Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Where we discuss new analog design ideas for Pro Audio and modern spins on vintage ones.
User avatar
mediatechnology
Posts: 5668
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:34 pm
Location: Oak Cliff, Texas
Contact:

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by mediatechnology »

A poster at diyaudio.com provided the new link for "flip-flop world"

The oscillator link is here: http://flip-flop.world.coocan.jp/audio/ ... index.html
User avatar
mediatechnology
Posts: 5668
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:34 pm
Location: Oak Cliff, Texas
Contact:

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by mediatechnology »

I just built a 10 kHz test version of ULDO-Nacho.

I used Mouser's 5% 1 nF polystyrene caps because I wanted to try them.
I didn't scale the tuning resistors: They remained 15K9 and 15K9/2.

The polystyrene caps I had are the radial version and the long leads allowed me to tack solder them.

The caps ran about 5% high in value so I had to pad the tuning resistors to move it from about 9500 Hz to 10K.
At 9500 Hz "Nacho," the notch filter, couldn't be pulled far enough to get a good null.
Once I got the oscillator moved to 10 kHz I could get a deep null.

I expected the distortion to be about 20 dB higher than the 1 kHz version owing to the fact that the op amp open loop gain falls off at 20 dB/decade.
That proved to be the case with distortion measuring, at +20 dBu output, around -123 dBc or just under 0.7 ppm with a 48 kHz measurement bandwidth. (H2-H4, Fs=96k)

With a 0 dBu output feeding the Focusrite 2i2 A/D, distortion of the A/D measures 0.0002%.
This is far, far better than the 2i2 measures in loopback.

I'm impressed with the 2i2 A/D's distortion at that frequency and pleased with ULDO-Nacho's 10 kHz performance.
User avatar
mediatechnology
Posts: 5668
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:34 pm
Location: Oak Cliff, Texas
Contact:

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by mediatechnology »

Here's' the FFT results of the 10 kHZ Uldo-Nacho and the Focusrite 2i2:

Image

The sample rate is 96 kHz, 24 bit. FFT is a 1M pt 10 sample average.
The output is 0 dBu loaded only by the notch filter and A/D.
The red trace is the notch filter output. The measured values do not reflect the +40 dB gain of the post-notch amp.
(The 30 kHz spur is actually -125 dBc/dBu.)

The hash in the notch filter output is due to long capacitor leads, wrapped construction of the polystyrene caps and lack of sufficient shielding.
I paid no attention to "outer-foil-to-lowest-impedance" on the caps and the board is only shielded by a sandwich of cardboard-clad grounded aluminum foil.

The calculated H2...H4 HD of ULDO-Nacho is -119 dBc relative to 0 dBu or just over 1 ppm.
With the oscillator running at higher level and using a pad to obtain 0 dBu I expect it to measure slightly lower.

The blue trace shows the Focusrite 2i2 (Gen 3) A/D HD at 0.0002% or about -113 dBc.
Note that the H2 is introduced by the A/D.
Overall ULDO-Nacho is about 6 dB "better" than the A/D which says a lot for both of them particularly the 2i2.

I've got some 1 nF 1% stacked polypropylene Wima's in my Mouser cart for my next 10 kHz build.
I'm also going to try 100 Hz.
SandyTodorov
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2024 3:40 am

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by SandyTodorov »

Lots of old ideas and nothing new under the sun.
This was done just to test the idea, now an improved version with new operational amplifiers is coming.
GS5534 SCH.png
GS 5534-8 Out Sch.PNG
IMG_20210727_233127010_2.jpg
Here are the two generators with NE5534 and with ORA1642.
0dB=5Veff 3 more zeros must be added to the THD shown in the picture as a number.
The harmonic level in dB on the picture is accurate. The fundamental harmonic is suppressed by -60dB and the scale is corrected by -60dB.
Attachments
GS OPA1642 1.png
GS 5534 1.png
User avatar
mediatechnology
Posts: 5668
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 2:34 pm
Location: Oak Cliff, Texas
Contact:

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by mediatechnology »

Great job and thank you for joining us Sandy!

If I've done the mental gymnastics right it looks like you've manged to achieve 28 ppb THD.

Gotta ask: What resistors are you using?

From the noise floor it looks like your notch filter insertion loss is being corrected.
SandyTodorov
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2024 3:40 am

Re: Super Low Distortion Ultra Pure Audio Oscillators Revisited

Post by SandyTodorov »

Yes, these measurements are not mongo accurate because of the T filter. They were used only for comparison with previous experiments.
[The resistors are: UniOhom Precision Metal Film Fixed Resistors
NE5534-OP1005-180.jpg
NE5534-OP1005-180M.jpg
An accurate measurement has already been made here and an accurate THD has been calculated with the filter correction.
In practice, this is the distortion of the NE5534 in this mode of operation.
In practice, the Generator pulled itself out of the swamp by pulling itself by the hair.

Through it, it was possible to measure the THD of various operational amplifiers.
Now a new board with double operational amplifiers is being developed so that other new operational amplifiers can be tried. And the scheme has improvements.
!Ku (-1) 5Veff Rt=X dB.png
Measurement of op amps is at Ku= -1 (gain) and with various loads at 5Vrms at the output
OP1005 is a discrete operating system with a powerful output.
Post Reply