Is Pavel still active?
Can anyone share any info about this comment by Jussi (HQPlayer) and if it is implemented in DSC2 design ?
"make and model of the switch register-latches is pretty critical. Even if the model number is the same, different manufacturers have different implementations. Although they all work the same from digital data function point of view. However, this DAC use is a mixed-domain use case and very different from what the chip was originally designed for."
Or is Pavel the only one that can answer this?
Yes that is looking verry good.
We have updated this project together and i am verry curios to see the bords in real live.
Here is a list of the changes we have made to the project.
We have updated this project together and i am verry curios to see the bords in real live.
Here is a list of the changes we have made to the project.
- We have removed the power supply for the Nazar.
- The clocks have been replaced for Crystek clocks.
- Removed the ground plane under the condensor row.
- Rearranged the annotation of all components on the board.
- Added space for an additional PSU for the USB interface.
- Added an extra center pin on the output transformer to make the yellow Ali transformers fit.
- Removed the inverter U36
- Added the missing 3D components.
While the PSB batch hasn't gone into production yet, a significant improvement in mute performance can be made. It is necessary to give a mute signal to 15 pin registers. And to refuse analog keys on an output. This method implements soft mute.
There is an alternative PCM->DSD256 converter project in the forum which IMHO is likely to sound better than DSD'it. No offense intended to Pavel by saying that either. Using dual AK4137 ICs was definitely one of the good things to try. The other converter project guys used an FPGA for synchronous conversion instead of AK4137. IMHO the synchronous converter has some significant advantages. BTW, like Pavel I made my own dual AK4137 design too; so I tried the same idea as Pavel, but in a bit more involved and costly type of way. The FPGA guys figured out a better way yet, is all. So now I use their version. While it is better than AK4137 for various reasons, it still isn't quite at the level of what is possible with HQ Player, nor maybe quite as good in some ways as the freeware offline converter at: https://pcmdsd.com/Software/PCM-DSD_Converter_en.html FPGA converter is still better than AK4137 though (not that AK4137 is bad, its just asynchronous which brings some complications along with it).
The above having been said, I believe the guys behind the FPGA-based Simple DSD Converter project are thinking about ways to improve the firmware algorithm. Have listened to some beta level ideas. Not too bad. Even as it is now, IME its probably the best sounding hardware DSD converter diy project available at the moment.
If there happens to be any interest the FPGA-based project, thread is at: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/simple-dsd-modulator-for-dsc2.370177/
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