The Best DAC is no DAC

[iperv]

Hi.

@nautibuoy:
very interested on your pcb/schematic.
Is it ok now?

I've got a jlsounds usb interface, double supply, etc.

Now it's time to go DSD.
In my system (only digital volume), popless playback is mandatory, so i'm very interested in a mute relay.

EDIT:
is this ok?
http://jlsounds.com/uploads/LME49710_schematic.pdf

[iperv]

Originally Posted by nautibuoy

I have now received the correct PCBs for my simple direct DSD filter and mute module for my JL Sounds USB board. I have made a couple up, minus the mute relay, and installed one for testing.

I have played a native DSD256 album (dsf files) via HQPlayer - sounded v good. Obviously DSD128 (converted off line from FLAC CD rips) played very well too.

Not surprisingly, my Atom D610 equipped computer didn't have the grunt to do any on the fly upampling from 44.1KHz FLAC files to DSD.

I installed a mute relay and silence - the outputs are continuously grounded. There is something very strange going on with the relay that I don't understand so if anyone can shine a light; basically, I can measure the voltage change across the relay coil and can hear the click of the relay but the contacts don't seem to change. Here's the circuit;



and I'm using one of these relays (4.5V coil, DPCO, non latching version);

http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1683361.pdf

The pin annotations on the schematic relate to the relay pins.

With no music playing I measure 0VDC across the relay coil and 5VDC when music is playing, which is what I expect.

Ray

I don't understand in any way this schematic.
How the relay works?
Is it an high pass filter?

EDIT:
ok, from right to left, not vice-versa ;-)

[vladimirb0b]

Has anyone found a unit that can output balanced DSD?

[francolargo]

Originally Posted by nautibuoy

I installed a mute relay and silence - the outputs are continuously grounded. There is something very strange going on with the relay that I don't understand so if anyone can shine a light; basically, I can measure the voltage change across the relay coil and can hear the click of the relay but the contacts don't seem to change.

Catching up on this thread... Is this still a problem? What happens if you route the signal through the relay? Ground on pins 2/9 (to ground when coil is de-energized) inputs on 3/8 and buffer outputs on 4/7? Best of luck!

[hazard500]

Originally Posted by vladimirb0b

Has anyone found a unit that can output balanced DSD?

Hi Vladimir, HiFiMeDIY has a USB to I2S device with balanced DSD output

HiFime UH1 384kHz USB DAC, headphone amplifier and I2S/DSD interface

Attached is the pin out.

Alternatively you can use a flip flop (74HC74) to create your own balanced output. I've posted my circuit before but here it is again. I use this daily, it works a treat.

[vladimirb0b]

That looks good. Is it sold just as a board that could be used with an isolator? Not sure if that is necessary, please advise
And is there a flip-flop board out there for sale?

[nautibuoy]

Just a quick note to apologise to anyone waiting for an update on my filter board; stuff happens in life and I've had very little spare time to spend on this project and associated aspects and I have not resolved the mute relay issue.

Things have now moved on in this popular DSD subject area so I am not going to spend any more time on my project and instead will hook my wagon up to Acko's new project;

Direct Drive DSD

Cheers

Ray

[stijn001]

Thanks Ray.

[50AE]

Hello everyone,

I have the JLsounds board and after reading the whole thread, I'm impatient to try this out.
I suspect the passive output filter must be very well built to filter out the leftover MHzs of DSD. A resistor/inductor with very low parasitic capacitance and a capacitor with very low parasitic inductance, maybe tantalum type. A transformer is not enough IMHO.

For now, I imagine a RLC LP filter with 16R , 30uH and 470nF. The R is there to damp the Q of the filter to ~0,5

[jedy]

Originally Posted by stijn001

Thanks Ray.

Dears ALL,
this is my personal version of Valve Preamplifier for DSD - DAC.
In this special Preamplifier there only a capacitor of uncoupling among input and output.
Is very important that all capacitors not polarized are of high quality.
The polarized capacitors are long life and for use to 100Khz (for DCDC converter).
Thanks and All the Best,

JEDY