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Post by rod on Jan 25, 2005 19:09:21 GMT
May as well expand this section of the forum! Mike, when I first asked about the wnaha, you never mentioned that DIY was extremely addictive. I mean, I'm almost trying to justify to myself that I need another headamp ferchrissakes!!!  However, I have asked Scott Nixon to send over one of his pcbs for the dac kit - without the chips... Oh I really am a glutton for punishment. Mind you, got some good tips on pink fish from Andy Weekes for soldering said chips. I have located the CS8414 from Taiwan via ebay, and Cricklewood have the TDA1543. So I just need to wait on the stuffing guide to order the rest of the bits. I think a matching Hammond (wnaha is in the larger Hammond) is in order. Looking forward to it!  |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 25, 2005 20:38:55 GMT
May as well expand this section of the forum! Mike, when I first asked about the wnaha, you never mentioned that DIY was extremely addictive. I mean, I'm almost trying to justify to myself that I need another headamp ferchrissakes!!! However, I have asked Scott Nixon to send over one of his pcbs for the dac kit - without the chips... Oh I really am a glutton for punishment. Mind you, got some good tips on pink fish from Andy Weekes for soldering said chips. I have located the CS8414 from Taiwan via ebay, and Cricklewood have the TDA1543. So I just need to wait on the stuffing guide to order the rest of the bits. I think a matching Hammond (wnaha is in the larger Hammond) is in order. Looking forward to it! It's very addictive Rod! I've just finished building the WNA MKll and want to build something else..... some people are satisfied with the end result and are content listening to it and you never hear from then again, I'm never content and would love to be soldering all day long  . I don't know what to try next, the only UK DIY amp I haven't had a go at is the WAD valve amp and that's next on my list. I've obviously got a fetish for amps, maybe I need to branch out and widen my horizons and build a DAC, have you got a link to Scott Nixon? I'm up for putting one together myself. Mike. EDIT: Had a scout about and his DAC's look really good www.scott-nixon.com/dac.htm US based (I was hoping he was UK based) Maybe WNA can develop a KITY DAC? Must ask! |
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Post by rod on Jan 25, 2005 21:57:16 GMT
I specifically chose to buy just the pcb to avoid customs and tax charges. The pcb is $35 ($10 shipping), about £18 - £20. That's about the level where you will not be charged anything, although lots of folks are lucky with more expensive items, you take your chance, etc.
There was a bit of dac-kit building on the WAD forum, I think. Kit Taylor on pink fish has a recent thread on building his own diy non oversampling dac. There are a few ready-built on ebay, usually from Taiwan or HK, that are cheap, but that defeats the diy thang. There are a number of other kits to be had, but some are quite expensive - Audio Note, Hawk Audio (see the TNT website).
I am looking forward to the challenge! Mind you, I have to admit buying two CS8414s on ebay... just in case... if I get it right first time, then I can do another later!
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StevieDvd
<100
Superman of Stevenage
Posts: 15
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Post by StevieDvd on Jan 26, 2005 11:38:35 GMT
Strange I put a thread on the WNA section as I believe that WNA had mentioned a diy dac at one stage on their own forum.
I have one of the HK diy built dacs which I use with my PC and am quite happy with it. I'd prefer a UK provider then I could have sorted a few issues like having both optical & coax input. I also had an odd idea of merging an amp into the dac to make it one unit - cutting out some of the connects etc.
The pcb the guy used looks very professional and the components used top notch. Well except the acrylic case and rubbish psu. That's all resolved it's in a hammond and runs off 12v battery now.
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Alick
<100
The Fife Panther strikes again!
Posts: 41
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Post by Alick on Jan 26, 2005 13:28:45 GMT
It's in this link: www.audiocircle.com/circles/viewtopic.php?t=7712&sid=54147fd0a615d9d419cf70f068154738David's reason for not progressing it? 'Its a time thing. Since someone was kind enough to document building one of my headphone amplifiers on h****i, I've been completely inundated with orders. ' Every silver lining has a cloud.  It's not such an odd idea. This product www.aprilmusic.com/products/products_dp200.htm is a combined DAC/pre-amp/head-amp and got a rave review in 'Hi Fi' choice last year (and picked up an award in their annual review). It's not a kit though and it costs around £800. The review compared the head amp performance favourably with that of the MF X-Can V3. |
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Post by rod on Jan 26, 2005 18:18:14 GMT
Hi Alick
Have to say, if David had produced both a budget and a relatively expensive dac, I for one would have bought the full kit (either one, depending upon cost), including pre-mounted chips, from him. The only reason I went overseas was to get the pcb and CS8414.
As far as the Stello Pre / Dac / Headamp goes - fantastic idea! If I hadn't hit the diy trail, I would most likely had a look at one. Now, I can't imagine buying anything that could reasonably be built by myself. Both for fun and sound / pound.
Now if David could come up with a similar idea...
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Alick
<100
The Fife Panther strikes again!
Posts: 41
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Post by Alick on Jan 26, 2005 19:17:41 GMT
I seriously considered the Stello when I was looking for a DAC and wanted to upgrade my X-Can V2, but they didn't have any in the UK at the time, it was a wee bit too dear and I didn't really need the pre-amp and felt I'd be paying quite a lot for a function I wouldn't use. I do believe it's a good product. I'm glad I waited though. I ended up buying the well regarded but cheap M-Audio 2496 SuperDAC which I'm very pleased with and I built the WNA which I'm more than pleased with.
Well, if he ever manages to find the time to develop the DAC, there are already head-amp and pre-amp designs which could be packaged with it. You could even go one better and build in a cross-feed.
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Post by rod on Jan 26, 2005 19:47:24 GMT
Hmmm... ... I have a wnaha, a crossfeed, and a dac on the way. They could be taken apart, and rebuilt Frankenstein-style into a super predacheadfeed.   ;D Too many horror movies as a child, I think. |
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 26, 2005 20:14:39 GMT
Hmmm... ... I have a wnaha, a crossfeed, and a dac on the way. They could be taken apart, and rebuilt Frankenstein-style into a super predacheadfeed. ;D You could always name it a Predickheadfeed ;D  |
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Alick
<100
The Fife Panther strikes again!
Posts: 41
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Post by Alick on Jan 26, 2005 20:19:14 GMT
"How does he smell?"
"I really don't want to know ..."
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Post by rod on Jan 26, 2005 20:21:01 GMT
on the ball Mike!
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Post by rod on Jan 28, 2005 19:19:12 GMT
Scott Nixon pcb on it's way, so is CS8414 from Taiwan.
I asked Scott for the stuffing guide, but he suggested I wait for the pcb, as size will matter (ooer! missus!) in some places.
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;D