AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Cheap and Cheerful HiFi => Topic started by: gychang on 17 Mar 2014, 08:31 pm
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Has anyone tried this: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/MUSE-X5-HiFi-PCM2704-USB-to-Headphone-Converter-DAC-Sound-Card-USB-Cable-Mini-Size-64mm/1183493292.html
review seems favorable, considering hooking up to my laptop to my amp or headphone...
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Has anyone tried this:http://www.aliexpress.com/item/MUSE-X5-HiFi-PCM2704-USB-to-Headphone-Converter-DAC-Sound-Card-USB-Cable-Mini-Size-64mm/1183493292.html
If you had a space between "this:" and "http:" it would be a clickable hyperlink.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/MUSE-X5-HiFi-PCM2704-USB-to-Headphone-Converter-DAC-Sound-Card-USB-Cable-Mini-Size-64mm/1183493292.html
I've seen no shortage of < $15 PCM2704 16/48 USB headphone DACs from China in an aluminum enclosure, but that may be the smallest one yet.
Steve
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I've seen no shortage of < $15 PCM2704 16/48 USB headphone DACs from China in an aluminum enclosure, but that may be the smallest one yet.
Steve
I can connect my t-amp on the "headphone" out and drive the regular speakers right?
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I can connect my t-amp on the "headphone" out and drive the regular speakers right?
Yes, but it is an amplified headphone output and not a line level output (some of their other models have both a headphone output and a line-level RCA output).
Depending on the headphone output and the input sensitivity of your amplifier it is possible that a good amount of digital volume attenuation at the computer source could be necessary to prevent overdriving the amplifier. You could also have a higher background noise level when driving an amplifier input with an amplified headphone output.
Steve
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Yes, but it is an amplified headphone output and not a line level output (some of their other models have both a headphone output and a line-level RCA output).
Depending on the headphone output and the input sensitivity of your amplifier it is possible that a good amount of digital volume attenuation at the computer source could be necessary to prevent overdriving the amplifier. You could also have a higher background noise level when driving an amplifier input with an amplified headphone output.
Steve
sounds like a risky proposition, will have to look for a unit with separate lineout/headphone... anyone know a cheap functional unit ebay or....?
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In a larger enclosure (and at > 2X the price ;) ) is another PCM2704-based DAC from Muse that has a pair of RCA line out jacks, a headphone jack and also functions as a USB to S/PDIF (optical or coaxial) converter that can be used as an interface between a computer and a DAC without a USB input.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MUSE-PCM-2704-HIFI-USB-to-S-PDIF-Converter-USB-DAC-/171091460066?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item27d5d87fe2
My somewhat limited experience with these low-cost USB DACS (including the ~ $30 Behringer UCA-202 / UFO-202, a PCM2902 interface that also has an internal ADC for recording) as well as conversing with others who have bought them, is that they usually end up being used as transitional devices before stepping up to one of the many ~ $100 DACs that have a little better sound quality and also usually accept higher resolution files (24/96 or 24/192).
Steve
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In a larger enclosure (and at > 2X the price ;) ) is another PCM2704-based DAC from Muse that has a pair of RCA line out jacks, a headphone jack and also functions as a USB to S/PDIF (optical or coaxial) converter that can be used as an interface between a computer and a DAC without a USB input.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MUSE-PCM-2704-HIFI-USB-to-S-PDIF-Converter-USB-DAC-/171091460066?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item27d5d87fe2
Steve
this looks very good, I forgot to mention I only use linux at home. Output via headphone jack on my laptop running archbang linux works and adding this hopefully work. Guess plan on trying it... thanks for all the input.
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Um, something crazy is happening. I've got a cheap Signstek PCM2704 usb/spdif converter that also works as a DAC. Been using it as a cheap converter past few months for some projects. I was impressed with the converter sound quality but didn't even bother to try out the dac part til now. Interesting results.
This thing sounds f*cking good. I mean *GOOD*. I don't know why. I have looked inside and apart from an interesting additional component, it seems to be all more or less according to the datasheet. Amazon reviews are stellar with one customer doing mods because they liked it so much. All well and good, done my share of that with cheap dacs. But there's something else going on here. I have a Dragonfly Red hooked up to my PC and main speakers. It sounds terrific. Right up there with the ifi gear. This frickin cheap Signstek sounds better. MUCH better.
I had to take notes: Intimate. Sweet articulation, separation. Timbre, realism of instrument. Quiet. Liquid, organic. Barely any digititis.
The downside is it's 16/44 only, but I don't care. I would rather take exceptional 16/44 over digititis 24/xxx, etc.
I know there are a couple elements giving it a boost: iSilencer usb attached, my drives are powered by linear supplies, and the Microsoft UAC2 drivers/Creative Update which I think is a step up in sound quality. So maybe it's a case of having really good source feeding it.
I just want to listen to it all day. Need to figure out why it's so easy on the ears. Maybe it's synergy, but I can't believe how good this thing sounds.
https://www.amazon.com/Signstek-Coaxial-Converter-Decoder-Analogue/dp/B00FEDHHKE
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=164559)
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I just noticed the Fiio DAC (https://www.amazon.com/D03K-Digital-Analog-Audio-Converter/dp/B009346RSS/ref=pd_sim_147_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B009346RSS&pd_rd_r=X7S9GRR88ECK8KNE0AKP&pd_rd_w=ILXSV&pd_rd_wg=TsjD4&psc=1&refRID=X7S9GRR88ECK8KNE0AKP) that does the higher rez for 5 bucks less.
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I just noticed the Fiio DAC (https://www.amazon.com/D03K-Digital-Analog-Audio-Converter/dp/B009346RSS/ref=pd_sim_147_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B009346RSS&pd_rd_r=X7S9GRR88ECK8KNE0AKP&pd_rd_w=ILXSV&pd_rd_wg=TsjD4&psc=1&refRID=X7S9GRR88ECK8KNE0AKP) that does the higher rez for 5 bucks less.
Yes, I have one of those. It also punches above its weight and depending on configuration compares well to the Dragonfly. However, it doesn't have much gain and it's dependent on a good spdif source and usb power. Has a very nice midrange quality, a little gritty. Thing is, it still sounds like a usb dac like the dragonly and ifi, etc.
The Signstek has something else going on entirely. Kind of like my Soekris R2R, kind of like the TDA1543 dacs I've heard. Anyway, sounds too good to be true I know. But it's not perfect. Highs are a little scattered and there's very slight nasality in the mids, but not offensive. Still, addictive as hell. Probably just synergy.
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Well, I've got a Signstek on the way. I had a an older Buffalo dac for sprucing up a Piano CD player, and it gave up the ghost about a year ago. I'll report back on what $25 bucks will buy in hi fi.
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Well, I've got a Signstek on the way. I had a an older Buffalo dac for sprucing up a Piano CD player, and it gave up the ghost about a year ago. I'll report back on what $25 bucks will buy in hi fi.
Great, cause I'm completely flummoxed as to why I'm hearing what I'm hearing. There's another person getting one who i trust on dacs and hopefully he'll have some insight.
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How does one power the Signstek? Is it powered by the USB in even if that's not your audio source?
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How does one power the Signstek? Is it powered by the USB in even if that's not your audio source?
Yes, it's powered by USB 5V, but USB is the only digital input - coaxial and optical S/PDIF are outputs when used as a USB to S/PDIF converter.
Steve
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As a direct headamp vs DF Red, this dac fall short. PC volume integrity/cable length could be at fault since the DF is designed to keep bits in that regard, but the pcm2704 sounds like I what I would expect from a cheap dac. As a line out to my amp though, wow. Perhaps its sins of omission just happen to work out in my favor.
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Another great sounding USB DAC that pulls way above its price: https://www.musicservertips.com/product-reviews/usb-dac-diy/ (https://www.musicservertips.com/product-reviews/usb-dac-diy/)
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So how does this one compare to your highly recommended -
"I may flesh out this post later, but anyone with a coax input DAC needs to check this out, like NOW
F-1 XMOS USB Digital Interface Module XU208 U8 upgraded version - $180"
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So how does this one compare to your highly recommended -
"I may flesh out this post later, but anyone with a coax input DAC needs to check this out, like NOW
F-1 XMOS USB Digital Interface Module XU208 U8 upgraded version - $180"
Just to clarify, the F-1 is a usb/spdif converter, not a dac. I am talking about the Signstek in terms of dac performance only. As for the F-1 and equivalent XU208, yes, those are must haves for anyone with spdif input or able to diy the I2S. You can get an uncased F-1 equivalent with multiple outputs for only $100 now btw.
biggest gripe about usb dacs has always been the layer of haze and/or hash that always seems present to some degree or other. There’s a reason why there are a bajillion doodads for cleaning and reclocking usb and the Xu208 based stuff works wonders for the money.
That said the The Signstek is just doing something for me that defied my expectations and I’m curious to know why and part of that is somehow it comes across as almost hash free. Maybe it’s the low pass filter. Maybe the iSilencer is particularly effective with it. I don’t know. All I know is I’ve played with usb ,non-usb digital sources, and vinyl enough to know I’m sensitive to the hash and digititis regardless of bit rate.
The Signstek doesn't shoot out rainbows, but after repeated listening regardless of time of day, remains almost hash free and very very listenable in a way that only my convoluted heavily modded Oppo/Ethernet/battery-powered/reclocked soekris r2r dac could deliver.
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Just to clarify, the F-1 is a usb/spdif converter, not a dac. I am talking about the Signstek in terms of dac performance only. As for the F-1 and equivalent XU208, yes, those are must haves for anyone with spdif input or able to diy the I2S. You can get an uncased F-1 equivalent with multiple outputs for only $100 now btw.
biggest gripe about usb dacs has always been the layer of haze and/or hash that always seems present to some degree or other. There’s a reason why there are a bajillion doodads for cleaning and reclocking usb and the Xu208 based stuff works wonders for the money.
That said the The Signstek is just doing something for me that defied my expectations and I’m curious to know why and part of that is somehow it comes across as almost hash free. Maybe it’s the low pass filter. Maybe the iSilencer is particularly effective with it. I don’t know. All I know is I’ve played with usb ,non-usb digital sources, and vinyl enough to know I’m sensitive to the hash and digititis regardless of bit rate.
The Signstek doesn't shoot out rainbows, but after repeated listening regardless of time of day, remains almost hash free and very very listenable in a way that only my convoluted heavily modded Oppo/Ethernet/battery-powered/reclocked soekris r2r dac could deliver.
Sure - I had gotten that. I was changing the subject to it being a usb/spdif converter just because I was interested.
Thanks.
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Got it. Yes the Xu208 cards like F-1 etc. are well worth the money. Especially the ones that can be powered by linear power supply of your choice. No brainers.
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Another great sounding USB DAC that pulls way above its price: https://www.musicservertips.com/product-reviews/usb-dac-diy/ (https://www.musicservertips.com/product-reviews/usb-dac-diy/)
everything that this ebay seller is selling looks interesting. im thinking on picking up a dac board, an XU 208, a power supply and a box and make myself a cutting edge DAC
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everything that this ebay seller is selling looks interesting. im thinking on picking up a dac board, an XU 208, a power supply and a box and make myself a cutting edge DAC
Sounds fun. Splurge on the power supply or anything that will clean the signal like ifi iSilencer, etc. Digital performance always comes down to the power supply and noise from my experience.
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everything that this ebay seller is selling looks interesting. im thinking on picking up a dac board, an XU 208, a power supply and a box and make myself a cutting edge DAC
as in this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Assembled-XU208-XMOS-USB-Audio-Digital-Interface-XLR-AES-fiber-coaxial-/122420183602?hash=item1c80cfc232:g:V9cAAOSwhQhY22sv
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this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Assembled-AK4497EQ-DAC-board-official-standard-balanced-line-I2S-DSD-Decoder-/122560787011?hash=item1c89313243:g:Dn8AAOSwPWRZS8gt
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maybe this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2016-NEW-MV06-6-Way-input-Motorized-Remote-Volume-Control-Kit-ALPS-ZJ-30-/142347599311?hash=item212493fdcf:g:iH0AAOSw03lY7zbd
ad this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HIFI-30VA-Linear-Power-supply-LPS-DC5V-9V-12V-15V-18V-24V-for-choose-/192198051284?hash=item2cbfe585d4:g:X7oAAOSw3gJZKC3E
maybe even one of the cases
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I would be wary of the ebay dac boards unless they've been well vetted. They almost always require modding for decent results. The PS looks okay. Someone posted a power supply shootout not too long ago and the Zero One models on ebay did well. Ifi Power supply also ranked high and can do 5v. I have mixed feelings about its performance though.
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Hey Now,
Picked up a Signstek DAC from the Amazon link (there was a discount coupon, $23.74 total) . Put it into my chain and it does sound very good. I replaced an iFi Nano doing DSD256 via HQPlayer and an RPi2 to a Pioneer VSX-D912 with Meadowlark Kestrels in my cheap & cheerful set up. I really can't believe how good it sounds. I am using an iFi iPurifier with it as well. I think I am going to get another one for the garage with another RPi2. Thanks wushuliu. Let us know when you tweak it. :thumb:
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Finest kind,
Chris
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Hey Now,
Picked up a Signstek DAC from the Amazon link (there was a discount coupon, $23.74 total) . Put it into my chain and it does sound very good. I replaced an iFi Nano doing DSD256 via HQPlayer and an RPi2 to a Pioneer VSX-D912 with Meadowlark Kestrels in my cheap & cheerful set up. I really can't believe how good it sounds. I am using an iFi iPurifier with it as well. I think I am going to get another one for the garage with another RPi2. Thanks wushuliu. Let us know when you tweak it. :thumb:
--
Finest kind,
Chris
Hm. Interesting. Thanks for reporting back!
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Hey Now,
Picked up a Signstek DAC from the Amazon link (there was a discount coupon, $23.74 total) . Put it into my chain and it does sound very good. I replaced an iFi Nano doing DSD256 via HQPlayer and an RPi2 to a Pioneer VSX-D912 with Meadowlark Kestrels in my cheap & cheerful set up. I really can't believe how good it sounds. I am using an iFi iPurifier with it as well. I think I am going to get another one for the garage with another RPi2. Thanks wushuliu. Let us know when you tweak it. :thumb:
--
Finest kind,
Chris
How does it sound without the iFi Purifier?
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How does it sound without the iFi Purifier?
Hey Now,
It still sounds good without the iPurifier. I noticed with the iPurifier it has a bit more clarity. The background seems blacker. I have a spare Regen, might try that next.
--
Finest kind,
Chris
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I too picked up the Signstek DAC from Amazon. Five minutes after it hit the door it was connected to my garage boom box that I feed with a cheap Amazon Fire tablet streaming Pandora via wifi. I connected the tablet's mini USB port with an OTG adapter to the usb in on the DAC. It immediately sounded much better than the tablet's built in DAC. Good puchase - thanks wushuliu. BTW/ the lab power supply in the photo, I found at a yard sale last week. It was $5 and works great. 0-40V, 5A. This has been a good C&C week :thumb:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=164888)
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Last update: I've of course made some mods to the dac. Nothing too crazy. I replaced the output caps with Silmic IIs and the power supply cap with a Nichicon. The output caps are definitely worth doing as they refine the sound quality. I also covered up the 5v USB pin and added a LT3045 power supply with a 4uV noise. Cheap too. And tiny. This stuff is getting so affordable now. Finally, I got a little silly and added an iDefender and uPurifier to the chain. So it's an iSilencer, iDefender, iPurifier2, then DAC. It looks ridiculous but they still add up to way less than the iUSB products, and only the micro iUSB has the iDefender traits, but for $400.
Biggest jump came from the iPurifier and iDefender. These are items any usb dac should have anyway, unless you want to shell out big bucks for Uprone or iUSB/galvanic. So technically I'm all in for $270 and the IFI stuff is re-usable. Not bad.
My theory is the chip came out when no one cared about usb/source quality and it has to have that to shine. Then async and 24bit became the norm and this chip disappeared. I am very happy with the result and consider myself good on the dac front for now. I may try and borrow a more expensive dac to compare for kicks, but otherwise I think this thing sounds terrific. Still waiting to hear feedback on the new windows usb drivers. I think they play an important part as well, but proprietary drivers are the norm now I guess.
I don't think it's a dac for everyone - it doesn't have that 'hifi' sound I've come to associate with usb dacs, but for the money it's a no-brainer to try out.
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Last update: I've of course made some mods to the dac. Nothing too crazy. I replaced the output caps with Silmic IIs and the power supply cap with a Nichicon. The output caps are definitely worth doing as they refine the sound quality. I also covered up the 5v USB pin and added a LT3045 power supply with a 4uV noise. Cheap too. And tiny. This stuff is getting so affordable now.
Late to the party but I also bought this DAC. NICE! Purchased some caps as well and will get to installing them.
If you dont mind me asking, how did you do the power supply mod? Any specific details of this mod would be enormously appreciated. My older Samsung tablet will not power this DAC for long periods.
Thanks!
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Hi Vlad, I powered the dac with an IFI iDefender and a lt3045 module I got off ebay. The LT is wired up to cheap a wallwart. If I have time this weekend I'll post pics.
Alas, I will admit that I have already moved on to another dac - the SMSL IDea/Sabaj dacs. I'll do another thread soon. The Signstek remains my control dac though, to compare with others. I'll never get rid of it.
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Hi Vlad, I powered the dac with an IFI iDefender and a lt3045 module I got off ebay. The LT is wired up to cheap a wallwart. If I have time this weekend I'll post pics.
Thank you so very much. I still do not understand how you powered this unit separately but that is what I need to do. Hoping you can give me some insight. I googled LT3045 and USB and got no where. Lots of links for different voltage PSU's. What about covering up the USB 5v pin? Which one is it? How do you cover it it? Nail polish or something?
My tablet is older and having issues powering this thing. Lots of jitter and dropouts unless its fully charged. Its a first generation Samsung and I think USB power is a definite issue.
I plugged this DAC into my computer and directly into headphones... WOW! Magic. That is all I can say. Purchased many cheap DAC's but this one is different.
Once again, thank you for the rapid and helpful reply.
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Thank you so very much. I still do not understand how you powered this unit separately but that is what I need to do..
Here is a pic of the chain below. It is powered by the LT plugged into the iDefender. The LT3045 is hidden by the photo angle but it's there
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=167925)
There are several vendors for the LT3045 and other ultra low noise boards. Here's are two popular ones:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LT3045-A-Ultralow-noise-0-8-Vrms-LDO-linear-regulator-0V-15V-1A-Fixed-out-/253115156739?hash=item3aeed6c903:g:N9cAAOSwFWVZpA7K
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LT3045-1-5-15V-500mA-0-8uVrms-Ultra-Low-Noise-DC-Power-Supply-/391791437134?var=&hash=item5b3896e54e:m:mSH167r97uf2QusQgOWuW0g
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Wow, thats quite a chain there. THanks for the help!!!!
Couple questions then I will leave you alone... Should specify 5volts correct? The wall wart for the power supply. Could use a 9v or 12v right?
Sorry, I'm pretty green when it comes to this stuff.
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Here is a pic of the chain below. It is powered by the LT plugged into the iDefender. The LT3045 is hidden by the photo angle but it's there
There are several vendors for the LT3045 and other ultra low noise boards. Here's are two popular ones:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LT3045-A-Ultralow-noise-0-8-Vrms-LDO-linear-regulator-0V-15V-1A-Fixed-out-/253115156739?hash=item3aeed6c903:g:N9cAAOSwFWVZpA7K
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LT3045-1-5-15V-500mA-0-8uVrms-Ultra-Low-Noise-DC-Power-Supply-/391791437134?var=&hash=item5b3896e54e:m:mSH167r97uf2QusQgOWuW0g
I've been pursuing other hobbies for a while, but decide to resurrect my PC music setup.
I set it aside when I blew something up lol.
Just planning to try windows 10, wondering what playback sw you're using with win10?
I may buy the sighstek dac after I get my setup going again, see how I like it.
Randy
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I've been pursuing other hobbies for a while, but decide to resurrect my PC music setup.
I set it aside when I blew something up lol.
Just planning to try windows 10, wondering what playback sw you're using with win10?
I may buy the sighstek dac after I get my setup going again, see how I like it.
Randy
Hey Randy. I'm using W10 Creator's update. I think its new windows USB drivers are an upgrade. Using Jplay minimserver and fidelizer for critical listening controlled by phone. The signstek tickles my fancy but don't know why. Ymmv.
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Wow, thats quite a chain there. THanks for the help!!!!
Couple questions then I will leave you alone... Should specify 5volts correct? The wall wart for the power supply. Could use a 9v or 12v right?
Sorry, I'm pretty green when it comes to this stuff.
Anything above 7v should suffice. But not too high.
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Hey Randy. I'm using W10 Creator's update. I think its new windows USB drivers are an upgrade. Using Jplay minimserver and fidelizer for critical listening controlled by phone. The signstek tickles my fancy but don't know why. Ymmv.
OK, cool.
So no Audiophile Optimizer?
I haven't tried fidelizer, I have licenses for jplay and AO I think.
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i got my Signstek, Wushu, would you please be kind enough to detail the mods that you did?
did you try any planar headphones with it? can it drive them to loud levels?
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i got my Signstek, Wushu, would you please be kind enough to detail the mods that you did?
did you try any planar headphones with it? can it drive them to loud levels?
I replaced the output caps with Silmic IIs, the resistors with PRPs and the other electrolytics with low esr equivalents I had lying around.
Good question about the gain, I don't think I addressed that. There's less gain with this dac, so you may need a headamp as well (which I prefer to use regardless).
It's a great dac to practice diy skills since it's so inexpensive.
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OK, cool.
So no Audiophile Optimizer?
I haven't tried fidelizer, I have licenses for jplay and AO I think.
Missed your post Randy. Probably too late, but no AO for me. I also use my PC for normal use, so no dedicated setups for me... Fidelizer is pretty great though.
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I replaced the output caps with Silmic IIs, the resistors with PRPs and the other electrolytics with low esr equivalents I had lying around.
Good question about the gain, I don't think I addressed that. There's less gain with this dac, so you may need a headamp as well (which I prefer to use regardless).
It's a great dac to practice diy skills since it's so inexpensive.
did the mods make a marked improvement?
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did the mods make a marked improvement?
Is it worth the effort to buy all the caps and resistors, etc? Hard for me to say. If you aren't into investing in diy, then, no not worth it. Especially if you are just using headphones. Differences were more apparent through my speakers.
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So how does this one compare to your highly recommended -
"I may flesh out this post later, but anyone with a coax input DAC needs to check this out, like NOW
F-1 XMOS USB Digital Interface Module XU208 U8 upgraded version - $180"
I have an F-1 XU208 also and it is the real deal for sure. A friend of mine here on AC didn't like it in his system, he said it sounded like glass shattering in the highs? I didn't get that at all. Just goes to show it's good to get several opinions on these devices. I will be interested what others have to say about this new dac find.
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I like the signnstek enough that i decided to buy a headphone amplifier and use this as the source for it.
i bidding on some SS amps online and if none works out ill just build a crack.
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offtopic: could someone send me an invitation to SBAF please? there are some amps in the for sale section that im interested in.
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*Thank you Lacro for the heads up with the build and cap choice*
I've finished tweaking the USB DAC. With added inspiration from wushulius and the amazon (jayteck) build, i've done a mix and match.
Using Elna Silmic II (output filter & pin#18) , Nichicon FG (supply) and PRP resistors.
The USB DAC is connected to a raspberry pi 3b with a 40cm Cat6a (SSTP) DIY usb cable.
With a few hours into it. The quality of sound was a pleasant surprise. And this is with wall wart attached to it.
A linear supply is en route and I'll post more when the whole lot comes together.
(http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~bulletdodger/apics/pihifi_2s.jpg)
Update... the linear supply has arrived (using a generic IEC cable and a brass mains plug) its provided a welcome improvement in balance to the sound.
I will have a go at powering the DAC directly from the power supply, side stepping USB power.
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*Thank you Lacro for the heads up with the build and cap choice*
I've finished tweaking the USB DAC. With added inspiration from wushulius and the amazon (jayteck) build, i've done a mix and match.
Using Elna Silmic II (output filter & pin#18) , Nichicon FG (supply) and PRP resistors.
The USB DAC is connected to a raspberry pi 3b with a 40cm Cat6a (SSTP) DIY usb cable.
With a few hours into it. The quality of sound was a pleasant surprise. And this is with wall wart attached to it.
A linear supply is en route and I'll post more when the whole lot comes together.
(http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~bulletdodger/apics/pihifi_2s.jpg)
Update... the linear supply has arrived (using a generic IEC cable and a brass mains plug) its provided a welcome improvement in balance to the sound.
I will have a go at powering the DAC directly from the power supply, side stepping USB power.
Missed this post - glad to hear you're enjoying it!