Clock & Re-clocker and interface board for JLSounds I2SoverUSB -> PCM2DSD -> RTZ DAC

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#42
"Just as a point of reference, would you be willing to say what some of the better dacs were prior to this one?”
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The RTZ replaces a DSC2.5 / Amanero that I have been using since around 2019. I typically use HQ Player to do on the fly conversion to DSD for music (44.1kHz WAV source files). To my ears, I thought that this setup was pretty good and it was much better than the previous Juli@ soundcard or the Behringer UMC404 that I still used, up until the RTZ (with the PCM2DSD FPGA DSD converter) for music/movies/games etc. Before that, I used a Micromega CD player for music.

Previous DSC2.5 build:

IMG_20250506_203118250.jpg



Previously, I just had to “slum it” for the AV stuff. This new DAC setup gives the chance of one decent DAC to do everything – even providing backing tracks with excellent sound quality to group singalongs to Helluva Boss and Hazbin Hotel! 😊

I’m far from a habitual DAC builder, but if it catches my eye and there are good reports from others, I’ll give it a go!

“Wow, splashing the cash there with both XOs! Respect!

I'm glad you're happy. 🙂”
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The RTZ with the reclocker had already proved itself, so it was only natural to go all in. Plus, I need both for music and AV stuff!
 
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Reactions: Cestrian and Markw4
#43
Cestrian said:
I can now provide the Gerbers and information to build an interface board that supports a compact connection between JLSounds I2SoverUSB vIII FIO and PCM2DSD with support circuitry hosting 2 x XOs, relays to switch in the correct frequency, re-clocking for the DSD signals and a clock doubler to provide ext_clk to the JLSounds if 22/24Mhz XOs are used.

The design relies heavily on that generously provided by Markw4 and was conceived not as an alternative to his design but to complement it where space was limited and requirements weren't as general.

This is the link to Mark's design: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/general-purpose-dac-clock-board.413001/

Below is the re-clocker fitted to one of my two RTZ DACs:

View attachment 1415697

The BOM & Schematic is also attached together with a document with some notes and details of the options.

Please let me know if clarification is required on anything. Or if anyone finds errors in the BOM. I've tried to keep it in step but as you can see there have been a number of iterations so mistakes might creep in.

The v15 board has been tested on 3 RTZ DACs and found to be working well on a number of different sample rates and sources. However, I cannot guarantee that there won't be unforeseen cases where timing issues might arise as I can only test with my limited scope of hardware.

BOM calls for Crystek CCHD-957 devices but since the 4 pin Aries XO sockets are used (part number has been added to the BOM) then any pin compatible XO can be used,, such as the Ian Canada scPure. The Crystek XOs also require a conversion pcb, as seen in my photo above. I bought mine from Ian Canada. The scPure XOs already use the correct format for the sockets.

View attachment 1419313

For DIY use only!

Edits:
8th Feb 2025: BOM updated. R9 value/
9th Feb 2025: Updated BOM for XO socket part number, added photo with scPure
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The B.O.M. for only the re-clocker is the attached one?
 

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