This isn't quite finished, because I've got more tests to do to document things, but a project I've been working on which is sort of kit/DIY DAC(actually, a kit which I built into a different chasis with just a few tweaks) has exceeded it's original goals, and so I'm a bit excited about this.
Some background- I've got my trusty old Sony XA7ES in the shop to repair a transport problem, and I've very much wanted to upgrade it's performance on the DAC converter side- it was a great unit at it's pricepoint when introduced in 1997, is built like the proverbial tank, but experience with my SCD 777ES shows that more transparent and clearer CD playabck is achievable - at the usual price, of course.
This afternoon I'm listening to the DAC kit I bought for the XA7ES, connected to the SCD-777ES. I was hoping that it's Redbook CD performance would approach the 777ES.
Wellll, folks, we overshot the mark a little bit!
Which means I'm going to have to build two of these. Good thing it's not very expensive- just a bit time consuming.
What I'm listening to is an MP-DAC III, from Hawk Audio, in the Netherlands.
Hawk Audio
This is an interesting DAC design using a Crystal Semiconductor reciever chip with an SPDIF isolation transformer, a Crystal Semiconductor 4390 24 bit Delta Sigma DAC, and a discrete zero feedback output buffer with a five pole passive CLCRC filter. Yup, no opamps in the signal path, only one buffer stage. The power supply is very well designed, using separate analog and digital transformers, with multiple regulators, combining both series pass regulators for primary regulation, and dedicated shunt regulators at every digital power pin and all analog supplies for both channels. It has more storage capacitance than a lot of power amplifiers I've opened up. That includes good names, like Aragon.
The one in the pic below which I've nearly finished building is in my own chasis (saves money, I had one around already, though you can also buy it with a black rack chasis). Also, this one has an EMI/EMC filter on the input for additional isolation and noise suppression.
More details later. Gotta do a work out, and off to the theater tonight- "Chorus Line".
Did I mention the parts kit without chasis is under $550 Euro's?
-Later
Jon
Earth First!
_______________________________
We'll screw up the other planets later....
Some background- I've got my trusty old Sony XA7ES in the shop to repair a transport problem, and I've very much wanted to upgrade it's performance on the DAC converter side- it was a great unit at it's pricepoint when introduced in 1997, is built like the proverbial tank, but experience with my SCD 777ES shows that more transparent and clearer CD playabck is achievable - at the usual price, of course.
This afternoon I'm listening to the DAC kit I bought for the XA7ES, connected to the SCD-777ES. I was hoping that it's Redbook CD performance would approach the 777ES.
Wellll, folks, we overshot the mark a little bit!
Which means I'm going to have to build two of these. Good thing it's not very expensive- just a bit time consuming.
What I'm listening to is an MP-DAC III, from Hawk Audio, in the Netherlands.
Hawk Audio
This is an interesting DAC design using a Crystal Semiconductor reciever chip with an SPDIF isolation transformer, a Crystal Semiconductor 4390 24 bit Delta Sigma DAC, and a discrete zero feedback output buffer with a five pole passive CLCRC filter. Yup, no opamps in the signal path, only one buffer stage. The power supply is very well designed, using separate analog and digital transformers, with multiple regulators, combining both series pass regulators for primary regulation, and dedicated shunt regulators at every digital power pin and all analog supplies for both channels. It has more storage capacitance than a lot of power amplifiers I've opened up. That includes good names, like Aragon.
The one in the pic below which I've nearly finished building is in my own chasis (saves money, I had one around already, though you can also buy it with a black rack chasis). Also, this one has an EMI/EMC filter on the input for additional isolation and noise suppression.
More details later. Gotta do a work out, and off to the theater tonight- "Chorus Line".
Did I mention the parts kit without chasis is under $550 Euro's?
-Later
Jon
Earth First!
_______________________________
We'll screw up the other planets later....
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