[DACLadder]

  I noticed the Singularity's BNC now supports 192k, rather than the 92k or the Master 7.
 
Going back, wasn't there something different about the BNC or some sort of option that made this only 92k?  I checked my documentation and old printout but can't find it.  Could be my imagination, I suppose.

From what I can gather reading the description on the Singularity 7 the Wolfson and TI DIR9001 chips are no longer employed for S/PDIF, Toslink, or AES/ EBU.   There are new programmable Xilinx CPLDs that appear to handle interfacing to the I/Os.   Looks like Kingwa is making effort to reduce the variation in sound quality between inputs as is experienced with the Master 7.    
 
"Singularity 7, no longer had the performance and sound quality limit by the normal and fixed function chips like the DIR9001, WM8805 and the DF1706, all function blocks are through the software design with the ultra speed characteristic, can got the best timing performance ,  minimal jitter , boost the sound quality most neutral , the detail, dynamic can fully show in your system."

 

[riffer]

Thanks guys, It's all coming back to me.

 

[LarsHP]

  If you check the design, BNC input is routed to BB DIR9001 which can only handle up to 108k. All other inputs are routed to Wolfson WM8805 which can handle 192k. DIR9001 has better performance than WM8805 but lower input rate.

Exactly! That's why I asked for a RCA to BNC digital cable for my Reference 7.1.
 
Anybody here tested their Master 7 with a HQ source to BNC versus the I2S input?

 

[DACLadder]

  Exactly! That's why I asked for a RCA to BNC digital cable for my Reference 7.1.
 
Anybody here tested their Master 7 with a HQ source to BNC versus the I2S input?

Many have done so and experience best quality of sound with HDMI I2S.  I could even tell a difference between HDMI I2S sources.  A least it was like this with the old DSP firmware.  The Audiophilleo AP1 and DIR9001 S/PDIF was the best sound until HDMI I2S came along. 

 

[LarsHP]

 
Many have done so and experience best quality of sound with HDMI I2S.  I could even tell a difference between HDMI I2S sources.  A least it was like this with the old DSP firmware.  The Audiophilleo AP1 and DIR9001 S/PDIF was the best sound until HDMI I2S came along. 

Thanks. It would be interesting to know how the two inputs stack up with the new firmware, yes.

 

[borrego]

audio-gd has already announced their own R2R DAC module in their Chinese forum: http://bbs.audio-gd.com/dispbbs.asp?boardid=2&Id=30313
 
So this time it is really possible that their PCM1704 line of DAC will be eventually discontinued when TI stops production of the chip or with the price got inflated further.

 

[LarsHP]

Does this Audio-gd DIY module use known DAC chips or are they "secret"?

 

[FredA]

This is not a chip dac. It looks like a custom discrete dac, like the Spring Dac uses. Probably a completely different design however.

 

[Mahdi8]

Yeah look like discreet resistor ladder dac

 

[mowglycdb]

Maybe they'll use the ES9038PRO as replacement?

 

[LarsHP]

This is not a chip dac. It looks like a custom discrete dac, like the Spring Dac uses. Probably a completely different design however.

Ah! Of course! That's why there was so many resistors lined up...

 

[FredA]

This new Singularity design looks great. Looking forward to hearing feedback on it. Should most likely be a significant step forward, Kingwa has been taking care of business lately. He has even updated the usb to xu208. Great news for the new buyers.

High-performance jitter rejection using high-speed circuits and enough memory is possible today and Kingwa has impemented it. Should put less importance on the transport. All good news.

 

[eschell27]

Yeah... I cannot wait to hear some impressions comparing the newest M7 to the Singularity. I am starting to save and hope to order a Singularity in the next 6-8 weeks.

 

[riffer]

---- He has even updated the usb to xu208. ....

But the singularity has the "Amanero combo384" per the Audio-gd page,
 
Know what you are talking about though.   XU208 upgrade for previous XMOS devices.  I have a DI-U8 here that is supposed to have it, but I haven't had a chance to test it yet.

 

[DACLadder]

 
But the singularity has the "Amanero combo384" per the Audio-gd page,
 
Know what you are talking about though.   XU208 upgrade for previous XMOS devices.  I have a DI-U8 here that is supposed to have it, but I haven't had a chance to test it yet.

Understandable why the Singularity 7 has the Amanero USB.  In a recent Email to Kingwa about USB32 replacement he stated he prefers the Amanero over the XU208.  "In my mind the Amanero is better than Xmos.  If your REF5 (or M7) had update the DSP firmware, the Amanero or Xmos can replace direct, without solder."