DAC AD1862: Almost THT, I2S input, NOS, R-2R

[ZoltanChivay]

Amadeus00

Nice build !
But isn't it better to connect I2S to USB directly to the DAC, bypassing the shift-register?

 

[Amadeus00]

Yes it is. I will do it in the next PCB.

 

[zoom777]

Unless you wish to do a new board because you want to make an extra DAC, otherwise you can simply cut JP1 and JP2 and wire the JLSounds outputs to DL and DR on the current DAC board now.

 

[analog_sa]

But isn't it better to connect I2S to USB directly to the DAC, bypassing the shift-register?

My prejudices are similar: JLsound should be better than shift registers because of the reclocking done at output. And shift registers should be better than fpga because...uhm, not sure, but perhaps jitter.

Yet, there have been opinions in this thread from people who have actually compared the three and it seems not to be quite so simple.

 

[PJN]

I have tried both shift registers and JLS direct in two identical builds, no question JLS direct sounds better.

 

[miro1360]

I have tried both during many testing periods and did not hear difference and also compared it with another xmos and also the cheap aliexpress PCM2706 with no difference
The major difference I heard mostly on the I/V stage. ... and also filters are creating very much difference in sound, significant (that is why each delta-sigma sounds different - filters) ...

 

[grunf]

I would also add regulators and power supplies, especially for the DAC itself and the IV stage .

 

[Brijac]

Hence why i need mini power plant to power my pcm63 😅 Made fully custom psu boards for this case. Finally getting time to pack the dac into it's own case.

 

[Marcus Halberstram]

I have tried both during many testing periods and did not hear difference and also compared it with another xmos and also the cheap aliexpress PCM2706 with no difference
The major difference I heard mostly on the I/V stage. ... and also filters are creating very much difference in sound, significant (that is why each delta-sigma sounds different - filters) ...

Which makes sense, since the clocking does not go through the shift registers, only the data.

 

[crymen]

Is stop clock theoretically better then shift registers?

 

[miro1360]

@crymen It depends and can be better for some DACs (like TDA1541A, TDA1540 ... ), but I also did not hear difference in AD1862

 

[JCMcNeil]

@lasercut
If you dig deeper in the forum, you can find the stop-clock version
Note, that pin 8 on I2S data header is unhappily disconnected and if used, you need to connect it with pin 7 (or use pin 7).
For even better stop-clock you can use this https://electrodac.blogspot.com/p/i2s-to-pcm-dac-converter-tutorial-cpld.html

Hi, it looks like the CPLD board you recommend at https://electrodac.blogspot.com/p/i2s-to-pcm-dac-converter-tutorial-cpld.html is no longer available at Ali Express. (At least the page says that from here in the USA)

I found what appears to be the same board on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Development-Learning-Blaster-forJTAG-Connection/dp/B0981CG1Q7 and ordered it from there.

Cheers

Chris

 

[rehanabid]

@JCMcNeil

https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholes...?spm=a2g0o.home.auto_suggest.2.650c76dbpb0dX3

the board is MAX II EPM240 a dirt cheap board, may be one particular seller is out of stock otherwise it is widely available at aliexpress.

Amazon link is the same board with the programmer.

 

[mikorist]

Hence why i need mini power plant to power my pcm63 😅 Made fully custom psu boards for this case. Finally getting time to pack the dac into it's own case.

View attachment 1294226

The only thing missing here is the soft start and vu meter

 

[NIXIE62]

That box was ideal for a small amplifier. It's over now.

 

[miro1360]

@JCMcNeil Exactly as @rehanabid said, you can find it almost everywhere, from aliexpress up to amazon or ebay ... your order from amazon will work good

 

[nautibuoy]

I finally completed my AD1862 build today, all working and sounding very nice.

 

[Vunce]

Nice clean build NB!
You still have room in there to go down the upgrade rabbit hole.😁

 

[nautibuoy]

Thanks Vunce. I soldered all the large components on the underside of the PCB so it'll be easy to try different op-amps but as it's going to be used in a second system in a spare room that's about as far as I'll go down the rabbit hole. I have an ACA to build for that system next.

 

[jimk04]

Tidy build Ray. Is the rectification on the little regulators?