Empirical Off-Ramp I2S/Freeway I2S now available

audioengr · « **on:** 21 Jan 2006, 08:19 pm »

This is our first custom-design circuit-board product. It converts USB to I2S, the native DAC chip interface. The I2S outperforms the Off-Ramp Turbo, and it is no slouch. You must have either a Perpetual Tech P-3A DAC or a Northstar 192 to use it. The I2S interface eliminates all of the jitter created by S/PDIF. Lowest jitter solution that we have heard.

Please see the website for more details.

Also, we have plans and are actively designing an I2S solution for the Benchmark DAC-1. This should be available in about 2 months. We have a new DAC-1 to model the change already and many of the parts. The Off-Ramp I2S/DAC-1 combo should safely outperform practically everything on the market.

Steve N.

Marbles · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Jan 2006, 08:58 pm »

Steve, since you have started to make some of your own PC boards to help you mod dacs, why don't you just make the DAC?

audioengr · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Jan 2006, 10:38 pm »

Quote from: Marbles

Steve, since you have started to make some of your own PC boards to help you mod dacs, why don't you just make the DAC?

I have a USB DAC on the drawing board. It should be available Q3. It will be battery powered, remote controlled, balanced outs, NOS. The culmination of all my learnings modding DAC's and designing USB interfaces.

I'm also starting a new board design for the Off-Ramp Turbo. Just too much work to continue modding the Transit.

It's hard to find time to do these things - my backlog is bigger than ever...

Steve N.

gongos · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Jan 2006, 02:13 am »

Quote from: audioengr

Quote from: Marbles
Steve, since you have started to make some of your own PC boards to help you mod dacs, why don't you just make the DAC?

I have a USB DAC on the drawing board. It should be available Q3. It will be battery powered, remote controlled, balanced outs, NOS. The culmination of all my learnings modding DAC's and designing USB interfaces.

I'm also starting a new board design for the Off-Ramp Turbo. Just too much work to continue modding the Transit.

It's hard to find time to do these things - my backlog is bigger than ever...

Steve N.

Price range?

brj · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Jan 2006, 06:05 am »

Do any of the 3 DACs currently listed, in addition to your planned DAC if sufficiently designed to evaluate, have the ability to comfortably drive a typical amp directly?

Thanks!

audioengr · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Jan 2006, 06:49 pm »

Quote from: brj

Do any of the 3 DACs currently listed, in addition to your planned DAC if sufficiently designed to evaluate, have the ability to comfortably drive a typical amp directly?

Thanks!

The Benchmark DAC-1 can and has a volume control, but I would not recommend it. The Balanced and RCA line-outs are superb, but the volume control should be bypassed.

Passive line stages are not good either IMO. Amps generally like some drive current, and this does not provide it. If the attenuator is located right at the amp input OR a transformer-type attenuator is used, then they can be acceptable.

There is no substitute for a good preamp IMO.

Steve N.