discrete dac mock up

[Rinaldo]

Hi CKL,

Thanks for the input.
That's true, the EVO clock is very cheap compared to it's pro sieblings.

Talking about powering the Hiface and Clock, have you compared different power sources ? (i.e. battery, linear PS, switched PS, ...)
Do you power both the Hiface and the Clock with the batteries ?

I still haven't taken the time to test different powering sources.

Cheers.
JP

[CKL]

Hi JP,

I use either Sanyo 9V/3Ah or Paul Hynes' 9V/1A to power both the DAC & the clock. Actually, I can't hear a big difference between them so both are very good.

Since you are using the MSB DAC, Evo is a piece of cake to you.

[Rinaldo]

Hello,

I'll try to find an enerloop 9v 3000mah battery over here.
Actually it looks it's not that easy, where did you get yours from ?

And I found somebody from whom I could borrow an EVO clock. I'll try to get it and test it next week-end.

If by any chance anybody who reads this thread knows about a clock what could also reclock the MSB Tech as well, let me know (MCLOCK on a 3.3v LVDS interface ! Yes I know  )

Thanks for the input and sorry for the OT Yeo 

JP

[CKL]

I got mine here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/753636-REG/Sanyo_KBC_9V3U_KBC_9V3U_Pedal_Juice.html

[Rinaldo]

Coooooooooooooooool
Thx
JP

[kp93300]

Hi
I notice that the bass improved if there is  B1 buffer at the output of the discrete monica.  However, the sound is less transparent and this may be due the presence of another cap in the signal path.
So i solder another set of 2sk70 in parallel with the on board B1 buffer.
The 2sk with the higher IDSS is placed further away from the Black gates output caps.

I have too many changes in my set up recently  and my  impressions may not be accurate. However, there is no deterioration in sound that I can detect.

Hope others will try and report back.

kp93300

[CKL]

Hi KP,

I also use the B1 buffer after the discrete DAC. Yes, there are input caps inside the B1. I will try to skip the B1.

 

[CKL]

Hi KP,

After removing the B1, the sound improves a lots. The discrete won Monica3 by a bit yesterday but wins a lots today!

Mostly is the huge improvement in transparency! No big difference in bass but the sound level is reduced. Not a big deal as the sound is still loud enough for me.

Discrete DAC (super-E output cap?) -> Eva2 (optical, no cap) -> Charlize2 (no input cap) -> DCA4 (full range, no crossover cap) + active sub-woofer

I am a big fan of Yeo and there is no input capacitor in the path. 

[kp93300]

CKL
Glad you like it.
I  plan to try different types of buffer . There is a point to tap the signal before the B1 buffer on the discrete monica.
Any suggestions for a simple buffer circuit ?
What about a  servo circuit to remove the black gates on board ?

cheers
kp93300

[CKL]

Hi KP,

I don't know. I think there shouldn't be any cap in the signal path for the buffer. Is it possible?

[kkerwin]

hi all
i tried some bybee musc rails in the regulator that is jumpered in the output section of discrete dac.
music rails create a .5v drop from the in to the out. this was a concern since the output is a little low for some systems.  it doesn;t seem to be a problem on my system, and the music rails result in a very distinct improvement in the sound. 
more highs and quite a bit more bass detail along with improvments in the presence of voices and instruments.
k

[yeo]

hi guys

i wasn't happy with the power supply so i did another power supply pcb. this time with shunt regulation. also as i was experimenting with transformer coupling at the output, figured might as well incorporate to the pcb. the pcb is now slightly larger.

initially i tried this certain transformer, recommended by a friend but it hummed like hell as it is unshielded though the mumetal shielding cover is available for purchase. but then i remember i have some transformers some where at home.

tried out some of them and like the effects. with mumetal shielding, no hum at all! mumetal shielding is good stuff.

here's a photo of an implementation. the usb-i2s board is here the waveio.

yeo

[CKL]

It seems that XMOS might be the best USB solution. 

[yeo]

hi ck

i'm not so sure about that. i have the m2tech usb-i2s. in my system, the difference is subtle. a change in components bring about bigger differences.

as the power supply of the m2tech is your own diy effort, how you build it, surely could affect the sonics.

yeo

[kkerwin]

hi yeo,
at what point do you connect the coupling transformers?  are they connected simply at the output of the dac boards, or somewhere upstream of the bg caps?  i have a pair of lundahls that i would like to experiment with.
thanks
k