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Brik DAC - 24/192 and cheap

post #1 of 15
6/15/11 at 9:52pm
Thread Starter 

I know - yet another cheap DAC, but I didnt see any other reference to it here.

 

http://www.wickeddigital.com.au/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=joomlaplates.tpl&product_id=853&category_id=5&manufacturer_id=111&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53

 

The Brik DAC is capable of receiving 24bit/192kHz signals via the optical and coaxial S/PDIF inputs. All incoming digital audio is upsampled to 24bit/192kHz for smooth sound reproduction.

The Brik DAC provides direct connection to a computer via USB, as well as optical and coaxial connectors for your CD player, TV or digital radio etc. Output volume is switchable from 1 volt to 2 volt to match any amplifier or powered speaker system.

 

Some prettier images and a whole lot more hype.

 

http://www.stereoaudio.com.au/index.php/audio-previews/item/55-brik-dac-and-bluetooth-stage

 

Dont know if its any good, just putting it out there for your edification.

 

Doh !

 

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/brik/1.html

 

OK, I guess its old if 6Moons have had their grubby mitts on it - apologies.


Edited by estreeter - 6/15/11 at 9:53pm
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post #2 of 15
6/19/11 at 3:53am

CM108 USB controller, CS8416 S/PDIF chip...old obsolete stuff.

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post #3 of 15
6/19/11 at 4:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by leeperry View Post

CM108 USB controller, CS8416 S/PDIF chip...old obsolete stuff.



And at that price, why would we be surprised ? I still maintain that implementation is more important than many of the parts paparazzi here are willing to concede, but I accept that you cant shine sheep droppings. In any case, its out there and its cheap - choice is good.

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post #4 of 15
6/20/11 at 2:19am
Well, CS8416 has the highest jitter ever: http://www.cirrus.com/en/pubs/appNote/AN339REV1.pdf

It can be improved when setting "PDUR=1" in the latest revisions, but that requires a DSP...that I don't see on the 6moons photos. W/ the stock "PDUR=0", This is by far the worst choice you could possibly make...half a ns of jitter at 48kHz(and it's prolly so bad at 44.1 that they didn't dare telling us biggrin.gif)

As for CMI108, it's just a terrible chip: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/447799/
Edited by leeperry - 6/20/11 at 2:21am
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post #5 of 15
6/20/11 at 11:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by leeperry View Post

Well, CS8416 has the highest jitter ever: http://www.cirrus.com/en/pubs/appNote/AN339REV1.pdf

It can be improved when setting "PDUR=1" in the latest revisions, but that requires a DSP...that I don't see on the 6moons photos. W/ the stock "PDUR=0", This is by far the worst choice you could possibly make...half a ns of jitter at 48kHz(and it's prolly so bad at 44.1 that they didn't dare telling us biggrin.gif)
 


It's my understanding that the update to CS8416 took place in 2004, so there really shouldn't be many of the original models around. And I'm pretty sure an external microcontroller is only optional: PDUR=1 can be enabled via the jumper at JP6 and is implemented through software when done that way. This limits it to 96kHz sample rates but the jitter performance is much more reasonable. Still, DIR9001 or WM8804 seem like better choices, or WM8805 which handles up to eight inputs.

 

Then again, if this DAC claims to handle up to 24/192, then it likely would be running PDUR=0 and thus have the higher jitter spec. At least they also have the SRC to clean it up a bit. Why oh why do these companies want to enable 192kHz capability at the expense of everything else? 

 

Anyway, the whole reason I'm here is because their bluetooth module seems very cool to me. I might have to check it out. I don't expect it to replace a Squeezebox or anything, but it might be nice to stream from my Android phone for casual background music.

 

 

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post #6 of 15
6/20/11 at 5:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:

Originally Posted by project86 View Post
 

Why oh why do these companies want to enable 192kHz capability at the expense of everything else? 

 

 


This will sound racist, and I apologise, but I believe that Asian audiophiles and designers are obsessed with technical specifications. I know thats a wild generalisation, but we can all recall when the GHz rating on a computer was all that mattered, and I believe that some of that has flowed over to audio. I'll take good 16/44.1 over thin 24/192 any day of the week - those with hi-rez music will undoubtedly have different mileage.

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post #7 of 15
6/20/11 at 8:42pm
The new fiio D3 for 29 dollars offers the same connectivity and uses the Wolfson WM8805 chips with which jitter should not be the problem. I used it briefly yesterday and am surprised how little the difference to the icon HDP is.

I think Fiio has landed a hit with their D3. even though in typical Asian manufacturer tradition as per the estreet :-) it does offer 24/192
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post #8 of 15
6/20/11 at 8:47pm
Sorry double post
Edited by Koolpep - 6/20/11 at 8:48pm
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post #9 of 15
6/20/11 at 9:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koolpep View Post

The new fiio D3 for 29 dollars offers the same connectivity and uses the Wolfson WM8805 chips with which jitter should not be the problem. I used it briefly yesterday and am surprised how little the difference to the icon HDP is.

 


I suspect that someone over at NuForce will be foaming at the mouth at the possibility that their DAC is even remotely on par with a Fiio box costing $29 (!), but I've learnt to be a little more circumspect since I bought the E9.

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post #10 of 15
6/21/11 at 12:18am
Well, I think there is a difference. It's small for ME but could mean the WORLD to someone else. ;-)

What I learned while listening to headphones from $10 - $2000 is that the increase in the first 10-200 is very noticeable and then really gets smaller and smaller but costlier and costlier.

I own the NuForce as well and I am not foaming (yet). Technology moves on and stuff gets cheaper all the time. ;-) But I understand what you mean. However the icon HDP still has an edge towards the D3, it has USB in, which is a huge benefit, headphone out, it also is a great amp and it will continue to be part of my desktop/home setup. The D3 though might really get it's use in the office.

Originally I planned to use the D3 as a converter of my digital in-less sound system to my 2nd gen Apple TV digital out. But now that I upgraded to a nice Onkyo Sound System at home, I don't need that anymore as I have digital inputs available. So bascially I have the D3 spare...as I just bought a Schiit Valhalla used from a friend, I might have now an office setup worth of better sound :-)

So my fun 100$ project was born: take $100 and get a decent setup together with separate components. DAC, Headphone, Amp (am excluding cables). Let's see how this ends ;-)

Cheers,
K
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post #11 of 15
6/21/11 at 4:25pm
Thread Starter 

One of the things that does concern me with Fiio kit is longevity - as much as I love my E9, will it still be working perfectly in 3,4 or 5 years time ? Probably more to the point, will I simply have moved on to the next model by then anyway ? Folk who make a larger investment have a tendency to hold onto kit for longer, fwir.

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post #12 of 15
7/16/11 at 6:38am

Ok so i got my hands on this DAC today since i´m looking for a new one to replace my Nuforce Udac..This one compared to the Pro-ject dac box USB sounds as good imo and is quite a lot cheaper here in sweden. It is not as good looking and dosn´t feel as good as the pro-ject..But on what im using it dosn´t sound bad at all.

 

I´m feeding it with the optical input at the moment, runing the signal through the pro-ject Head box II and the cans im using is the AKG k242 HD.

 

hmmm, the sound is rather good for the price i guess..But its a pain to get it to work with some software..it didn´t work with spotify, and some of my games and just for test the windows media player just rejected it..So back to the pro-ject which works like a charm with everything.


Edited by Arvan - 7/16/11 at 8:21am
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post #13 of 15
7/16/11 at 9:14pm
UI,

The fiio d3 will work fine with all stereo sources. It can't do surround etc. Even the UDac can't do it. But the fiio is not plug and play due to the optical connection, so you need to set the PC settings and game settings etc to the right format output. Then it will work just as good as the udac.

Hope that helps,
K

edit: sorry, which DAC, the brik DAC or the fiio d3?
Edited by Koolpep - 7/16/11 at 9:17pm
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post #14 of 15
1/10/12 at 6:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koolpep View Post

UI,
The fiio d3 will work fine with all stereo sources. It can't do surround etc. Even the UDac can't do it. But the fiio is not plug and play due to the optical connection, so you need to set the PC settings and game settings etc to the right format output. Then it will work just as good as the udac.
Hope that helps,
K
edit: sorry, which DAC, the brik DAC or the fiio d3?


what if you got a mac? hehehe...

I think it may be simpler to configurate because of the optical output and the audio/midi setup

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post #15 of 15
1/10/12 at 6:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koolpep View Post

Well, I think there is a difference. It's small for ME but could mean the WORLD to someone else. ;-)
What I learned while listening to headphones from $10 - $2000 is that the increase in the first 10-200 is very noticeable and then really gets smaller and smaller but costlier and costlier.
I own the NuForce as well and I am not foaming (yet). Technology moves on and stuff gets cheaper all the time. ;-) But I understand what you mean. However the icon HDP still has an edge towards the D3, it has USB in, which is a huge benefit, headphone out, it also is a great amp and it will continue to be part of my desktop/home setup. The D3 though might really get it's use in the office.
Originally I planned to use the D3 as a converter of my digital in-less sound system to my 2nd gen Apple TV digital out. But now that I upgraded to a nice Onkyo Sound System at home, I don't need that anymore as I have digital inputs available. So bascially I have the D3 spare...as I just bought a Schiit Valhalla used from a friend, I might have now an office setup worth of better sound :-)
So my fun 100$ project was born: take $100 and get a decent setup together with separate components. DAC, Headphone, Amp (am excluding cables). Let's see how this ends ;-)
Cheers,
K


it's true but not completely, maybe because higher end headphones require a good source, amp and dec to sound at their maximum

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