I've got my test setup complete and gave the dac an initial test. Only getting right channel to play, left is silent. Using the circuit diagram I checked continuity between the pins of the shift registers to dac to opamps to rca out and did not find any issues. I then did a voltage test on all of the chips, see the picture below for values. I am no EE but it seems that I might have a bad IC6 which feeds the left dac chip, pin 13 (DL) reads 0 where as IC2 pin 5 (DR) reads 5v. The voltages on the dac chips and opamps on both sides look similar with the exception of pin 7 (DL) on the left dac chip which is fed by IC6. What do you guys think ?
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Success, she sings. Using AD797 opamps for now but have a bunch of others including some Sparkos and maybe Burnsons to try out. After a quick listen I'd say it sounds wonderful, standout imaging and tonal balance. Very impressive. I'll let it burn in for a little while and then try to determine which opamp sounds best to me in this DAC. Many thanks to you Miro for the wonderful design and the help.
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I had a lot of parts that I scavenged from old projects like the wavio board some psus and trafos. So my current outlay is only about $120 US. But if I were to buy all new and put it into a nice 2U case I guess it would cost north of $300 US. It sounds great and deserves a nice case. That will be on my to do list after I play with opamps.
If I added up this dac project, I probably could have bought a Holo Audio Spring dac and not lifted a soldering iron…. But where’s the fun it that? 😊 🤑
As I said elsewhere :
"Our reason for DIY. Something you just cannot buy, because no manufacturer would make something like this."
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...reamp-with-output-buffers.384796/post-7065879
If you do DIY to save money, you will most likely be disappointed in the end.
Because you cannot bear using sub-standard parts.
And you can never get parts at the same price as a high volume manufacturer.
And the many versions that you build to get to the final solution, you cannot write off as development cost.
Cheers,
Patrick
"Our reason for DIY. Something you just cannot buy, because no manufacturer would make something like this."
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...reamp-with-output-buffers.384796/post-7065879
If you do DIY to save money, you will most likely be disappointed in the end.
Because you cannot bear using sub-standard parts.
And you can never get parts at the same price as a high volume manufacturer.
And the many versions that you build to get to the final solution, you cannot write off as development cost.
Cheers,
Patrick
We used the BZ3207 case for prototyping before making our own XEN cases.
Good quality for the price. Some ebay dealer have them in inland locations.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/325...f816579951537228332e3dae!12000027991252710!sh
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...crescendo-ii-ak4495-dv20a.285630/post-6094886
Patrick
Good quality for the price. Some ebay dealer have them in inland locations.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/325...f816579951537228332e3dae!12000027991252710!sh
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...crescendo-ii-ak4495-dv20a.285630/post-6094886
Patrick
Custom CNC case from Leonardo
https://www.diyaudio.rs/blogs/blog/30-leonardov-salon-leonardos-showroom/
This is what I would call customised CNC case.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/gb-f5xpreamp-cases.346608/
Cheers,
Patrick
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/gb-f5xpreamp-cases.346608/
Cheers,
Patrick
I'll just get one from the diyaudio store, largest 2u they offer should work. Hard to beat for price since shipping is included. Nice cases but you may need to do your own casework like cutting in for power, RCA out, power switch and such.
Exactly. Plus every device plays differently here. Everyone put in something according to their taste - resistors, capacitors, Op-amps, DAC chips - whatever...
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