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Author Topic: Soren's R-2R Dac  (Read 15982 times)

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MisterRogers

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Soren's R-2R Dac
« on: February 01, 2015, 09:12:47 PM »

Hey Gang,


Brought up the R-2R DAC today. In an effort to use what I had available, it's more complicated than it needs to be for Soren's fantastic board. I'm using a 12V S03 to power the clean ISO side of the DAC, with 2 Reflector-D's (5V, 3.3V) to power the Sonore USB->I2S board, and supply the ISO 3.3 (dirty side) for the R-2R. The 2 Reflektor-D's are sharing a transformer, as they're powering the clean side of the Sonore, and the dirty side of the R-2R Iso. Unnecessary double rec-clocking going one - plus the top of the line oscillators on the Sonore are of little benefit...


I'll probably drop in an Amanero and save the Sonore for a different application.


Listening now, sounds very nice. R-2R's sure have a distinctive sound. More impressions later - need to take it in for awhile.




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Priidik

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Re: Soren's R-2R Dac
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2015, 11:21:13 PM »

Awesome!

I wonder if the DAC ladder out would sound better than the balanced IC out?
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MisterRogers

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Re: Soren's R-2R Dac
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2015, 03:05:06 PM »

Good question - I'll give it a try soon. First I'll swap out the Sonore board for an Amanero; that will let me drop the 3.3V PS. In 'theory', I shouldn't hear any difference. As this board can also accept a 7V AC transformer directly, I'll give that a try too. The S03 board is just serving a a pre-reg, so it's probably overkill too. So lots of testing / playing to do still. Overall though, It's a pretty damn good sounding DAC. Some of the most notable aspects (sonically):
* Good spatial imaging. Very precise.
* Good tonality.
* As you would expect from an R-2R, very good attack / decay.
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Hroðulf

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Re: Soren's R-2R Dac
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2015, 03:44:41 PM »

I might be able to test mine out today. My part providers have been extremely slow lately.

Btw, are you having "plops" on Fs change?
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MisterRogers

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Re: Soren's R-2R Dac
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2015, 03:49:59 PM »

No, just a very slight 'tick' noise on sample rate changes. Probably has a lot to do with the USB / I2S receiving being used, and how it's handling rate changes.
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Hroðulf

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Re: Soren's R-2R Dac
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2015, 04:14:39 PM »

Good to hear! I have an Amanero slowly crawling its way to me (Italian snail mail is the snailiest mail).

Don't want to play the devil's advocate here, but care to do some sonic comparisons? Like the Buffalo dac for example.
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MisterRogers

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Re: Soren's R-2R Dac
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2015, 04:26:59 PM »

Heh. I will, though I need more time with it. Between my AKM 4495S Dual Mono project, R-2R, Another ESS 9018 Dac I'm testing for a friend... So many Dac's, so little time.
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Ninja Pirate

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Re: Soren's R-2R Dac
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2015, 04:45:03 PM »

I'm pretty curious about ladder DACs in general. Might have to give this project a go.

On a side note, what is the USB --> I2S stage for?
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Priidik

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Re: Soren's R-2R Dac
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2015, 04:59:10 PM »

The Soekris DAC board takes signal as I2S. USB converter is needed for computer/dap to connect the dac.
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Marvey

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Re: Soren's R-2R Dac
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2015, 06:16:05 PM »

Oversampling filter built into the board I figure - since it takes i2s?



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