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Author Topic: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC  (Read 8513 times)

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munch

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Re: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« Reply #20 on: November 02, 2013, 10:59:41 PM »
Quote from: MisterRogers on November 02, 2013, 05:06:37 PM
I second comments about the performance of the 9023; or AK, or most modern 'budget' (read not 9018) dac chips; Dedicated, quality power can really get the most out of them. I just built a little slimline dac with the AK4396, and an XMOS USB receiver (>= 384 PCM/64/128 DSD). It isolates and reclocks the signal before feeding it to the DAC. I've powered both the USB and reclocker/DAC with dedicated Salas shunts. Then, I added a little filter/buffer well known over at diyaudio (JG Filter/Buffer), and just finished casing up a little DAC that costs less than $400, is small, handles PCM/DSD, and outperforms a stock Buffalo III (stock shunts/IV(s)/PS(s)).

Clean, correct power is I believe even more critical for digital circuits.

this is intriguing!
not that I know a bopetybop about building DACs but is it hard to make that design without PCM/DSD? do you use custom PCB for it?
does XMOS btw mean inherently async USB or is that a misconception from me?

very cool seeming DAC, with that price tag too :p
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kiteki

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Re: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« Reply #21 on: November 02, 2013, 11:36:59 PM »
Quote from: funkmeister on November 02, 2013, 11:55:13 AM
I almost croaked on the previous page when reading the recommendation for a C-Media DAC. I have never found any C-Media stuff to be anything more than acceptable. I sure have had a lot of them, too (Sound Blasters and such). I've also never had one that didn't have DC offset, though that might not be the DAC's fault.

I recommended a Cirrus Logic DAC, the C-Media part is only the USB receiver chip.  With that said, as a USB to COAX bridge it's better than the Musiland Dragon 02 XMOS.  I compared back and forth at least 30 times.

I have another CS4398 which sounds even better though - after you replace the line-out with AD797.  It's sold by along1986090 on ebay, that particular unit was kerosene in my DAC addiction fire.
 
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schiit

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Re: Budget DAC with Isolated Power - Supposedly Similar to ODAC
« Reply #22 on: November 02, 2013, 11:49:57 PM »
Yep, CM6631A and CM6632 are actually spectacular USB input receivers, with the added benefits of not costing a fortune and not requiring additional tribute for Windows drivers. I wouldn't personally use any of their other functions, except the integrated SPDIF output from USB is pretty good.

The only real catch is that it's a pretty big part (100 pins) and requires flash memory for buffering and whatnot.

They also do 32/384 and the 6632 does 2X DSD, if you're into that, with the new firmware, as yet unreleased.
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Lots o Schiit around here.
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