USB2.0 to I2S for ES9018

[qusp]

well yes, there are some still using 22.xx/24.xx (none lower) but neither of those are designed specifically for synchronous operation with es9018 and with the OSF enabled, any that are specifically designed for synchronous mode run the higher speed clocks. like the i2s fifo, Electrart, EXU21, waveIO latest version, USBPAL and then a whole raft with the 22.xx/24.xx clocks for hirez but not sold for synchronous mode with OSF enabled

neither is yours really suitable, I do not see any suitable connector or termination for MCLK. if its not intended for synchronous mode operation, then it really doesnt matter a great deal if the clocks are slower

I think it speaks more of the complete lack of real non upsampled native hires music content above 96khz, people do not really care that much if they are not being held back. there is some of course, but only very specific henres and much of it is not mastered at that resolution

192x FS is not really enough in my experience, 256x is preferred.

[JarekC]

Welcome to comment!

1 Can you public schematic of the converter?
2. What firmware do you use( is it your's or standard copied from another converter)?
3. What are differences between your's and other avaliable on ebay?
4. Avaliable technical documemtation of CM6631 is very short (16pages),
do you have full documentation with registers and firmware programing specification?
5. What about PC side drivers for UAC2.0 (from C-Media or other vendor e.g.Asus)?

Best regards
JarekC

[diyinhk]

Originally Posted by qusp

well yes, there are some still using 22.xx/24.xx (none lower) but neither of those are designed specifically for synchronous operation with es9018 and with the OSF enabled, any that are specifically designed for synchronous mode run the higher speed clocks. like the i2s fifo, Electrart, EXU21, waveIO latest version, USBPAL and then a whole raft with the 22.xx/24.xx clocks for hirez but not sold for synchronous mode with OSF enabled

neither is yours really suitable, I do not see any suitable connector or termination for MCLK. if its not intended for synchronous mode operation, then it really doesnt matter a great deal if the clocks are slower

I think it speaks more of the complete lack of real non upsampled native hires music content above 96khz, people do not really care that much if they are not being held back. there is some of course, but only very specific henres and much of it is not mastered at that resolution

192x FS is not really enough in my experience, 256x is preferred.

the MCLK in this PCB is used for compatible to other DAC, ES9018 do not need MCLK, the X49 and X45 with GND connector is used to connect to the ES9018 oscillator input for syn dpll mode operation. It is tested and run without the famous ES9018 unlock problem and it's no need to wait for the lock to become stable after power on

All of the above usb to i2s design is complex and great, but the cost must also double or triple of this CM6631A PCB the only trade off of this PCB is user need to switch between x49 and x45 for 44.1/88.1/176.4 and 48/96/192 syn dpll mode opteration. It's left for the diyer design an add on module to switch between the syn dpll clock or switch manually.
I am using 384x FS personally but the cost is a matter for publicly available

[diyinhk]

Originally Posted by JarekC

1 Can you public schematic of the converter?
2. What firmware do you use( is it your's or standard copied from another converter)?
3. What are differences between your's and other avaliable on ebay?
4. Avaliable technical documemtation of CM6631 is very short (16pages),
do you have full documentation with registers and firmware programing specification?
5. What about PC side drivers for UAC2.0 (from C-Media or other vendor e.g.Asus)?

Best regards
JarekC

C-media has property and NDA for the schematic, firmware and the full technical documemtation of CM6631. The different can be found in the pcb feature section. The PC side driver is from C-Media. We don't have PCB with ASUS firmware/driver, it's counterfeit and it's asus intellectual property. But you should also surprise to know that the ASUS one essence firmware/driver uses SPDIF out from CM6631 and no dedicated 49.xx and 45.xx oscillator is used. Technically, it's ridiculous.
The latest asus 0111 firmware should be the same, I am happy to see if somebody have time to test and report.

[qusp]

Originally Posted by diyinhk

the MCLK in this PCB is used for compatible to other DAC, ES9018 do not need MCLK, the X49 and X45 with GND connector is used to connect to the ES9018 oscillator input for syn dpll mode operation. It is tested and run without the famous ES9018 unlock problem and it's no need to wait for the lock to become stable after power on

All of the above usb to i2s design is complex and great, but the cost must also double or triple of this CM6631A PCB the only trade off of this PCB is user need to switch between x49 and x45 for 44.1/88.1/176.4 and 48/96/192 syn dpll mode opteration. It's left for the diyer design an add on module to switch between the syn dpll clock or switch manually.
I am using 384x FS personally but the cost is a matter for publicly available

of course es9018 needs MCLK.... you are not making any sense. maybe the ess dac you use has a local clock and you are running the dac and your USB module asynchonously? if you are connecting your unit XO's to the XO on the dac... theres your MCLK...I dont see any suitable connector, but if you are doing that, this says nothing about your jitter performance, running synchronously the quality can be much lower without causing unlocks.

the 'famous' unlock problems with ESS are when running too low DPLL bandwidth when the dac is running asynchronously, nobody is reporting any unlock problems when running synchronously. if the jitter is high the performance wont be great, but it wont cause any unlocks unless you do something stupid

[diyinhk]

Originally Posted by qusp

of course es9018 needs MCLK.... maybe the ess dac you use has a local clock and you are running the dac and your USB module asynchonously. which makes many of your comments a bit meaningless IMO

I use self-design ES9018 PCB
Actually, no ES9018 PCB available in the diy market is good enough.
I am happy to share this ES9018 PCB with IV stage to the public for only 99 soon(includes soldered es9018 chip) half half the cost of the famous hot design and with continues ground plane to the IV stage as the es9018 application note recommended

[luxury54]

Originally Posted by diyinhk

I am happy to share this ES9018 PCB with IV stage to the public for only 99 soon(includes soldered es9018 chip)

finally some good news about this ES9018 (compared to his cheaper ES9023 brother), I will buy 1 board from you so please inform us when it's ready, thanks

p.s.
aren't you thinking about building a new board or ading to your existing CM6631 design an ES9023 cheaper DAC plus maybe some small aluminium enclosure , so that buyers get a fully working async USB DAC which has standard 2Vrms output and can drive also headpones on the same output?
if you route out also an I2S output on the enclosure (using 8 wire cat5 cables just like with the network connections) it could be a hot selling product, allowing the user to use his personal and preffered DAC too;
just a hint

[qusp]

Originally Posted by diyinhk

I use self-design ES9018 PCB
Actually, no ES9018 PCB available in the diy market is good enough.

i'm sorry looking at your PCB, i'm not impressed with your research, or PCB design

maybe its OK value, but again your comments inflating your design without proper research
i'm not a huge fan of 'that' PCB either, but its not the only one available....

[qusp]

anyway i'll leave you to it, i'm sure some will snap up your bargain. just a hint, I dont design an ESS PCB in case you think that, but insulting other designs while trying to sell your own doesnt usually go down too well.....

[diyinhk]

Originally Posted by qusp

anyway i'll leave you to it, i'm sure some will snap up your bargain. just a hint, I dont design an ESS PCB in case you think that, but insulting other designs while trying to sell your own doesnt usually go down too well.....

I am sorry I am just trying to list the technical fact and different between similar function design, I have no intend to insulting other designs. Please accept my deeply apologize to you again.
I am very happy and you are welcome to provide comment to improve this PCB
I am not trying to make money from the audio sector, it's a hard area. I just want to share something cheap, good, high performance, reasonable and simple design to others, there are many ridiculous design like asus essence one uses spdif instead of i2s internally, some other usb to i2s PCB even uses double via in USB2.0 trace and sell hot...sorry may be I told too more again