PIC upgrade – more than just features?

Posted by: Hammerhead on 07 May 2003

I had my PIC changed for the new sparkly version last Friday after falling victim to purchasing a CD with this new fangled copy protection software on it. New chip in, new CD’s play fine with no stumbling around the 9 second mark. New features are nice to have but admit to not using them much yet (I just usually hit play, sit back and enjoy).
However, I have noticed that my CDX/XPS is sounding much better. More bounce, better clarity, more drive. More PRaT in other words. Anybody else notice this since upgrading their PIC?

Could be a good spend of 35 quid if you’ve not done so already.

Steve
Posted on: 07 May 2003 by Hammerhead
Yeah, that probably helped Wink

But it seems much more than that...

Steve
Posted on: 07 May 2003 by Christopher
What's a PIC?
Posted on: 07 May 2003 by Derek Wright
Check out

http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=67019385&f=48019385&m=1931999426

and all will be revealed

Derek

<<Have you checked your PTs today>>
Posted on: 07 May 2003 by Twelveeyedfish
Hi,

to answer Christopher - as I understand it - and it does seem to fit the bill and component pinout, a PIC is a family of Microcontrollers from Microchip (www.microchip.com).
Essentially they are computers on a chip. Containing a small processor, a bit of memory and some I/O interfaces.

The PICs are programmed by using a computer to write code into it's EEPROM (non volatile memory similar to a hard disk in terms of use) and the Microcontroller takes inputs directly on the pins and uses the output ports to action events.

Whilst I am familar with the programming of PICs I can't claim to know exactly what place it holds in the CD player. I can imagine it's use as a controller (front panel etc) which it apparently serves given the UI improvements (or is that just additions) but how it enables playability of these stupid discs is beyond my present understanding.

As a breakdown, a PIC costs a few pounds - a little less than ten quid. In naim style bulk probably a bit less. In terms of the complexity of programming, adding packing and shipping costs, the purchase of equipment and software to program and debug the PIC and of course the antistatic wrist strap, in my opinion as an electrical engineer (humble though it may be) I think £35 is a vertiable bargain.

Whilst the economies at scale play the factor which will make naim see profit on this, they do have the clout to ask substantially more. And since fitting is free... Needless to say, on principle as I posted perhaps in a different thread, I will be upgrading within the next 2 months. Whenever I can find time. I have none of those stupid discs yet. 'scuse the grammar!

I cannot see how replacing the PIC would alter the sound. It is not related to the DAC, as far as I can imagine it will only control the way data is read from the disk (ie which sectors it looks at and when). Clearly these new fangled discs have a different order to the CD or something.

Andrew

diamonds - she'll pretty much have to...