Thanks for doing that Acko, it seems to reinforce my own findings with respect to DSD512 being achievable, expecially with the BBB/Botic.
I'm still getting a click noise with stop/start, though not serious, and the occasional static-like noise that fades away after a few seconds, which I can live with for now.
I seem to recall that your new direct-DSD DAC tops out at DSD256?
Ray
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Has anyone had any definitive confirmation that this sounds better then a normal DAC? Or is this just another way to skin a cat?
Just wondering how development is progressing Acko?
Any thoughts on enabling higher rates than DSD256?
Ray
At this stage I have gone for a really high end system, all boxed up and ready to run for those who wants to setup and listen. Inputs for USB, Spdif, Streamer and possibly even analog line all converted to DSD. This is pretty expensive and no plans at the moment for a DIY version. Still at DSD256 native max by design as explained before.
For a DIY solution, cheaper with the AKD32 boards using 9038PRO and build up. This has now been tweaked to go up to DSD1024 so you may want to consider this 🙂
Sounds like a very interesting development Acko, will be interested to see more when it hits the streets. The DSD256 upper limit would seem to compromise the high-end tag a little give the capabilities emerging at the moment.
I've been watching ESS9038 developments and have perused your DIY offering. The AK4497 looks promising too. I'm gonna sit on the fence for a while and I still have Signalyst and ElectroArt DSD projects to get up and running when I can find the time.
Thanks Ray, anytime when you are ready 🙂
As for the DirectDSD DAC it fully tested and specified up to DSD256. It is capable of going higher, even up to DSD1024 theoretically but none of these have been specified or tested so I cannot offer products accordingly at the moment. I any case all these are too expensive for the general DIY community so will go for oems only. And also one of the reasons why I am not posting much here. If anyone interested can contact Ackolabs directly.
As for the DirectDSD DAC it fully tested and specified up to DSD256. It is capable of going higher, even up to DSD1024 theoretically but none of these have been specified or tested so I cannot offer products accordingly at the moment. I any case all these are too expensive for the general DIY community so will go for oems only. And also one of the reasons why I am not posting much here. If anyone interested can contact Ackolabs directly.
It all depends on how you do it. A poorly implemented system will sound terrible even though the underlying concept is great so any comparison becomes effectively meaningless!
Let's say you have a Schiit Yggdrasiil and an equally high end nodac system, how would they compare technically?
I ask because I want to make my own high end dac but there is a serious amount of know-how involved in building a traditional dac. The nodac seems comparatively simpler.
I ask because I want to make my own high end dac but there is a serious amount of know-how involved in building a traditional dac. The nodac seems comparatively simpler.
Just to start somewhere, this NoDAC camp came about because people thought they could get analog out by simply filtering the DSD signals and thereby get a cheap system (the main driving factor)
Whilst in theory this is correct, in order to get a high end system this way requires far more sophistication and costs to get the purity required. There is a lot of high energy noise in DSD that far exceeds the base signal. These need a high degree of filtering that causes its own set if problems like phase smearing, distortion, etc. And especially if you do not understand the underlying concepts you will be chasing tails or at best get serendipitous results.
I have tested a typical NoDAC but a properly designed DAC run rings around
these DIY efforts.
It has been a long while but here is the final build of this DSD DAC 🙂
More information here:AckoDAC - AKD512 DSD DAC
More information here:AckoDAC - AKD512 DSD DAC
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Hi,
Just responding to some queries:
There is USB bridge and LAN integrated already, so pretty much ready to connect and play. Also these interfaces are not based on RPi or SBC modules like what others do but built ground up from dedicated real-time embedded processors - and all linear power for top quality audio. So, no Linux boxes, drivers or OS updates required, no storage disks or memory cards to corrupt!
Also LAN interface has fibre options for absolute isolation
USB goes up to DSD512, LAN up to DSD256 (native), hoping to push it up to DSD512 and yes, includes isolation and reclocking to femto clock timings 🙂
Just responding to some queries:
There is USB bridge and LAN integrated already, so pretty much ready to connect and play. Also these interfaces are not based on RPi or SBC modules like what others do but built ground up from dedicated real-time embedded processors - and all linear power for top quality audio. So, no Linux boxes, drivers or OS updates required, no storage disks or memory cards to corrupt!
Also LAN interface has fibre options for absolute isolation
USB goes up to DSD512, LAN up to DSD256 (native), hoping to push it up to DSD512 and yes, includes isolation and reclocking to femto clock timings 🙂
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I thought you had given up on DSD Acko; good to see that you persisted quietly in the background. Looks like an interesting project and will be interested to hear what people think of it in due course.
Ray
Ray
Cheers Ray, nice to hear from you again.
Yes, it has been quite difficult to get noise below acceptable levels but that is a success now. Someone has asked to provide fft noise plots but AP machines are quite an investment and impressive figures does not necessarily compare with what we really hear. So I went for Audeze LCDx headphones for all listening tests. Now, I can’t believe my ears 🙂
Any measurement result?
I saw -120dB THD+N specification from your site.google, but no detail informations.
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