Another project, all digital DDX amplifier

[Nikola Krivorov]

Well, mine did die in flames(or at least smoke) after a few hours of operation, I guess it is not only the build quality that needs to be improved...

[jrling]

Originally Posted by Nikola Krivorov

Well, mine did die in flames(or at least smoke) after a few hours of operation, I guess it is not only the build quality that needs to be improved...

OMG. Bad luck

[jrling]

Originally Posted by robob

Yes, it is certainly a TI chip : if you look at Maestro-50 technologic FAQ, Ava speaks about "Pure audio", "modulator" and the pictures diagrram are the same than the Texas Instrument true digital audio power amplifiers PDF.
So it's certainly a TAS chip.

(Like the HFX RiAMP 2.1/100 : same pictures but not the same price , TAS5086 for convertor/modulator and TAS5342L for power stage)

Sorry for my english .

So much for my cynicism. In 10 minutes (at 20:30 in UK) the dealer replied as follows!

We are using TI 5086D and 5342L

We also have highly optimised firmware to ensure near perfect audio resolution, which results in beautifully clear, yet powerful reproduction.

In a billet aerospace grade aluminium case, volume control and a 5 year warranty. I would bet build quality would be good. All for £229.

DDX320 needs to up its game.

I have no connection with the company and apologise for hijacking this thread to a non-DIY product.

[Nikola Krivorov]

I have a line by Dewey from "Malcolm in the middle" that I like very much - I didn't expect anything yet I am disappointed...

The DDX320 looked like a nice inexpensive thing to try and if soundcheck likes it then it must really sound good. I had a friend design a battery pack and recharger for it and found nice metal boxes and so on and it died almost instantly.

Of course it will be repaired and it is not going to cost much but the feeling that it is not completely OK will remain, especially after they put out a new version(and still did not apply what Klaus suggested) in a month or two.

That is not how you find loyal customers - sell underdeveloped products and replace them each month with a new underdeveloped product. £229 is not that much at all, considering the case, the warranty, the looks, it is not supposed to replace my Muse power 160, the DDX320 was expected to drive a pair of desktop speakers...

[soundcheck]

To be honest.

I can't really complain. Non of my amps had any issues. They always worked out of the box.

And if I talk about optimizations, folks, this is what you can do with basically every device out there. There's always space for improvement

Nobody has done an A/B comparison of the V2.1 and V2. So we don't even know how much better, if any better, V2.1 really is. Nobody has done a comparison with Sumoh or Ava. We don't really know in what league these guys are playing.

Let's stop the bashing. I count on DiyHifiMe to improve the production quality and to get V3 ready sooner or later. We know they are listening. I'll skip the V2.1 (except they send me one for comparison. )


If I compare my DDX to my TP Buffalo DAC + Amp, I know what value ( sound quality and cost ) I got in my hands.


And don't forget. DiyHifiMe is not Audio-GD. They focus on reasonable and rather low cost solutions.

Most of us over here are early adopters or even innovators. Yep. We are kind of beta testers. That's the price you have to pay if you're heading the crowd. That also happens to Bufallo owners, iancandas fifo reclocker owners asf.

To be constructive. Perhaps some of you guys can add some improvement proposals or at least confirm/question my stuff.

Cheers

[Nikola Krivorov]

You are quite right, I was a little too hard but when something just dies there without me touching anything it is not nice... The DDX320 will be resuscitated and hopefully I will report on great sound

[raschaa]

I agree with soundcheck, no bashing needed (nor intended)...

The only gripe I have is that I'm not quite content yet with the implementation of DSP features in the DDX. I'm very happy with the soundquality of the amp stages. This is my first and only amp from HiFiMeDIY but I imagine that the "bare" amps a la T1 etc. are most likely no-brainers.

I am well aware of the risk involved of being an early adopter and can live with that^^.

Imho I would try to make the DSP features and their remote controlling as bug-free as possible, because not being able to control those features makes the DDX more or less useless as a 2.1 amp, which just happens to be its specific characteristic (along with digital only signal processing) letting it stand out from other diy amps.
That being my main "proposal" I would add:
-a alternative to ir-remote for dsp setup
-60hz x-over frequency
-phase shift for sub
-Firmware flash ability (usb?)

Soundcheck has got the hardware covered so I'll pass on that one

[qusp]

Most of us over here are early adopters or even innovators. Yep. We are kind of beta testers. That's the price you have to pay if you're heading the crowd. That also happens to Bufallo owners, iancandas fifo reclocker owners asf.

mostly agree, but i'm unaware of any issues with fifo that havent turned out to be user error (one borderline/intermittent solder joint I think I can remember that didnt show up in testing, but was handled straight away). for sure you dont have any idea, you only turn up in the thread every now and then to post your misunderstandings. I guess they must be very secretive owners.

now of course we all must take some issue every now and again for exploring new territory, it is not normally expected to involve smoke out of the box... why are you fixing it Nik? why not send it back and exchange for V3?

[robob]

Originally Posted by jrling

the dealer replied as follows :

We are using TI 5086D and 5342L

So it's the same chips than HFX riamp (900$ )...
the TAS5342L is a 2x100W 4 AMp power stage
the TAS5086 is a 6 channel PWM processor with bass management

Why did they all use a 6 channels chip for stereo or 2.1 amp ?

@Hifimediy : what about a new stereo full digital amp module with the new TAS5624A ? (150W Stereo/300W Mono PurePath HD Digital-Input Power Stage)
Do it before Sinewave

[soundcheck]

Originally Posted by qusp

for sure you dont have any idea, you only turn up in the thread every now and then to post your misunderstandings. I guess they must be very secretive owners.

You didn't get the point. ian is also changing/evolving rather continously his "ultimate" (that was the thread announcement of day one) reclocker. That's why I brought his project up.

My thread appearance over there:
I was just questioning the "ultimate" subject about that project. There was no misunderstanding.
I never received an answer if the source wouldn't matter with this device anymore as long as bitperfect data are received. That's IMO the key question of todays digital audio. It wasn't answered, and that's why I left that thread.

I've been fooled much too often to run after the next "ultimate" thing.

Please stop spreading nonsense.