Recent DAC Purchase

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • peterS
    Super Senior Member
    • Dec 2005
    • 1038

    Recent DAC Purchase

    here is a recent DAC I purchased



    the good: separate transformers for analog and digital stages. AD797 Op Amps and lots of poly caps. Cirrus CS4396 DAC. The USB does NOT use the TI 2706/7. Over all probably just a populated app note for Cirrus ICs with high quality OP amps and other components - not sure what else you could want besides differential outputs. Very impressive for $200!

    the bad: kind of a tacky/ cheap project box, especially the face plate and volume knob. No button to change inputs (don't lose the remote!)
    Last edited by peterS; 04 July 2013, 12:40 Thursday. Reason: *poly caps
  • wkhanna
    Grumpy Old Super Moderator Emeritus
    • Jan 2006
    • 5673

    #2
    Peter, I moved your post to our new digital forum for the sake of continuity.
    _


    Bill

    Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
    ....just an "ON" switch, Please!

    FinleyAudio

    Comment

    • peterS
      Super Senior Member
      • Dec 2005
      • 1038

      #3
      OK- sorry about that!

      Comment

      • wkhanna
        Grumpy Old Super Moderator Emeritus
        • Jan 2006
        • 5673

        #4
        No es problima, mi amigo.

        That is why we are here, my good friend!
        _


        Bill

        Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
        ....just an "ON" switch, Please!

        FinleyAudio

        Comment

        • PewterTA
          Moderator
          • Nov 2004
          • 2901

          #5
          That looks pretty cool!

          Have you tried it against other "known" DACs to get an idea where it stands!?!? I'd definitely be curious to hear it! Anytime you make your way to Pittsburgh, PA Bill and I will be waiting!
          Digital Audio makes me Happy.
          -Dan

          Comment

          • peterS
            Super Senior Member
            • Dec 2005
            • 1038

            #6
            The only thing I have DAC wise is an inexpensive headphone amp using the TI 2706/7. I could use this thing as a headphone amp to run some comparisons. By the way I'm located in State College

            Comment

            • peterS
              Super Senior Member
              • Dec 2005
              • 1038

              #7
              *will update tomorrow*

              Comment

              • wkhanna
                Grumpy Old Super Moderator Emeritus
                • Jan 2006
                • 5673

                #8
                State College!
                I was in school there eons ago.
                Dan (PewterTA) & I are Pittsburgh......
                Hidy Hoe, neighbor!!
                _


                Bill

                Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
                ....just an "ON" switch, Please!

                FinleyAudio

                Comment

                • peterS
                  Super Senior Member
                  • Dec 2005
                  • 1038

                  #9
                  I've been here for eons! Finishing up a phd in electromagnetics 8O

                  Comment

                  • wkhanna
                    Grumpy Old Super Moderator Emeritus
                    • Jan 2006
                    • 5673

                    #10
                    wow, we have a Dr in the house!

                    Well done, Dr. S!
                    _


                    Bill

                    Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
                    ....just an "ON" switch, Please!

                    FinleyAudio

                    Comment

                    • peterS
                      Super Senior Member
                      • Dec 2005
                      • 1038

                      #11
                      So I've been listening to it as a headphone amp powering beyer dynamic DT 990 and I like it a lot. I pretty much listen to Pandora one 40-80 hrs a week; so its unfortunately compressed music to begin with. Initially I felt the sound was a little bright when listening to a CD but quickly realized that the source was most likely to blame due to a 'hot' recording. I'll have to try this with some better recordings.

                      Previously, I used an 'Aune' headphone amp utilizing the Ti PCM2706/7 IC complete with wall wart (~$150)- I do think the design uses I2C from the PCM2706/7 to another dac but I am not sure. Regardless, its not a fair comparison beyond the comparable price points, the HLLY can definitely power high impedance headphones and just sounds a lot better at higher volumes. Also, I was incorrect that a remote was needed, pushing the volume button in lets you cycle through different features such as turning on/off the pre out or the headphone out. The volume control is obviously digital and the slope is linear which I am not a fan of but I am not aware of any digital volume controls that are logarithmic. It would be interesting to see where the $250 HLLY dac stands against more expensive units.
                      Last edited by peterS; 10 July 2013, 17:23 Wednesday.

                      Comment

                      • PewterTA
                        Moderator
                        • Nov 2004
                        • 2901

                        #12
                        PeterS, if you ever make it to Pittsburgh, let Bill and I know... we'll have a get together and you can come meet us and (if we can get them) a few others! We hardly ever turn down a friendly audio meet & greet!

                        I've listened to some Pandora on my Yamaha and I have to say it's very impressive. Course I've also listened to some streaming Jazz that's very impressive as well!
                        Digital Audio makes me Happy.
                        -Dan

                        Comment

                        • peterS
                          Super Senior Member
                          • Dec 2005
                          • 1038

                          #13
                          sounds good

                          Comment

                          • JonMarsh
                            Mad Max Moderator
                            • Aug 2000
                            • 15261

                            #14
                            Originally posted by peterS
                            I've been here for eons! Finishing up a phd in electromagnetics 8O
                            Electromagnetically- definitely not lightweight!

                            Does this little gem handle high res sources?
                            the AudioWorx
                            Natalie P
                            M8ta
                            Modula Neo DCC
                            Modula MT XE
                            Modula Xtreme
                            Isiris
                            Wavecor Ardent

                            SMJ
                            Minerva Monitor
                            Calliope
                            Ardent D

                            In Development...
                            Isiris Mk II updates- in final test stage!
                            Obi-Wan
                            Saint-Saƫns Symphonique/AKA SMJ-40
                            Modula PWB
                            Calliope CC Supreme
                            Natalie P Ultra
                            Natalie P Supreme
                            Janus BP1 Sub


                            Resistance is not futile, it is Volts divided by Amperes...
                            Just ask Mr. Ohm....

                            Comment

                            • peterS
                              Super Senior Member
                              • Dec 2005
                              • 1038

                              #15
                              Windows downloads a driver for it and it is recognized as a 24bit/96kHz dac. I don't have any 24 bit music on my computer and I assumed it wouldn't accept SACD digitaly but I can try.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              😀
                              😂
                              🥰
                              😘
                              🤢
                              😎
                              😞
                              😡
                              👍
                              👎
                              Searching...Please wait.
                              An unexpected error was returned: 'Your submission could not be processed because you have logged in since the previous page was loaded.

                              Please push the back button and reload the previous window.'
                              An unexpected error was returned: 'Your submission could not be processed because the token has expired.

                              Please push the back button and reload the previous window.'
                              An internal error has occurred and the module cannot be displayed.
                              There are no results that meet this criteria.
                              Search Result for "|||"