- Joined
- Feb 25, 2009
- Posts
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Yay! I finished my Bantam DAC.
http://chows.smugmug.com/photos/523778121_avDHg-S.jpg
I got a good scare soldering the SMD PCM2702 chip. The culprit was simply a bridge between two pins that I didn't catch. On it's maiden power up, the LED lit and the USB device drivers properly loaded but...drumroll...no audio. Upon running my finger over the circuit board, I found the 4.7v regulator was scorching hot! As the dreaded disappointment of failure settled in, I gave the board a once over and gave in for the day.
Today, I dug up some courage and went over every solder joint on the board and found nothing. Staring at the schematics for a long time came up fruitless too. It wasn't until I took my flashlight (a NiteCore D10 btw
) and beamed it right under the PCM2702 chip when I caught the little solder booger casting it's shadow between the two pins.
I thought for sure the short had fried the chip and taking down the regulator along with it. I was already looking on mouser for a replacement ($13! ouch!) but as a last ditch effort I fired up my butane soldering iron and melted that violating glob of conductive glitter.
Doubtfully I plugged it in....drumroll round two....Music! It's sad how little things can change your whole outlook on life, but regardless....It worked and I was the happiest DIYer around for the moment!
I used the recommended enclosure from beezar.com and stole the usb pigtail from an old lexar jumpshot card reader which was pretty useless to me since it requires cf cards with USB chips built into them (RARE and Obsolete)
http://www.creativepro.com/files/sto...s/070301_1.jpghttp://chows.smugmug.com/photos/523778109_ra7Bd-S.jpg
Unfortunately it doesn't have enough to drive headphones directly and I have to use a headphone amp. (my Mini 3)
As far as sound goes, I really have not much to compare but compared to my DIYiMod iPod, it sounds very close and it's still being broken in, overall, it's a welcome change to my noisy onboard sound.
I have the Gamma 1 parts in hand and will be building one soon so I'll have something to compare it too.
http://chows.smugmug.com/photos/523778121_avDHg-S.jpg
I got a good scare soldering the SMD PCM2702 chip. The culprit was simply a bridge between two pins that I didn't catch. On it's maiden power up, the LED lit and the USB device drivers properly loaded but...drumroll...no audio. Upon running my finger over the circuit board, I found the 4.7v regulator was scorching hot! As the dreaded disappointment of failure settled in, I gave the board a once over and gave in for the day.
Today, I dug up some courage and went over every solder joint on the board and found nothing. Staring at the schematics for a long time came up fruitless too. It wasn't until I took my flashlight (a NiteCore D10 btw
I thought for sure the short had fried the chip and taking down the regulator along with it. I was already looking on mouser for a replacement ($13! ouch!) but as a last ditch effort I fired up my butane soldering iron and melted that violating glob of conductive glitter.
Doubtfully I plugged it in....drumroll round two....Music! It's sad how little things can change your whole outlook on life, but regardless....It worked and I was the happiest DIYer around for the moment!
I used the recommended enclosure from beezar.com and stole the usb pigtail from an old lexar jumpshot card reader which was pretty useless to me since it requires cf cards with USB chips built into them (RARE and Obsolete)
http://www.creativepro.com/files/sto...s/070301_1.jpghttp://chows.smugmug.com/photos/523778109_ra7Bd-S.jpg
Unfortunately it doesn't have enough to drive headphones directly and I have to use a headphone amp. (my Mini 3)
As far as sound goes, I really have not much to compare but compared to my DIYiMod iPod, it sounds very close and it's still being broken in, overall, it's a welcome change to my noisy onboard sound.
I have the Gamma 1 parts in hand and will be building one soon so I'll have something to compare it too.
