I have a Buffalo III and Buffalo IIISE that I've had for quite a while. I'm trying to get them running in dual mono mode. Neither DAC has the firmware chip. I believe the hex file is still available on the Twisted Pear website, but I don't know what chip is needed. Any guidance will be most appreciated.
Of course I may be asking a really dumb question. If that's the case, just let me know.
Cheers.
Of course I may be asking a really dumb question. If that's the case, just let me know.
Cheers.
Don't know about the firmware chip. However, do have some experience programming ESS chips over I2C bus using Arduino microprocessor boards (ESS has since made the datasheets public). Also, I purchased some power supplies, voltage regulators, and clock boards from Twisted Pear some years ago when I was just getting starting trying to figure out what worked, what didn't, and which designers really knew how to make a good dac. Unfortunately, the TP stuff all turned out to be a disappointment. Sorry about that.
Since then I have learned a whole lot more about dac building, and so I can only make suggestions based on what I learned. Basically its like this: The TP stuff is probably not worth the time messing with it unless maybe its just to learn how to program dac chips or something like that. If you do want to learn about programming the chips, then we can probably help you get started, answer questions, and so on. OTOH, if you want to get to the point of having a really better dac, then I would suggest to move on from the TP stuff. Again, sorry to give what might be taken as bad new.
Since then I have learned a whole lot more about dac building, and so I can only make suggestions based on what I learned. Basically its like this: The TP stuff is probably not worth the time messing with it unless maybe its just to learn how to program dac chips or something like that. If you do want to learn about programming the chips, then we can probably help you get started, answer questions, and so on. OTOH, if you want to get to the point of having a really better dac, then I would suggest to move on from the TP stuff. Again, sorry to give what might be taken as bad new.
Thanks for your thoughts and information. I would appreciate your thoughts on DACs that you find to be exceptional. I'm primarily interested in DIY DACs because the learning is part of the enjoyment for me. I already have several DACs so I do have ways to listen to digital. I will still proceed to try and make the dual mono B/III DAC as it will be a good learning experience. I'll start with the firmware chip but would ultimately like to control with an Arduino. If you have an Arduino sketch that you could share it would be most appreciated.
Cheers.
@rfbrw: Thanks for the identification of the chip I need. I believe the hex files are still available on the Twisted Pear website or GITHUB. I should be able to find an ISP to download these and see if they work. As mentioned above, it's the learning process that is just as important to me. Thank you.
Happy to suggest what I believe to be the most exceptional diy dac project we have today, along with some useful support circuitry.
The dac thread is long, but the first post summarizes a lot of key information:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/return-to-zero-shift-register-firdac.379406/
A diy FPGA-based PCM to DSD256 converter board works great with the RTZ dac (again, please see 1st post):
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/simple-dsd-modulator-for-dsc2.370177/
To help tie the above projects together, and help get the best of out the RTZ dac through improved clocking (DSD dacs tend to be sensitive to clock jitter):
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/general-purpose-dac-clock-board.413001/
There is more to the story if you are still interested after taking a look at the above threads. Feel free to PM if you would like.
Last edited:
What I find is some links to prior posts on the subject (which may include some attached example code I posted back then):
I2C bus programming with Arduino (some of this is more or less in reverse order):
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/es9038q2m-board.314935/post-6386977
I2C Library URL:
https://github.com/felias-fogg/SoftI2CMaster
Troubleshooting the I2C bus:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/es9038q2m-board.314935/post-6392768
Introduction to number systems, etc.:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/es9038q2m-board.314935/post-6393768
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/es9038q2m-board.314935/post-6393809
More about Arduino I2C bus pins:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/es9038q2m-board.314935/post-6386941
Arduino pinout diagrams:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/es9038q2m-board.314935/post-6382409
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/es9038q2m-board.314935/post-6382475
EDIT: Did find some very early code for an AKM dac chip that may or may not be helpful. Its in my dropbox at:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ogj9...OkOzZIOk?rlkey=zwg2d813in30fef2da83y299r&dl=0
Last edited:
Outstanding! I really appreciate you're taking the time to pull this information together for me. It will surely be helpful and educational.
Cheers.
Cheers.
This is the place to go. He has written a full Arduino I2C control for the Buffalo DAC's. I have used it several times.
https://hifiduino.wordpress.com/b-ii/
https://hifiduino.wordpress.com/b-ii/