Douk Audio U2 Pro DDC - Poorman DDC for an affordable & clean digital signal

[uncola]

EDIT: I was absolutely wrong lol. I just checked and the douk takes a non standard tiny dc plug just like you said. You know, even without external power my douk worked great and removed ground noise, using coaxial anyway

 

[sajunky]

I just received the DDC6 B-version with the CCHD-957. I got the 5V LPS yesterday. I just realised how tiny it is. Scale is always deceptive on photos. And that goes for the 5V socket too.

Look at the photo. The left plug is the standard DC plug that comes with the BRZHifi. The right one (that's why right is right and left is sinister) is from some mystery 5V SMPS I happen to have that fits the DDC6. Just so you know.
I hope I have a socket free for the short lead.




As you can see it says Leaf Audio on the board and Akliam on the box. #insert meme: "it's the same picture"
Devine providence made the 'original' sold out and saved me €15 and customs hassle (ex VAT is <€150).


So, let's see how this turns out later today.

Very poor job soldering oscilators metal cage. And shifted one milimeter to the left on this photo. The same for both oscilators. I never seen such poor workmanship on the original Crysteks.

A date code indicate there are two years old (1.5 for the right one). Eight months different batch, but workmanship the same, strange.

 

[]eep]

Very poor job soldering oscilators metal cage. And shifted one milimeter to the left on this photo. The same for both oscilators. I never seen such poor workmanship on the original Crysteks.

A date code indicate there are two years old (1.5 for the right one). Eight months different batch, but workmanship the same, strange.

I didn't even see that. Maybe because I only slept 4h to receive the package in hand... I just wanted to open it before I went back to sleep (looooong story). They work fine btw. And lets face it, for what you get for this price it's cheap.

Pulling the cables was the real chore. I hate that. But the case is so small it vanishes under the cables on the back of the Rose RS250. And...

Instant bliss. I just started listening to Victoria Mullova playing Arvo Pärt. It's hard to quantify but it definitely sounds better. Blacker background. The Birdy test; Morellenbaum² & Sakamoto - Casa track 1 2m40 birds chirping outside, still very faint but not broken up.

 

[sajunky]

I didn't even see that. Maybe because I only slept 4h to receive the package in hand... I just wanted to open it before I went back to sleep (looooong story). They work fine btw. And lets face it, for what you get for this price it's cheap.

Pulling the cables was the real chore. I hate that. But the case is so small it vanishes under the cables on the back of the Rose RS250. And...

Instant bliss. I just started listening to Victoria Mullova playing Arvo Pärt. It's hard to quantify but it definitely sounds better. Blacker background. The Birdy test; Morellenbaum² & Sakamoto - Casa track 1 2m40 birds chirping outside, still very faint but not broken up.

U2PRO does a job as ground loop redirector and a low jitter converter, it is why after testing a standard version I decided to upgrade oscilators on mine. It is another step up in sound quality, even with a cheaper version CCHD-575.

In your case oscilators are fake, I have no doubt about. In the best case they were stripping off metal cage and used oscilators board for military, so you get at least the original cages. If you are happy with U2Pro, you can get a pair of genuine oscilators from Mouser for about $54 and replace yourself.

Here is a link with photos how CCHD-957 look originally: from outside and also lurking inside through the side slots.

 

[]eep]

U2PRO does a job as ground loop redirector and a low jitter converter, it is why after testing a standard version I decided to upgrade oscilators on mine. It is another step up in sound quality, even with a cheaper version CCHD-575.

In your case oscilators are fake, I have no doubt about. In the best case they were stripping off metal cage and used oscilators board for military, so you get at least the original cages. If you are happy with U2Pro, you can get a pair of genuine oscilators from Mouser for about $54 and replace yourself.

Here is a link with photos how CCHD-957 look originally: from outside and also lurking inside through the side slots.

Looks very suspicious, doesn't it. Something I really don't like is this lack of morals "they won't notice as long as it works". But you can encounter that everywhere.

What counts for me is that I now can connect my RS250 via i²s without getting another big expensive case cluttering my tidy rack. The DDC6 is now out of sight.

Offtopic: I just looked up a photo from before I made my double bamboo (one video, one audio) racks. Wow, what a cluttering mess. That must be the most underrated part of any stereo system: a proper cabinet or rack to let everything have its own space.

Before and after pictures

What a difference. Easier to move on sturdy caster wheels, no looking at the ugly radiator, cables out of sight but accessible (mostly). And a big handstash of LP's (this is just a fraction).

 

[greenblured]

I have a Leaf Audio marked one. This is the photo on the AliX seller page. I agree, the Crystek clocks are prob. fakes or in best case pulls (used).

 

[sajunky]

I have a Leaf Audio marked one. This is the photo on the AliX seller page. I agree, the Crystek clocks are prob. fakes or in best case pulls (used).

Yes, this one looks OK, at least on the photo.

I searched alix for this DDC6 flavour, it brings me down, really.

Due to the fact that "Free Return & Refund" in certain countries can cause us significant losses, we refuse this service. Please carefully check whether the product is truly needed before purchasing. [...]

Sure, if you supply a fake goods, you get loses instead of 80% profit. LOL

In my life I found that crocks proceede with threatening a victim when cheating is exposed. In this case there is no difference:

We have an Audio Alliance and you will be blacklisted, prevented from future purchases, blablabla.

If we encounter an unreasonable "Free Return & Refund", you will be directly blacklisted and reported to the China Audio Alliance. In the future, your account will not be able to purchase from stores that have joined the China Audio Alliance, and you will not be able to enjoy special discounts on future new products.

For reference, a link to avoid. A photo of the PCB is also engineered, stamping black blocks in place of real oscilators.

 

[]eep]

Yes, this one looks OK, at least on the photo.

I searched alix for this DDC6 flavour, it brings me down, really.

Sure, if you supply a fake goods, you get loses instead of 80% profit. LOL

In my life I found that crocks proceede with threatening a victim when cheating is exposed. In this case there is no difference:

We have an Audio Alliance and you will be blacklisted, prevented from future purchases, blablabla.


For reference, a link to avoid. A photo of the PCB is also engineered, stamping black blocks in place of real oscilators.

Uhm. Yeah. Thanks. That's my piece. See photo. My review is first, and I put a second review where it says 'sajunky says it's fake'.

I don't think this shop is unreliable. It's the Akliam official store. Their discrete opamps are really good I hear. But as I've said before, there is a lot of anti China bias against 'chifi'. As in 'cheap crap'. So I can imagine they get a lot of hassle. People send stuff back like women buying 7 pairs of shoes and sending 6 pair back. Western entitlement.
I'm not convinced the CCHD are blacked out. I think it's just mirroring the black ceiling. Since it's not unicolor black. (I know photoshop, 25y exp).

Btw: I saw Leaf Audio have a very interesting dual AK4499Ex dac out with their own discrete opamps for $750, called CMD29. Those opamps could really give it an edge over the competition.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EG9wGN5
Yes, it looks like the T+A 200.

 

[]eep]

Hey guys, about the Akliam official store. They just contacted me on the AliExpress app asking why I claimed the Crystek was fake. A bit like he was stung by a bee. Regarding my second review on the link sajunkie gave.

He said it is caused by hand soldering, the cover moves a bit. They are real Crystek and gave me a link to check. If I can prove it's fake, they will give me an instant refund, even pay for the appraisal.
They take the standard board that is machine welded and modify small numbers by hand soldering the upgraded clocks.

Delivery times on parts can sometimes be very long so that's why the batch numbers on the cover can easily be 2 to 3 years old.

I must say it was a very nice conversation. After the cooldown. He said they don't like to deceive people and that it's a bad policy. They are striving for better products and buyer satisfaction.

Just the last part.

 

[Jake2]

I tried earlier without success to find the photo of the chips in my Leaf w/ 957 oscillators as from memory it looks v similar to yours if slightly neater soldering. I have a standard Douk as well to A-B to and it’s no contest how much better the Leaf with Crystek is. A different class.

 

[sajunky]

Btw: I saw Leaf Audio have a very interesting dual AK4499Ex dac out with their own discrete opamps for $750, called CMD29. Those opamps could really give it an edge over the competition.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EG9wGN5
Yes, it looks like the T+A 200.

- Nice DAC, thanks, I am not Delta-Sigma guy, but interesting reading.

- It says Italian Amanero, not a licenced Amanero, it means a hacked version. There are reports that a pirated version from alix suffer from compability problems. Even if sourced from a company with a good reputation like LHY. Better chose generic XMOS board than 'Italian' Amanero.

- Better avoid radio in a DAC enclosure

- There are no threats with China Audio Alliance?
This is because they do not claim it is a genuine T + A 200 DAC.

- Non affiliate link is below. Use this one to prevent profiting third parties.
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806061006409.html

 

[sajunky]

Hey guys, about the Akliam official store. They just contacted me on the AliExpress app asking why I claimed the Crystek was fake. A bit like he was stung by a bee. Regarding my second review on the link sajunkie gave.

He said it is caused by hand soldering, the cover moves a bit. They are real Crystek and gave me a link to check. If I can prove it's fake, they will give me an instant refund, even pay for the appraisal.
They take the standard board that is machine welded and modify small numbers by hand soldering the upgraded clocks.

Delivery times on parts can sometimes be very long so that's why the batch numbers on the cover can easily be 2 to 3 years old.

I must say it was a very nice conversation. After the cooldown. He said they don't like to deceive people and that it's a bad policy. They are striving for better products and buyer satisfaction.


Just the last part.

1. A blatant lie. Hand soldering does not involve removing a top cover, then soldering back with one milimeter offset. Both components had been tempered with, it is seen on the photo. Most likely the only genuine is a metal cage.

2. Manufacturing date code is identified by first two digits (year) followed by second two (week number). He is trying to argue on the production date by traversing weight of these facts:

a) Components are old stock, while there are constant improvements to the product line. It means receiving an inferior product. There is an admission on this.

b) Both oscilators indicate tempering with the product (re-soldering the top cover). Installation only require soldering a base PCB four contact points, not a top cover.

c) Any (possible) suggestion of receiving an original, but a bad workmanship is rejected because two oscilators come from a distant batches.

3. What other proof you need to provide other than a photo, you did already?

 

[]eep]

I think you should t put so much weight on certain words. If they say 'Italian Amanero' it is probably just to show off they use imported parts, not generic local parts. As long as I followed Chinese hifi (20y now) they like to do that.

Another argument he made: "why would we use fakes for some niche product? We don't make so many of these". I agree. Most people don't see the use of these clocks. And the ones that swear by it will probably buy a much more expensive DDC like a Gaia or Hermes.

I also asked about the connection Douk - Akliam - Leaf Audio. He said Leaf helps them make it and Douk helps them sell. Fwiw

Also, that dac looks, with the vu-meters, that's just my observation it looks like T+A. Nowhere do they claim anything. But did you see any Chinese dac with a host of socketed discrete opamps? This makes out a great part of the sound of a dac. And it gives the consumer the choice to change it.

To me that's a great idea.

 

[sajunky]

I think you should t put so much weight on certain words. If they say 'Italian Amanero' it is probably just to show off they use imported parts, not generic local parts. As long as I followed Chinese hifi (20y now) they like to do that.

A term "Italian Amanero" is commonly used for a hacked Amanero Combo384 which is OEM licensed product. It needs a license to sell the original. In the past a hacked product would brick on the firmware upgrade from the Amanero website. I hear the most recent hacks can be flashed successfully, but expose a different compatibility problems.

I am not psychiatric to classify your denial behaviour, but it is common for victim of a scam to defend crooks. In future please don't waste my time, have better things to do.

 

[]eep]

That's a really sh!tty thing to say. Why are you always so angry and suspicious? Not to say paranoid (emphasis on NOT).

I'm not wasting your time. You are doing that all by yourself. I read back and I can't find the term 'italian' anywhere on the discription of that dac in your link (simple page search renders 0 results on 'italian'). So, that's your imagination. As was the T&A reference, that was me, not the shop.

I don't have any need to deny anything. I wasn't scammed. It works perfectly, just as expected. I'm not ignorant or gullible. Nor stupid. I can form my own opinion based on evidence.

However, I highly appreciate your knowledge. If your time is limited, please DO NOT READ, rather than read half heartedly and making an interpretation reading what you want to read in it.