[Gizmo]

The title says it all.  I was just wondering if there might be any plans to modify the DAC-60 so it could utilize the I2S interface.

Thanks,

David

[audioengr]

The title says it all.  I was just wondering if there might be any plans to modify the DAC-60 so it could utilize the I2S interface.

Thanks,

David

I guess you must have missed my other posts.  I have already added USB/I2S to a DAC-60 and the customer seems to really like it. I like the sound so much that I'm planning to productize it.  I have the first one on the way from Danny of GR research.

The plan is to get the front panel and back panel machined and add a partition inside to reduce crosstalk from the Superclock to the tubes.  It will have my logo on the front.  Then mod the unit beyond the Sonicraft mods.  Then install the USB and I2S interfaces.  I may also replace the cheapo feet as well.  I expect the final version to be in the $3K range.

Steve N.

[Gizmo]

Steve,

Thanks for the response.

For those of us that already have the Sonic Craft mods will we be able to send our units to you for the additional upgrades you describe?

Thanks again,

David

[audioengr]

Steve,

Thanks for the response.

For those of us that already have the Sonic Craft mods will we be able to send our units to you for the additional upgrades you describe?

Thanks again,

David

Yes, the pricing for this will be time and materials.  It will probably not have the new machined front panel unless you want to pay extra for this, but the electronics will be the same.  The price should be similar to the production version minus the cost of the DAC.  I will probably do my own mods in lieu of the Sonicraft mods on the production version also.  Thinking about using Jensen 4-pole caps.

Steve N.

[brj]

A DAC strikes me as a good candidate for battery power due to its relatively low power draw... and it might actually be cheaper than building up some form of ultimate AC power supply.

Steve, will you offer just the USB->I2S mod as a standalone option?

Thanks!

[audioengr]

A DAC strikes me as a good candidate for battery power due to its relatively low power draw... and it might actually be cheaper than building up some form of ultimate AC power supply.

Steve, will you offer just the USB->I2S mod as a standalone option?

Thanks!

Not sure how you would develop the high-voltage for the tubes in this DAC with a battery....

I am planning on LI battery power for my own USB DAC that is currently in design phase.

I can offer the USB/I2S mods alone for anyone that wants it.  It will probably be in the $1500 range, since it is simply an Off-Ramp I2S plus the I2S circuits and cabling.

Steve N.

[hum4god]

Hi

could you give us some update about the upgrade options , prices , and most important how it sounds with the upgrades?

Thanks
malcolm

[audioengr]

I'm so busy trying to catch-up on the backlog - 12 weeks now, that I have not had time to mod the unit yet.  I've only been rolling tubes and tried some dampeners.  I also had 5 trade-ins of Off-Ramp Turbos in the last 2 weeks, so I need to quickly replace these with Turbo 2's or the customers have "Off-Ramp withdrawal".  Some have already complained of this...

Just as a metric, the first one that I modded for a customer and added the I2S/USB interface was ~$2600.00.  I expect the production version to be between $3500 and 4000 and have a number of tube upgrade options.  It is designed to go head-to-head with the Cosecant.

Classical sounds great on it, but my new rips of Led Zeppelin remastered are a bit dissappointing on the Sonicraft modded version, even with $500 tubes in there.  It needs a lot more mods and the USB interface to compete with my Benchmark DAC-1 with I2S.  That thing is slammin!!

Steve N.