Well, for digital audio I would agree that a DVM, 100MHz or better scope (used is fine), temperature controlled solder iron with small tip, tweezers, small diameter solder, and maybe a few other tools are needed. Some people will need vision aids too, such as magnifiers. That's kind of the cost of entry to play in this sandbox. It may not seem fair for people who can't afford the tools, but there really isn't a practical way to make it fair for everyone around the world.
As far as most of the rest of stuff you mention, its mostly about being willing to keep learning and growing in the hobby. That and some willingness and available free time to do some work.
Almost everything else can be overcome, and there are people here willing to help.
OTOH, there are the people who just want to build easy kits with good, clear instructions, and then maybe plug them together. For those people there is Iancanada, gabster, and whoever else. But making and selling kits like that more or less went the way of the dodo back in the days when Heathkit ceased to be viable. Now for the most part selling kits requires someone willing to go into kit making business without necessarily expecting to be able to make a living at it.
As far as most of the rest of stuff you mention, its mostly about being willing to keep learning and growing in the hobby. That and some willingness and available free time to do some work.
Almost everything else can be overcome, and there are people here willing to help.
OTOH, there are the people who just want to build easy kits with good, clear instructions, and then maybe plug them together. For those people there is Iancanada, gabster, and whoever else. But making and selling kits like that more or less went the way of the dodo back in the days when Heathkit ceased to be viable. Now for the most part selling kits requires someone willing to go into kit making business without necessarily expecting to be able to make a living at it.
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Because with a dac otherwise it is guesswork…
With my review addendum:
the sound of stock pcm58 is floating everywhere in the room; it is as diffuse as it gets, there is not really a sound stage, seems to come from everywhere but the speakers….
Dream sound, I was not expecting this, cant wait to start modifying it and get into analyse!!
With my review addendum:
the sound of stock pcm58 is floating everywhere in the room; it is as diffuse as it gets, there is not really a sound stage, seems to come from everywhere but the speakers….
Dream sound, I was not expecting this, cant wait to start modifying it and get into analyse!!
Haha no , phase tells me for windings of transformers, filters etc. But there is nothing one can do about it in a dac, the objective is to get no spikes , low noise and reach for a good square wave
Not looking into it , like for a phono… I tried to design a phase coherent filter for a phono and it was so much trouble to no result, other smarter people have found the solution , can’t have it all, I plan not to use vinyl ever again
Not looking into it , like for a phono… I tried to design a phase coherent filter for a phono and it was so much trouble to no result, other smarter people have found the solution , can’t have it all, I plan not to use vinyl ever again
Ah no it's how it sounds, day 1, now it's day 2 haven't had time to listen properly, it does have a vintage sound...
I'll tri, msb , then bit 4, on another board I'll also trim bit 2, 3. Maybe it makes a difference
But yeah the sound is like that
But yeah the sound is like that
0.002% thd , 0.005% with noise (weighting off) at 192khz samples pretty much across the range...
I FOUND the origin of the computer noises through USB... it was a 600.58 hz ... GUESSSSSSS
the bandwidth of the dac is 3.1hz to 18150hz. it is flat with 1db bumps from 11hz to 16400hz
adjusting the MSB and 4th bit was fun
I FOUND the origin of the computer noises through USB... it was a 600.58 hz ... GUESSSSSSS
the bandwidth of the dac is 3.1hz to 18150hz. it is flat with 1db bumps from 11hz to 16400hz
adjusting the MSB and 4th bit was fun
Ad5897, worse -3db 11.3hz in bass , but the dac looks happier and has less harmonics with it... as I/V so far.
What a great dac!!! , sound is a lot clearer at audition with ad5897 with adjustments. As buffer, maybe it doesn't makes much difference with NE5543, not significant at audition.
What a great dac!!! , sound is a lot clearer at audition with ad5897 with adjustments. As buffer, maybe it doesn't makes much difference with NE5543, not significant at audition.
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Well I hope it has close to square waves to trigger properly in digital side. I check in the audio output also, it shows misbehaviors very fast
Apparently they had some leftover 100MHz crystals from ES9038Q2M boards. Unfortunately ES9039Q2M MCK maxes out at 50MHz. But datasheets are for wussies.
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I properly drove the chip now after finding the PROBLEM with my computer USB!!!
the Bandwidth is now -3db around 7hz to 33khz
Noise is down around 120db except for a spike at 60hz of -100db (unweighted) (weighted it is -125db)
I found that the Carmina Burana record from Alpha has a lot of spikes of noises in 20khz... wow unacceptable that it went through production as is.
I was randomly using this to feed the PMC with many sampling rate to see where digital noise was and how bad it was with different sampling NOS 44khz, to 196khz.
It has an unconditional dynamic resolution of 100db... which is extremely good.
If I ignore the 60hz hum my specifications on the pcm58 stock:
0db signal -89 db harmonics, -20 = 80db -60 = 50db, that is with adjustments. Pretty good!!!
the Bandwidth is now -3db around 7hz to 33khz
Noise is down around 120db except for a spike at 60hz of -100db (unweighted) (weighted it is -125db)
I found that the Carmina Burana record from Alpha has a lot of spikes of noises in 20khz... wow unacceptable that it went through production as is.
I was randomly using this to feed the PMC with many sampling rate to see where digital noise was and how bad it was with different sampling NOS 44khz, to 196khz.
It has an unconditional dynamic resolution of 100db... which is extremely good.
If I ignore the 60hz hum my specifications on the pcm58 stock:
0db signal -89 db harmonics, -20 = 80db -60 = 50db, that is with adjustments. Pretty good!!!
@jean-paul
In case its helpful to see, here is the schematic for the old ES9038Q2M board:
It could run on either +-15v or else +15v only. There was a jumper to connect the -15v node to ground in the later case. Doing that also offset the input bias of the opamps to keep them centered at +15/2 = +7.5 volts.
In case its helpful to see, here is the schematic for the old ES9038Q2M board:
It could run on either +-15v or else +15v only. There was a jumper to connect the -15v node to ground in the later case. Doing that also offset the input bias of the opamps to keep them centered at +15/2 = +7.5 volts.
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Noticed that too but CheapESS works OK. It is playing right now. First thing that I hear is quite deep bass.
Nothing changed yet, not even the NE5532. With cheap SMPS like it should be when testing ultra low budget stuff.
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op5532 with Slew Rate at 9 V/uS .... Is not that too weak for a 24 to 32 bits oversampled output ???
Would change it direct for op1656 or the dif op1638 just for curiosity, change indeed C15/C26/ C19/C31 for ceramic class I, at minima.
Would change it direct for op1656 or the dif op1638 just for curiosity, change indeed C15/C26/ C19/C31 for ceramic class I, at minima.
If one doesn't favor ESS sound signature, I have found a more "analogue" yet plenty detailed and sparkling sound in the 2024 version of the oldie Xiangsheng Dac05a II 4x Pcm1794 DAC. The tube output is just tacked on, which I find more forgiving but less resolved, so I just removed the tube completely. 4x LME49720 in I/V stage are already excellent, and the 3x OP2604AP in output stage can be rolled to one's tastes. If one uses balanced output, 3rd opamp can be removed, which converts balanced to single-ended. For about $250 for PCM1794 x4 with XMOS XU208 USB input with chassis and power supply included, a great deal IMO.
0401251534_HDR by drjlo2, on Flickr
0401251538_HDR by drjlo2, on Flickr
0401251534_HDR by drjlo2, on Flickr0401251538_HDR by drjlo2, on Flickr