Up2Stream Mini & Ripple problem ?

You guys are very professional with the electronics, I’m more likely familiar with software :slight_smile:

I have no clear idea for the issue. Anyway, one point might help to debug, the 3.5mm jack might not connect the detecting pin to GND, so the 4 segments plug might have issue.

@zpl1025
Hi Frank, thanks for hopping in on the topic!

Do you mean that the 3.5mm jack has no proper connection to GND?
And that the 4-pin connector might solve that?

Or do you mean something else?

not fault actually, but because of the unclear specification of this connector, we only connected the very outer PIN to GND, so it might cause issue for some earphone with 4 segments including MIC. But this should not cause this ripple noise, more likely some hollow sounds. I prefer to believe some interference came into the system, eg the RF signals. Btw, could you hear this noise with earphone?

And you might also connect the GND with the AMP board to determine if the noise came from AMP board.

@zpl1025
Thnx Frank.

I will check all you suggested.

For your information, I will sent you an email with an attached recording of the Ripple. Then you can hear yourself, what it sounds like.

The clip sounds like the RF interference for me

@zpl1025

That could very well be. I have great difficulty finding the source of this. At least I am sure it is not a mobile phone or something like that. I have also placed this configuration in another house, but also there I have the same.

But when I change the Up2Stream Mini, and put in a S10 (I have tried 2 of them) or a Pro, the Ripple is gone!

Any idea?

Hi Steve, in the meantime I have tested by connecting to the Line-OUT JST connector, instead of the Mini-jack. This did not change the Ripple issue.

Hi Ernst,

The fact that the interference problem is endemic to all your mini’s but not to your pro version board is very puzzling, I don’t suppose that you have a DAC board to see if the problem exists thru I2S as well?

Cheers,
Steve

Hi @Steve1

Interesting you mention that!
I am preparing an order and the DAC-board is in. So I will definitely test that.

Do you think the different DAC-IC could make a difference?

Hi Ernst,
To be honest, I really don’t know! But going thru what you have already tried in my head I couldn’t think of anything else.
I only have one mini and have used it successfully in two different projects, both times with two different add on DACs with no issues and no noticeable humm, ripple or interference.
I look forward to hearing your (hope positive) feedback once you try!
Cheers,
Steve

Well it is interesting to see what happens if the DAC-board is connected to the Mini in my configuration with my active speaker.

Which makes me wonder about the S10 …
The S10 has no issues with Ripple in the same configuration with this active speaker.

Does the S10 have a different DAC than the Mini?

@zpl1025 : do you know if the S10 and Mini differ in type of DAC?

The S10 looks like it might be a Pro v3 in an enclosure? It might have other tweaks though?
Frank might need to confirm…

Yes, the S10 just has PRO V3 board inside. No tweaks, and it’s same with the MINI board, just use the internal DAC of the main chip.

@zpl1025
Thanks for responding Frank.

  1. What exactly do you mean with “just use the internal DAC of the main chip” ?
  2. Is the DAC on the Mini and in the S10/Pro v3 the same DAC, or different?
  3. Are there other differences between Mini and S10/Pro v3?

Hi Ernst,
I think I can answer that, what Frank is saying is that the S10, Pro and mini use the same digital to analogue conversion circuitry/hardware which is embedded within another IC (main chip) there are limitations to this practice, probably why the documentation says: ‘For example, it supports adding an ESS 9023 DAC to increase the sound quality’

@Steve1 @zpl1025

Thanks for staying in the loop steve!

Very interesting that:

I still wonder why in the same setup with the same active speaker, I have Ripple withe the Mini, but not with the S10 or Pro.

Is there any other hardware difference between the Mini and S10/Pro, that could cause the Ripple?

Hi Ernst,

Maybe Frank or one of the Arylic hardware specialists could shed some light on that?

I think that I mentioned previously that from my own experiences with the only mini that I own, using it in two different projects I haven’t experienced any issues anything resembling the noise that yours is producing.

SOLVED

Interesting!
For a long time I have had issues with the Up2Stream Mini. Tested with three different models of active speakers, there was a ‘ripple’ interference in the audio signal. I have been looking for a long time to find the cause, so far not successful.

But today I created a test setup in which I combined the Up2Stream Mini with the Up2Stream DAC board.

Result
The ‘ripple’ is completely gone.

Comment
I am happy I have been able to find out, that the issue is with the Up2Stream Mini. I guess it is save that the Mini has sensitivity to noise. And that adding the DAC board solves the issue.
Personally I prefer that the sentivity/ripple of the Mini would be solved. Adding a DAC board for each of my builds does drive up cost.

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That would be why I never had any noise problems that others were getting, I always had a DAC installed.

Just found some extra information that confirms my thoughts.

The Mini uses a MCU-chip with an integrated DAC. In fact the MCU handles all the ADC/DSP/DAC/BT functions, so a system-on-one-chip design. If you remove the top board of the Up2Stream Mini, the MCU is visible:

The fact that all functions are integrated in one chip, causes the Ripple in my case. It is a result of the design. Though I should mention:

  • The Ripple effect is not hearable in all Mini + amplifier combinations.
  • The Mini is very affordable, so no complaints about that.
  • If needed, the Ripple can be eliminated by adding the DAC extension board.

So to me, the Up2Stream Mini is still a great product: good value for money!

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