Audio-GD DI-20

[soundlogic]

As a current U16 owner, and the starter of this thread...the DI20 is on my radar for sure.
I would like to ask collectively to those who KNOW: I currently have all my gear plugged into a PS Audio P20 Power regenerator...so is it overkill, not necessary, waste of money, silly...you fill in the blank...for me to consider the HE version over the standard version??? If I was to purchase the HE version and plug it into my P-20, would that be detrimental? My gut says: get the better power supply, but considering the extra costs of the HE, I could definitely use the savings for cable upgrades, etc. I am asking for some concrete advise, as opposed to "wild-ass-guesses", which I already have plenty of. Thanks in advance, Y'all!

 

[DACLadder]

Subscribed...I ordered the DI-20HE last week.

I was led to this thread while researching ACSS S/PDIF. Interesting that it is suppose to sound "better" that HDMI I2S. I think Kingwa describes it as "different" sounding that some customers prefer over I2S. We shall see.

I am ready to compare the DI-20HE to the Singxers (all 3 - SU-6, SU-1, and F1), U16, and even the Off Ramp 5. Hopefully, the DI20HE is the last DDC I will have to buy! That has been said many times before so not holding my breath. But think it will be a good design!

And yes I am ready to pitch my U16 into the bonfire of regret. The definition sums it up perfectly.

bon·fire
/ˈbänˌfī(ə)r/

noun
noun: bonfire; plural noun: bonfires
a large open-air fire used as part of a celebration, for burning trash/ waste, or as a signal.
"the smell of burning leaves from a garden bonfire"

 

[darren700]

Subscribed...I ordered the DI-20HE last week.

I was led to this thread while researching ACSS S/PDIF. Interesting that it is suppose to sound "better" that HDMI I2S. I think Kingwa describes it as "different" sounding that some customers prefer over I2S. We shall see.

I am ready to compare the DI-20HE to the Singxers (all 3 - SU-6, SU-1, and F1), U16, and even the Off Ramp 5. Hopefully, the DI20HE is the last DDC I will have to buy! That has been said many times before so not holding my breath. But think it will be a good design!

And yes I am ready to pitch my U16 into the bonfire of regret. The definition sums it up perfectly.

bon·fire
/ˈbänˌfī(ə)r/

noun
noun: bonfire; plural noun: bonfires
a large open-air fire used as part of a celebration, for burning trash/ waste, or as a signal.
"the smell of burning leaves from a garden bonfire"

I hope you are right with this being the last DDC!. If the first DI-20 performs as well as i expect I will probably use part of my christmas bonus to buy a second DI-20 for my Audio-GD R1 and Master 9 Headphone setup.
Hopefully I will be able to sell both my U16's once i have two DI-20's, if not at lease the bonfire should sound good

 

[DACLadder]

@darren700 Which DI-20 variation did you order - TCXO, Accusilicon 45/49, or Accusilicon 90/98 ?? As a frame of reference the U16 has Accusilicon 45/49 XOs.

The cheapskate in me will sell the U16 for whatever I can get for it. The U16 works for some people without error and sounds great when it works.

Kingwa told me that he sold his U16 because of the bugs. He liked the sound quality of the U16 and gave him inspiration for the DI-20 design. I hope this DI-20 will be a U16 slayer!

 

[FredA]

@darren700 Which DI-20 variation did you order - TCXO, Accusilicon, 45/49, or Accusilicon 90/98 ?? As a frame of reference the U16 has Accusilion 45/49 XOs.

The cheapskate in me will sell the U16 for whatever I can get for it. The U16 works for some people without error and sounds great when it works.

Kingwa told me that he sold his U16 because of the bugs. He liked the sound quality of the U16 and gave him inspiration for the DI-20 design. I hope this DI-20 will be a U16 slayer!

We, the first di20-he buyers will not know only next week as Kingwa has planned to ship on Friday, while the first DI-20s will ship on Wednesday.

 

[darren700]

@darren700 Which DI-20 variation did you order - TCXO, Accusilicon 45/49, or Accusilicon 90/98 ?? As a frame of reference the U16 has Accusilicon 45/49 XOs.

The cheapskate in me will sell the U16 for whatever I can get for it. The U16 works for some people without error and sounds great when it works.

Kingwa told me that he sold his U16 because of the bugs. He liked the sound quality of the U16 and gave him inspiration for the DI-20 design. I hope this DI-20 will be a U16 slayer!

I ordered the DI-20 Accusilicon 90/98 (will be powered by my HE-350) I think everyone who ordered the DI-20 is hoping its a U16 slayer! I was not aware the u16 uses Accusilicon 45/49, thanks for the info.

 

[soundlogic]

As a current U16 owner, and the starter of this thread...the DI20 is on my radar for sure.
I would like to ask collectively to those who KNOW: I currently have all my gear plugged into a PS Audio P20 Power regenerator...so is it overkill, not necessary, waste of money, silly...you fill in the blank...for me to consider the HE version over the standard version??? If I was to purchase the HE version and plug it into my P-20, would that be detrimental? My gut says: get the better power supply, but considering the extra costs of the HE, I could definitely use the savings for cable upgrades, etc. I am asking for some concrete advise, as opposed to "wild-ass-guesses", which I already have plenty of. Thanks in advance, Y'all!

Bueller? Anybody?

 

[DACLadder]

@soundlogic. If I used power regeneration I would just give the standard DI-20 a try! The HE power supply just regenerates 50Hz AC before the main power transformer. Effectively the same as the PSA.

The HE supplies run very warm and require adequate ventilation. And the chassis longer is another consideration. But definitely get the 90/98 Accusilicon XOs for best sound potential.

 

[FredA]

Bueller? Anybody?

The regenerator on the di-20he is based an analog amp design. Kingwa thinks it beats any class-d design, like the ps-audio are using. Owning such He series gears, namely he9 and r7-he, i can assure you it works, and at the asking price, the di20-he is a bargain. Compared to the regular Di, it is worth the difference according to early listening impressions from people who visited Kingwa's listening room.

I know it does not answer your question. But when Kingwa was asked if a regular version of his r7 plugged to his own he350 regenerator sounded as good as the r7-he, the answer was no. So if you wonder if the regular di connected to your ps-audio will be as good as the he, the answer is most likely no. But you can perhaps expect even better performance connecting the di20he to your ps-audio.

Think of it, double regeneration...

 

[FredA]

@soundlogic. If I used power regeneration I would just give the standard DI-20 a try! The HE power supply just regenerates 50Hz AC before the main power transformer. Effectively the same as the PSA.

The HE supplies run very warm and require adequate ventilation. And the chassis longer is another consideration. But definitely get the 90/98 Accusilicon XOs for best sound potential.

Not so bad with dissipation, only 20w as the di pcb does not draw much itself. So i don't expect it to run hot at all.

Did not mean to contradict, just wanted to state everything i knew.

 

[FredA]

@soundlogic

I was wrong about one detail, ps-audio base their regenerator on class-ab amplification, at least now.

 

[Pappas3278]

Has anyone received a shipping notice from Audio-GD as of yet? The regular DI-20 was said to be shipping today, November 13th.

 

[FredA]

No news yet...

 

[newabc]

Has anyone received a shipping notice from Audio-GD as of yet? The regular DI-20 was said to be shipping today, November 13th.

Someone in China in Kingwa's forum bbs.audio-gd.com already got one. I think I can get my tracking number of shipment in a week if the regular DI-20s are being shipped out.

 

[Pappas3278]

Shipping notice just received this morning. No tracking# yet.

About the S/PDIF connections; am I correct in thinking the standard coaxial and BNC (acss) are two different animals?

If one were to use the BNC connection, is that a special cable or would a standard coaxial cable with BNC termination work between the DI-20 and the R1 DAC?

-Mike