Mating DAC board and digital board from eBay

[carlmart]

Even if I am still looking for a usb input board to add to AK4396 DAC, looking around provide other alternatives, even to use with the AK4396 board.

This small pcb looks like a good USB to I2S board:

YJ 32BIT 384K XMOS U8 USB card for YJ all DAC Completed board | eBay

And this DAC might be an option to the AK4396:

ES9018K2M ES9018 I2S Input DAC Decoder Board Support IIS 32bit 384K DSD64 | eBay

Has anyone tried any of these or these two together?

 

[DRONE7]

I am using the same 9018 dac from another supplier. See link (quick and free shipping, average packing and do check the board over before connecting...mine had loose workshop clippings across the power lines..😱 a shake was all that was needed to remove them)
ES9018K2M ES9018 I2S Input DAC Decoder Board Support IIS 32bit 384K DSD64 | eBay

Very happy with this DAC and price just unbelievable 🙂 so good I bought another so both my Raspberry Pi's have one.

Thinking seriously about the matching usb to i2s board from the same supplier.
Newest Xmos U8 USB 384K 32B I2S SPDIF Output Support DSD for ES9018 DAC | eBay

 

[carlmart]

Nice to know you are happy with the DAC. Perhaps you can help me finding the right input interface for me.

I need to have as much input options as possible, at least coaxial and USB. Optical could come handy.

AFAIK, that Xmos board you showed (which I had seen, of course) only has USB input. How do I add a coaxial input to it? Optical is possible?

The 9018 board has thee pin holes right behind the diodes. What are they for?

Did you get a schematic of the board? That would help a lot.

How do you interface the board with your Raspberry?

 

[DRONE7]

The 9018 board has thee pin holes right behind the diodes. What are they for?

They are for alternative powering.
I just use the DC-in socket with a 12volt plug-pack

Did you get a schematic of the board? That would help a lot.

No schematic...

How do you interface the board with your Raspberry?

Using i2s...it is i2s input only.(you need the other board for usb to i2s...and DSD)
The labelled plug is shown on the sellers product page and a cable with a plug at each end comes with the board. I cut the cable in half and soldered pin sockets for each of the Pi's.
I have both an early PiB and a Pi2B so the pinouts differ for each.

 

[carlmart]

Using i2s...it is i2s input only.(you need the other board for usb to i2s...and DSD)

Which is the "other board"?

 

[carlmart]

I meant if it was the input board I suggested or some other one.

 

[DRONE7]

I meant if it was the input board I suggested or some other one.

"other board for usb to i2s" simply that it needs another to convert from usb to i2s..... my link was for the board that is recommended from the reseller to work with the ES9018...


Also consider the Kali from here.... hearing good things about this if you are using a PI....

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/294940-new-fifo-buffer-rpi-sbcs.html

 

[carlmart]

I am not using PI.

These have been some options I am considering:

Q 1 Digital Interface Module XU208 Xmos USB U8 Upgraded for Audio Amplifier | eBay

X1 Xmos USB Board Digital Interface Module XU208 DSD DOP for Audio Amplifier | eBay

Singxer F 1 Xmos USB Digital Interface Module XU208 U8 Upgradeable | eBay

The latter seems to be the best one. Expensive too.