Multiple input DAC kit

[irbow]

Hi,

I am interested in DAC kits with sample rates up to 192KHz. Most of these seem to have one optical, coax and USB input. Is anybody aware of any good quality kits (up to 250 Uk pounds or so is okay for the kit) that have at least 2 optical (toslink) or more inputs? If not is it possible to add these?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Iain

 

[Bill Fuss]

If you are referring to the Chinese Dacs that use the CS8416 for the input, that chip actually has 4 inputs that can all be used with toslink receivers or coax or USB in any combination. You can have 4 toslink inputs if you wish just by rewiring the inputs and adding the toslink receivers. The input switching is also very simple. AFAIK, no one offers a kit already set up like that, this IS DIY after all.

I haven't seen a unit that is 192 toslink input capable, they use upsampling chips to reach 192 and they work very well.

If you would like to see the schematic of one of these Dacs you can email me and I'll send it to you.

Best, Bill

 

[SoNic_real_one]

Optical (toslink) won't go usually past 96kHz. Because of either transmitter, receiver or the plastic optical cable. Or all of them. And usually adds more jitter than the straight copper connection.

 

[abraxalito]

And usually adds more jitter than the straight copper connection.

Has the big advantage though of zero common mode noise injected into your DAC.

 

[SoNic_real_one]

Common noise? Not so much a problem.
Filtering at the input, proper shielded cable, matching 75 ohm impedance, using the DAC in a household enviroment (not close to a GSM/CDMA repeator antenna), transition-trigger inputs...
Sure, who wants to be paranoic will go on AES/EBU path.

 

[abraxalito]

Well I find it to affect sound quality myself - AES/EBU is not the answer either.

 

[Francec]

AMB Gamma 1. I have the PCBs and am in the process of assembling. It has the inputs and is very small; credit card size.

Frank

 

[Andersonix]

Or Gamma2 from amb.org?

 

[Francec]

Or Gamma2 from amb.org?

Gamma 1 and I'm sure it has SPDIF, USB and Toslink.

Frank

 

[qusp]

yes, but he wants multiple toslink, there is a whole swathe of dacs that allow coax, toslink and usb

 

[irbow]

Hello,

Thank you for the replies (Bill I did e-mail you - let me know if you received it)

I do currently have a 2x optical, 2x coax imput DAC which is very cheap/old ~12yrs and I want to replace it. My main system is analogue with SET amp with home made speakers and as you can tell by my original question I am not a digital expert although if I know what I need to do to build I'm okay I just don't know the ins and outs of these things. I will be connecting a PS3, TV box and in the future maybe a USB connection and assumed that a 192kHz sample rate would future proof it, is that so? Bill was right in his original reply to me that it is the Chinese DAC kits out there on ebay that caught my eye. I suppose I should have asked is it worth building these kits in terms of audio quality?
Okay well that's enough questions and thanks again for the responses!

Iain

 

[Bill Fuss]

I got your email and responded. Maybe your spam filter caught it. Look in your junk files.

 

[irbow]

Yes found it!
That helps alot and yes gmail had dumped it in the spam.

Thanks for the PDF!

Iain

 

[Andersonix]

Regarding future proof, if you're connecting a TV in the future, do you need Dolby Digital decoding? (I do now, with our new TV that only has digital audio output...)

Gamma1 (and Gamma2) have USB input (and can be powered by USB).