I prefer something smaller (but very good sounding indeed!) that i can fit inside the DAC case, like the XMOS board i highlighted some post ago.
I2S via HDMI would be useless using this dac, much better is placing the board inside the chassis so that its I2S output could be connected to AK4399 chips if we want.
More, i don't like the idea of filling my living room furnitures with many separate hifi components: i want to complete the DAC electronics inside its chassis. If i can, i would like to avoid enclosing the DAC in a bigger case, too: that's my challenge.
Hi all,
For testing, I connected my Amanero USB module to front of dacs by pulling up each i2s resistor leg at ak41113 side. Then I distributed corresponding signals to floating resistor legs, and one ground connection. PCM playback is ok as expected. I also tested DSD files and surprised that DSD stream handled by AK4399's flawlessly. I think these chips are capable of auto-detecting dsd stream or something another weird thing going on.
Edit: The brown breadboard on the photo is an experimental 3.3V supply for ak4113. Not related with the Amanero setup.
For testing, I connected my Amanero USB module to front of dacs by pulling up each i2s resistor leg at ak41113 side. Then I distributed corresponding signals to floating resistor legs, and one ground connection. PCM playback is ok as expected. I also tested DSD files and surprised that DSD stream handled by AK4399's flawlessly. I think these chips are capable of auto-detecting dsd stream or something another weird thing going on.
Edit: The brown breadboard on the photo is an experimental 3.3V supply for ak4113. Not related with the Amanero setup.
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That is exactly what i found in my previous attempt (see my old messages in the thread), but i can't explain it.
Have you found any popping/scratching sound issue using files of different bit depth?
More, i can't understand what black components you connected between Amanero outputs and AK 4399 resistors... are they additional resistors? Or my eyes are wrong?
bit depth? no problem with pcm files. I tested some DSD64 files at link below no popping sound so far.
High Resolution Music DOWNLOAD services .:. FLAC in free TEST BENCH
The sample files below causing slight popping. I don't know why.
Ayre Acoustics Design Thoughts
Btw, I don't mean such setup would be a permanent solution for dsd playback. I think software modification is necessary for long term and proper setup.
That black component is pin headers that makes me easily connect-disconnect between ak4113 and amanero manually. I soldered naked copper wires to akk4113 i2s outputs accepting pin header back.Small signal relays are going to be placed for this pupose for next step.
Regards.
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I checked dsd playback on linux/mpd for this time but no success..then I returned to windows for checking parameters of foobar2000 and reliazed that it was SACD plugin which uses DoP (DSD over PCM) as default. I set to native DSD from options, but no sound..I should have checked the parameters earlier, my bad.
Again this is exactly same test setup i used, and exactly same results.
So goodbye DSD, but I2S sound is very good! I don't think i will miss DSD...
But i have to try that Jlsounds XMOS using SPDIF outputs, if soundwise it's comparable to I2S connection i'll stick to that, as i don't mind about very high resolutions: i can't hear any improvement playing files higher than 24-96, whatever DAC i use.
Anyway, i can't understand what do you mean by saying "software modification is necessary for long term and proper setup". Can you please explain? Are you talking about switching between different sources?
The relais solution you suggest sounds interesting, but i couldn't implement it.
If you will, could you be so gentle to share your experience with us? Just in case Jlsounds SPDIF setup should be really worse than I2S...
Thank you in advance.
Hi Luca,
Amanero has a dedicated pin for dsd indication. When a dsd playback occur, this dedicated pin becomes "1" so, if we could able to make MCU read this pin, AK chips can be put to DSD mode with adjusting required registers. Idea is very simple but won't be possible until we able reprogram MCU. Nino's implementation is important in this regard because we will able to modify software according to new ideas like this. So, no "Goodbye DSD" yet.
Relay solution is for switching between ak4113 and external i2s/dsd receiver. If you won't use ak41113 receiver anymore, such modification is not mandatory.I mentioned relay because that was simplest solution for me despite availability of other methods using active circuits. We have 4 i2s pins so two 2 pole small signal relay is enough to switch between ak4113 and external i2s. When you want to switch external i2s, relays should be turned on via a button/switch by supplying 5V. Of course, this also can be done via adding a new virtual channel that activating relays via MCU alongside of spdif modes.
Regards.
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You don't need a relay to switch between i2s from AK4113/4118 or the Amanero. You can also use a 3-state buffer/driver to be switched by the micro controller.
I also thought I'd seen some isolator PCB for Amanero here on the board?
Anyway, to be able to use sp/dif too, you must replace the micro controller with your own, with your own software. Soon I'll post my Arduino Nano solution, this could be a nice starting point for implementing an extra (i2s) channel, without the need of a locked sp/dif signal to unmute the DACs. This way you could switch between direct i2s and sp/dif source in a reliable, proper way.
I also thought I'd seen some isolator PCB for Amanero here on the board?
Anyway, to be able to use sp/dif too, you must replace the micro controller with your own, with your own software. Soon I'll post my Arduino Nano solution, this could be a nice starting point for implementing an extra (i2s) channel, without the need of a locked sp/dif signal to unmute the DACs. This way you could switch between direct i2s and sp/dif source in a reliable, proper way.
Arduino Nano as controller
To score 3 consecutive posts of my own
, I might as well share the code with you for using the Arduino Nano for controlling the 2xAK4399 dac.
I wrote an instructions .pdf as a manual to the whole procedure of replacing the original controller. Read it carefully before starting please, it also gives an idea of the work to be done and the skills required. The file is too big (4.8Mb) for uploading here, so you must download it from provided link.
The software doesn't need much attention, so you don't need to be familiar with programming. Just follow the instructions. Two versions are provided, one for AK4113 and the other for AK4118 boards. Software is only tested on version 1 (AK4113), but when using the AK4118 version, it should work on version 2 too.
Any comments/questions are welcome of course. Use at your own risk.
Nino
INSTRUCTIONS HERE
To score 3 consecutive posts of my own
, I might as well share the code with you for using the Arduino Nano for controlling the 2xAK4399 dac.I wrote an instructions .pdf as a manual to the whole procedure of replacing the original controller. Read it carefully before starting please, it also gives an idea of the work to be done and the skills required. The file is too big (4.8Mb) for uploading here, so you must download it from provided link.
The software doesn't need much attention, so you don't need to be familiar with programming. Just follow the instructions. Two versions are provided, one for AK4113 and the other for AK4118 boards. Software is only tested on version 1 (AK4113), but when using the AK4118 version, it should work on version 2 too.
Any comments/questions are welcome of course. Use at your own risk.
Nino
INSTRUCTIONS HERE
Congratulations!!
Thank you Nino, I really appreciate your precise work on Arduino implementation. Now we are free of things such adding remote control, dsd support and customization of many other things.
This is my setup testing your code. I used i2c lcd module which uses only 2 pins of arduino.
To score 3 consecutive posts of my own
I wrote an instructions .pdf as a manual to the whole procedure of replacing the original controller. Read it carefully before starting please, it also gives an idea of the work to be done and the skills required. The file is too big (4.8Mb) for uploading here, so you must download it from provided link.
The software doesn't need much attention, so you don't need to be familiar with programming. Just follow the instructions. Two versions are provided, one for AK4113 and the other for AK4118 boards. Software is only tested on version 1 (AK4113), but when using the AK4118 version, it should work on version 2 too.
Any comments/questions are welcome of course. Use at your own risk.
Nino
INSTRUCTIONS HERE
Thank you Nino, I really appreciate your precise work on Arduino implementation. Now we are free of things such adding remote control, dsd support and customization of many other things.
This is my setup testing your code. I used i2c lcd module which uses only 2 pins of arduino.
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Thanks terranigma, you replied just before me. You can also use a relay of course
My intent was to use a multiplexer board instead of a relay: wouldn't it be better soundwise?
To score 3 consecutive posts of my own
I wrote an instructions .pdf as a manual to the whole procedure of replacing the original controller. Read it carefully before starting please, it also gives an idea of the work to be done and the skills required. The file is too big (4.8Mb) for uploading here, so you must download it from provided link.
The software doesn't need much attention, so you don't need to be familiar with programming. Just follow the instructions. Two versions are provided, one for AK4113 and the other for AK4118 boards. Software is only tested on version 1 (AK4113), but when using the AK4118 version, it should work on version 2 too.
Any comments/questions are welcome of course. Use at your own risk.
Nino
INSTRUCTIONS HERE
Wonderful! But i will need many time to implement that, as i know practically nothing about Arduino...
Anyway, is DSD switching possible? How can it be done automatically using Amanero?
More, what module would be needed to add remote support (sorry i know nothing about Arduino, as i said...)?
As I did the programming already, it's only a matter of uploading the program to the Arduino Nano, after setting some options. No programming skills required. I'm not going to add more features to the controller software, I'll share updates to the program if I encounter any bugs though (one update upcoming...).
If you want to play DSD or add remote control, you must code it yourself. For remote control you need a simple remote control module, like this one. There are lots of guides on the net on receiving rc commands, also for Arduino.
terranigma: Thanks for the pic, well done!
The 'Krell' thing is just a discrete regulator for +/- 12V rail, nothing special IMO. LT1085 and LT1963 are used for +5V / 3.3V. Nothing special either, I got better results without them (on version 1 PCB).
I wouldn't recommend this 2xAK4399 version 2 PCB, grounding of the dacs is terrible. Analog and digital ground is the same plane, disregarding datasheet instructions of AKM. The design of this board will eventually limit the possible gain in performance by modding, despite the AK4399's potential.
Nino
I wouldn't recommend this 2xAK4399 version 2 PCB, grounding of the dacs is terrible. Analog and digital ground is the same plane, disregarding datasheet instructions of AKM. The design of this board will eventually limit the possible gain in performance by modding, despite the AK4399's potential.
Nino
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