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Changstar Exclusive: O2 amp/DAC in development - Pirate Wants and Needs?

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HideousPride:
So one of the most requested products on Massdrop is the O2/ODAC combo. No surprise. But the ODAC board is currently out of stock and is proprietary. We had a thought - we know manufacturers who have stuff, and we know engineers. Let's try to build something that sounds good, is affordable, and has all the inputs and outputs people want.

Initial results below!

 

Specs
DAC PROCESSOR ES9023
USB CONTROLLER CM6631A 384KHz asynchronous
OP AMP JRC 2068 aka NJM2068
PCB High quality 24K GOLD 2 Layer PCB
INPUT 3.5 Ø (L/R) Channel
HEADPHONE Gold Coated 6.5 Ø JRC 4556AD+JRC 4556AD
Power control DC - DC DC5V/+-12V
Power adapter DC5V 1.5A

We have two prototype boards that we can ship out, would be curious to hear what ABS+ pirates think. Mac only for now, Windows drivers still in development. 1/4" headphone output. Wish list of what improvements we could potentially make, if a more premium chassis is something we should consider, along with anything else you can think of would be great feedback for us.

Not sure that it'll become something we actually list on our site, as of right now it's more of a "Let's build it and see where it goes" attitude. 

No_One411:
This looks interesting! Is it a similar concept to the Project H?

http://www.head-fi.org/t/652306/diy-custom-amplifier-and-dac-project-h

Thad E Ginathom:

--- Quote from: HideousPride on October 01, 2014, 09:56:06 PM ---Mac only for now, Windows drivers still in development.
--- End quote ---

Do not forget Linux. Ensure USB Audio class compliance!  :)p6

mechgamer123:

--- Quote from: No_One411 on October 01, 2014, 10:12:49 PM ---This looks interesting! Is it a similar concept to the Project H?
http://www.head-fi.org/t/652306/diy-custom-amplifier-and-dac-project-h

--- End quote ---
Wow, someone actually remembers our project!!!

Isn't there also the issue of the O2's license not allowing derivative PCBs based off it? I also thought the general consensus on CS was that the O2 wasn't in line with very many member's tastes...

Anaxilus:

--- Quote from: mechgamer123 on October 02, 2014, 11:26:35 PM ---I also thought the general consensus on CS was that the O2 wasn't in line with very many member's tastes...

--- End quote ---

Pretty much.  In fact, most of the members here that I know that tend to side with the objective perspective don't even use the O2 for primary listening if that tells you something.  But they tend to be the rational objectivists, not the religious zealot types.  The latter ones don't seem to last long here.  Usually ends up looking like a bird trying to fly though a glass window.

But there is a market for that ODAC/O2 so why not.  I find it funny and ironic that the ODAC and O2 are largely marketing driven with the idea that those are the last audio components you will ever need to buy to get honest, accurate and transparent audio reproduction.  Hah.

Still, the ODAC has been my portable reference DAC for awhile until the Geek Out replaced it based on cost and performance.  Marv uses my O2 for measuring headphones.  Better to let his mic listen to it than me.

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