Hello Nosian,
Congrats for your will and courage. Can you clarify what you did on output stage with a simple schematic image? Including attenuator and caps of course. Sorry but I couldn't get it exactly.
Hi Serjelisses, (bonjour voisin)
Because the output transfos from ebay are dead; i listen now with caps (20uf/160V). They look like yours. I see you put no resistors before the caps and no bypass for this caps. Do you have some bass ? ( i have Carbon 470Rs at akm outputs and 0.1uF polypro 630V as bypass directly on the big caps.
Thanks.
Because the output transfos from ebay are dead; i listen now with caps (20uf/160V). They look like yours. I see you put no resistors before the caps and no bypass for this caps. Do you have some bass ? ( i have Carbon 470Rs at akm outputs and 0.1uF polypro 630V as bypass directly on the big caps.
Thanks.
hi terranigma,
i do not have any degree in electronic just know that those small beer cans are electrolytic and those stuff with rainbow condoms called resistors! i actuly used yor own pix at #123
hope one of our grate Moderators could help you.
my best regards
I have finally got around to populating the dac and to bring up an old question, if the power supply in the picture would work for the dac and how to connect it. Thanks
I am still waiting for my DAC kit to arrive so I'am sitting here twiddling my thumbs and reading the AK4396 datasheet.
I note that the digital voltage for this chip on the DAC PCB is 3.3V (sharing the same 3.3V LM1117 with the CS8146. However, the datasheet specifies minimum DVDD 3.0V and maximum 5.2V but typical DVDD of 5.0V.
Has anybody tried the AK4396 with DVDD at 5.0V? Is there any benefit, or downside?
Just curios.
I note that the digital voltage for this chip on the DAC PCB is 3.3V (sharing the same 3.3V LM1117 with the CS8146. However, the datasheet specifies minimum DVDD 3.0V and maximum 5.2V but typical DVDD of 5.0V.
Has anybody tried the AK4396 with DVDD at 5.0V? Is there any benefit, or downside?
Just curios.
I would like to be able to measure the voltage at the pins, but as I said, I am still waiting for my kit. Is the DVDD for AK4396 on this kit a 5.0V supply?
The photo that ClaveFreman posted in post #221 shows DVDD for the DAC chip sharing the same 3.3V regulator as DVDD for the CS8416. The schematic for the kit also shows the DAC DVDD as 3.3V. So I guess I will have to wait for the kit to see for sure.
I was just curios as to whether anyone had tried the DAC DVDD at 5.0V. On the other hand, if the normal supply on this pin is 5.0V rather than the 3.3V that it appears to be, then my question is redundant.
I will be using a separate low noise regulator for each supply pin of the 8416 and 4296, I can set them to 3.3V of 5.0V.
You can see on the picture the Voltage Regulator.
For the Output Stage , i try an OPA 1641 ( 2x15v SALAS Shunt Reg ) .
For the moment it's the best configuration .Bass ,dynamic ....
Just a capa for the ouput stage is not a good solution for the bass .
Today its my opinion .
Serge
For the Output Stage , i try an OPA 1641 ( 2x15v SALAS Shunt Reg ) .
For the moment it's the best configuration .Bass ,dynamic ....
Just a capa for the ouput stage is not a good solution for the bass .
Today its my opinion .
Serge
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I just completed my AK4395 version of this DAC with opa827. I used ClaveFreman's BOM and I am using 2 x 3.3v Salsa Shunt 2 x 5v Salas Shunt and a separate 7812 and 7912 power supply. Im a little disappointed, it doesnt sound as good as my CS4398 DAC. Maybe the AK4396 sounds better? From all the hype about the AK4395 I was expecting to be blown away. The AK4395 is very smooth and analog, but the CS4398 seems to have more resolution and detail.
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You have concluded what I also concluded when this thread started: these DAC chips are less good than other DAC chips that are on the market now. I can't speak for the 32 bit parts AKM produces but the AK4393/5/6 are nothing special. They're better than some older DAC chips though so this DAC can be an update for older gear. Also the CS8416 is less than optimal compared to, for instance, Wolfson receivers.
"Better" caps, shunt supplies etc. etc that together cost way more than the DAC itself will reveal the weakest links that can't be changed: the DAC chip and the receiver.
So why the hype ? It is an easy to mod very cheap PCB/kit. No need to design a PCB and/or to find all the parts. Easily available for everybody on Ebay. So it is fun the McDonalds style. If one wants a really good device it will not cost $ 19.50 of course so we should see all this in perspective. You can ask yourself if changing all parts is worth all the hassle and the money. I would rather invest in a better receiver, DAC chip and design a PCB for less money that all the "improvements" cost.
BTW which specific CS4398 DAC kit are you talking about ?
"Better" caps, shunt supplies etc. etc that together cost way more than the DAC itself will reveal the weakest links that can't be changed: the DAC chip and the receiver.
So why the hype ? It is an easy to mod very cheap PCB/kit. No need to design a PCB and/or to find all the parts. Easily available for everybody on Ebay. So it is fun the McDonalds style. If one wants a really good device it will not cost $ 19.50 of course so we should see all this in perspective. You can ask yourself if changing all parts is worth all the hassle and the money. I would rather invest in a better receiver, DAC chip and design a PCB for less money that all the "improvements" cost.
BTW which specific CS4398 DAC kit are you talking about ?
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For those of us who are sensitive to the high frequency drawbacks of delta-sigma dacs like cs4398, wolfson, etc., who also want 24/96 capability the AKMs hit the mark. No matter the gear, delta-sigmas just don't sound 'natural' to me like the venerable TDA/AD1865/pcm1704, etc dacs. For those who are immune to it I can see how chips like cs4398 would sound better.
Slippery speak. TDA1541A and some old R2R DAC chips are an entirely different league which were not discussed and should not be mixed into comparison. Please check prices and availability of those. That was then and this is now. Now we have modern chips which are getting better by the year (but often are less musical than R2R or TDA1541A DACs I know). Eventually they will be very good and we will forget about R2R/TDA....
The RF/HF you mention was absent with my beloved WM8740 DAC. Besides that WM8740 and CS4398 can be used with output transformers that are a natural barrier for HF/RF that might occur on a bad day. Results are way better than with the AKM types. If you confuse features with quality that is fine with me.
The sigma delta CS4398 can be compared to the sigma delta AKM types of this DAC kit and it is simply better sounding just like its older brother CS4397.
The RF/HF you mention was absent with my beloved WM8740 DAC. Besides that WM8740 and CS4398 can be used with output transformers that are a natural barrier for HF/RF that might occur on a bad day. Results are way better than with the AKM types. If you confuse features with quality that is fine with me.
The sigma delta CS4398 can be compared to the sigma delta AKM types of this DAC kit and it is simply better sounding just like its older brother CS4397.
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How pedantic.
I've done my time with those chips. Like I said, if the HF is not an issue then enjoy.