DAC 2496 (AK4393) DAC KIT With CS8416+AK4393+5532

[ClaveFremen]

Originally Posted by Greg Erskine

Thanks for all the work.... this thread has rekindled my interest in DACs.

ClaveFremen, I believe the short connection between C9 and L1 is in error. This version looks a lot more accurate than the original posting.

You're welcome

Yep!, you're right, I've attached an updated version.

Originally Posted by Greg Erskine

BTW: I notice that there are a least 3 versions of this PCB so far and I know from experience that there is a difference in "quality" between various suppliers of this kit.

Originally Posted by georgebrooke

I am not so sure about how to identify boards uniquely.. certainly not when we deal with a multitude of Chinese suppliers, world-wide.

3 Versions???

From what I saw there only 2 PCB versions: the first (green PCB) and the last one (blue PCB).

The difference should be only color, some markings (1800uF caps vs 2200uF, 7815/7915 vs 7812/7912) and lead spacing (C38, C39)

Though different vendors use different passives (particularly caps).

Originally Posted by georgebrooke

I am a little concerned that in the thread wrong filtering appears to have been identified on some boards (4396 filtering not the same as 4393 filtering, thanks to ClaveFreman).

Simply all 2 PCBs are designed for AK4393, if AK4396 is used LPF should be adapted but it's not.

[namcir]

i think each ak4396 dac kit seller in ebay uses different kinds or brands of capacitor? see the pictures in ebay if i am wrong? there are i think 3 versions???

[ClaveFremen]

Originally Posted by namcir

i think each ak4396 dac kit seller in ebay uses different kinds or brands of capacitor? see the pictures in ebay if i am wrong? there are i think 3 versions???

Yes, you're right. I'm talking about PCBs.

There are 2 PCB versions but if we consider also passives selection more versions are available.

[namcir]

so in your opinion which one of them is better?

[georgebrooke]

Hi,
I have located a green PCB, in the assembled category ( at Assembled DAC 2496 (AK4396) CS8416 DAC With Transformer | eBay UK ). Also at Assembled DAC 2496 (AK4396) CS8416 DAC Board 24BIT 192K | eBay UK

They do all appear to be very similar... but we are assuming the the photos actually show their current product. Could these be stock photos and we don't know what we actually get until we receive it?

[ClaveFremen]

The one I've ordered was the green one but it arrived blue...

[paul_peraic]

Originally Posted by georgebrooke

Hi,
I have located a green PCB, in the assembled category ( at Assembled DAC 2496 (AK4396) CS8416 DAC With Transformer | eBay UK ). Also at Assembled DAC 2496 (AK4396) CS8416 DAC Board 24BIT 192K | eBay UK

They do all appear to be very similar... but we are assuming the the photos actually show their current product. Could these be stock photos and we don't know what we actually get until we receive it?

This is true as Erin and I bought our DAC's at the same time from the same supplier and they came with different components different to the image on the ebay listing .

I bought another DAC because the prior one had a receiver chip failure this was a AK4396 DAC and it also was different to the ebay listing image .

I bought this second DAC assembled as I was sick of the failure rate I had with these DAC's (both with the same receiver chip failure and also a grounding issue) and so far so good .

[georgebrooke]

Great,
so to add to the fun of DIY, we do not actually know what we have purchased until it arrives.

Basically for me that means that I cannot pre-purchase any upgrade components because I have no idea what componants are supplied.... and also probably no idea of the actual circuitry on the pcb!

And then, to make it even more interesting, we have threads like this (very useful of course) discussing changes to boards.. but we don't actually know precisely which board anyone is talking about!

I must admit that I am not too unhappy with this as it does add some interest, and this particular DIY kit is pretty cheap if it all goes pear-shaped. It would not be so interesting on high-power systems ... let the buyer beware is still good advice.

[ClaveFremen]

Originally Posted by georgebrooke

Basically for me that means that I cannot pre-purchase any upgrade components because I have no idea what componants are supplied.... and also probably no idea of the actual circuitry on the pcb!

And then, to make it even more interesting, we have threads like this (very useful of course) discussing changes to boards.. but we don't actually know precisely which board anyone is talking about!

No, it's easier than that....

Simply buy all passive components

Some are not bad (like Nichicon PWs) but all of them have better counterparts...

Just look at mine, I've replaced quite all... with great results.

[georgebrooke]

Hi,

I was slightly tongue-in-cheek with my comments, but I think there can be nasty surprises when we are not completely sure of the various pcb versions around.
I am hoping to incorporate most, if not all, of the upgrades that you have listed in the spreadsheet.. specifically with the 4396 chip (with the appropriate filtering). I also want to try a direct feed from the output pins of the chip itself ... as I have done on some other AKM devices, with some success.
One column that would be nice to add to the spreadsheet would be something that gives an idea of how useful / significant you felt the particular upgrade to be. It is hard to have a priority of implementation. Do you have a gut-feel of which changes gave the most benefit?