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

[Getafix]

I have desoldered cchd-575 ocxos and the top often drops off, but they are much smaller. But why would that happen when soldering in a new one? Maybe someone is inexperienced and uses too big a soldering tip.

 

[sajunky]

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').

If doesn't say Combo384 or a "licensed Amanero" it is 'Italian' Amanero, meaning pirated. And a word Italian is....
On the photo.

 

[sajunky]

I have desoldered cchd-575 ocxos and the top often drops off, but they are much smaller. But why would that happen when soldering in a new one? Maybe someone is inexperienced and uses too big a soldering tip.

Something like that, but it can happen with a smaller tip too. I am sorry to hear.

A clue is that you tried to heat up the whole part, while for removing the old one it needs two soldering irons (with the assistance) each tip alternating between two soldering points. The all operation takes no longer than 10 second. If takes longer, then let it cool down and try again.

When soldering a new part, it only require one soldering iron heating up individual terminals with a fine tip for 3 seconds.

I used this method before, now using a hot air rework station. Still needs some experience, heating up directly metal cage will result losing it up. Visit a Pakistani cellphone repair shop, they are experienced in this type operation.

 

[Lebowsky]

I didnt read the whole thread, but is there a general trending opinion on the Douk U2 Pro vs SMSL PO100 Pro?

I am looking for something simple to convert audio out from a minipc to spdif to go into a Marantz CD player/Streamer/amp combo, where only the spdif input is still free (theres only one aux in and it is for vinyl).

thanks!

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

I didnt read the whole thread, but is there a general trending opinion on the Douk U2 Pro vs SMSL PO100 Pro?

I am looking for something simple to convert audio out from a minipc to spdif to go into a Marantz CD player/Streamer/amp combo, where only the spdif input is still free (theres only one aux in and it is for vinyl).

thanks!

I thought someone had mentioned that earlier in the thread, I do not remember any positive conclusions either way. That being said, probably in your use case (optical) either would do nicely.

If there were any conclusion they may have been with different crystals (upgrades not base) model being used.

Hope this helps,

Cheers!!

 

[CT007]

Well the SMSL has a much newer/higher looking level chip/processor, but I don't know if a certain chip is chosen by design, instead of just choosing the newest one. With either one, you should get a better PSU for it, such as an iFi Silent Power 2.

All I know is that the Holo Red absolutely sounds great, and the U2 kind of sounds good. Which is to be expected for the prices of each. Disregarding sound quality, they both do the same job function the same, if a simple conversion is all you care about, not achieving a de-digitized, natural sound.

 

[quicklytoo4]

I didnt read the whole thread, but is there a general trending opinion on the Douk U2 Pro vs SMSL PO100 Pro?

I am looking for something simple to convert audio out from a minipc to spdif to go into a Marantz CD player/Streamer/amp combo, where only the spdif input is still free (theres only one aux in and it is for vinyl).

thanks!

I compared both before (base model douk not the upgraded version), they were pretty similar, slight differences in how they did soundstage, if they're both around the same price SMSL has better build and driver support

 

[Jake2]

My advice, if you can stretch to it get the upgraded oscillator version, and/or put one of those Adum 4165/66 USB isolators ahead of it.

 

[CT007]

upgraded oscillator version

Link?

 

[Jake2]

Link?

Search for 957 - somewhere here I linked to the particular product I got.

https://www.head-fi.org/search/31190041/?q=957&t=post&c[thread]=958462&o=relevance

 

[Mr BubbaHyde]

Link?

I found this link on Ali hope it works for you!

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...y4wLjA.&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

Cheers!!

 

[CT007]

Ah, very interesting... 4 options! They've got Audio-gd beat there.

 

[Jake2]

Ah, very interesting... 4 options! They've got Audio-gd beat there.

Yep, and like I note in one of the linked posts in those search results Superdad AKA Alex Crespi of Uptone Audio favours the newer and cheaper CCHD-575, not sure if anyone has directly compared em in a Douk/Leaf DDC context.

 

[sajunky]

Yep, and like I note in one of the linked posts in those search results Superdad AKA Alex Crespi of Uptone Audio favours the newer and cheaper CCHD-575, not sure if anyone has directly compared em in a Douk/Leaf DDC context.

There was a time when 575 had been improved and he had an old batch of 957. Crystek mailed him about improvements to the product. Companies like Crystek and Accusilicon constantly make changes, specs are not updated.

CCHD-575 needs a low noise power supply, perhaps 957 is more robust, as there is more space inside, bigger caps, etc. In my case 575 works better in the Amanero module inside R2R-11 than in Douk Audio, perhaps for this reason. Power supply in U2Pro is not very sophisticated.

 

[Lebowsky]

Well the SMSL has a much newer/higher looking level chip/processor, but I don't know if a certain chip is chosen by design, instead of just choosing the newest one. With either one, you should get a better PSU for it, such as an iFi Silent Power 2.

All I know is that the Holo Red absolutely sounds great, and the U2 kind of sounds good. Which is to be expected for the prices of each. Disregarding sound quality, they both do the same job function the same, if a simple conversion is all you care about, not achieving a de-digitized, natural sound.

thanks- in my case (usb to spdif) I think the safest option is the Leafaudio with 957 crystals. I would have preferred the SMSL, but the Douk/Leaf can be powered externally unlike the SMSL, so it's probably safer. The iFi Silent Power though, is super expensive

are all aliX shops reliable when it comes to purchasing those Leafaudio devices? Or can they be found elsewhere maybe?

My advice, if you can stretch to it get the upgraded oscillator version, and/or put one of those Adum 4165/66 USB isolators ahead of it.

do you have a link for those Adum based things as a readymade usb device ? I can only find the chip itself