New HQ DIY DAC

[leo]

Its really starting to look a serious bit of kit Alex, keep those updates coming.

Nice work on the JLH's Greg, the look of these have come on a lot compared to the early ones we was home etching, layout looks top notch

[Deleted]

Mar 23, 2010 22:21:05 GMT leo said:

Its really starting to look a serious bit of kit Alex, keep those updates coming.

Nice work on the JLH's Greg, the look of these have come on a lot compared to the early ones we was home etching, layout looks top notch

Leo
No more regular updates from me for a while.I will leave further updates to Jeff and Alfred etc. I just quickly tried it from the PC , and it IS better than the X-DAC V3 now. I need to be able to get some quiet time with the family out, for some serious listening through the main sytem, and not just DTV."Rebecca Pidgeon-The Raven"sounded even better, as did a couple of tracks from "Papa Doo Run Run-California Project".
Alex

P.S.
High resolution material has further improved, and as for "Nora Jones-Come Away With Me", it's bloomin' incredible !!! (thanks for the OTT censorship reaction Mike ! Don't get into any arguments next time you are in town, you might get a bloody nose ! )

If I can't improve the X-DAC V3 much more, I may need to get another SC DAC complete kit with metalwork (this time) from Altronics.

[Deleted]

Mar 23, 2010 22:21:05 GMT leo said:

Its really starting to look a serious bit of kit Alex, keep those updates coming.

Thanks Alex for testing the prototype for me. Without Alex I would never known if these PCBs actually work. I have one fully stuffed but I have never connected it to power.

I must admit, when is looked at Alex latest pictures of the SC DAC I thought, "what are those little PCBs without any silkscreens". Hmmmm... should I ask Alex for the schematic and make a few PCBs.

Mar 23, 2010 22:21:05 GMT leo said:

Nice work on the JLH's Greg, the look of these have come on a lot compared to the early ones we was home etching, layout looks top notch

Thanks Leo and the others that have commented. I feel a little embarrassed seeing my name in print. The layout is pretty much based on the original article and I did look at the other PCBs that had already been made. The original PCB design was done in 2008, it takes me a long time to get things done, I should have said a long, long time.

This was my second PCB to actually make it to the fabricators and I am pleased with the result.

Hopefully, I will be able to get Alex to replace the prototypes with the next batch. Probably not, because they will work the same but look just a little better.

regards

[jeffc]

Back home after a week in Bangladesh and just starting to feel 'right' again after a good dose of Bangla-belly. Antibiotics are a good thing.

On the SC-DAC, after Alex's recent investigations on the DAC IC 5V supplies, which is pretty much the last thing untweaked for me, except maybe for separation of the digital and analogue grounds on the DAC PCB, I might not have too many more updates either. That 5V Cricket supply looks it will lie idle for the time being at least. Certainly I am very very contented with its SQ as it is, and might spend some time now casing it up, living with it for a while, undertaking some comparisons in systems of friends, and then "maybe" playing about more with supplies, cap flavours etc.

Looking forward to impressions of you other guys now building this. As I've mentioned on a couple of occasions, and as now confirmed by Alex, for a modest cost, with tweaks implemented as described, this DAC will not be embarrassed by any DAC out there for . Now to find a good, ultra low-jitter digital source to feed it SPDIF. Hopefully my Trends UD10 USB DAC/SPDIF convertor will be just that, but will let you know.

And it might be time now for that "concise SC-DAC tweaks compilation" Alex seeing your soldering iron is taking a break. ;D

cheers.. jeffc

[Deleted]

On the SC-DAC, after Alex's recent investigations on the DAC IC 5V supplies, which is pretty much the last thing untweaked for me

Jeff
Do you have available 1/2 a JLH for the +5V feed to the DAC ?
Alex

And it might be time now for that "concise SC-DAC tweaks compilation" Alex seeing your soldering iron is taking a break.

We still need further confirmation. Some people think that I imagine hearing things !

[jeffc]

Alex, for someone more mature in vintage with all your BP ups and downs affecting what you hear, I think most about here respect your impressions of what sounds 'right'. ;D

With your persuasion and as I had some time this arvo I removed Reg5 and its accompanying diode from the DAC PCB and replaced this with over longish wires to the 5V JLH fed from the Jaycar 5V PSU that I’ve been using all along to supply 5V to the receiver PCB.

Sonic changes pretty much as you have described, more sumptuous, richly textured and sweet presentation. Still plenty of detail too. I just have a touch of wooliness in the bass but I suspect this is due to other cap changes I’ve made that I need to look into. However, once this is solved, I can’t imagine wanting to swap back to the onboard 5V reg.

Now on to casing this baby up at last. ;D

cheers..jeffc

[Deleted]

Jeff
Don't screw the lid on too tight.

We still haven't fully explored completely separating Analogue and Digital supply rails. ;D
Alex

[Deleted]

Interesting comment from Admin in XXHE Forum.


Audio Loudspeaker

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www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=1128.0
Clean power = better sound?
« on: February 23, 2010, 05:46:02 pm »

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Started this topic as I would like to pick opinions regarding how much really improves the SQ if all devices participating in music reproduction are connected via some sort of power cleaner or power conditioner or similar? I do not have experience into this, so please share yours...

Can someone confirm that moving from direct wall power to the filtered one brings all the stuff to another level?

Ivo

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Re: Clean power = better sound?
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2010, 05:57:54 pm »

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I think I can : usually you'll loose dynamics, but it depends on the device in question.

Today I am quite convinced it isn't about these things, but about clean power to the DAC only, and this plays a role, well, just inside the DAC. At least that is what I managed/created. I can show you noise from the mains at -100dB with nasty things at -55dB (which latter are special to my house only), but I can also show you unmeasurable noise. Same mains, same house, same wall outlets ... different DAC. The pictures (of measurement) are all in this forum somewhere. (so, this is not about measuring a DAC, but just what comes from the loudspeakers as the total result of (added) noise in your system)

[Deleted]

I've actually made a start this morning! Not the quickest out of the blocks, I know

Anyway, I have a different transformer this time, Jaycar MT2086 details here.

Am I correct to assume the wiring as:-
orange and orange = mains in ( no polarity? )
secondaries out =
red and white joined to "0v"
yellow and purple to "+" and "-" each.?

Thanks in advance,

Chris

[Deleted]

Apr 6, 2010 7:22:25 GMT @cjarchez said:

I've actually made a start this morning! Not the quickest out of the blocks, I know

Anyway, I have a different transformer this time, Jaycar MT2086 details here.

Am I correct to assume the wiring as:-
orange and orange = mains in ( no polarity? )
secondaries out =
red and white joined to "0v"
yellow and purple to "+" and "-" each.?

Thanks in advance,

Chris

Hi Chris
Yes, you are correct. Which way around the other 2 secondary wires go does not matter. Just make sure that the joined red and white wires go to the centre terminal of the 3 terminal connecting block.
Alex

[Deleted]

Thanks Alex!

Chris

[Deleted]

After a verrrrrrrrrrrry long delay and short pockets of time to get anything done, I have actually put this beastie together!

I have built it with the cap & resistor changes and omitted components as outlined by Alex ( and caps provided by Alex too, many thanks ) BUT no JLHs or "crickets" as yet.

To my gob-smacked pleasure, all testing went to plan, first time, and I have a fully functioning SC DAC
This is very much thanks to Alex, and others, who have posted their experiences with their builds and allowed me to dive in armed with plenty of extra build info, thanks guys.

To my extra pleasure, the SC DAC comfortably out performs the on board DAC in a Marantz CD52II, in its current guise. In the fullness of time I will certainly be adding the JLHs, crickets and oscillator change ( anybody know where I can get one? ), especially after all the glowing reports!

Soooo, here is the wee waa beastie, very ugly at the moment cobbled into a test chassis.

Ready for testing...



...and fully functioning



So ALL that is left to do is the other mods/additions and build a case

I've bunged in the rest of the piccys below, as they may possibly be of help to another builder, to whit, if I can do it then so can YOU! So get on with it

Input board topside


Input board trackside


Input board backlit


Output baord topside


Ouput board trackside


Output board backlit

[Deleted]

Chris
Great work, and good to see that it not only worked first go, but is already a little better than the internal DAC in the player.
The rest of the build can be done a piece at a time, and I would suggest starting off with 2 dual JLHs if possible,(or 3 of Jon's singles.)
I would leave the oscillator to last . The dual JLH by itself will give quite a further improvement.
Alex

P.S.
Perhaps even Leo could get one of these working ?

[leo]

Apr 21, 2010 21:13:14 GMT @sandyk said:

P.S.
Perhaps even Leo could get one of these working ?

Nah, be too hard for me, not enough surface mount components

[Spirit]

Apr 23, 2010 1:09:24 GMT leo said:

Nah, be too hard for me, not enough surface mount components

Leo would have to step back to the doorway to be able to see what he was doing with through-hole components ;D

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2010 2:51:50 GMT Spirit said:

Apr 23, 2010 1:09:24 GMT leo said:

Nah, be too hard for me, not enough surface mount components

Leo would have to step back to the doorway to be able to see what he was doing with through-hole components ;D

So they now have Surface Mount non polarised capacitors and resistors etc. that are every bit as good as audibly, as some that we are using in the SC DAC ? Let's see them come up with SM Audio I.C.s that sound as good as the same die in a metal can type too.

[jeffc]

SC-DAC build is lookin' really neat Chris,

Glad to hear its not sounding too shabby already, but there is certainly more performance to be had with additional mods as per Alex's recommended tweaks list. And let me know if you decide to try a CVXO, as I have one spare.

cheers.. jeffc

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2010 11:58:23 GMT jeffc said:

SC-DAC build is lookin' really neat Chris,

Glad to hear its not sounding too shabby already, but there is certainly more performance to be had with additional mods as per Alex's recommended tweaks list. And let me know if you decide to try a CVXO, as I have one spare.

cheers.. jeffc

Many thanks Jeff.
Yes, I will be working my way through Alexs list, sourcing parts at the mo.

Thanks also for the offer on the CVXO, please put my name on it!

Chris

[leo]

Apr 23, 2010 3:08:45 GMT @sandyk said:

Apr 23, 2010 2:51:50 GMT Spirit said:

Leo would have to step back to the doorway to be able to see what he was doing with through-hole components ;D

So they now have Surface Mount non polarised capacitors and resistors etc. that are every bit as good as audibly, as some that we are using in the SC DAC ? Let's see them come up with SM Audio I.C.s that sound as good as the same die in a metal can type too.

I was just pulling your leg the last dac I built using a bare pcb was 80% smd, the IC's, resistors etc had to be soldered by hand.

I just wish more care had been taken with the SC dac layout , tracks tighter , a dual layered board would have been much easier for them

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2010 18:12:06 GMT leo said:

Apr 23, 2010 3:08:45 GMT @sandyk said:

So they now have Surface Mount non polarised capacitors and resistors etc. that are every bit as good as audibly, as some that we are using in the SC DAC ? Let's see them come up with SM Audio I.C.s that sound as good as the same die in a metal can type too.

I was just pulling your leg the last dac I built using a bare pcb was 80% smd, the IC's, resistors etc had to be soldered by hand.

I just wish more care had been taken with the SC dac layout , tracks tighter , a dual layered board would have been much easier for them

Leo
Of course I knew that. I was just pointing out for our friend from the "Sunshine" state that you can't readily obtain high quality capacitors such as polypropylenes etc. in SMD. These things DO improve audible results .
You can use better quality components in designs like the SC DAC.
Yes, dual layered PCBs would have been nice, but considering that I obtained my basic kit for <AU $100, complete with the DIR9001 and DSD1796 already fitted, I certainly am not about to complain !
Alex

[Spirit]

But Alex,
Mr [Anthony] Michaelson said all caps sound the same ;D

[Deleted]

Apr 24, 2010 1:30:42 GMT Spirit said:

But Alex,
Mr [Anthony] Michaelson said all caps sound the same ;D

[mrarroyo]

Alex, Florida is the Sunshine State! Are you sure that is a good dac? I mean it does not have any valves.

[Deleted]

Apr 24, 2010 1:45:09 GMT mrarroyo said:

Alex, Florida is the Sunshine State! Are you sure that is a good dac? I mean it does not have any valves.

Miguel
Unless you can find somebody to make you the latest Buffalo DAC with Paul Hynes regulators, it could in fully modified form be close to, if not as good as the best you have heard.
Alex

[Deleted]

I've now received enough parts to build the JLHs for the DAC.

Just one question before I proceed....

The single JLH for the +5v supply, does it need any component changes from the +15v version?

Thanks in advance,

Chris