Best DIY DAC - Page 2

I thought the 16/48 limit was because of USB itself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ntropic 

I thought the 16/48 limit was because of USB itself.

No, USB has no such limit.  However, we DIYers are "stuck" with 16/48 maximum because the Texas Instruments PCM27xx and PCM29xx series USB audio chips are the only viable options, and they all have such a limit.

There are chips that could do 24/96, such as TI's TAS1020B or Tenor's 7022L, but the TAS1020B has an onboard MPU and requires firmware to work, and the sample firmware from TI is broken.  Most companies that use TAS1020B contract with 3rd party developers (such as CEntrance) for the firmware. As a licensed, closed-source software this obviously raises issues that makes it unsuitable for open-source DIY work, not to mention that it's cost-prohibitive.  The Tenor chip is basically unobtanium to DIYers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by amb 

No, USB has no such limit.  However, we DIYers are "stuck" with 16/48 maximum because the Texas Instruments PCM27xx and PCM29xx series USB audio chips are the only viable options, and they all have such a limit.

 

 

So theoritically USB does not lose to other type of IC if we put the jitter issue aside?

16/48 is part of the USB audio spec and therefore is supported in most OSes without drivers.  Higher speeds are handled with dedicated drivers from the manufacturer.

There is this group buy going on at DiyAudio right now:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/group-buys/166354-hiface-usb-i2s-24bit-192khz.html

I have only read the beginning of the thread, so make no comments other that at 50 euros it is more than I want to pay at this time as 99.99999% of my music is all 16/44.1.

Some of these devices help you enjoy your 16/44.1 files better as well (see asynchronous with low jitter, low phase noise clocks).

Quote:

Originally Posted by High_Q 

Since, I cannot get a hold of a buffalo 2(because they go out of stock fast), gamma is my next best option?  How much better is buffalo 2 compared to the gamma? 

This has been bugging my mind for a while too. However, I plan to send my Gamma2 to a friend who has owned a Buffalo24 for a comparison.

The Buffalo 2 is balanced, which is a major reason some people choose it over the Gamma 2.

I remember someone commenting that they heard the single-ended version of Buffalo 2 (you use another module, Ivy or Balsy or whatever), and compared to Gamma 2 they thought the difference was quite small.  And considering that the Buffalo costs hundreds of $ more, the Gamma 2 seems to make the most sense.  That's what I read, anyway. ;)

I have the Gamma 2, and I love it.  BUT, your transport makes a significant difference.  For example, using the coax SPDIF out from my Emu 1212m sounds noticeably better than using USB input - at least it did, before my 1212m died.  It still sounds really good with USB but I miss the 1212m (I did several A/B comparisons when both were working).  Also, using a transformer/TREAD combination sounds better than USB power.

Maybe this has been covered...but do people notice any improvement by using a PCI/PCIe USB adapter, rather than on-board USB, to input their DAC?  It might allow you to change to better caps, add film bypass caps, etc.

Have a look at this.......http://cgi.ebay.com/24-Bit-96kHz-Assembled-PCM1704-CS8414-DAC-Module-/220605351457?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item335d1a8621

A couple of traffos and a chassis and you'll have that killer dac for around 400USD (roughly).

Peete.

Wouldnt the Audio Note dacs be some of the best diy dacs?

They certainly are the most expensive.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingStyles 

Wouldnt the Audio Note dacs be some of the best diy dacs?

And certainly look like the most "audiophile"