On UK TV many years ago, there was a series called "flight of the condor", which had pan pipes as the them tune, the CD with the actual theme tune is about £70, but I got the Bolivia CD for 50p from a charity shop; if I found it wasn't for me, it would just mean that I had a spare CD case. Good music is good music, whatever instruments it's played on (but it's still worth treading carefully with pan pipes).
I have a fondness for 1980s electronica, probably because it's what I heard growing up.
I also have a fondness for RUSH, but that's purely because they're the best band ever.
I have a fondness for 1980s electronica, probably because it's what I heard growing up.
I also have a fondness for RUSH, but that's purely because they're the best band ever.
If its something like an R2R dac is being operated without an proper output filter then the stairstep pattern you get with the zero-order hold output has a implicit HF roll off. Its just the frequency response of that waveshape.
Other than that, dacs can have effects that sound sort of like changes in FR, but really aren't that. Certain types of correlated noise effects may create a perception of a change in FR.
It means a zero-order hold stair-step dac output has HF droop. Not all the HF is being reproduced in balance with LF due to a lack of proper interpolation/reconstruction filtering between PCM sample points. Proper reconstruction should produce the correct waveshape and correct FR of the recorded audio.
After many positive experiences with an M-DAC, I settled on a K9-Pro AKM from Fiio, which sounded just as good on my system as my FIFO DAC from Ian – so I used that as a reference.
When I bought a used ES9038 board and, after recaping it with serios caps, installed it in a CD player, I was more than pleasantly surprised by the richness of the sound, the playability, and the details. So I started looking for a good and affordable ESS DAC. The inexpensive Topping and SMSL DACs disappointed me; they all sounded thin and strained. During my last test, I had an inexpensive DAC from Nobsound (eBay) in my system, ( it didn't have the advertised features inside ;-/ ), this inexpensive DAC sounded really good. Unfortunately, with these Ebay / Ali devices you can never be sure what's actually built into them and which ones will be replaced with other dubious components in the next batch. The pictures of the internal components have since been removed from this eBay listing :-O . However, with a bit of luck and a few tuning measures, you can probably get even a good sound. In my opinion the power supply and a the output stage plays a significant role in achieving good sound. For inexpensive designs, investing in a better power supply and an additional output stage is definitely worth it. Also through my first experiences with building a Lampucera DAC ( http://lampizator.eu/lampizator/LAMPUCERA/CD DAC Lampucera lampizator.html), I have found that modifying it can be worthwhile.
When I bought a used ES9038 board and, after recaping it with serios caps, installed it in a CD player, I was more than pleasantly surprised by the richness of the sound, the playability, and the details. So I started looking for a good and affordable ESS DAC. The inexpensive Topping and SMSL DACs disappointed me; they all sounded thin and strained. During my last test, I had an inexpensive DAC from Nobsound (eBay) in my system, ( it didn't have the advertised features inside ;-/ ), this inexpensive DAC sounded really good. Unfortunately, with these Ebay / Ali devices you can never be sure what's actually built into them and which ones will be replaced with other dubious components in the next batch. The pictures of the internal components have since been removed from this eBay listing :-O . However, with a bit of luck and a few tuning measures, you can probably get even a good sound. In my opinion the power supply and a the output stage plays a significant role in achieving good sound. For inexpensive designs, investing in a better power supply and an additional output stage is definitely worth it. Also through my first experiences with building a Lampucera DAC ( http://lampizator.eu/lampizator/LAMPUCERA/CD DAC Lampucera lampizator.html), I have found that modifying it can be worthwhile.
Attachments
Jean-Paul posted this in an other thread I like to share.
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005...MIrJrh_sL7jAMVkJ9oCR1oBBgQEAQYASABEgKwA_D_BwE
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005...MIrJrh_sL7jAMVkJ9oCR1oBBgQEAQYASABEgKwA_D_BwE
Ordered one. I like DAC boards for use IN a source device (where they should be IMHO). This module seems a hard one to beat with regards to size and price. Thankfully it is stereo, compact, single board and lacks useless features. DIY is way more expensive and risky and the money saved can be used to adapt it to wishes and for a good PSU board.
Last edited:
my cheap emu0404 beats my vinyl equipment... like the vinyl has some little extra 'air' which is maybe THD, and it has sometimes extra dynamics due to mastering. But in general... The dac has a more truthful output
I just tested tonight with Missa brevis from Erato, (Michel C.) which is quite a difficult recording, very dense harmonics.
With the dac: lyrics are just a little more clear, voices are easier to follow everything makes more sense in the patterns of composition, The bass is always clear and present, nothing seems amiss. I am more interested in listening and way more details appears than with the vinyl which is quite dense also, but less clear dynamics.
With vinyl: there is a little more air and presence, but this is at the cost of more listening fatigue which I don't experience at all with the dac. The bass has a little more body but it is not as nicely accompanying the rest. There is a little more clarity hearing the harpsichord and top notes of organ which are always clear and concise, this is not the case with the Dac.
This is a particular recording which sounds OK on vinyl and digital, that is why I selected it. The panning is not very nice and the voices not the best recording, superior recording exists.
The emu is a few hundred dollars, a few dollars for extra capacitors, 2 ecc88 nos (buggle boys, from Germany) some caps, couple chokes and a small power transformer transports the dac into another world.
I don't feel like listening to my vinyl ever again...
I have a shiit dac (never use it), and a FIFO of highest quality, don't use it either... Let see what the PMC58 from China has in store!
I just tested tonight with Missa brevis from Erato, (Michel C.) which is quite a difficult recording, very dense harmonics.
With the dac: lyrics are just a little more clear, voices are easier to follow everything makes more sense in the patterns of composition, The bass is always clear and present, nothing seems amiss. I am more interested in listening and way more details appears than with the vinyl which is quite dense also, but less clear dynamics.
With vinyl: there is a little more air and presence, but this is at the cost of more listening fatigue which I don't experience at all with the dac. The bass has a little more body but it is not as nicely accompanying the rest. There is a little more clarity hearing the harpsichord and top notes of organ which are always clear and concise, this is not the case with the Dac.
This is a particular recording which sounds OK on vinyl and digital, that is why I selected it. The panning is not very nice and the voices not the best recording, superior recording exists.
The emu is a few hundred dollars, a few dollars for extra capacitors, 2 ecc88 nos (buggle boys, from Germany) some caps, couple chokes and a small power transformer transports the dac into another world.
I don't feel like listening to my vinyl ever again...
I have a shiit dac (never use it), and a FIFO of highest quality, don't use it either... Let see what the PMC58 from China has in store!
gabdx, what does your vinyl rig consist of?
I have 2 EMU 0404s, mainly used for measurements.
Last edited:
Ro808, is your forum name any reference to NSU motor cars? If you don't know what I'm talking about, just ignore me... 😉
the perspective tt, AT150 (boron/gold, line version) MM which I use currently loaded properly , I have the Ortofon M2 bronze too, you cannot tell if it is the dac of the turntable playing.
I do have a problem of static build up on the carbon tone arm, it's very minor but I could fix it in the future.
, extra regulator, and a diy phono of tubes4hifi, its SP16 power supply on SP14 board. Its a good value and I modified it a little, I used to have the input battery bias modification.
I have the Leather-It mat, I like it very much I tried a few others and not as good.
Are you going to modify the emu0404?
I do have a problem of static build up on the carbon tone arm, it's very minor but I could fix it in the future.
, extra regulator, and a diy phono of tubes4hifi, its SP16 power supply on SP14 board. Its a good value and I modified it a little, I used to have the input battery bias modification.
I have the Leather-It mat, I like it very much I tried a few others and not as good.
Are you going to modify the emu0404?
Last edited: