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Gamma-2 (γ2) DAC Thread - Page 4

post #46 of 2085
6/26/09 at 5:42pm
I can assure you that any of the op-amps you might suggest have already been "contemplated".
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post #47 of 2085
6/26/09 at 9:48pm
Hehe.. I think someone just got 0wn3d.. and rightfully so..

sorry, someone had to say it..
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post #48 of 2085
6/27/09 at 7:57pm
Despite all the hype surrounding the ESS Sabre DAC, there is an anecdotal evidence that Wolfson WM8741 sounds better:

PS Audio Discussion Forum | DAC in PWD - How was it decided
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post #49 of 2085
6/27/09 at 8:26pm
Not the first time I've read about the Wolfson having the better bottom end. I really look forward to putting this DAC together, and plan to have balanced outputs from the start.

You can see also that many respected names here have high regards for thier OPUS, obviously for sonic reasons.

BTW I have an unassembled ESS-9008 kit to kinda compare.
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post #50 of 2085
6/27/09 at 8:38pm
Cant wait to solder that one ... :-)
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post #51 of 2085
6/28/09 at 1:48pm
I hope you can produce pre-cut panels for the enclosure-making-impaired among us
I really appreciated the ones made for the gamma-1.
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post #52 of 2085
6/28/09 at 6:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by amb View Post
Despite all the hype surrounding the ESS Sabre DAC, there is an anecdotal evidence that Wolfson WM8741 sounds better:

PS Audio Discussion Forum | DAC in PWD - How was it decided
In any case (and based on the Sabre products I've heard so far) I really hope we'll see a Sabre-based DAC from AMB at some point.
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post #53 of 2085
6/28/09 at 6:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheShaman View Post
In any case (and based on the Sabre products I've heard so far) I really hope we'll see a Sabre-based DAC from AMB at some point.
The Sabre DAC chips seem to be unobtanium to DIYers -- none of the normal distrbutors (i.e., Digikey, Mouser, Newark, Farnell, etc.) carry them, and it does not appear to be available anywhere in small quantities, unless you have special connections with ESStech. That makes any DIY project based on these chips un-buildable. Not only that, the chips are shrouded in secrecy. For design support, or even just the datasheets, requires that you sign an NDA with the company. Unless things change dramatically, it is unlikely that I would design anything based on them.
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post #54 of 2085
6/28/09 at 7:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by amb View Post
The Sabre DAC chips seem to be unobtanium to DIYers -- none of the normal distrbutors (i.e., Digikey, Mouser, Newark, Farnell, etc.) carry them, and it does not appear to be available anywhere in small quantities, unless you have special connections with ESStech. That makes any DIY project based on these chips un-buildable. Not only that, the chips are shrouded in secrecy. For design support, or even just the datasheets, requires that you sign an NDA with the company. Unless things change dramatically, it is unlikely that I would design anything based on them.
Sad but true.
Let's hope they change their policy at some point.
Keep up the good work!
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post #55 of 2085
6/28/09 at 7:23pm
thats insane. are the sabre chips that much better?
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post #56 of 2085
6/28/09 at 9:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DoYouRight View Post
thats insane. are the sabre chips that much better?
See below...

Quote:
Originally Posted by amb View Post
Despite all the hype surrounding the ESS Sabre DAC, there is an anecdotal evidence that Wolfson WM8741 sounds better:

PS Audio Discussion Forum | DAC in PWD - How was it decided
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post #57 of 2085
6/28/09 at 9:26pm
As someone who has built a Buffalo, and followed that product and the ESS Sabre with great interest, it seems to me that the ESS chip is truly phenomenal IF you handle the current output and I/V conversion VERY well. It isn't a chip that you can just drop into a cookie cutter schematic and board design and expect good results from it.
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post #58 of 2085
6/28/09 at 9:43pm
We have all read great things about both, and many well respected and experienced names here, who have listened to more than a few high end DACs, claim great things about both. The final decision is probably best made by the individual listeners ear.
It's gonna be really sweet to have both Buffalo ESS9008 and Gamma 2 WM8741 to listen to very soon.
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post #59 of 2085
6/28/09 at 9:47pm
yes I am going to do a Buffalo after my B22 is done around my B-day. So I was curious about this dac to accompany it.
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post #60 of 2085
6/29/09 at 2:50am
amb, just wondering, is it possible to move the coupling capacitors to before the output buffer, as opposed to after the buffer? I'm obviously mostly clueless to EE, but I thought the high input impedance of the buffer would allow for a much smaller coupling cap and maybe allow experimentation with some nice film caps or something? Would the DC offset after the buffer stage just be two high from drift in the opamps, or something? Or is there some other obvious reason that I'm not educated enough to understand at this point?
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