Ok so the thread is in no way ultimate right now, but rather a work in progress to what has potential to be a (hopefully) informative thread targeted towards DIY DACs, for both objective and subjective opinions regarding each device.
I'll start off by picking a few DACs and giving some technical information about those DACs, and I'll add to the this post as more information floats in, so feel free to contribute.
AMB Gamma-1 (y1)
AMB Gamma-2 (y2)
Twisted Pear Audio Buffalo II
Twisted Pear Audio Opus
TooleAudio BantamDAC
Mute Audio GrubDAC
As mentioned this is meant to be a resource so feel free to contribute/correct me. One thing I'd like to add is also the sonic characteristics of each DAC from a subjective viewpoint.
Hopefully this is helpful to some new guys and maybe a few of the experienced guys out there too.
Special thanks: dorkvader
I'll start off by picking a few DACs and giving some technical information about those DACs, and I'll add to the this post as more information floats in, so feel free to contribute.
AMB Gamma-1 (y1)
- DAC: Wolfson WM8501 (uses a TI PCM2707 for USB integration for a maximum sampling of 48kHz at 16 bits)
- THD: 0.0010%-0.0021%/-100dB <-> -93.5dB
- Approximate Cost to Build: ~$80 (Full++ Config; no case or faceplates, add $50 for both)
- Tweaks: AMB o11 linear power supply for cleaner power, y2 as an addon
- Features: USB integration, multiple inputs, small formfactor
- Difficulty Level: Medium, requires soldering high density SMD ICs, BOM is somewhat complex
AMB Gamma-2 (y2)
- DAC: Wolfson WM8741 (uses a TI SRC4192 ASRC optionally)
- THD: 0.0014%/-97.07dB (limited by test equipment)
- Approximate Cost to Build: ~$80 (with ASRC, without case or faceplates, $60 for both, original gamma-1 case does not fit gamma-2 addon, in addition to cost of Gamma-1)
- Tweaks: Add linestage to test outputs for balanced out
- Features: Small formfactor, upgrade to the y1, anti-clipping filter
- Difficulty Level: Medium, requires soldering high density SMD ICs
Twisted Pear Audio Buffalo II
- DAC: ESS Sable32 ES9018
- THD: 0.0001259%/-118dB (when used with the IVYIII Linestage, varies based on linestage, power supply, etc; chip itself is -120dB)
- Approximate Cost to Build: ~$600 (very rough estimate for a very baseline model with very few additional features; likely an underestimate)
- Tweaks: Many, unit is modular so many linestages, and input modules can be added
- Features: Highly modular
- Note: The DAC board itself arrives assembled, but requires a power supply, input module, and a linestage to function properly
- Impressions: Very detailed, helping extend artificial sounding audio into a more natural state, top end is more "polite" (credits: 1)
- Difficulty Level: Medium<->High, comes assembled, but requires custom casework and matching with other modules
Twisted Pear Audio Opus
- DAC: Wolfson WM8741
- THD: ? (varies based on linestage selection and other factors, DAC chip's THD is -100dB)
- Approximate Cost to Build: ~$350 (very rough estimate, for a baseline unit with very few additional features; likely an underestimate)
- Tweaks: Many, highly modular
- Features: Highly modular
- Difficulty Level: Medium<->High, requires soldering high density SMD ICs and components, casework, and module matching
TooleAudio BantamDAC
- DAC: TI PCM2702
- THD: 0.012%/-78.42dB
- Approximate Cost to Build: ~$30
- Tweaks: ?
- Features: Small, inexpensive, direct USB support, easy to build, USB powered
- Difficulty Level: Easy (-ish), requires soldering high density SMD ICs and components (capacitors, resistors, etc)
Mute Audio GrubDAC
- DAC: Wolfson WM8524 (using a TI PCM2707 for USB-to-I2S conversion)
- THD: 0.0035481%/-89dB
- Approximate Cost to Build: ~$45 (very rough estimate)
- Tweaks: ?
- Features: Small, inexpensive, direct USB support, easy to build, USB powered, directly coupled (no output capacitors)
- Difficulty Level: Easy<->Medium, requires soldering high density SMD ICs and components
As mentioned this is meant to be a resource so feel free to contribute/correct me. One thing I'd like to add is also the sonic characteristics of each DAC from a subjective viewpoint.
Hopefully this is helpful to some new guys and maybe a few of the experienced guys out there too.
Special thanks: dorkvader
