Assembling a DIY high resolution, high quality DAC

[carlmart]

I would like to further explore the options available for assembling a complete DAC, using boards from eBay or directly from vendors.

The two DSD boards I will start with have already been discussed or analyzed on this forum some time ago: one based on the F-1 XU208 DSD board and the other based on the DIYhink DSD board.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Singxer-F-...352825?hash=item1ee0ab78b9:g:AnAAAOSwFc5XwBhd

https://www.diyinhk.com/shop/audio-...12dsd1024-high-quality-usb-to-i2sdsd-pcb.html

Of course that those boards should be plugged into a main DAC board, with analog outputs and input options.

My intention is to assemble a complete DAC, so I need some sort of source selecting between DSD board, coaxial and optical, and analog out, of course.

There might be other more recent DSD board options that I don't know of, so suggestions are welcome.

Very low noise external supply is obligatory, and power should all be linear, with no DC-DC conversion anywhere.

Finally a case to hold this all.

Which are the commercial products (boards) available that could be bought, in a price range which I estimate around $400-500, I would like to know them.

Comments or stories on people that did assemble their DACs in this fashion would be very welcome, and I'm pretty sure there are others who might be interested too.

Thanks!

 

[penmarker]

Try looking up Soekris DIY dac board. You have the option to make your own PSU for DC power supply or just get a compatible transformer to feed it AC. Soekris also provides documentation for input channel selection, wiring, and requirements such as USB digital interface.

 

[carlmart]

Try looking up Soekris DIY dac board. You have the option to make your own PSU for DC power supply or just get a compatible transformer to feed it AC. Soekris also provides documentation for input channel selection, wiring, and requirements such as USB digital interface.

And it's also VERY expensive. Several thousands dollars.

 

[penmarker]

http://www.soekris.dk/dam1021.html

The DIY board starts at €179.

 

[carlmart]

This test shows that you might have to buy the more expensive (EUR 260) version, with 0.01%/0.02% resistors, to get better THD.

https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/soekris-dam1021-r2r-dac-measurements.2324/

You also have to add the (what I think are) DIYinhk and eBay very low noise supplies, the HDMI/I2S interface board, transformers and case expense, of course.

Perhaps an internal usb>I2S board would be better to input signals here.

 

[penmarker]

You don't need the HDMI/I2S boards, just use one of the USB decoder boards you posted in your first post.

No need to low noise power supplies, as I've mentioned you only need the correct rated transformer for the board.

If you still do want low noise psu, AMB's Sigma22 is better than most eBay boards. Splurge a little bit on a Kevin Gilmore Golden Reference Low Voltage PSU and it'll be the best you can get at any price point.

As always, check the Soekris documentations for information.

 

[carlmart]

Yes, I'm aware of the HDMI/I2S interface not being necessary. The question is to find an USB decoder board that is reliable.

I wonder why they didn't try that, plugging an usb > I2s board directly on the Soekris, with no cable at all. Jitter might even be better and improve THD.

Couldn't find those Kevin Gilmore supplies you mention, but there I trust those regulators based on the LT3042. And the price is good.

Does anybody know if I have an SPDIF coaxial input option on the Soekris?

 

[soekris]

Yes, I'm aware of the HDMI/I2S interface not being necessary. The question is to find an USB decoder board that is reliable.

I wonder why they didn't try that, plugging an usb > I2s board directly on the Soekris, with no cable at all. Jitter might even be better and improve THD.

Couldn't find those Kevin Gilmore supplies you mention, but there I trust those regulators based on the LT3042. And the price is good.

Does anybody know if I have an SPDIF coaxial input option on the Soekris?

New product dam1921/dam1941 coming very soon.... http://www.soekris.dk/dam1941.html

 

[penmarker]

Yes, I'm aware of the HDMI/I2S interface not being necessary. The question is to find an USB decoder board that is reliable.

I wonder why they didn't try that, plugging an usb > I2s board directly on the Soekris, with no cable at all. Jitter might even be better and improve THD.

Couldn't find those Kevin Gilmore supplies you mention, but there I trust those regulators based on the LT3042. And the price is good.

Does anybody know if I have an SPDIF coaxial input option on the Soekris?

The Kevin Gilmore psu boards are more known as GRLV. The group buy had just recently closed so the next best thing I can suggest is getting the Sigma22 boards from AMB. There are some boards from china too in eBay with different arrangement but as far as I can see the parts list is identical so you can still get support from AMB forums for troubleshooting.

The SPDIF/Coax input option config is written in the manual. As always, check documentations for information.
http://www.soekris.dk/download/dam1021/dam1021 user manual 20151005.pdf
Page 9.

 

[carlmart]

Thanks, I had not seen it.

 

[Garuspik]

I've bought and assembled this dac: https://www.ebay.com/itm/ES9038-ES9...ontrol-/132482229967?var=&hash=item648b15b1a8 and was very pleased with its sound and quality.

 

[carlmart]

It looks very nice and complete.

Did you buy this case too?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ES9038-ES9...m=123246167577&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

[Garuspik]

No, DIY case and DIY power supply.