[Sam Lord]

The Signalist DSC-1 has outstanding measured performance:
http://www.signalyst.com/hardware.html
 
It's DSD-only on input, so use with HQPlayer for Both PCM and DSD.
 
Discussion:
 
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/254935-signalyst-dsc1.html
 
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/direct-stream-digital-only-using-dsc-1-2-or-3-a-24310/
 
Also there is the ESS Sabre 9018 Eval board, great for tweaking.

 

[amb]

Just FYI, the full γ3 website is now up, along with its companion module, the γ24 DAC core. They are both released and available as of yesterday.

 

[Punch Leez]

Just FYI, the full γ3 website is now up, along with its companion module, the γ24 DAC core. They are both released and available as of yesterday.

Any measurements teaser? 

 

[amb]

Any measurements teaser? 

Go to the γ3 website and look in the Specifications section.

 

[Punch Leez]

Really amazing, the results are too impressive.... I know this is kinda something like a money no object device, but is there any chance for you to swap with a normal decent clock from the Crystek and run the jitter test again?
 
I am always thinking that the PLL inside a decent DAC is really good enough, an extra higher performance clock wont benefit that much in a modern DAC. It may only useful for the old DAC with poor PLL integrated. I am just guessing....

 

[amb]

The impressive performance is not due to one thing alone. Every little bit helps. In the γ3 no corners were cut. The whole really is the sum of its parts... plus a lot of care in its implementation.

 

[Fingerling]

I was interested by this one http://www.raspyfi.com/building-my-reference-dac/ but no tutorial

 

[tomb]

  I was interested by this one http://www.raspyfi.com/building-my-reference-dac/ but no tutorial

1. No power supply is included .  V+ and Gnd on the end with the single green terminal block is where you must attach some sort of power supply.
 
2. You must purchase and attach a complete USB module (the multi-pin connector in the middle of the PCB).  The specs of 24-bit/192kHz mean nothing unless you build/purchase an entire USB module that can supply that.
 
3. It uses rudimentary Wima coupling capacitors on the output.  It does this because it specifies that it has an offset of up to 4 mV.  There is no other output, beyond the DAC chip output, except  for these capacitors.  Beside the fact that output coupling capacitors don't sound as good as a DAC without them, it's even possible that some amps could fry the DAC chip with this type of circuit.
 
4. The DAC specs list an "ultra-low noise regulator circuit," but list the specs for the regulator itself, not the measurements of the entire DAC.  Besides, there is only one regulator on the PCB.  This is an absolute minimum requirement because the DAC chip most likely uses 3.3V, while the power supply is spec'd at anything from 6 to 20VDC.  There is no regulation on the analog output (where the red Wima capacitors are).  That is the analog side of the circuit and has the most effect on sound quality, beyond the basic operation of the DAC chip.

 

[Fingerling]

Thanks for the explanations. So this is not a good build.