"Reference" TDA1541A DAC with I2S-BUS architecture

[dvb projekt]

Thanks Oliver.

Could you also send me:

(1) +/- Power Supply Board
(1) 5V Shunt Board

Sure

 

[dtses]

hallo Oliver,

would be interested in your DAC as well!
would very appreciate if you could clarify several questions:

1. Are you planning to restock +-PS pcb?

2. If I go for Red Baron, do I need to use mosfet buffer that is on pcb or I could connect Salas DBC1 buffer directly to the TDA1541 output?

3. As a usb/spdif -> I2S converter a transceiver from Twisted Pearl Audio was mentioned here (unfortunately it's currently out of stock) as well as the one from JarekC. So the question is could these two be used as well:

- Amanero USB to I2S 384Khz - DSD Converter
- XMOS-based Asynchronous USB to I2S interface

Did not had time to read the whole threads regarding these I2S converters, hence asking. Thought it would be better to finish the one here first.

 

[dvb projekt]

Hi dtses,
to your questions:

1. Are you planning to restock +-PS pcb?

I will restock the +/- PSU pcb in January.
If you want, you could also use the DDNF I/V Stage PSU Module (Mundorf M-LYTIC AG+ 4-Pole caps recommended) for the three voltage lines of the Red Baron DAC.

2. If I go for Red Baron, do I need to use mosfet buffer that is on pcb or I could connect Salas DBC1 buffer directly to the TDA1541 output?

You need an I/V converter stage, either the onboard MK7 version from -ecdesigns-, the DDNF from Pedja Rogic, the Tube-I-zator or another one.

3. As a usb/spdif -> I2S converter a transceiver from Twisted Pearl Audio was mentioned here (unfortunately it's currently out of stock) as well as the one from JarekC. So the question is could these two be used as well:

- Amanero USB to I2S 384Khz - DSD Converter
- XMOS-based Asynchronous USB to I2S interface

As long as they support the TDA1541A, is see no problem to use them. The only thing they should have are buffered output signals. If they haven´t this feature, you could use my UHS-Buffer module in front of the I2S input of the Red Baron.

 

[wlowes]

dtses
You might be interested in a listening test done by audiodesign.
WaveIO came out pretty well.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...2s-m2tech-vs-xmos-vs-open-source-qnktc-4.html

 

[dtses]

thanks Oliver & wlowes!

I'll check the test later tomorrow along with reading all this thread
Took a glance at all pages of Amanero discussion but didn't find any mentioning of buffered output signal. The web also says nothing about it, so perhaps I need this UHS-Buffer module.

 

[wlowes]

You are welcome. I forgot to mention that I use WaveIO with a TDA1541A DAC. It is not Oliver's, but it has some similar attributes. The sound is stunning with WaveIO.

 

[crobbins5421]

I2S Grounding Questions

I am currently implementing the Amanero board with The Red Baron DAC build.
I will report back when complete and "burned in". I am using the UHS buffer and it works very well in this application.

In the meantime I've got a question as to the connection and transmission of the I2S as discussed here (especially post #780 -very good point) :

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/vendors-bazaar/216474-usb-i2s-384khz-dsd-converter-78.html

So Oliver (and everyone)...is it as important to run the I2S dual signal/ground wires on the 3.3V side AND the 5V output side of the UHS Buffer to The Red Baron ?

Thanks

 

[clivem]

dvb-projekt,

I'm just trying to figure out the cost of building this project. Is the following correct? The PS board is out of stock, so 1x V3 Red Baron board @ $15, 1x Shunt reg board (+5, -5, -15) @ $20, 1x +5V shunt reg board @ $10, 1x UHS I2S Buffer @ $11, and 1x shipping to the UK @ $5. Total = $61. Plus 3.9% Paypal fee. Is that correct?

 

[dvb projekt]

dvb-projekt,

I'm just trying to figure out the cost of building this project. Is the following correct? The PS board is out of stock, so 1x V3 Red Baron board @ $15, 1x Shunt reg board (+5, -5, -15) @ $20, 1x +5V shunt reg board @ $10, 1x UHS I2S Buffer @ $11, and 1x shipping to the UK @ $5. Total = $61. Plus 3.9% Paypal fee. Is that correct?

Correct

 

[qusp]

wouldnt the i2s fifo buffer plus the i2s/PCM universal driver be the ticket?

I own a LOT of i2s convertors and this one PWNS them all. you could add a USB convertor if you absolutely need USB, but the way this works it essentially marries whatever source you are using to the dac. you can use his spdif add on module, or any USB->i2s you like and as long as you dont need higher than 192kHz (the spdif coax will do 216, but only the i2s does 384khz) there really isnt any difference at all, its agnostic in that regard.

you can also use his galvanic isolation board between the fifo buffer board and the clock board, which then isolates the dac from any and all noise on power or ground (USB ground for example), then leaves only the clock jitter plus that of the clock buffer as the total jitter output. so the source and transport IS the dac itself so to speak

IMO it really doesnt leave much room for improvement and the daughterboard actually allows driving the TDA directly...

 

[crobbins5421]

wouldnt the i2s fifo buffer plus the i2s/PCM universal driver be the ticket?

I own a LOT of i2s convertors and this one PWNS them all. you could add a USB convertor if you absolutely need USB, but the way this works it essentially marries whatever source you are using to the dac. you can use his spdif add on module, or any USB->i2s you like and as long as you dont need higher than 192kHz (the spdif coax will do 216, but only the i2s does 384khz) there really isnt any difference at all, its agnostic in that regard.

you can also use his galvanic isolation board between the fifo buffer board and the clock board, which then isolates the dac from any and all noise on power or ground (USB ground for example), then leaves only the clock jitter plus that of the clock buffer as the total jitter output. so the source and transport IS the dac itself so to speak

IMO it really doesnt leave much room for improvement and the daughterboard actually allows driving the TDA directly...

Thanks qusp. I took your advice and made the "adjustments" on the I2S signal/ground you recommended. MAJOR improvement. I had to alter The Red Baron DAC board (drilled a hole to access the I2S inputs and grounds from underneath). The bass is back, midrange richness is there as well.

Could you please tell us which parts we'd need if we wanted to utilize USB input with the Ian boards? I'm trying to get some technical info and it seems that i keep bouncing around on the group buy threads....

 

[crobbins5421]

I found most of what I think I need on Ian's boards. Will sift through it now...

 

[neda]

Thanks qusp. I took your advice and made the "adjustments" on the I2S signal/ground you recommended. MAJOR improvement. I had to alter The Red Baron DAC board (drilled a hole to access the I2S inputs and grounds from underneath).

Hi crobbins5421,
Can you explain exactly what adjustments on the I2S signal/ground you made,
and how? I'm very curious.

Regards

 

[crobbins5421]

Check my post (#867). This will give you some very helpful I2S background info (with the link).

I basically drilled through The red Baron dac board after wrapping the I2S (signal) wires with ground wires.

I'll post a pic soon.....

 

[crobbins5421]

Red Baron/Amanero Picture

Here's a picture that will hopefully explain it....

I drilled through the DAC board and attached the I2S ground wires to the grounds of the small Wima caps underneath....

 

[neda]

Looks good! Where do the orange/white wires from your star ground point lead to that are going under the dac?
How quiet is it? Any hum or hiss at full volume?

 

[crobbins5421]

The orange/white wires are the ones that run to the grounds on the small Wima caps.

I've got a "wee bit" of hiss. That will be corrected with a USB isolator....

 

[crobbins5421]

Still correcting grounding issues...

Question for the followers of this fine hobby (obsession)....

What is the preferred method for star grounding? I thought I had it correct, and I'm still getting this weird intermittent hum...

I'm powering my USB to I2S converter with Oliver's (Salas) 3.3V shunt. I lowered the current limiting resistor to 10R to get more current. The problem lies in the fact that when there's no music playing there's almost no hum or hiss. When music is playing (on some songs/cd's) there is some hiss or static. Here's where it gets weird...when I touch the 3.3V board (or caps or heat sinks or anything else) the hiss and static gets much louder.

All component boards rest on a wood board. Comments?

 

[freax]

if the wood is even remotely moist it can carry hum to a part of the circuit which is most susceptible to it.

could also be close proximity to the transformers that is causing it

 

[crobbins5421]

Red Baron mods to work with 3.3v USB/I2S

In doing some "light reading" in the ecdesigns thread, I stumbled on this post where John gives resistor values to modify the I2S attenuator to work with 3.3v I2S signals:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...e-nos-dac-using-tda1541a-462.html#post3240270

Thoughts?

I bring this up as I am auditioning different USB to I2S converters and currently use Oliver's High Speed Buffer with very good success...but might it be a better solution to ulilize the 3.3v output directly?