Hi.
I was searching for a DAC board with USB input to play CDs and .flac files with my laptop.
Found this on Ebay: Assembled XMOS U8 + AK4495SEQ + AD827 DAC USB Decoder Board | eBay
Is this DAC a good choice...?
Does anybody use it?
Are there better DACs within this budget?
Regards, Daniel
I was searching for a DAC board with USB input to play CDs and .flac files with my laptop.
Found this on Ebay: Assembled XMOS U8 + AK4495SEQ + AD827 DAC USB Decoder Board | eBay
Is this DAC a good choice...?
Does anybody use it?
Are there better DACs within this budget?
Regards, Daniel
The DACs apparent quite decent, I'd modify the filter on the back end and swap the opamp to a JFET type though.
Ad744 is a very good one, can get them on a dual adapter on eBay, they typically sell them as "opa627", sound great for $12.
The ad827 is supposed to sound pretty good with the ak4495, according to another trusted source.
I have ordered one of these DAC boards, should be here in a couple weeks or so. It looks like it has better regulation than many of the boards, should be interesting to hear how it sounds. There are some huge long threads for the ak4399 dual boards, am surprised to not see a thread for these boards, until now that is... I have a pretty good stash of capacitors, and diodes for upgrading here, but am looking forward to listening for a while before tearing into it.
I also have ordered one of the "audiofeel" discrete op amps coming to try out with it, is a fet input.
Haven't found any reviews of these, is an unknown commodity. This one even comes with a schematic and parts list, haven't seen that before in the case of discreet op amps.
The ad827 is supposed to sound pretty good with the ak4495, according to another trusted source.
I have ordered one of these DAC boards, should be here in a couple weeks or so. It looks like it has better regulation than many of the boards, should be interesting to hear how it sounds. There are some huge long threads for the ak4399 dual boards, am surprised to not see a thread for these boards, until now that is... I have a pretty good stash of capacitors, and diodes for upgrading here, but am looking forward to listening for a while before tearing into it.
I also have ordered one of the "audiofeel" discrete op amps coming to try out with it, is a fet input.
Haven't found any reviews of these, is an unknown commodity. This one even comes with a schematic and parts list, haven't seen that before in the case of discreet op amps.
Hi Daniel,
I have been using the same for a month or so. Works really well.
Just add a suitable transformer and software drivers (if Windows PC) and that's it.
I got the transformer from Audiophonics and the drivers from internet.
Just a minor glitch: an annoying loud click just when you play the first track with the amp on.
Jacques
Can I ask what playback software you are using with your dac?
And which version of windows?
Thanks
And which version of windows?
Thanks
I had read that win 10 has a better USB audio natively, such that an xmos interface would work without special drivers.
Have you tried the setup with the default windows media drivers?
Have you tried the setup with the default windows media drivers?
Xmos is not supported natively in Win 10: I have tried.From the Xmos site: "Windows only provides support for USB Audio Class 1.0. To use a USB Audio Class 2.0 device under Windows requires a driver."
Thanks for the answers!
I ordered the DAC a few days ago.
So you just plug the DAC into the PC and you install the driver in the device manager?
I ordered the DAC a few days ago.
So you just plug the DAC into the PC and you install the driver in the device manager?
There were some reports of win10 getting USB 2.0, however I haven't seen much regarding xmos devices.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...19&msgId=a3e33175-ae15-46ca-b547-5ef19dbf4d2b
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...19&msgId=a3e33175-ae15-46ca-b547-5ef19dbf4d2b
Well the board has arrived, still waiting for the transformer though.
It looks like the usual grab bag of not so bad capacitors, decent soldering, and some fairly large looking diodes for the bridges.
The capacitors in the output filter around the op amp have some markings that don't match the values of what is in place. I will try and get a picture of the layout and try to compare with other's.
Hopefully the transformer will arrive soon, and I can actually try it out.
I don't suppose there's a schematic around for these boards?
It looks like the usual grab bag of not so bad capacitors, decent soldering, and some fairly large looking diodes for the bridges.
The capacitors in the output filter around the op amp have some markings that don't match the values of what is in place. I will try and get a picture of the layout and try to compare with other's.
Hopefully the transformer will arrive soon, and I can actually try it out.
I don't suppose there's a schematic around for these boards?
This is what I used: transformer link from France can give some clues for the secondaries. Primary will not fit US mains.
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Yeah, the listings say what the voltages are and a surprising spec of 15w of 15-0-15 and 10w each of 9vac, so i was wondering.
here in the US i could just use a pair of 25va toroids from antek at $11/ea.
But a single toroid or r-core would be preferable.
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Hmm, looks like the dual primary version of that R-core is cheap on fleabay:
30W 0V-115V-230V Audio R-Core Transformer 15V+15V 9V+9V For Preamp 80×74×40mm | eBay
30W 0V-115V-230V Audio R-Core Transformer 15V+15V 9V+9V For Preamp 80×74×40mm | eBay
That's the one that should be headed my way also.
Wasn't able to get a schematic from the seller, but I just about have it drawn up here.
The different values I had seen were in snubbing-type of position, so I'm not as concerned about mixed up parts as I was before. Still plan to put the circuit into a simulation to see if I can compare it to the one that AKM recommends.
Wasn't able to get a schematic from the seller, but I just about have it drawn up here.
The different values I had seen were in snubbing-type of position, so I'm not as concerned about mixed up parts as I was before. Still plan to put the circuit into a simulation to see if I can compare it to the one that AKM recommends.
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