For sale is this set of AN dac boards. I upgraded to DAC5 and do not need these.
The analog board has the Tantalum resistors, large AN input transformer and the later model AN copper foil caps,
these are not the early ones that were prone to leaking.
This set does not come with the IV transformers however there are several good ones available.
These take the 5687 tubes in both positions and has coax and USB capability.
The input can take 48k & 96k via USB and there are receiver chip mods for higher fs inputs.
BTW- I have my DAC5 setup with a 768k XMOS to i2s and run at 706k which is just awesome.
Asking $300 for the set.
I also have a new unused populated Galahad PS board clone with if anyone is interested for an extra fee.
The analog board has the Tantalum resistors, large AN input transformer and the later model AN copper foil caps,
these are not the early ones that were prone to leaking.
This set does not come with the IV transformers however there are several good ones available.
These take the 5687 tubes in both positions and has coax and USB capability.
The input can take 48k & 96k via USB and there are receiver chip mods for higher fs inputs.
BTW- I have my DAC5 setup with a 768k XMOS to i2s and run at 706k which is just awesome.
Asking $300 for the set.
I also have a new unused populated Galahad PS board clone with if anyone is interested for an extra fee.
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I saw them on Taobao a while ago and I believe AliExpress has some vendors with them. The supply has great sound but the OB2 quality is pretty important. The OB2's seem to get noisy before anything else and that effects the bass and noise floor. I have had my DAC5 on 24-7 for the last 5 yrs and all the tubes still test very strong but I have had to replace the OB's 3 times.
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Thank you so much! That sounds amazing about your dac 5. Any pics you want to share? I have a dac 2 I've upgraded a bit over the years. Currently waiting for a pair of I/V transformers where one of the original ones broke. Thanks on the info on the OB2. I'm looking at upgrading to something like yours in the future. Do you use the Galahad in your dac? Thanks again for your help!
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I modded a DAC 2 for a local audiophile. The DAC 2 has a very strong character from the SRPP and is a completely different DAC from the OPT based upper units. I A/B'd the AN IV transformers against the bigger Sowter and preferred the Sowter so I sold the AN's. I did many things and have a very regimented routine for mods in which I change 1 thing at a time and make notes. That way I can go back or recall the effect to later implement. The Galahad is definitely a quieter background with tighter bass. I also have 7 power transformers stuffed inside mine and did discreet regulation on each digital stage where possible. Many of the super low noise digital regs do not like sharing rectifiers so I used some of my DHT experience and did individual transformers for the stages. I have the 12au7 > 6463 boards and OPT's. I also did USB to i2s direct to the AD1865 chip and can stream up to 705k/24 directly.
I did something similar. It was easy, relatively cheap and sounded great. Agree with the results of IV Sowters at about a 5th of the price of the AN's.
Upgrading power board caps was a big plus as well.
Upgrading power board caps was a big plus as well.
dht 4 me, thanks again. Are all the OPT's the same for your setup with 6463/12au7 and the 5687 version? Or do they have specific OPT's? Also what Sowters did you use if I may ask. Do you have fancy Audio Note OPT's or other brand? This stuff is so interesting
I used the Sowter 1465. It has a a much higher turns ratio so the IV resistor needs to be changed.
I have the triple C Core OPT from AN. The DAC2 w 5687 has an SRPP that doesn't need the opt as it is just the gain of the single 5687 w the top triode being a current source. The 12au7 > (ecc99-6463-5687) versions are cascaded stages with a lot more gain and needs the stepdown of the OPT.
Speaking of AN , do you know which electrolytics are they using in their "budget' series for PSU and cathode bypasses nowadays? I have a grounded pair of P4 amps in need of overhaul and ambitious plan to bring them into silver status is constantly sabotaged by budget cuts. I need to at least change 300B cathode bypass caps 220uF -100-160V and PSU caps 220uF /450-500V. Maybe you have suggestions of what actually works with this gear.?