DaviSound ... Unique by Design |
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A little "DaviSimple 'Philosophication' " ... We were audio "purists" from the beginning. Our original goal was, in the mid seventies, to build equipment for use in our own studios which would be as TRANSPARENT and as "COLORLESS" as possible.
You've heard the phrase, "straight wire with gain" many times (of course, some of us now know that even a simple "straight wire" can "color" the audio under certain conditions!). We were among the first to aspire to this design ideal. As you read further, you will discover that we do many unique things in our circuit design and fabrication techniques which result in audio equipment that is UNIQUELY SUPERIOR in many ways! --/\/\/\/-- --[ (-- --/\/\/\/-- --[ (-- --/\/\/\/-- "LOW END" or "HIGH END" ? As the wise old sage replied when asked a meditative question ... "It all depends" ... In other words ...we are SUBJECTIVELY OBJECTIVE in our approach!
We certainly do not believe in "mystical" properties at work in audio electronics but we DO know that some simple, albeit UNUSUAL, methods can make a difference in both AUDIO QUALITY and resulting circuitry which will last almost indefinitely! After all, it is these very UNIQUE methods that give us our own niche and cause the truly knowledgable to seek us out for our "STAR" WARS? - This "war" between audio subjectivists and objectivists has been going on almost since the beginning of audio and, likely, will continue to do so. We prefer to recognize a "Grey Area". A very real example of what we mean: We KNOW for a fact that placing a brick beside (or on top of) your audio amp will NOT make a difference in the "sound" of the amp (an actual claim by one subjective extremist in a publication!)- unless, of course, it happens to dampen an acoustical/mechanical cabinet rattle!
On the other hand, we also know that there are very sound, common sense reasons why our circuit fabrication methods, which use direct, point-to-point wiring technique, with components mechanically connected as well as soldered, are far superior to the industry "standard" method whereby components are This is so, if for no other reason (and there ARE other reasons!) than the fact that one solder joint is better than two and a direct connection is ALWAYS better than an indirect one - ( lead to lead ... as opposed to lead to trace, then trace to lead). --/\/\/\/-- --[ (-- /\/\/\/-- --[ (-- --/\/\/\/-- "AIR BORN!"
In the early days, we pioneered our own version of "surface mount technology". We used normal sized components soldered to traces and pads which were located on TOP of the PCB, usually on double sided circuit boards
Nowadays, for a variety of reasons, including the logical advantage of direct, point to point wiring mentioned above, we build many of our circuits utilizing what we call "air suspension" ("AIR BORN"!) technique. This entails direct soldering component leads to each other after having first formed a sound, mechanical connection, and encasing the whole circuit block within a plastic case.
This method was born out of a personal distaste for the wasteful, subtractive process of circuit board etching whereby harsh chemicals are utilized to wash away the copper you don't want (which is most of the copper on a clad board) leaving a small amount for the PCB traces and pads.
We finally realized that many of our original audio circuits, now perfected after many years of evolved research and fine tuning, would need to be "potted" (embedded in silicon) for proprietary purposes. This was because, in at least one verifiable instance, a major manufacturer had "borrowed" one of our original treasures and was attempting to manufacture it almost component for component! For many reasons in the real world of competitive circuit design, patents simply do not work well in these areas nowadays. Therefore, we now "pot" many of our most exclusive, hand-laid circuits into building-block modules with the contents secure and protected, in more ways than one! |
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When sub modules are interconnected within a unit, we do NOT use plug-in connectors! Plug-in connectors, subject to oxidation, corrosion, warpage and jitter, are among the main causes of problems in most manufactured products over time!
Most forthright mass production manufacturers will admit that their laboratory test-bench prototypes ALWAYS out perform to some degree, and outlast to a large degree, the subsequent production-run models inspired by these prototypes!
This is largely because most mass produced products are designed with two basic main priorities foremost in mind. These priorities for the manufacturer are "ease of assembly" on a production line and "ease of servicing" when the product comes back to the factory service department due to failure.
Ironically, it is most often these very things utilized for "ease of servicing" which caused the product to wind up needing the service (things like PCB plug/socket contacts and modular plug-in connectors for example)!
Nowadays, as consumers have become increasingly aware of some of the pitfalls of modular manufacturing methods, we hear a lot of "propaganda" Large mass producers HAVE to rely on some form of modular plug-in system since they always use the assembly line method in some variation.
THERE IS NOTHING SONICALLY BETTER THAN A GOOD, SOLID, CORRECTLY LAID OUT, HARDWIRED CONNECTION WHICH IS MECHANICALLY SOUND AND PROPERLY HAND-SOLDERED!
Certainly we use strict patterns, and proven procedures but every piece of our equipment, and its circuitry, is individually hard-wired and hand soldered!
"SPECSMANSHIP" ...
Fortunately, nowadays, MOST professional products all have very similar, respectable electrical specifications when measured by traditional standards. What, then, separates the "sonics" of one product from the "sonics" of another? We like to think that, in our case, the highly defined audio that "jumps out at you" (as one satisfied user once told us) is due in part to some of the very techniques we're bringing to your attention on this page!
Unless otherwise stated for a particular device, ALL of our units (Tool Boxes and custom built units) feature COMBINED noise and distortion products that fall into the residuals of today's best test equipment (typically .001% or better!)!
Typical maximum signal levels are now right at 32dBu due to our new circuitry which allows much higher power supply voltages! Full power bandwidth of these circuits measures ruler flat from 1.6HZ to beyond 30KHZ with intentional, gentle roll-off thereafter to minimize supersonic and RF distortions which could, otherwise, interfere and interact with signals within the audio range
ALL IMPEDANCES AND SIGNAL HANDLING/INTERFACE CAPABIBILITY ARE IN KEEPING WITH TODAY'S DIGITAL AUDIO STANDARDS.
Normal input impedances are 50Kohms, or greater, for non-loading, bridging capability (line level equipment) and output impedances are low at
All signal shaping capacitors are high quality, test selected, film types with any minimal required electrolytics being recent issue, high-tech, discreetly formed bi-polar configurations with proper DC bias employed. Resistors are matched, low noise, metal film types in all critical signal areas.
So, if you ever have occasion to look inside one of our "TOOL BOXES", or other gear, and you notice tightly twisted pairs of heavy gauge wire directly interconnecting modules, boards and controls as opposed to thin PCB traces, you will know that it's because there are very good, very real reasons ...
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Please explore the rest of our website and please send us
your comments by email or use the direct form on the FAQs page! |
Related DaviSound Pages: |
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