Bit88 - Feedback

Joseph:
(17 Apr 2001)

I've just received the Bit88 and immediately I plug it in between my CD player and a very simple amplifier I designed in my lab. Wow, the effect was fantastic. The soundstage was lively and the overall frequency response was superb. Please let me know when the audio version is available. I have always wanted to upgrade my car audio system but hesitated due to cost and boot space constraints. However, I have a concern on the reliability of the product. Being an audio Engineer, the performance of the Bit88 arouses my curiosity. I therefore, dismantled the set to take a look at the components inside. I was really surprised to see that the traces (PCB patterns) turns yellow just after 2 hours of run in. As a matter of fact, I feel that the traces are too thin. Just my comments.

Dr. Jon Wong replied:
(17 Apr 2001)

Hello Joseph, Thank you very much for your positive feeback! The PCB is made of high quality FP4. The copper track is actually yellow and the glass fibre is green. This is unlike the low end productcs, which might have a white fibre glass base and metallic colour tracks. The Japanese PCB products typically have a layer of green lacqer covering the tracks, so that they look green. If you scrap it, it will reveal the yellowish copper tracks. For Bit88,  the tack is yellow, even before you turn on the power supply. Also, please kindly note that the PCB tacks are made of heavy guage copper with a track thickness of more than 1.5mm. Even at low audio signal paths the tracks can carry more than 1A of electrical current. The components in Bit88 does not exceed 0.5A in the worse situation. For most audio tracks found in low end audio products, the PCB is less than 0.5mm and thinner. Bit88 is designed with reliability as one of the main issues. The components are designed to withstand 85 degress Celcius. The temperature of Bit88 is warm and nice at about 50 degrees Celcius, which is considered very low for all tube equipment. I can assure you the reliablity of the Bit88. If you need to clarify further, please kindly phone me at 569 5711, I will be happy to answer your questions.

Joseph again:
(17 Apr 2001)

Hello Dr Jon Wong, Thanks for attending to my concern!! As I used to design amplifier circuits for mini/micro audio systems, I always have the impression to design the signal and the supply traces as thick as I can. Forgive me for my ignorance. I am impressed with the soundstage and ambience created by Bit88, is it possible to provide the before and after frequency response of the unit?? How much gain is being incorporated?? It seems that there is a minimum of 3dB gain across the 20~20kHz spectrum. One more query, how long do I need to run in to achieve optimal results from Bit88. Many Thanks & Best Regards

Dr. Jon Wong replied:
(17 Apr 2001)

Hello Joseph, Thank you very much for your kind feedback! I am happy that you enjoy listening to Bit88! If you try to pump 50-20Khz to Bit88 and look at the sweep on the scope, you will find that the gain difference on frequencies is not that visible throughout the spectrum. The processing is only possible when there is a complex waveform, such as a square wave. Even with a 1Khz square wave, you will be puzzled initially why the response does not tell you much! The gain is slightly higher, you are right. It is about 2-3dB gain. Bit88 will give its maximum performance after 3 days of burn in. Due to the new design, you will find the premium tube will last as long as the Bit88 itself. You can play around with tube types, such as 6DJ8 (more musical) or ECC88 (also very musical). Either one, you will find them work very well. I now use a Bit88 for my home TV, and one as a headphone amp for my PC.

Suhaimi wrote:
(18 Apr 2001)

Good morning Joe... Have you patented the Bit88, Big Ben clock or other prototypes that 1388 has designed... it would be such a waste if your designs are copied by competitors... Anyway, just wish to inform you that my wife and I are enjoying our stereo music using the Bit88... we installed it between the Rotel CD player and my preamp... I tried all kinds of configurations.. stereo L R, mono 5 speakers, surround 5 speakers.. I can honestly say that the after effect is so much better than the dolby pro logic processing....I am addicted to Bit88 now... Thanks...

Between Patrick & Joe:
(23 Apr 2001)

Dear Patrick, Kim told me that you enquire about whether BIT88 can be connected within an integrated amp, the answer is YES! If your integrated amp has a 'pre-out' and 'power-in', which means you can separate the pre and power section of the integrated amp. You can link BIT88 between the two. However, in this case you require two extra pairs of RCA inter-connecting cable instead of one pair. You can also use the loop between the RECout / TAPEin and set the selector switch to 'Monitor'. You also require two pairs of cables. If you don't get what I mean, please give me a call.  Thank you for your support. BIT88 is best for movie...so far, how do you like it?     Hey Joe, My integrated amp has 'pre-out' but without 'power-in', I didn't try the RECout / TAPEin. There is this 'processor in' and 'processor out' and I made used of these connections to the BIT88, it works, the ambience is richer and the bass is improved. Not sure if I do the other method - RECout / TAPEin would get better result?? I also tried it on my desktop unit, ouch!..The result is fantastic! Looks like I may have to order another of this BIT88...sighhh, again $$. Regards and congratulation on your first product being so successful! Dear Patrick, Good morning! In fact it is the same! No need to try REC out / Tape in as it will go via another selector switch. Not as straight forward as 'Processor in' and 'out'.

Joseph Luk:
(23 Apr 2001)

Joe:  Last night I connected it to my computer with a pair of JBL Pro PC speakers, I wanted to test it out at the same time I was writing a review article for this product. I played a Decca classical CD which I listend often these few days. I was shocked and very impressed with the quality of sound coming out from my speaker, very musical and Hi Fi like. It does make a big different when without it. What a magic!  Eventually I finished my article at 2:00am+ and the music through BIT88 accompanied me until that time too! I really look forward to listening to the BIT88 audiophile version, it will be a revolution in the Hi Fi history.

Martin wrote:
(23 Apr 2001

Hi Joe,  I have used the Bit88 for 2 days:  1st day: Used it in my Room TV system (DVD player --> Bit88 --> Active speaker). The sound was great. The details were greatly enriched. I can raise the volume higher without any unpleasant feeling. 2nd day: Used it in CDR to record a CD (Pre-amp tape out --> Bit88 --> Philips CDR). By comparing the recorded CD (...you can called it re-mastered by Bit88) with the original CD, the sound was enriched also, especially the bass. However, in my hi-fi system the bass seems excessive. It's fantastic in listening this Bit88 remastered CD in my car as I don't have subwoofer installed, so the enriched bass is just nice.  My personal feeling, Bit88 is really a good partner for ordinary Hi-Fi system with small speakers, TV, computer, etc. It can enrich the sound positively in all aspects. However, it's not for serious Hi-End system. May be the BIT88 audiophile version can suit the Hi-Fi craze like me better?

Choong wrote:
(24 Apr 2001)

So far so good. Bit88 has livened up my system. My CD performance before Bit88 has been quite awful. No details, highs not high enough. Now everything sounds great. Even CDs which I once thought were badly recorded now sounds fantastic! What would be nice is: 1. A not so bright power LED. The current one's TOO bright! 2. A defeat switch (so that I can compare before/after Bit88). 3. A transparent casing (so can see the tube). Anyway, I think Bit88 is really value for $$.

Choong again:
(26 Apr 2001

I read somewhere that the tubes in Bit88 can last 100,000 hours. So, is it advisable to leave Bit88 switched on or should I switch it off when not in use? How much power does Bit88 consume?

Dr. Jon Wong replied:
(26 Apr 2001)

Yes, the tube can last at least 5 years as it is set at very low voltage. Please leave it on even if not in use as it only consumes less than 1.8 watts.

Richard:
(26 Apr 2001

Wah Pian, so many positive feedback on the Bit88. I think my saliva dripping.... Hee Hee! Better act fast before it runs out of stock soon.

Leon Liew wrote:
(30 May 2001)

After waiting patiently for the last three days over the weekend it finally arrived! The Bit88 Universal Sound Enhancer which I ordered thru the official launch on 26/5/2001. I have marked on my diary the launch date so as not to miss it. Also to take the opportunity to meet Joe Black, oops! I mean Joe Lee & Dr Jon Wong, fellow photography enthusiasts. Sorry Joe, I can't stay long as I have got some errands to run on that day. How I  wish I could linger long enough to chat with you & Dr Jon Wong on our other hobby. Any way spent around 45 minutes to connect the Bit88 to my HT system between the A/V amp & CD player. Don't get me wrong because connecting the Bit88 only take a few minutes. But I am fussy with all the cables & interconnects as I like to tidy up the mess first before getting started! First CD to test the Bit88, aka Chai Qing (Green Label)! Before the arrival of the Bit88, I have been listening to the CD  for the last two days to familiarize my ears. So with the Bit88 wired up, and the CD in place, the difference was so amazing! The music was so alive. I could feel the spaciousness & spatial ambience of the piano. The bass was a bit boomy especially track 3 but I love it. Chai Qing's voice sounded so mellow and warmth. I being a HT fan love bass. The separation of instruments was sharp & clear. Before the Bit88 the sound was average as my CD player is the CD46 Marantz. Now with the Bit88 connected even the echoes were audible in the background in tracks 8 & 9 as if Chai Qing is performing in a concert hall. The openness of the soundstage is simply amazing and imaging is spot on. I do not claim to be an audiophile, I am more of a HT nut. I do listen to music, but with the Bit88 connected who  knows, I may turn into music nut. Kudos to Joe Lee & Dr Jon Wong for creating such a great sound enhancer. I may get one or two more to wire up to my HT system and it will sound AWESOME!!! Will catch up with you & Dr Jon Wong.

Henrie wrote:
(12 Jun 2001)

Wow! It's fantastic! BIT88 has given my DTT3500/Sound Blaster Live Platinum 5.1 a new lease of life. My PC audio experience has never been so wonderful. It's just awesomely fantastic. Guys at 1388. A job well done. And Singapore is proud of you guys. Keep up the good work. Thanks to Dr. Jon for solving my stupid connection problem. Paiseh leh!

Amir wrote:
(21 Jun 2001)

First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Kim for sending the Bit88 device right to my doorstep. I had been a little unreasonable in asking for an immediate (and FREE!) delivery, but this was due to my tremendous excitement over the product. So you can't really blame me. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I have a Denon A/V amplifier (not sure abt the model, but it's pretty old) and a pair of Mission 701 speakers. Throw in a pair of astonishingly tiny rear JBL speakers and you've got a modest home theatre setup. A poor man's Dolby Pro-Logic, so to speak. I recently replaced the interconnects between the CD player and the amplifier, and there was, to my surprise, a significant improvement. When I read about Bit88, I decided that it was just the thing for my average system. Although Kim had a hilariously hard time searching for my office, she managed to deliver it in one piece. Lo and behold, the driver was none other than Meester Joe Lee, esteemed CEO of the enterprise. Ok, ok, back to Bit88. It was a simple installation process. It was too straightforward for me to even glance at the manual. It was all ready in about ten minutes, and pretty soon, the magical strains of latin jazz burst through. It was impressive, yes. Like listening to a whole new album, as I picked up sounds I had never heard before. I could even hear the swish of the fingers as they strummed across the folk guitar. But there was a downside. The sound was kinda "commercialised"...I don't really know how to explain this (I ain't no professional audiophile), but it's like listening to some Aiwa or Sony bookshelf system! Very sharp and boomy but no real depth or personality. I tested the VCD "Prince of Egypt" with the Bit88 processing, and true to its promise, the bass reached lows I had never even dared imagine could come out of my system, but again, the "personality" of the sound was lost. Worse, the speech and vocals part of the disc became thin and almost unfocused. I think they were drowned out by the "background" sound of the movie or the song. I called Joe Lee up this morning, and he kindly suggested that I wait one or two days for the Bit88 device to run in, and I am crossing my fingers that everything will fall into place. By the way, does "running in" the device mean I should leave it continuously on for 2 whole days? Does this take up a lot of power and shorten the lifespan on the tubes contained within it? Hmmn...well, i'd like to apologise for the layman's jargon here...as I mentioned earlier, I am not an audiophile juggernaut, but I do appreciate good sound. Take care.

Joe Lee replied:
(21 Jun 2001)

Amir, Thanks for your kind comments. As I said, please let the unit run-in for 3 days. As the voltage is very low, the power consumption is minimal. The tube that comes with the unit can last at least 100,000 hours, or 5 years even if you leave it on 24 hours a day. In fact, we do recommend that users let their Bit88 on all the time, as switching on and off will only shorten the lifespan of the tube. As for the weakening of the vocal scenario that you have experienced, it shouldn’t be. Please read the article by Raymond who found that vocals have been enhanced tremondously after connecting to Bit88 in his HT system (here). But again, his system is different from yours. Let the unit run-in and if you still experience the same symptoms, may be I can come to visit it sometimes? By the way, I am no longer the CEO, I have been demoted...

Vincent wrote:
(25 Jun 2001)

Hi Joe, I must say that Bit88 is definitely a terrific success. I recommended it to some of my friends in my office and most of them are considering buying it when their next payday come! ; ) Anyway they have also seen the reviews elsewhere so I need not sell too much to them too. That aside, I've also visited the bit88 website numerous times, glad to see so many  good reviews about it. Most of them voted for bit88 over many other sound system or card. However, you should have noticed that the next possible step is to introduce a 2nd generation bit88 that allows 5 speakers (including subwoofer) to be benefitted. This is important because many people has already got that many speakers now, including myself. I assume you must have at least come out with 2 other future prototypes for the Bit88. This will keep the sound rage going and will defintely assure a constant following from faithful and new followers alike. Plus points aside, what I think is lacking as far as design is concerned is the package box. Though it is informative, I feel that it lacks the sleek and high-tech image that we are looking for. Since we have come so far for the product itself, I think the package can be improved. Big design firms such as Mac, Sony and Creative have always maintained a strong consumer edge because of their strong graphical packaging. If there's anything we need to bank our dollars on, that will be it. You'll be surprised, but everyone goes for looks too! If there's any opportunity for me to help out in your future projects, please contact me. I'll feed you with whatever trends you may need whenever I'm free. Thanks for your concern. Keep up the good work!

Kirk Hughes wrote:
(5 Jul 2001)

Hi 1388! I am from Malaysia and received a Bit88 from a friend in Singapore.  He swears by it and wants me to try it out. There is nothing like it in this world! OK, firstly about my music background - I am not into music but am a home  theatre enthusiast. I am using the Yamaha ??? and was thinking of upgrading it  to the newest Denon AVC-A1SE for the DTS-ES. Well that thought has been banished  from my head forever... Well this was what happened : I hooked the Bit88 to  the front 2 channels between my DVD player using its analogue outputs. WahaaaaaaaaaWOW!!! THe soundstage height/width/depth increased and seem to break through the boundaries of my room. I was literally stunned! I didn't believe  what I was hearing and repeated it with and without. I must say that I was  skeptical at first and the Bit88 really scared my pants off. I ran to the phone and called my Singaporean friend and made him send 2 more Bit88s to me immediately. A few days later, I hooked the 2nd Bit88 to the 2 surrounds and the 3rd to the center and sub woofer. The difference it made was even more incredible! The bass was shaking me like never before! And I am using the DTS/DD  decoder of the DVD player as opposed to the critically acclaimed Yamaha! The sound from the surrounds are wrapping around me like I have never felt, not even  in DTS-ES demos. Let me give a piece of advice to all of you setting up a decent home theatre - Get a DVD player with internal decoders and 5.1 analogue outputs, a decent AV amp and of course 3 Bit88s. I can guarantee you that for the money you spend, you can beat setups costing twice as much or more. A  GREAT product! Well done 1388.

Amir wrote again:
(5 Jul 2001)

I am convinced.....about one thing. Nobody can beat 1388.com in terms of service. When I complained to Joe Lee that my Bit88 wasn't working right, he immediately volunteered to loan me another set to make comparisons. With no hesitation, no extra charge for the device, and what's more, absolutely no charge for the delivery of the second set!!! I was thinking to myself, oh my god, what am I doing to these phenomenally nice people at 1388.com??? Needless to say, my conscience is eating at me... Anyway, back to Bit88 (that's what this forum is for, isn't it?). I hooked up the device to my setup, and although the set has not yet been run-in (meaning giving it a two-day 'warming-up' trial), I discovered one pernicious fact about the device...the sound it produces is very, very subjective!!! Ok, what do I mean by this? Well, my earlier problem of song vocals and movie dialogue being drowned out still remained. The sequence in which Keanu Reeves' character battles Lawrence Fishburne in the matrix is filled with the solid thunks of kicks and punches. But when Lawrence Fishburne paused to ask: "Do you really think that strength and speed has anything to do with how good I am in this place?", it was like he was asking for some coins to be placed into his tin cup...his voice became thin and annoyingly wheedling... Although Bit88 did bring the bass-o-meter down a notch, sounds in the treble range became excessively sharp in some instances. I like the way Bit88 processes classical and instrumental music, but my Aerosmith collection had to take a back seat as far as Bit88 was concerned. *sigh*... My awkward conclusion? Perhaps Bit88's effect is more astounding on more modest systems (bookshelf speakers, PC speakers, mini-compo, etc)..where Bit88's punch would be more keenly felt..I don't know if I am right or fair in making such a statement, because I have not tested the Bit88 across all the platforms, but I am certain that sound is a very subjective thing. I have unplugged my DVD player from Bit88, and during the weekend, I will try to use Bit88 as an intermediary between my television and amplifier. There, perhaps, it shall stay...

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