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

erin · 10:53 PM

This is the most recent DAC kit I have seen on ebay. The interesting thing is that it is the first kit I have seen using an AK4393 DAC chip. I have enjoyed this chip in my M-audio 24/96 Superdac, so I thought I would buy this kit to see what its like. It cost me $30 delivered. Which makes it also one of the cheapest DAC kits I have seen.
I also liked its basic no frills simple design. See attached schematic.

I have just assembled it using NCC PSC capacitors throughout the digital section and PPS bypass capacitors. Funny thing is just how hot all the capacitors get. I think it needs a lot more than the supplied 1800uf reservoir capacitors. I intend to build an off board power supply with more capacitance for it.

So far it is running in, so cant say too much about the sound except I think for $30 it is very good value. Please immediately throw the supplied NE5532 in the bin and install your favorite dual op-amp in its place. The supplied opamp sounds like junk, and will give you an unfair opinion of the sound.

Attached is a photo of the kit as supplied, I will try to post a photo of mine with the different caps installed.

weskoki · 2nd April 2011, 12:00 AM

Do let us know about the sound once it's burned in.

erin · 2nd April 2011, 12:14 AM

Will do

That's the purpose of the thread

erin · 2nd April 2011, 10:16 AM

Ok, this is what I have done, its not necessarily a recommendation.
There is Silmic on the analog power rails after the regulator. Panasonic FC and FM on the digital and analog power rails before the regulator. Axial polystyrene 3.3nf and Roederstein 1.5nf as the analog filter. NCC PSC caps are installed on both sides of the board to make them fit. At the moment I have a TLE2082 op amp installed.
After some break in, its sounding quite good.

erin · 4th April 2011, 12:16 PM

I have just put 22,000uf on the analog power rails before the regulator and this DAC is starting to sound really nice and detailed and smooth. Will post pics and more reviews later

antos71 · 4th April 2011, 02:13 PM

Thank you Erin!

detoxer · 6th April 2011, 11:47 PM

Erin, is that 22000uf or 2200uf? I have been playing with this Dac for a week or so and find that it runs hot. Also curious about the value of silmics your using after digital regulator. I have removed components way to many times,have destroyed several runs. I am currently unable to to get error led to exstinguish or get any music through the unit. I have ordered a new board to start fresh, I have been tinkering with tantalums and oscons coming off the dac direct to srpp set-up. I have also messed with swapping chip to ak4396.

erin · 7th April 2011, 01:19 PM

I am using 22,000uf!! Not a typo!

I actually have now also put 22,000uf on the digital section and this has made a fantastic improvement to the sound.
I am using 220uf silmic after the +/-15V regulators, and where the 100nf bypass caps were on the op-amp, I have removed these, and put 470uf silmic there instead, and bypassing these underneath the board.
The Silmics on the op amp give much better dynamics than just running the silmics after the regulators.

This DAC kit is really outstanding. It is incredibly smooth, has great detail, and strong bass. I have a hard time finding anything to criticize, but If I had to criticize, I would say that I would like some greater dynamics, but perhaps this could be corrected by using a better op amp, discreet output stage, or tube output? I'm not sure its just a theory.
For $30 this DAC is a very safe bet. It is very responsive to changes you will make to it.
I would not bother buying any other kit. This DAC is just so good. Perhaps others can try it and advise their thoughts.

weskoki · 7th April 2011, 01:32 PM

That's great news Erin! What kind of transport do you use?

erin · 7th April 2011, 02:59 PM

I have various transports, but, I was making these comments using a computer and foobar > teralink X > dac.
If you have a source better than this, expect some very nice results.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
AK4393 burn...	CIMONE	Digital Line Level	5	24th June 2011 02:12 PM
AK4393 to CS4223?	CIMONE	Digital Line Level	0	13th December 2009 02:30 PM
AK4393 Serial Configuration Problem	Aoxomox	Digital Line Level	0	20th March 2009 05:25 PM
AK4393, CS8413 and CS8414 Data Sheets	Blue_Max	Digital Source	0	23rd December 2004 01:37 PM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

2nd April 2011, 12:00 AM	#2
weskoki diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2009	Do let us know about the sound once it's burned in.

2nd April 2011, 12:14 AM	#3
erin diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: http://www.makeitpossible.com/	Will do That's the purpose of the thread

4th April 2011, 12:16 PM	#5
erin diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: http://www.makeitpossible.com/	I have just put 22,000uf on the analog power rails before the regulator and this DAC is starting to sound really nice and detailed and smooth. Will post pics and more reviews later

4th April 2011, 02:13 PM	#6
antos71 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2011	Thank you Erin!

6th April 2011, 11:47 PM	#7
detoxer diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2009	Erin, is that 22000uf or 2200uf? I have been playing with this Dac for a week or so and find that it runs hot. Also curious about the value of silmics your using after digital regulator. I have removed components way to many times,have destroyed several runs. I am currently unable to to get error led to exstinguish or get any music through the unit. I have ordered a new board to start fresh, I have been tinkering with tantalums and oscons coming off the dac direct to srpp set-up. I have also messed with swapping chip to ak4396.

7th April 2011, 01:19 PM	#8
erin diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: http://www.makeitpossible.com/	I am using 22,000uf!! Not a typo! I actually have now also put 22,000uf on the digital section and this has made a fantastic improvement to the sound. I am using 220uf silmic after the +/-15V regulators, and where the 100nf bypass caps were on the op-amp, I have removed these, and put 470uf silmic there instead, and bypassing these underneath the board. The Silmics on the op amp give much better dynamics than just running the silmics after the regulators. This DAC kit is really outstanding. It is incredibly smooth, has great detail, and strong bass. I have a hard time finding anything to criticize, but If I had to criticize, I would say that I would like some greater dynamics, but perhaps this could be corrected by using a better op amp, discreet output stage, or tube output? I'm not sure its just a theory. For $30 this DAC is a very safe bet. It is very responsive to changes you will make to it. I would not bother buying any other kit. This DAC is just so good. Perhaps others can try it and advise their thoughts.

7th April 2011, 01:32 PM	#9
weskoki diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2009	That's great news Erin! What kind of transport do you use?

7th April 2011, 02:59 PM	#10
erin diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: http://www.makeitpossible.com/	I have various transports, but, I was making these comments using a computer and foobar > teralink X > dac. If you have a source better than this, expect some very nice results.