I want to build a compact desktop DAC+amp for a pair of full-range Alpair speakers. This is my prototype: Khadas DAC wired to a Icepower 50ASX2 amp.
I put a SSR 2A relay to power ON the amp when I switch on the PC. And here came problems:
1) the SSR (Omron from eBay) is not switching on the amp. I wired the AC wires bypassing the SSR - there's a switch at the mains socket.
2) now when I switch the PC on or off when the amp is on - there's a thump in the speakers.
3) the amp is too powerful for the speakers - I control the volume in Windows and 5% is the maximum for comfortable near field listening.
4) and now the most dangerous problem - once when I turned on the amp the PC immediately switched off and it turns out that somehow the amp burned the South bridge chip in the motherboard.
Can I connect the 5V wires from the Khadas DAC to the "enable" pin on the Icepower ?
Can I add a 50k volume pot between the DAC and amp ? I have an Alps 50k stereo pot.
And what happened so that the amp literally fried the motherboard ? How to prevent this from happening ?
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
I put a SSR 2A relay to power ON the amp when I switch on the PC. And here came problems:
1) the SSR (Omron from eBay) is not switching on the amp. I wired the AC wires bypassing the SSR - there's a switch at the mains socket.
2) now when I switch the PC on or off when the amp is on - there's a thump in the speakers.
3) the amp is too powerful for the speakers - I control the volume in Windows and 5% is the maximum for comfortable near field listening.
4) and now the most dangerous problem - once when I turned on the amp the PC immediately switched off and it turns out that somehow the amp burned the South bridge chip in the motherboard.
Can I connect the 5V wires from the Khadas DAC to the "enable" pin on the Icepower ?
Can I add a 50k volume pot between the DAC and amp ? I have an Alps 50k stereo pot.
And what happened so that the amp literally fried the motherboard ? How to prevent this from happening ?
And what happened so that the amp literally fried the motherboard ? How to prevent this from happening ?
Can you give more information
Can you give more information
Well, upon close inspection I found that the 220V section of the amp was near the USB port of the DAC and several SMD components near the USB socket literally exploded. The air gap is sufficient for 220V, but maybe a surge broke the gap and the motherboard USB port took a 220V shock.
I have ordered a new DAC and will try a different placement of the components. To protect the motherboard I will use a USB isolator.
I have ordered a new DAC and will try a different placement of the components. To protect the motherboard I will use a USB isolator.