Is this damage affecting the function of the device? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: drummerdimitri
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 01:46:21 pm
content: This is the Audio Quest Jitterbug that I've opened to get an idea of what components are doing the noise filtering.It appear that a coil has its ferrite shield broken but I'm not sure how/if this damage will affect the performance of the unit.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 01:56:20 pm
content: Does it actually work?Yes, it's just filtering and it appears to be mechanical, rather than electrical damage. If the windings are intact, then it should work, although its ability to filter noise will be affected, in which case the device will still work, but could be more susceptible to noise and/or be more likely to produce noise, including that which could interfere with other devices.

author: drummerdimitri
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 05:35:51 pm
content: Quote from: Zero999 on March 26, 2019, 01:56:20 pmIt does still work but if it isn't filtering out the noise as it used to it may need to be disposed of since that is its main purpose.

author: bloguetronica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 07:37:48 pm
content: Quote from: drummerdimitri on March 26, 2019, 05:35:51 pmIn my honest opinion, this AudioQuest device doesn't have a purpose and may even degrade the USB signals to a point where the transfers are slowed down due to frequent CRC errors. And I'm talking about a new, undamaged device here. AudioQuest sells unnecessary and junk devices (in other words, snake oil) at insulting prices. Let me elaborate on the usefulness of ths device in particular:USB is kind of "mixed signal". The encoded signals are digital in nature but the signal conditioning is analog, due to the need of employing pre-emphasis and equalization for varying signal rates. Your device may act just like a very long cable and just add inductance and capacitance. It will do nothing to improve the signal. USB doesn't need "filtering" or whatever the device does.You can do a simple test. Grab a fast USB flash drive and do a transfer test with and without the bogus device in the middle. If you have a slower speed with the device in between, there you have it. For sure, you won't get a higher speed with the device. And that's irregardless of it being broken or not.P.S.: By the way, by looking at the PCB I see that the differential pair was not designed with care. I doubt it was designed according to the USB specs, that is 90differential impedance and 50single ended. The traces are definitely too thick for a 4-layer board (assuming it is) and there is not enough clearance to the ground plane. Clearly, the designers know nothing about electronics and signal integrity.Kind regards, Samuel Lourenço

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 08:19:43 pm
content: There could be some benefit to filtering the power lines, but not so much on the data lines, only very small LC filters could be used without impeding performance, and that's only going to take out very high frequency noise that should be removed by the basic signal conditioning on the connected devices.I'd arrive at the same conclusion as bloguetronica, though, even when intact and otherwise "functional", I wouldn't expect this device to improve noise performance in any real way. If the device on the downstream side uses USB power and inadequately filters it, maybe this could improve that somewhat, but that's really just a design flaw in the attached device, and well made audio gear should have that one figured out.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2019, 04:39:26 am
content: It doesn't matter, these gadgets don't do anything useful anyway. Just plug the USB in directly.

author: bloguetronica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2019, 01:25:52 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on March 28, 2019, 04:51:48 amIf you replace "lamp oil" by "snake oil", you'll get it.Kind regards, Samuel Lourenço