf. Experimentation is the reason why I tried this combination and I rather enjoy the results.

Using that cable isn't the same as just using one leg of the XLR coming out of gumby? I don't have the best understanding of transformers so pardon my ignorance on this one.
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joeexp

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Re: Gumby popularity
« Reply #33 on: September 16, 2015, 01:47:00 PM »
It works just like a shaving socket. Electrical isolation,  but magnetic flux! :)p13
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atomicbob

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Re: Gumby popularity
« Reply #34 on: September 16, 2015, 03:30:21 PM »
Quote from: SoupRKnowva on September 16, 2015, 01:39:16 PM
Using that cable isn't the same as just using one leg of the XLR coming out of gumby? I don't have the best understanding of transformers so pardon my ignorance on this one.
Ignorance is solvable by asking questions as you are, a very good thing.
Using a transformer in the path creates galvanic isolation while adding another circuit element, specifically a magnetic one. Some will argue this is a good thing. Some will argue this is a bad thing, for the sound quality.
Using one side of the balance output to the center of an RCA avoids the magnetic circuit element and also avoids galvanic isolation. Some will argue this is a good thing. Some will argue this is a bad thing, for the sound quality.
In either case, they are different methods to achieve a balanced to unbalanced connection.
« Last Edit: September 16, 2015, 04:29:40 PM by atomicbob »
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Armaegis

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Re: Gumby popularity
« Reply #35 on: September 16, 2015, 03:31:55 PM »
Quote from: SoupRKnowva on September 16, 2015, 01:39:16 PM
Using that cable isn't the same as just using one leg of the XLR coming out of gumby? I don't have the best understanding of transformers so pardon my ignorance on this one.

A transformer basically copies the signal that comes in one side and pumps it out the other (sometimes increased or decreased by a factor determined by the ratio of the windings on each side of the transformer).


On the input side, your signal is the voltage difference between the + and - wire. This is balanced input. You don't know where each wire's voltage is relative to ground, but you don't care. Let's say the two voltages are A and B, thus the difference is (A-B). I don't know the exact values of A or B by themselves, but I can calculate an exact value for (A-B). Think of those old school see-saw-type balance scales. You don't have to know the exact weight on each side, but the difference between them determines how much it tips to one side. Let's say (A-B) = 10 for a nice round number. My two wires could be -5 & +5, or 0 & 10, or 20 & 30, or 1000 & 1010, I don't know, I only care about the difference.

If I didn't use a transformer and simply took one wire from my input for my single-ended output and referenced it to ground, obviously some of these scenarios are going to be bad mojo. A thousand volts will ruin anyone's day unless your name ends with Frankenstein.

With a transformer, on the output side the signal is also the difference between the + and - wire. If I have wire C and D, then the difference is (C-D). Again I don't know the exact values of C and D, but I know what the difference between them is.

Assuming a 1:1 transformer where you get the same thing on each side... (C-D) = *(A-B)
* a different transformer will add a factor here

However, at the output side you get to choose where each of those is relative to ground. So let's say I short D to the ground, thus D= 0 at all times. By doing so, I now precisely know the value of C where C=(A-B)=10 and I can safely use C as a singled ended output.
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Bill-p

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Re: Gumby popularity
« Reply #36 on: September 16, 2015, 11:24:19 PM »
Quote from: audiofrk on September 11, 2015, 05:03:52 PM
My question is why get the gumby? Why not wait till the MB bifrost? Am I missing something?


Yeah... you're missing the fact that MB Bifrost doesn't exist... yet, broski.

If a prototype isn't shown/demoed/leaked/stolen by now, you can bet it'll be late next year before it comes out.

Gumby is available now, at about half the price of Yggy, with a smaller footprint, and it gets pretty close. How close will MB Bifrost be to Yggy? What's its price? Is the small housing of Bifrost able to house a MB DAC that's up to par? When will it come out?

We don't know, so... Gumby.
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jexby

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Re: Gumby popularity
« Reply #37 on: September 17, 2015, 12:41:26 AM »
Bill-P,

What are you talking about?
A number of them have shown up "by now" at local Chang meets and impressions already made.
 facepalm
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Bill-p

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Re: Gumby popularity
« Reply #38 on: September 17, 2015, 01:10:46 AM »
Quote from: jexby on September 17, 2015, 12:41:26 AM
Bill-P,

What are you talking about?
A number of them have shown up "by now" at local Chang meets and impressions already made.
 facepalm


No, what are YOU talking about? ;)

Where are impressions of MB Bifrost? Mind sharing some links?
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JK47

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Re: Gumby popularity
« Reply #39 on: September 17, 2015, 02:00:23 AM »
Quote from: Bill-p on September 17, 2015, 01:10:46 AM
No, what are YOU talking about? ;)

Where are impressions of MB Bifrost? Mind sharing some links?

In this thread...

http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,2630.0.html
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