Nixon DacKit

JohnR · « **on:** 24 Apr 2004, 03:01 pm »

Here's a pic of a DacKit I just got going. As you can see, there's hardly anything to it. I did the SMD soldering myself (had the kit over a year...) but I gather Scott sells kits with the receiver chip pre-soldered now.

Thanks Scott

http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=66925">

mgalusha · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Apr 2004, 07:24 pm »

Looks nice John. Good to see you're still using clip leads.

mike

MaxCast · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Apr 2004, 09:57 pm »

Well? What she sound like?

JohnR · « **Reply #3 on:** 25 Apr 2004, 02:19 am »

Mike, it's just as well I don't get paid to do hardware any more, at least with software the "clipleads" can't be seen...

Rich, I like it! Quite a lot actually. It's a bit "different" but haven't figured out how exactly... Actually I was just thinking the DacKit is small enough to be built inside a preamp... tubed that is hm...

pjchappy · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 Apr 2004, 02:29 am »

I'm glad I keep hearing good things about the SN DACs. . .I have a TubeDac+ on the way. . . I shouldn't have bought it, but I got a great deal on it. It was only 3 weeks old.

Anybody interested in a MENSA DI/O?

. . .hell, maybe I'll be selling the SN instead in a few weeks. . .we'll see.

p

JohnR · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Apr 2004, 02:52 am »

Bear in mind that these are "DIYer working on a new project" type of comments. The perspective of the DIYer is quite different from the off-the-shelf buyer...

Can't really know yet but I suspect that for a little over a 100 plus a few parts the DacKit (the kit, not the tubed one) might turn out to be one of those keeper components, in the sense of "you need a {insert component name here}? Build a {insert kit name here}!" Time will tell

pjchappy · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Apr 2004, 02:57 am »

Well, your comments, regardless of the type, have been short. . .would definitely like to hear more, soon.

I fancy myslef an amateur DIYselfer. I built my (former) Bottlehead Foreplay and my GR-Research P1s, which the only real work was the x-over. This is my only soldering experience. . .it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. And, me just being a freak, triple checked all the connections, etc. and had my dad check them out. . . turned out great. . .

I just can't wait to get some cash so I can really get into this hobby. . . but for what I have done so far, I have been VERY pleased (and so have others who didn't even realize CDs/ music sounded this good. . .)

By the way, MaxCast, are you from the Detroit area? (just judging by your avatar) I grew up (almost 15 years) in SW Michigan. . .15 minutes from Notre Dame and 1 1/2 hours from Chicago. . .

p

JohnR · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Apr 2004, 03:15 am »

Heh, triple-checking is not freakish, that is the *right* thing to do

For example, I can read resistor values easily, but I still measure every one before I put it into the board. I also trace the connections to other parts and check it against the schematic. I think of it as looking at the problem from multiple angles, to find errors early... it's much more satisfying to have stuff work the first time than spend weeks debugging it...!

I'll take the DacKit around to a mate's place after I get a proper power supply built for it and we'll do the audiophile humming and hawing thing and report back

MaxCast · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Apr 2004, 10:40 am »

Hi PJ, heh, SW Michigan, huh? Sounds like Niles, MI to me??? I live in the Benton Harbor/St. Joe area.

pjchappy · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Apr 2004, 01:57 pm »

Benton Harbor, eh. . .it's been a LONG time since I've been in Michigan. . .had to look at Mapquest to see where that was. By THE lake. . .nice. I remember that area a bit, now.

My old town is a little south-east of Niles. . .a small town, which got bigger after I left. . .b/c of the people from South Bend moving up to the lake by my old house (Edwardsburg was the name. . .). My dad did work in Niles and my mom in South Bend.

p

_scotty_ · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Apr 2004, 02:02 pm »

John R, I have to agree on the triple checking of component values and connections, it beats the hell out of watching something go up in smoke at turn on. The buffer boards I have built all worked the first time out but it was scary every time I applied power for the first time. You kind of don't want to see three hrs of bench time go down the tubes.

mgalusha · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Apr 2004, 03:39 pm »

The ones that really worry me are high voltage power supplies in tube amps. Always a little scary to throw the switch the first time knowing there will 700V in various places about the circut. Even after checking it multiple times that's one of the times I plug it into the Variac - and wear a pair of saftey goggles.

John, I hadn't thought about clip leads in software but you're right, there are plenty of them. Amazing what one can 'wire' together when the time available isn't sufficient to make a proper job of it.

mike

JohnR · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Apr 2004, 04:13 pm »

700V is pretty scary

Here's the power supply... look no clipleads! Don't actually have lids or front panels (I used the other half of the same box

) but I'm getting there

http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=66924">

You can't actually see it but the power lead from the PSU to the DAC is 5 strands of braided magnet wire. Looks kinda cool.