ESS Saber DAC

[Deleted]

Thanks Alex

I had another look at Will's pic and I see its clear he has looped a feed round to the other input. I always find it difficult to find an article on how to build a quality power supply and the 5V was the same so I've ordered from Paul Hynes as he seems well respected here. At least I'll not blow anything up!
Syd

[jonclancy]

Syd, have you thought about an ALWSR reg?

www.at-view.co.uk/alwsr.htm

Jon

Edit: sorry, I see you've ordered from PH. I doubt you'll be disappointed with that reg - PH's work is very highly thought of.

[Deleted]

Jon
I suddenly got impatient to hear it and Alex confirmed the Jaycar was fine for 15V but I needed a 5v source and couldn't see anything on how to build one so I mistakenly assumed the PH regulators came complete and ordered 'blind', I now know I still need a rectifier etc before them! No regrets though. Your link looks interesting, and all it led on to.


Syd

[leo]

Aug 7, 2009 23:14:32 GMT mrarroyo said:

Sept 17, 2008 18:32:15 GMT leo said:

...

One of the worst commercial ones for the price to my ears was the Benchmark, its not crap, far from it but I didn't think it was worth the money at all

I agree, to me the cheaper Oriteck V4.1 DAC was better sounding. The Oriteck DAC started life as a plain Zhaoulu 2.5 he modified including a discreet output stage.

If you like female vocals give the Benchmark a miss

I've not heard the Oriteck but the guys who own one all seem happy with it

[Spirit]

What's the current state of play of your 32S Leo?

Are you using PH Regs as per the old Buffalo
(
1 x Z1A-3v3 positive shunt regulator which supplies main 3.3v and onboard Crystek 80mhz XO

1 x PR3G-1v2 positive series regulator supplying Sabres core and VDD1.2v

2 x Z1703v3 50mA positive shunt regulator supplying the Sabres left and right AVCC (VREF)

1 x Z1A-15 150mA positive shunt regulator set to 150mA supplying the +15v of the IVY I/V stage

1 x Z1N-15 150mA negative shunt regulator set to 150mA supplying the -15v of the IVY I/V stage
)

or is there something different going on now? ;D

How's it sound?

(my next project... quite shortly I hope)

[leo]

Sorry, I've been a little busy so not had a lot of time to get on the forum I'm away for a week in the morning so will try and be a bit more helpful when I get back

when things have cooled off I'm hoping to try some more regs with the Buffalo32s, starting off with using a series reg for the digitals pre-reg and then maybe removing the onboard ones and fitting shunts same as I did for the Buffalo.
I promise to post soon as
Still lots to try with this one yet

[Will]

Had a good listen to my buffalo this evening, and the end result, not surprisingly, is that I very pleased with what I hear.

It's currently powered by a standard LM317/337 regulator for analog, and a single LM317 for the digital (basically my dual reg and a single rail version) Although Leo has found the sound of the buffalo to be superior with the PH regs, a basic PSU certainly sounds good enough to allow you to appreciate the DAC. I am intending to upgrade the PSU to PH regs on the analog as a minimum, but that may be next year some time.

The DAC has been burning in for the last 3 weeks at my Dad's house. Although he been feeding Willie Nelson, Boxcar Willie, Nanci Griffith and the like though, no long term damage appears to have occurred . If you look at the SC class A thread here rockgrotto.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=m&action=display&thread=3977&page=8#51234 you'll see the type of music I typically listen to.

Previous DAC's listened too were the inbuilt one in the Arcam Alpha, Cambridge Audio Dacmagic, and the El cheapo (with LM4562NA/JLH)

In general the DAC sounds very, very clean. It does not seem to have any emphasis anywhere. To break into the three areas, Bass is plentiful, defined with the timbre of notes being apparent. Voices sound realistic and treble extends without being sharp or hissy, unless it's in the recording. It shows up recording imperfections clearly, but not so that you can't enjoy the music, you just know that there is something incorrect. It's also very easy to choose to pick a certain voice or instrument and then just follow that through the piece.

Whereas before I was aware that something was not quite right with the music (bass a bit light, treble a bit spitty, that sort of thing) I'm now not aware of the DAC having an influence. The fact that It'll only get better is a bonus!

I've only listened to CD's at the moment, but hope to listen to some hi-rez over the weekend.

[leo]

Try seperate transformers for the output stage Will (one for left, one for right)
Russ said theres a small difference, not what I heard here
Listening to some high res files Alex sent, made my toes curl I tell you

[leo]

BTW I can assure that this thing I'm listening to here would spank a Benchmark dac BADLY
Did I mention I'm using a Never connected PSU for the VD as temp fix

[Deleted]

Sept 2, 2009 0:27:43 GMT leo said:

BTW I can assure that this thing I'm listening to here would spank a Benchmark dac BADLY
Did I mention I'm using a Never connected PSU for the VD as temp fix

Leo
I felt that my modified X-DAC V3 did exactly that with a new Benchmark DAC, although Allan may not agree on the margin.
Obviously, my friend who also has a modded X-DAC V3 agreed, because after the comparisons, he decided not to wait and see if the Benchmark which he only received a day or 2 earlier ,was reliable before opening it up, but on the next day (Sunday) had retrofitted SM LM4562s.
The Benchmark USB DAC is a good DAC, but perhaps a little overhyped ?
Alex

P.S. How did the 16/44.1 track (DS-L.O.G.)compare with the previous rip ?

[Will]

Sept 2, 2009 0:23:27 GMT leo said:

Try seperate transformers for the output stage Will (one for left, one for right)
Russ said theres a small difference, not what I heard here
Listening to some high res files Alex sent, made my toes curl I tell you

With the transformers, are you referring to the el cheapo, and missing out the I/V?

Now I've woken up, I realise you mean the B32s ; Are you talking supply transformers, or grabbing the diff. output from the dac, and using them? I've have got a transformer ready and built into the transformer casing (similar to what I've done over in the SC class A thread), so that each output stage stage can have it's own traffo. Just need to build a PSU and give it a whirl.

I placed an order with Farnell last night, I'll have to wait until the next to get the output traffo's. Amongst the bits ordered, I ordered bits for the simplistic shunt, from Diyaudio. I'll try it on Vd first, and compare with the standard regulator. It's pretty easy to build, so will post details here for the B32s we have kicking around.

Whats's this Never connected PSU?

I'll get the JLH's for the class a finished this weekend, so I'm saving the latest Alex files for then.

[Spirit]

Yunno... I *could* order one tomorrow. Would involve taking minimal amounts of money out of an account I shouldn't.... and *not* putting money *into* said account.

I'm trying to be good.

You're making it hard.


Incidentally, it's nice to read through diyaudio/the other place, and discover Will and Leo and John and Alex under their respective aliases

[Will]

Sept 2, 2009 8:06:30 GMT Spirit said:

Yunno... I *could* order one tomorrow. Would involve taking minimal amounts of money out of an account I shouldn't.... and *not* putting money *into* said account.

I'm trying to be good.

You're making it hard.


Incidentally, it's nice to read through diyaudio/the other place, and discover Will and Leo and John and Alex under their respective aliases

What, all 11 posts?

Would this help you splash the cash?

www.twistedpearaudio.com/outlet/parts.aspx

I'f I hadn't have bought the B32s, I would have snapped this up.

[Spirit]

Nup

Prefer the 32S by a long shot, especially if the Placid which is juuuuust about ready for sale is any good as a PS...

[leo]

Sept 2, 2009 6:33:10 GMT Will said:

Sept 2, 2009 0:23:27 GMT leo said:

Try seperate transformers for the output stage Will (one for left, one for right)
Russ said theres a small difference, not what I heard here
Listening to some high res files Alex sent, made my toes curl I tell you

With the transformers, are you referring to the el cheapo, and missing out the I/V?

Now I've woken up, I realise you mean the B32s ; Are you talking supply transformers, or grabbing the diff. output from the dac, and using them? I've have got a transformer ready and built into the transformer casing (similar to what I've done over in the SC class A thread), so that each output stage stage can have it's own traffo. Just need to build a PSU and give it a whirl.

I placed an order with Farnell last night, I'll have to wait until the next to get the output traffo's. Amongst the bits ordered, I ordered bits for the simplistic shunt, from Diyaudio. I'll try it on Vd first, and compare with the standard regulator. It's pretty easy to build, so will post details here for the B32s we have kicking around.

Whats's this Never connected PSU?

I'll get the JLH's for the class a finished this weekend, so I'm saving the latest Alex files for then.

Sorry Will, my fault, I should have been more clear, as you've noticed the B32s allows the output stage to be powered as mono, I wasn't expecting much especially because of all the mods etc , it actually brought a noticeable and worthwhile improvement ( the B32s isn't fully PH regged yet)

I'm not sure if it was changing to dual or E/I core transformers which made the improvement (originally was a single toroidal)

Never connected psu's is what Trichord use to power their clocks, its not the regulator which is clever its the DC before the reg is where the clever bit is, this is just a temp thing until I get the PH regged psu

[leo]

I admit to not being that impressed at first with the B32s but since running direct into cans balanced its one of the most detailed but neutral sources I've heard, the dac chip really is state of the art

Using an amp or headphones which adds warmth or colour WILL mask what this thing is capable of .
Some people will love this dac, others won't

[Will]

Leo, thanks for the clarification. I need to do some more etching, and get the second PSU fired up, with it's own traffo. It's only the PSU that needs building up, but I seem to have a list of jobs from the wife!

Did you try the dac straight into 'normal' headphones? I guess that the voltage swing across the headphones would be halved, but perhaps give a similar effect?
The B32s sounds good into my SC Class A, which I'm using with K701. I've built/use these as I hope they are considered fairly un-coloured! At the moment my new JLH's are 'wearing off the newness' so I not had a detailed listen since then.

Have you seen this here looks to be quite interesting, and hopefully will have more info soon.

[Deleted]

At the moment my new JLH's are 'wearing off the newness'

Will
My 2 new JLHs have now bedded in after 48 hours of use.
Alex

[Will]

These guys have had 18 hours of 'The Rhythm Method' from Rush's Show of Hands CD so far.

I'll leave it till tomorrow night until having a 'proper' listen!

[Deleted]

Will
These electros only need DC, so give the poor CD's laser a break !
Alex

[Will]

I am listening occasionally!, plus it's was a little chilly in that corner of the room. The efficiency of the Class A amp, acting as a small space heater, comes into it's own!

[leo]

Sept 5, 2009 10:38:10 GMT Will said:

Leo, thanks for the clarification. I need to do some more etching, and get the second PSU fired up, with it's own traffo. It's only the PSU that needs building up, but I seem to have a list of jobs from the wife!

Did you try the dac straight into 'normal' headphones? I guess that the voltage swing across the headphones would be halved, but perhaps give a similar effect?
The B32s sounds good into my SC Class A, which I'm using with K701. I've built/use these as I hope they are considered fairly un-coloured! At the moment my new JLH's are 'wearing off the newness' so I not had a detailed listen since then.

Have you seen this here looks to be quite interesting, and hopefully will have more info soon.

Line out will work but its not as good as Balanced (I've compared it) , I actually think its more to do with this particular output using differential op-amps OPA1632

The classA is a great HP amp, to my ears using it with the Buffalo's what made it clearly better than the SCHA, don't get me wrong the SCHA is also a great bit of kit!

I won't comment too much on the AKG K701 ;D

I've just had a look at the link , the 5 x regs look to be ALW super regs, I'd be cautious using the ALW's with the B32s, their excellent regs but the low impedance of the SEP polymer caps may cause instability problems, hard to say for sure without testing

The reg sticking up maybe for the XO (hard to see to be sure in the pic) , it looks like one of Paul Hynes mini shunts which would be very good here

Don't know if I mentioned it also but to save confusion the Paul Hynes regs I tried with the Buffalo32s are now back on the original Buffalo
Seems I'll be keeping this dac for much longer than I first thought, more later

[Deleted]

With the patient help of Will, I now have my DAC up and running, albeit spread over the floor not in a case. It already sounds pretty good to me though I am the first to admit that I have maybe tarnished silver ears rather than golden ones!

The Paul Hynes regulators are a few days overdue but hopefully will arrive soon. Meantime I am using an AK mods Jaycar and JLH for the 15v and one of Will's excellent singe rail devices for the 5v.

My next thought is to explore the feasibility of using a selector switch, preamp fashion, for several SPDIF inputs. I have this facility on my MF V8 DAC and it is really useful. I'd appreciate opinions on a suitable quality switch and if it would degrade the signal by much.
Syd

[Will]

4 Spdif input switcher seems to do the job, but appears pricey at $129.

As Syd asks, could a good quality switch be used, such as this be used instead? Why would it need to go through a digital switching circuit as sold by TP?

[Deleted]

Sept 7, 2009 0:27:43 GMT Will said:

4 Spdif input switcher seems to do the job, but appears pricey at $129.

As Syd asks, could a good quality switch be used, such as this be used instead? Why would it need to go through a digital switching circuit as sold by TP?

Will
Yes it can, although why would you need any more than 3 SPDIF inputs ? I would use something like the switch at the attached link, and tie all the shields of the cables together on an unused section of the switch. Use reasonable quality shielded cable, e.g. RG59, for all connections. This is what I did with the reclaimed case that is now used for the SC Class A HA's PSU. The rotary switch is stll fitted, but not used, to cover up the previous hole.
I am able to pick the improvement of SPDIF over Toslink, but I could not hear any apparent degradation by doing this.
Alex

www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=S3033

P.S.
As there are 4 poles on the switch, you could always wire another set of the contacts in parallel for improved reliability.
Don't forget to use good quality RCA plugs and sockets.
If Rick was around, he would quickly point out that this is far from technically best practice, but you want it on the cheap , so that's what the answer gives.