Audio Alchemy DDE V1.0 schematic

jean-paul · 21st May 2004, 08:02 PM

Hello there, does anyone have a schematic for this DAC ? And of course improvement ideas are welcome. I skipped this one in its days although it was not bad but I recently bought one out of curiousity. I wonder what the differences with V1.1 are as well.

Strange grounding scheme is the first thing I noticed but well built and good component quality in general.

carlosfm · 22nd May 2004, 12:42 AM

Hi Jean-Paul,

Welcome to the AA family.
I have an (extensively tweaked) v3.0.
My brother has an (extensively tweaked by me) Dac Man (what a beautuful name!).
Yes, these devices had very good parts inside, and tweaked give very good sound indeed.
Their weak point is always the unregulated PSUs.
Any regulated PSU that you can make will give big improvent in sound quality (even with 78xx/79xx).
I know, they are regulated inside (with 78Lxx/79Lxx).
This guys put a regulator on each chip.
But believe me, the difference is huge.
And the op-amps, you know... ;-)
Anyway, I think that the main difference between the 1.0 and the late 1.1 was that the 1.1 had HDCD digital filter (PMD100), for an incredible low price at that time.
Please lower the gain to a normal 2v output, as I did on mine and my brother's AA.
This guys had around 3.6v output, and some preamps (not mine) clipped.
The 3.0 has a reason for that, it had a digital volume (with the PMD100), but the Dac Man didn't and had the same output voltage...
Oh, BTW my 3.0 is complete, with remote control (extra feature at the time).
I have the Dac-in-the-box schematic and the v3.0 schematic, sorry, I don't have yours...

Note: my crappy W2k at home is giving up the ghost, I can't even put smiles on this deam post. :-(

RFScheer · 22nd May 2004, 03:26 AM

Carlos,

It just may be time to diy a linux pc and hop over to the pc music player thread

Sorry but couldn't resist.

-Robert

rfbrw · 22nd May 2004, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RFScheer
Carlos,

It just may be time to diy a linux pc and hop over to the pc music player thread

Sorry but couldn't resist.

-Robert

You don't perchance happen to sell the Watchtower or Awake, do you?

Peter Daniel · 22nd May 2004, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by carlosfm

I have the Dac-in-the-box schematic

Hi Carlos,

Would you mind sending me that schematic? I have the unit but didn't have a chance to do anything with it yet.

philbyx · 22nd May 2004, 10:48 AM

Hello Peter

Go to this thread :
AD1860 datasheet for Audio Alchemy DAC

There is links for the DITB schematic and some mods (power supply etc...)

I have a DITB too and I will make some improvements I think :

Power supply of the Dac ad1860 (actually +- 5 Volts, +-12V possible...

I/V conversion (actually internal R and AOP of the DAC)

and so on...

I think many interesting improvements are possible.

Greetings

Philippe

carlosfm · 22nd May 2004, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RFScheer
Carlos,

It just may be time to diy a linux pc and hop over to the pc music player thread

Sorry but couldn't resist.

-Robert

You're right, I'm really thinking in putting Windows on the trash bin.

(Ops, it works now...).

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter Daniel

Hi Carlos,

Would you mind sending me that schematic? I have the unit but didn't have a chance to do anything with it yet.

Peter, I think you have the schematics now, check Philippe's post.

(Ooops, it works again

).

russ_d · 1st June 2009, 01:24 AM

Gents,
This is my first posting.
I am in need of schematics for the Audio Alchemy DDE v3.0. My unit took a lightning hit (no, the previous owner had no in-line protection).
It "functions" perfectly, ie, front buttons work, everything lights (on the board, as well), it "locks" and it recognizes HDCD discs, BUT outputs no sound.
I have replaced the PMD 100 and I am waiting for a replacement receiver chip.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Russ

QSerraTico_Tico · 1st June 2009, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by russ_d
Gents,
This is my first posting.
I am in need of schematics for the Audio Alchemy DDE v3.0. My unit took a lightning hit (no, the previous owner had no in-line protection).
It "functions" perfectly, ie, front buttons work, everything lights (on the board, as well), it "locks" and it recognizes HDCD discs, BUT outputs no sound.
I have replaced the PMD 100 and I am waiting for a replacement receiver chip.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Russ

http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/d.mpl?audio/faq.html
scroll down to schematics

russ_d · 2nd June 2009, 08:35 PM

HI QSerraTico_Tico,
Thanks for your help! That is exactly what I need. The same page has the DTI Pro 32, as well, and I own one of those.
Russ

21st May 2004, 08:02 PM	#1
jean-paul diyAudio Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Germany	Audio Alchemy DDE V1.0 schematic Hello there, does anyone have a schematic for this DAC ? And of course improvement ideas are welcome. I skipped this one in its days although it was not bad but I recently bought one out of curiousity. I wonder what the differences with V1.1 are as well. Strange grounding scheme is the first thing I noticed but well built and good component quality in general. __________________ It's only audio

22nd May 2004, 03:26 AM	#3
RFScheer diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Portland, OR	Time is near Carlos, It just may be time to diy a linux pc and hop over to the pc music player thread Sorry but couldn't resist. -Robert

1st June 2009, 01:24 AM	#8
russ_d diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2009	Audio Alchemy DDE v3.0 Schematics Gents, This is my first posting. I am in need of schematics for the Audio Alchemy DDE v3.0. My unit took a lightning hit (no, the previous owner had no in-line protection). It "functions" perfectly, ie, front buttons work, everything lights (on the board, as well), it "locks" and it recognizes HDCD discs, BUT outputs no sound. I have replaced the PMD 100 and I am waiting for a replacement receiver chip. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Russ

2nd June 2009, 08:35 PM	#10
russ_d diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2009	Audio Alchemy DDE v3.0 HI QSerraTico_Tico, Thanks for your help! That is exactly what I need. The same page has the DTI Pro 32, as well, and I own one of those. Russ

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22nd May 2004, 12:42 AM	#2
carlosfm Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lisbon, Portugal	Hi Jean-Paul, Welcome to the AA family. I have an (extensively tweaked) v3.0. My brother has an (extensively tweaked by me) Dac Man (what a beautuful name!). Yes, these devices had very good parts inside, and tweaked give very good sound indeed. Their weak point is always the unregulated PSUs. Any regulated PSU that you can make will give big improvent in sound quality (even with 78xx/79xx). I know, they are regulated inside (with 78Lxx/79Lxx). This guys put a regulator on each chip. But believe me, the difference is huge. And the op-amps, you know... ;-) Anyway, I think that the main difference between the 1.0 and the late 1.1 was that the 1.1 had HDCD digital filter (PMD100), for an incredible low price at that time. Please lower the gain to a normal 2v output, as I did on mine and my brother's AA. This guys had around 3.6v output, and some preamps (not mine) clipped. The 3.0 has a reason for that, it had a digital volume (with the PMD100), but the Dac Man didn't and had the same output voltage... Oh, BTW my 3.0 is complete, with remote control (extra feature at the time). I have the Dac-in-the-box schematic and the v3.0 schematic, sorry, I don't have yours... Note: my crappy W2k at home is giving up the ghost, I can't even put smiles on this deam post. :-(

22nd May 2004, 10:48 AM	#6
philbyx diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: near Paris	Hello Peter Go to this thread : AD1860 datasheet for Audio Alchemy DAC There is links for the DITB schematic and some mods (power supply etc...) I have a DITB too and I will make some improvements I think : Power supply of the Dac ad1860 (actually +- 5 Volts, +-12V possible... I/V conversion (actually internal R and AOP of the DAC) and so on... I think many interesting improvements are possible. Greetings Philippe

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