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DIY DAC for noob?

post #1 of 20
6/30/11 at 8:38pm
Thread Starter 

Anyone know a good DAC for beginners? I was going to build a CKKIII figured if I was gonna do that I'd go build a DAC seeing that the are $500+

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post #2 of 20
6/30/11 at 8:48pm
http://www.amb.org/audio/gamma1/ ?
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post #3 of 20
6/30/11 at 8:54pm

A DAC doesn't have to cost $500, it can cost anywhere between less than $100 to tens of thousands.

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post #4 of 20
6/30/11 at 9:06pm

What types of inputs and outputs do you need and how many?

 

Your not going to save much money for the better DIY DACs. Once you figure in all the misc parts, case, and shipping your back up to about $300 or 400 as a starting point. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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post #5 of 20
6/30/11 at 9:26pm

id go for the grubdac if you dont mind soldering surface mount components. you can get the full kit over at beezar for 50$

 

http://beezar.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=129

 

if you dont want rca outputs you can swap the connections for 1/4 or 1/8 inchers

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post #6 of 20
6/30/11 at 9:46pm
Thread Starter 

i just need usb in and Analog out. 

 

and thanks for the kit link


Edited by Pingupenguins - 6/30/11 at 9:48pm
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post #7 of 20
6/30/11 at 10:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pingupenguins View Post

 

and thanks for the kit link



no problemosmily_headphones1.gif

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post #8 of 20
6/30/11 at 10:32pm
Thread Starter 

anyone have reviews of this compared to the BantamDAC

 

also. how do i change the RCA into stereo headphone jack. I am thinking about the miniUSB verion of the GrubDAC and making a mint tin sized DAC. with no cables hanging out just cables to plug into it.


Edited by Pingupenguins - 7/1/11 at 3:07am
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post #9 of 20
7/1/11 at 4:47am

You can easily find an RCA to TRS converter for 5 or 10 bucks at some place like Radio Shack or online. Here's 2300 results at Amazon lol:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_16?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=rca+to+headphone&x=0&y=0&sprefix=rca+to+headphone

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post #10 of 20
7/1/11 at 7:25am



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pingupenguins View Post

anyone have reviews of this compared to the BantamDAC

 

also. how do i change the RCA into stereo headphone jack. I am thinking about the miniUSB verion of the GrubDAC and making a mint tin sized DAC. with no cables hanging out just cables to plug into it.


The link that was given you was the GrubCableDAC.  The regular grubDAC kit with a mini-USB connector is only $35.  The output connectors are your choice.  You could even wire it directly into the inputs of the CKIII.

 

The BantamDAC is no longer available from Beezar, but GlassJarAudio still has some, I believe - also the AlienDAC.  So, there's plenty to pick from.
 

 


Edited by tomb - 7/1/11 at 7:26am
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post #11 of 20
7/1/11 at 8:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pingupenguins View Post

anyone have reviews of this compared to the BantamDAC

 

also. how do i change the RCA into stereo headphone jack. I am thinking about the miniUSB verion of the GrubDAC and making a mint tin sized DAC. with no cables hanging out just cables to plug into it.


instead of soldering the left and right rca connectors to the board just solder the grounds together to the headphone jack and then the left and right to the jack. you can get 1/8'' or 1/4'' at radioshack

 

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post #12 of 20
7/1/11 at 9:10am

Speaking of a mint tin,

VitQ-Alien1.jpg
VitQ-Alien3.jpg

Those pics are of an AlienDAC with a bunch of VitaminQ's on the output, but the other DACs I mentioned are even smaller.

 

For instance, the little plastic box that the Grub/SkeletonDAC were designed for makes an ideal fit and is very cheap, too ($2-$3):

SkelDAC-on-sm.jpg

 

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post #13 of 20
7/1/11 at 9:29am

^gotta love those penguin mint tinssmily_headphones1.gif

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post #14 of 20
7/1/11 at 2:34pm
Thread Starter 

God where can i buy those tins!?!??!? They stopped selling them where i live and i love their mints!!

 

I think the grubDAC is my choice because it doesn't run on battery power so one less thing to worry about when i am on the go. I was think my setup would be [ZuneHD>GrubDAC>Cmoy w/ OPA2132PA] all in a nice rubberbanded bundle inside 2 Penguin Mint tins with the Zune on top.

 

But this got me thinking. If i used the the Zune cable with the ZuneHD to the GrubDAC, would the Zune recognize and play the music through the USB?

Basically i'd like to know if the GrubDAC would work with a ZuneHD. Ive seen the Cypherlabs Agorhythm Solo work directly plugged into a iPod Classic. I'm basically looking for the same thing. Otherwise id just get a desktop DAC for my home use.

 

Ps. I found them on Amazon. I got all of the tins. woooooooo :D


Edited by Pingupenguins - 7/1/11 at 2:45pm
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post #15 of 20
7/1/11 at 2:47pm

ZuneHD does not have USB host capability, and there is no Zune equivalent for ARS.

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