Leaving it on, standby and reliability
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Everything he said on this topic (31)
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- 2017-05-06Watts says the cited figure is FPGA leakage current, 0.4 A; Blu Mk2's low power mode switches off DSP cores at digital silence, drawing 2A against 10A normally. Head-Fi, May 2017
- 2018-03-29Watts says active electronics add RF noise so sources should be simple and battery powered, Hugo 2 cuts out at 60 deg C, and thermal cycling, not warmth, harms reliability. Head-Fi, Mar 2018
- 2018-05-13Watts says to use standby via button or remote, and that TT2 filters native DSD with Hugo 2's over-200dB filter, so it needs no dedicated DSD mode like Dave's. Head-Fi, May 2018
- 2018-07-17Watts says TT2 makes no pop when switched off because its supercaps take a long time to discharge. Head-Fi, Jul 2018
- 2018-09-18Watts says the M scaler PSU came from TT2 testing, grounded C13 PSUs caused ground loops, quality SMPS beat linears, the Chord driver works, and auto low-power mode exists. Head-Fi, Sep 2018
- 2018-10-01Watts says a DPLL removes optical input jitter, output uses a low-jitter analog PLL, the M scaler auto powers down, and Blu 2 standby affects only the CD mech. Head-Fi, Oct 2018
- 2018-10-18Watts has had no issues with cheap 1.5m or bodged screened cables on Hugo 2, suggests adaptors with supplied BNC cables, and says the M scaler auto enters low-power mode. Head-Fi, Oct 2018
- 2018-11-05Watts says red OP SR is volume-equalized pass-through, headphones won't need a DX amp, units may stay on (M Scaler auto-shutdown, TT2 standby), and announces a Hong Kong event. Head-Fi, Nov 2018
- 2018-11-15Watts says TT2's supercaps take 200,000 hours for a 30% capacitance loss and 1,000,000 hours to halve; headphone and RCA outputs give 7W/8 ohms, XLR 18W/8 ohms. Head-Fi, Nov 2018
- 2018-12-11Watts says TT2's LED flash after mains power-up is the FPGA booting with tri-stated outputs, harmless, but he recommends using the front-panel standby switch instead. Head-Fi, Dec 2018
- 2018-12-18Watts says Qutest can simply be unplugged; it is the laptop that needs correct disconnection, best done by powering it down before removing the USB cable. Head-Fi, Dec 2018
- 2019-01-08Watts says the M Scaler's FPGA die runs only a few degrees above the chassis, about 45 C when stacked, far below its 125 C rating, so reliability is unaffected. Head-Fi, Jan 2019
- 2019-01-31Watts says TT2 supercaps last over 11 years, it can stay on, warm-up takes about 10 minutes, pre-amps cost transparency, and linear PSUs at best sound the same. Head-Fi, Jan 2019
- 2019-02-19Watts says Qutest is designed to stay on 24/7 at 2.25 W, and rejects the idea he cripples products for upgrade paths, describing designing for maximum quality at each price. Head-Fi, Feb 2019
- 2019-02-26Watts says swapped cables only stop single-data rates working and reverse channels, levels are the same, and the unit enters low-power standby on digital silence. needs context Head-Fi, Feb 2019
- 2019-10-23Watts says the M scaler enters low power mode, not off, after ten minutes of digital silence, shown by the lone OP SR LED; pressing both DX buttons dims it. Head-Fi, Oct 2019
- 2019-12-18Watts says a dithered source, or SPDIF carrying digital zero, makes no difference to reliability. needs context Head-Fi, Dec 2019
- 2020-07-27Watts says TT2 can stay on 24/7, DAC mode equals low gain at -5L, and an external amp often sounds warmer from distortion and capacitor dielectric absorption. Head-Fi, Jul 2020
- 2020-07-28Watts gives TT2 levels (-5L is 2.4V RMS, 0H 4.2V), calculates supercap life at 500,000 hours, and says leaving it on aids reliability. Head-Fi, Jul 2020
- 2020-09-08Watts says battery isolation works if capacitance to ground is low, as with his PowerAdd bank; power-up order causes no damage, but TT2 should be last on, first off. Head-Fi, Sep 2020
- 2021-07-22Watts says electronics are more reliable left on, standby keeps the clocks running for those worried about 12W draw, and he keeps TT2 and Dave on. Head-Fi, Jul 2021
- 2021-07-23Watts says no Dave displays had failed per Matt, he runs his at setting 4, he has never seen significant burn-in, and the display MTTF exceeds 50,000 hours. Head-Fi, Jul 2021
- 2021-08-03Watts says his TT2 ran a week on 316V mains in Bali, explains semiconductor failure causes, and leaves equipment under 20W on, citing failures only at turn-on. Head-Fi, Aug 2021
- 2021-08-04Watts says TT2 draws a steady 12 to 13W, its standby is fine, and the M scaler keeps one LED on in low power mode, dimmable via both DX buttons. Head-Fi, Aug 2021
- 2021-08-11Watts says TT2's coax receiver stays powered in standby, so sharing a coax source with another DAC is no problem. Head-Fi, Aug 2021
- 2021-10-15Watts explains desktop mode's battery voltage and charge current, dismisses capacitor life concerns, guesses about 20 years excluding the battery, and advises against running without the battery. Head-Fi, Oct 2021
- 2021-10-18Watts says idle Qutest draws 2 W and was meant to stay on, as cool electronics are more reliable; no affordable FPGA for 0.5M taps exists or is coming. Head-Fi, Oct 2021
- 2022-06-29Watts explains a swollen 1000uF clock-regulator filter cap in a DAVE is very unlikely as a wear failure and suggests miswiring during a PSU change, which he does not recommend. Head-Fi, Jun 2022
- 2022-06-29Watts says DAVE targets a half life over 25 years; connectors and the display are likely failure points, so use standby or display message mode (disp 4). Head-Fi, Jun 2022
- 2023-01-21Watts says there is no need to switch inputs since sleep mode engages automatically on digital silence, unless a source adds dither when idle, which bit-perfect mode precludes. Head-Fi, Jan 2023
- 2023-07-02Watts vents about buyers equating price with quality, a reviewer calling a soft DSD DAC natural, and a reviewer who tones down Chord reviews; he also notes automatic low-power mode. Head-Fi, Jul 2023