With our good experiences with our new ES9028PRO/OEM board in some projects, we want to build a universal platform based on the ES9038PRO. The new 9038PRO-Core, the IV stage and the digital inputs are on individual boards. This allows each unit to be used independently.
The AKOUO Controller Board is recommended for initialisation and controlling.
Here are some features of the new board or the planned features for the additional modules
ES9038PRO Core:
all DAC outputs on two header can be used for Stereo/4 Channel/8 Channel output
separated power supplies
AVCC-L/R with two LT3045
multiple LP5907 for 1,2V DSP and 3,3V Logic and CLK
5x7mm CLK and COAX for external CLK
Input multiplexer for I2S and Spdif (Data1-5) blocks digital signals on unused inputs.
extra Header for Data IN6-8
I2C input with enable to isolate the I2C if used on other boards
full SMD assembled and tested
I/V-Stage:
8 channel balanced I/V converter with OPA1632
four channels connected parallel in stereo mode. Rout is about 100 Ohms T and therefore you do not need an additional output driver.
Dual tracking regulator with TPS7A4700/3300
Enable controlled from the DAC-Core, to prevent unwanted DC on the DAC-chip during power up
Digital input board:
AES-EBU and/or Spdif
AES EBU pass through
Amanero
2 x Toslink
general I2S input for Raspberry, MINI-Shark...
LVDS I2S Port …..
The 9038PRO Core is ready for production. We want to share this project with you and we look out for interested people in this project to get a better price for the production.
The calculated selling price for the first series of the PRODAC-Core is about 420€ excl. VAT.
If we have 20 orders more the price will be reduced to 360 € excl. VAT
The IV stage and the digital input board are in the final design phase and I am also looking forward to some new suggestions and discussion on these designs.
Best regards
The AKOUO Controller Board is recommended for initialisation and controlling.
Here are some features of the new board or the planned features for the additional modules
ES9038PRO Core:
all DAC outputs on two header can be used for Stereo/4 Channel/8 Channel output
separated power supplies
AVCC-L/R with two LT3045
multiple LP5907 for 1,2V DSP and 3,3V Logic and CLK
5x7mm CLK and COAX for external CLK
Input multiplexer for I2S and Spdif (Data1-5) blocks digital signals on unused inputs.
extra Header for Data IN6-8
I2C input with enable to isolate the I2C if used on other boards
full SMD assembled and tested
I/V-Stage:
8 channel balanced I/V converter with OPA1632
four channels connected parallel in stereo mode. Rout is about 100 Ohms T and therefore you do not need an additional output driver.
Dual tracking regulator with TPS7A4700/3300
Enable controlled from the DAC-Core, to prevent unwanted DC on the DAC-chip during power up
Digital input board:
AES-EBU and/or Spdif
AES EBU pass through
Amanero
2 x Toslink
general I2S input for Raspberry, MINI-Shark...
LVDS I2S Port …..
The 9038PRO Core is ready for production. We want to share this project with you and we look out for interested people in this project to get a better price for the production.
The calculated selling price for the first series of the PRODAC-Core is about 420€ excl. VAT.
If we have 20 orders more the price will be reduced to 360 € excl. VAT
The IV stage and the digital input board are in the final design phase and I am also looking forward to some new suggestions and discussion on these designs.
Best regards
Attachments
Is audio out in curent or voltage mode?
It will be possible to connect external regulated power supply extra for analog I/V and digital stage? Idont like commercial regulator for audio I/V stage?
It will be possible to connect external regulated power supply extra for analog I/V and digital stage? Idont like commercial regulator for audio I/V stage?
That depends on how you use the output.
At the header X401/X403 are only the DAC-chip outputs, no IV stage. With the planned multiple OPA1632 it is a current mode. External regulator for AVCC can be connected on X302/304. On the I/V stage the analogue part and the regulator could possibly be separate boards. Thanks for this input.
At the header X401/X403 are only the DAC-chip outputs, no IV stage. With the planned multiple OPA1632 it is a current mode. External regulator for AVCC can be connected on X302/304. On the I/V stage the analogue part and the regulator could possibly be separate boards. Thanks for this input.
Does any capacitors in the signal path? Electrolytic or film?
Is audio GND separated for right and left channel and from digital GND?
Is audio GND separated for right and left channel and from digital GND?
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Left and right AGND are separated on the IV-board. All GND Planes are tied together on the DAC-Board. The arrangement of the digital inputs, the controller ports and the analogue outputs gives a good separation for digital and analogue GND and signal.
This eight channel I/V can be used in stereo mode. Four outputs of the OPA1632-I/V are connected in parallel for stereo. You can also use any other I-V stage with the 9038PROCORE.
Will it be compatible with the modular stuff on your web page?
Gesendet von meinem ONEPLUS A3003 mit Tapatalk
Gesendet von meinem ONEPLUS A3003 mit Tapatalk
I recommend the mini controller, because with our new software, the ES9038 is configured correctly. The Controller is fully pin compatible.
In some cases the akouo modules can be used, but are not pin compatible.
The series 45 digital input board is suitable for the spdif inputs, but will be replaced by a new digital input board.
The Series 45 Balanced Line Driver Stereo can also be used. However, this module does not have a separate power supply for the two channels and should only be used for multichannel applications. If the four OPA1632 I/V are connected in parallel for stereo, you need no additional cable drivers.
The Series 45 Low Noise Power Supply is not designed for the high current and gets really hot when it has to supply four OPA1632. Here is a new design with TPS7A4700/3300 finished, but now I will separate the the power regulator from the I/V stage.
What multi-channel input source do you support?
Have you considered supporting IanCanada's multichannel FIFO board as an input?
Have you considered supporting IanCanada's multichannel FIFO board as an input?
The multichannel input is a standard I2S interface. I have an Xmos streamer in use for that. This allows to connect every synchronous I2S interface, for example a DSP or maybe Ians multichannel FIFO. I have not found any information about the multichannel FIFO but I think this will also work with I2S.
BCL, WCL, Data1/2 - Data 7/8 can be connected to port X203 and X202.
I mide be interested 😉
for some DSP project , (minishark or something like that), 8 channels...
will follow...😉
@spiri
I presume that DAC board will have volume control (option to contol all 8 channels with one pot) ?
if so, would you advise, useing ES9038 ''in build'' volume control, or something after analog part ?
for some DSP project , (minishark or something like that), 8 channels...
will follow...😉
@spiri
I presume that DAC board will have volume control (option to contol all 8 channels with one pot) ?
if so, would you advise, useing ES9038 ''in build'' volume control, or something after analog part ?
Thanks for your interest. Your guess is correct. The volume of all 8 channels is controlled by a common encoder.
For more flexibility, I use a preamp with MUSES volume control after the DAC. This could also be multi-channel, but this is complex and expensive.
For more flexibility, I use a preamp with MUSES volume control after the DAC. This could also be multi-channel, but this is complex and expensive.
Great project.
Is the PCB designed to allow heatsinking of the ES9038pro thermal pad?
While not clearly stated in the DS, it seems mandatory to avoid noise issues in certain conditions. Here is an interesting post on the subject - they also mention a register error:
https://www.computeraudiophile.com/...ecision-unequivocally/?page=57#comment-636567
Also, I would be very interested in your ES9028pro implementation, why hiding it? 🙂
P.S: I am still using your previous Akouo reference DAC as my main source of music, until now nothing comes close to it.
Is the PCB designed to allow heatsinking of the ES9038pro thermal pad?
While not clearly stated in the DS, it seems mandatory to avoid noise issues in certain conditions. Here is an interesting post on the subject - they also mention a register error:
https://www.computeraudiophile.com/...ecision-unequivocally/?page=57#comment-636567
Also, I would be very interested in your ES9028pro implementation, why hiding it? 🙂
P.S: I am still using your previous Akouo reference DAC as my main source of music, until now nothing comes close to it.
The pcb is the heatsink. When the ES9038Pro is operated with high MCLK and in real current mode, up to 1.3 watts have to be dissipated. This is possible via the thermal pad in a 4 layer PCB. Nevertheless, we have provided four holes for mounting an external heat sink, if necessary.
The 9028pro on our Reference DAC was the first try with the new PRO chip. However, the higher power consumption, mainly due to shuntreg's also caused thermal problems on this PCB. Unfortunately it was not a 1to1 replacement. Now it's about redesign the Dac.
We 've got some good experiences with the 9028pro. Our OEM32DAC serves as a developer platform. (see the picture of the first threat) But our new product will only be presented after perfect completion.
In the meantime the project 9038PRODAC-Core pro was started.
Nice to hear that you like the AKOUO Reference DAC. This DAC is a reference for many customers at home in the high end system and also in the studio.
The 9028pro on our Reference DAC was the first try with the new PRO chip. However, the higher power consumption, mainly due to shuntreg's also caused thermal problems on this PCB. Unfortunately it was not a 1to1 replacement. Now it's about redesign the Dac.
We 've got some good experiences with the 9028pro. Our OEM32DAC serves as a developer platform. (see the picture of the first threat) But our new product will only be presented after perfect completion.
In the meantime the project 9038PRODAC-Core pro was started.
Nice to hear that you like the AKOUO Reference DAC. This DAC is a reference for many customers at home in the high end system and also in the studio.