I talk about this one: Lampucera1.0 + Lampizator CS8416 + CS4397 ... which includes a tube section. I modded the tube section...
The CS4397 DAC chip is a voltage-output DAC. This means it outputs an analog voltage signal rather than a current signal.
Here’s a breakdown:
Here’s a breakdown:
- The CS4397 from Cirrus Logic is a multi-bit Delta-Sigma DAC.
- It features integrated interpolation and directly produces an analog voltage output.
- Unlike current-output DACs (e.g., PCM1794 or other Burr-Brown chips), the CS4397 does not require an I/V (current-to-voltage) conversion stage.
- The CS8416 functions as the S/PDIF receiver, feeding the digital signal to the CS4397.
- The CS4397 then converts the digital signal to an analog voltage output, which can be passed directly to the analog stage or amplifier.
I upgraded my system with your recommendation @Radian : an UAC-1 with its corresponding LSP, an "ok" USB cable from the output of a WiiM Ultra and a good Coax-cable into the DIY Lampucera/Lampizator DAC... wow ... really an impressive change of the sound "signature" (probably not the right description). I have much more "blackness" and separation of instruments, singer seem to stand much taller behind or in the middle of the stage. Thank you... what a pleasant start into 2025 by learning from others who shared the benchmarks (not measured but actually listened to...)
Good to have confirmation of what I hear with this device.
I got it hooked up to I2S now.
I used a cheap HDMI cable and cut it 10 cm behind the plug.
The wires of the individual I2S signals are wrapped up in colored foil as pairs each pair consisting of a white and a colored wire.
The colored wire is always the positive signal that I used.
I will give further information once I get home if you want.
Frohes Neues Jahr.
Klaus
I got it hooked up to I2S now.
I used a cheap HDMI cable and cut it 10 cm behind the plug.
The wires of the individual I2S signals are wrapped up in colored foil as pairs each pair consisting of a white and a colored wire.
The colored wire is always the positive signal that I used.
I will give further information once I get home if you want.
Frohes Neues Jahr.
Klaus
Doesn't look like anyone has done the mod to enable to dac to accept a 96kHz input as well as 44.1. You just need to lift pin 2 of CS4397, and connect a wire to pin 16 of CS8416.
I just stumbled upon your post, did not see it before. It's really no comparison, The IC streamer is excellent, much more dynamically alive and punchy, way better imaging and just overall more realistic sound. The Wiim for itself is a fine device, I loved it for its simplicity, versatility and stability. Running now Moode on the Ian Canada Pi Streamer and it just does not work sometimes. Or maybe I am too stupid to set it up? I was sure running ropieee would be stable, I even got a monthly subscription for Roon, but since it did not always work smoothly I cancelled it again. Now running Moode, so far stable, just using Spotify connect and for more serious listening I stream from my NAS.
Which IC do you have? PurePi, battery PS, etc? To which Wiim streamer device can you compare? Very interested to get a few more details. Thx
Thanks for the info @peterpaan89! Which model WiiM were you using and were you using its internal dac or streamer out to a separate dac?
Enjoy the music!
Another Lampucera, this time slightly different output section (very much Raven-like from Lynn Olson)
Tubes used are E182CC, OPT are Lundahl nano-crystalline LL 2793NC, B+ is shunt regulated by Vacuum state Superreg etc...
Audio path compenents are on teflon as well all DC link caps and damper diodes PY88.
Build entirely by a member here, @simplicisius
Must say its end game DAC for me...quest completed. Before I had few Lampizator's and Aya form Pedja. I like Lampucera most.
Tubes used are E182CC, OPT are Lundahl nano-crystalline LL 2793NC, B+ is shunt regulated by Vacuum state Superreg etc...
Audio path compenents are on teflon as well all DC link caps and damper diodes PY88.
Build entirely by a member here, @simplicisius
Must say its end game DAC for me...quest completed. Before I had few Lampizator's and Aya form Pedja. I like Lampucera most.
Attachments
Hi,
I also bought this UAC-1 and want to extract the I2S-signal from the HDMI-output for my Italian R2R dac. Because of the +-+-+-+- marking i suspect the HDMI-output is differential (lvds) instead of cmos-level. How did you manage to extract the I2S-signal for your dac?
quick update. I am waiting for the front and back of the case to be delivered - next week: hopefully "first sound"
The Lampucera is playing!!! I love it.
I had the chance to let it run against a quite popular R2R DAC and an Amber 3 (not mine obviously):
Here is what I hear and what I want to believe 😉 :
Very powerful, punchy, and dynamic, with better control and authority in the bass region.
Full and dense, but darker and less open than Amber 3.
Slightly recessed, darker tonality, less brilliance compared to Amber 3.
Also large and airy, but with more focus on depth and bass presence.
Outstanding dynamics and punch; better suited for energetic music genres like electronic music.
Denser and heavier presentation; tube stage provides a powerful, warm sound character.
The case was quite expensive and I did get some help.
Soundz amazing ... never experienced something similar
Pro...
Con...
I can no longer use the Wiim Ultra's USB output to connect to the UAC-1 and then via coaxial input to the DAC. The USB option cannot be selected, as my Lampucera does not provide the necessary feedback. This issue, though unusual, is mentioned in the Wiim forum. As a result, I now play directly from the Wiim Ultra without using the USB connection. Can I hear a difference? No idea. I will try to experiment with different higher tier streamers.
I had the chance to let it run against a quite popular R2R DAC and an Amber 3 (not mine obviously):
Here is what I hear and what I want to believe 😉 :
Very powerful, punchy, and dynamic, with better control and authority in the bass region.
Full and dense, but darker and less open than Amber 3.
Slightly recessed, darker tonality, less brilliance compared to Amber 3.
Also large and airy, but with more focus on depth and bass presence.
Outstanding dynamics and punch; better suited for energetic music genres like electronic music.
Denser and heavier presentation; tube stage provides a powerful, warm sound character.
The case was quite expensive and I did get some help.
Soundz amazing ... never experienced something similar
Pro...
- I don`t have the hissing sound as described in the YT Lampucera version
- I can play the highest resolution as compared to the 44.1 in the YT Lampucera version
Con...
I can no longer use the Wiim Ultra's USB output to connect to the UAC-1 and then via coaxial input to the DAC. The USB option cannot be selected, as my Lampucera does not provide the necessary feedback. This issue, though unusual, is mentioned in the Wiim forum. As a result, I now play directly from the Wiim Ultra without using the USB connection. Can I hear a difference? No idea. I will try to experiment with different higher tier streamers.
Attachments
Klaus, if you find the time - please let me know of your experiment with HDMI ARC -> I2S on the DDC
best
Sebastian
???
You lost me. What has the USB option to do with the Spdiff connected Lampucera?