Rockbox

  • Status Closed
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  • Task Type Patches
  • Category Settings
  • Assigned To No-one
  • Operating System Cowon D2
  • Severity Low
  • Priority Very Low
  • Reported Version Daily build (which?)
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Attached to Project: Rockbox
Opened by anotherche - 2011-10-27
Last edited by saratoga - 2011-11-15

FS#12354 - WM8985 DAC voltage tweak for Cowon D2

Some tech details. Audio codec Wolfson WM8985 uses 4 power supplies: DCVDD - for digital core logic, DBVDD - for digital I/O buffer, AVDD1 and AVDD2 - for analogue output. Allowed range for them is 1.7 to 3.6 V (1.8 to 3.3V recommended for DCVDD and DBVDD, while 2.5 to 3.3V is for AVDD1/2). Rockbox configures these voltages as following DCVDD=1.8V, DBVDD=AVDD1/2=3.3V, which is optimal for quality and power consumption according to wm8985 documentation.

There is an opinion that rising the DCVDD voltage can give some additional improvement of audio quality for the cost of power consumption (up to ~10% higher consumption). The idea is first implement by CowonWorld.ru user stridervvv and discussed at http://cowonworld.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=1342&start=165 (Russian).

The patch develops the idea by allowing Cowon D2(+) users to regulate the DCVDD voltage in the menu (sound settings menu). Voltage range: 1.8 - 3.3 V. Changes are applied immediately. The patch is for r29795.

Closed by  saratoga
2011-11-15 23:39
Reason for closing:  Rejected
Additional comments about closing:   Warning: Undefined array key "typography" in /home/rockbox/flyspray/plugins/dokuwiki/inc/parserutils.php on line 371 Warning: Undefined array key "camelcase" in /home/rockbox/flyspray/plugins/dokuwiki/inc/parserutils.php on line 407

We don't want user customization of voltages, and it seems very likely that these changes are not beneficial. If some of the D2(+) voltages should be adjusted, feel free to start a new task.

I don’t think putting voltages under user control is desirable. If this setting really provides an improvement, you should measure it as well as any battery life impact and then decide which setting is ideal.

I’d rather agree with you. This ability is for enthusiasts only. As for myself, I cannot hear the difference nor have a possibility to measure it. The patch was inspired by persons who heard a clear difference in sound quality at DCVDD=3.0V (compared to default 1.8V) . I used my D2+ with DCVDD 3.0V during a month and noticed about 10% shorter battery life, as I mentioned in the patch description.

How can the digital power supply possibly increase sound quality?

I cannot answer this question. Moreover, it is said in the wm8985 documentation that dcvdd doesn’t affect sound quality. But as I told there are persons who think that it affects. Precision of da conversion? I don’t know..

I would expect that DCVDD doesn’t affect sound quality at all, and that only analog components can possibly have an effect.

I’m thinking that’s hoax by audiophiles.

May be. By the way, what ‘s about  FS#12352  & 12353? At least the charger detection patch should be very useful one for D2+. I can’t stop enjoying its working in the car-adapter-mode. And that car-adpter-mode improvement patch makes its usage just far more handy.

Well, we have no active maintainer for that port who can review and commit stuff (doing it not blindly).

So let it remains in the community storeroom and that’s it :)
Rockbox patched with  FS#12352  works smoothly in my D2+ (3 weeks of usage with out any (visible) problem). Thank you for commenting, Thomas.

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