Where is the best places to buy them from because you say the traces on this one are not good.
When you get round to replacing the NE5532 op-amp, you have to watch 2 things:
- NE5532 is a dual opamp. Like LT1364 and LT1361 which I replaced it with in my V-DAC. Do NOT use a mono op-amp like NE5534. Check the data sheets.
- Op-amps are designed to fit one way - the notch lines up with the notch on the socket and on the PCB. Don't put them in the wrong way around.
I think the AD1862 DAC from this forum, by @miro1360 , is better. There are also many more options, various USB and SPDIF cards, even Bluetooth.
A dac with more body, I would try the Wolfson 8741, it is probably better than my akm dac, but I don't miss anything, it is a clear dad that has much.
AK4396 DAC is what i use, I took the output directly of the emu0404, disconnected all opamps and outputs,
This goes through a pre-filter and 10uf caps to unbalancer from broskie, which has another filter, then the outputs are sent to 350uf film caps for my headphones which are Grados top of line and seneiser hd600, then another 1uf caps are going to the modified aikido dac, then to the super duper regulated mono blocks of greatness to harbeths. this is my serious system.
It is a very casual system but the amplifiers are everything, it is a fun !!! to listen to. The lampucera is a bit more serious sounding... the Ak is like in the middle, I only had a wolfson dac before for radio station diffusion, the sound was greatness, very reserved but idk, I used a single tube buffer, I sold it.
This goes through a pre-filter and 10uf caps to unbalancer from broskie, which has another filter, then the outputs are sent to 350uf film caps for my headphones which are Grados top of line and seneiser hd600, then another 1uf caps are going to the modified aikido dac, then to the super duper regulated mono blocks of greatness to harbeths. this is my serious system.
It is a very casual system but the amplifiers are everything, it is a fun !!! to listen to. The lampucera is a bit more serious sounding... the Ak is like in the middle, I only had a wolfson dac before for radio station diffusion, the sound was greatness, very reserved but idk, I used a single tube buffer, I sold it.
I can hear individual plucking on guitars and the strike of the bow on each individual violin , and altos, and bass, and contrabass, maybe it is too much... That the AK4396 has this level of dynamics is very satisfying, I have no idea what could a Wolfson 8741 properly implemented could do.
I would consider the Gd 2.1 audio china product, if you don't like the output discrete transistor it is easy to change it to Broskie unbalancer. I am listening tonight and it is superb.
The last picture is THD feeding the dac with 13 different signals, you cannot see much harmonics, all the spikes over 2khz is just usb noise, it is not the dac, obviously the noise floor raise to -35db of background noise in the bass, this could be improved a lot, I have no clue how and if it is the Broskie, the filters, the power supply or the dac itself causing that.
The dac I compared to is the AKM AK4358 with one single buffer opamp, I think it was AD797, can't remember this.
The tube i use is the 6dj8, vintage best I could find, it has very little THD, superb tubes!!!
the 20k resistor circled is not an error, it is necessary, I forgot why, I calibrated this with THD tests.
the 20k resistor circled is not an error, it is necessary, I forgot why, I calibrated this with THD tests.
Hello Gabdx how are you. There is a lot of information I've lost track are we still talking about a Lampucera or a dac you bought and modified or another DIY dac 🙂.
Ah, I give you an example of THD you get from such dac AKM, the cirrus logic (lampucera) is smoother and natural, lean, and very airy , it doesn't resolve like the AKM dac does,
You could build the tube output and see if you like the sound.
Back then I didn't have a proper system to listen accurately so I was wandering in the dusk.
What I meant by traces is the metal deposits which links components to another on the lampucera board, it is easy to remove and damage when unsolder components.
Also one or two regulators heat up a lot, they would benefit from a bigger heatsink.
You could build the tube output and see if you like the sound.
Back then I didn't have a proper system to listen accurately so I was wandering in the dusk.
What I meant by traces is the metal deposits which links components to another on the lampucera board, it is easy to remove and damage when unsolder components.
Also one or two regulators heat up a lot, they would benefit from a bigger heatsink.
You say the Lampucera doesn't resolve like the AKM what do you mean by that 🙂. Can you give me a link to the AKM 🙂.
Online I can only see two Lampucera's the one I posted and this one. I know the one I posted has got a tube board and transformers with it but which one is better 🙂.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/39534698...6SYN79&hash=item5c0c8434fa:g:YnkAAOSw7fhmINB8
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/39534698...6SYN79&hash=item5c0c8434fa:g:YnkAAOSw7fhmINB8
This is the one I posted 🙂
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18672783...9111X1517312Xbb7376895a0deeebef683997fdc087e9
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18672783...9111X1517312Xbb7376895a0deeebef683997fdc087e9
I know some of you have said not to use the tube board but out of the two Lampucera's I have seen which board's are better because I don't know I have no experience with diy dac's. I have modified a point to point tube amp and built two pairs of speakers but this is different 🙂. Is there a Lampucera kit I haven't seen.
Hi Matthew, they are the same. You do not need the tubes because the voltages is good straight from the dac.
The wires are terrible quality as well as the RCA outputs, bigger heatsink and the AD opamp 4898 is all you need.
I tried to install a re-clocking module and it broke the pcb and never worked well after.
The lampucera sounds good, very very good. I just recall that it lacked body , it sounded lean but very airy.
And it could be worth to bypass the opamp and build the tube circuit which I showed. Unless someone has a better idea.
The wires are terrible quality as well as the RCA outputs, bigger heatsink and the AD opamp 4898 is all you need.
I tried to install a re-clocking module and it broke the pcb and never worked well after.
The lampucera sounds good, very very good. I just recall that it lacked body , it sounded lean but very airy.
And it could be worth to bypass the opamp and build the tube circuit which I showed. Unless someone has a better idea.
Which dac do use at the moment
Which dac do use at the moment and what is the best sounding dac you have had.