Help about DIY DAC

[a491765]

Hi,

I'm new here and in the world of DIY audio system.
My current setup is an Atoll IN80SE amplifier, A pair of JBL TLX16 speakers, A Cambridge DACmagic 100, a YAMAHA CDX 397MK2 CD player and a RPI4 for digital music.

I would like to make my setup a bit more DIY and replace my current DAC to a better sound quality with better components solution.

But i don't really understand the world of I2S, HAT, USB signature, Digione...

Where can i learn a bit more about RPI DIY system ? Maybe with explanations about which role have each cards.
Which cards are needed to replace my current DAC ?

As example : I recently discover the sparky bundle (kali reclocker, allo piano 2.1, galvanic isolator....) The bundle seems to be appreciate by many pple. But:

Does RPI audio system are good enought compare too dedicated solution ?
Will i gain in sound quality compare to my cambridge current DAC ?
Does the kali reclocker, allo galvanic isolator, the piano 2.1 44/48 are compatbile with my RPI4 ?
Is it necessary to add the volt amp if the piano card is connected to my Atoll amplifier ?
Is it necessary to add the Capacitance Multiplier if i don't use the volt amp ?

Thanks you for your answers and clarifications

 

[MrSlim]

Your best bet would be to contact Allo Audio, for most of these questions.
Sound quality vs another DAC is subjective, although technology improvements since the DACmagic have been designed will probably help.
Re the volt amp and the Cap mulitiplier, I would say no, you don't need them, since you're connecting to an integrated amp.

 

[pcdude]

Get yourself a Khadas Tone Board and hook it up via USB to your Rpi4. You'll most likely get better performance than you would with a HAT DAC. This is just my opinion, of course. Do your research for yourself.

 

[diyiggy]

It's hard to advise without listen to a system... From my shoes, I will not beginn like this.


The JBL is a colored nice speaker from the middle or late 80s and the Atolls electronic are said to be a little sterile. I'm on the process to help a friend with the refurbishing of such classic speakers (you can look at for instance Troels Gravsen about it with mdern drivers).


Maybe, just my two cents before changing the sources : electrolytic caps became certainly resistive after 30 years : swap it for few monney for brandnews, don't ask yourself about expensive caps : just swap with the same uF & V values and type : if bipolar lytics, pick up fresh bipolars lytics from the market.


Then, maybe the DAC is good enough while the transport could be improved, so a better spidf hat for your Rpi to feed your DAC Magic and also a reclocker/isolator hat : perhaps there is a standalone hat for that to head your Rpi...


Then I will try to play with the amp or try different asking to friends to bring them to your home...


Adter all of that you may think a colored DAC with a colored Speaker is not the End of the World... or want to swap your speakers for a DIY more modern one : not so expensive and maybe a better step up than a full Allo system at 400 bucks... While imho, nothing really to complain with these JBLs.



Just my two cents, of course YMMV.

 

[plasnu]

hmm, I would like to know why so many people feel that the DAC is the bottleneck of the signal chain. It's a psychological mystery...

I would get a decent AD/DA non-DIY converter with a cheap measurement mic to step into the DIY world. Or I agree with diyiggy, changing electrolytic caps in older equipments is the easiest, cheapest, and the most effective DIY upgrade.

 

[diyiggy]

Yep, that's just hype imo and the way it is today : simple process solution to answer fast to the ghosted swear that disipate itself at the end of the day or after a beer. If A is bad change it for B... but all is an analogic chain whie people think 1 & 0...



The Yamaha is a good one as well according to me...

 

[a491765]

The JBL is a colored nice speaker from the middle or late 80s and the Atolls electronic are said to be a little sterile. I'm on the process to help a friend with the refurbishing of such classic speakers (you can look at for instance Troels Gravsen about it with mdern drivers).

You right i found the JBL really too present in the bass and middle, its why my retailer advice me to use the atoll, he thought this amp could calm down a bit the bass and the dynamic will increase the hights. i bought this amp like two month ago, i don't really want to change it right now if it coud be done by another way.

Maybe, just my two cents before changing the sources : electrolytic caps became certainly resistive after 30 years : swap it for few monney for brandnews, don't ask yourself about expensive caps : just swap with the same uF & V values and type : if bipolar lytics, pick up fresh bipolars lytics from the market.

Ok i will try that, my knowledge is very poor in this domain, how could i make a choice about new caps ? brands ? Websites ? Then, maybe the DAC is good enough while the transport could be improved, so a better spidf hat for your Rpi to feed your DAC Magic and also a reclocker/isolator hat : perhaps there is a standalone hat for that to head your Rpi...

I don't understand here why i should use a SPIDF connection between my rpi and my DAC, currently the DAC receive data from the RPI using USB3 USB to USBB. i thought USB3 is faster than SPIDF right ? Adter all of that you may think a colored DAC with a colored Speaker is not the End of the World... or want to swap your speakers for a DIY more modern one : not so expensive and maybe a better step up than a full Allo system at 400 bucks... While imho, nothing really to complain with these JBLs

Build my speakers look like climbing a mountain atm !! But if its the first and easy way to go well i will try it out. Do you know ressources to learn how to build ones ? Maybe a website to help chose components ? I'm greatfull for your answers thanks you all.

 

[a491765]

(you can look at for instance Troels Gravsen about it with modern drivers).

Ok i jut understand what you mean here, will take a look thanks.

 

[Evenharmonics]

hmm, I would like to know why so many people feel that the DAC is the bottleneck of the signal chain. It's a psychological mystery...

Due to the FUD spread by the sellers.

 

[diyiggy]

I just suggested to swap the electrolytic bipolar capacitors first, maybe they have aged too much. I can't know from here but it may gives you more changes than you think if the JBLs are really 30
Simply open the speaker from behing if you see screws or remove carefuly the bass unit to reach the little pcb where capacitors are and shoot a picture of it for us (open a new thread for that in the Multiway section) and draw the shematic of that filter to get help.

My first claim was simply, you don't want to change the roof without knowing if the concrete floor don't need refurbishing first : solid fundation is what you want... and here it's relativly cheap than spending few bucks in electrolytic caps.
My two cents, some members may advice something else... anyway stop reading hifi reviews and listen to hifi sellers is the best basic advice one could give... ever.