ESI Dr.DAC (battery driven)

[bizkid]

While browsing h-navi i stumbled upon this DAC:

By specs (ak4395, OPA2134/NJM5532) it doesnt look too impressive, maybe onpar with most "better" soundcards. Its missing an USB input.

However whats very interesting, it runs on batteries (4hours) and its OP amps are socketed.
If the headphone amp is good this could be a great little unit for 300$..
Current price is around 24000yen (200$) but the price was once around 34000 yen. So i guess it
would be 300$ if it came to western markets. It seems to be only avaible in Japan right now.

One reviewer (see below) seems to like the unit. It does have high resolution and good tonal quality for the price). Also it can be used as a pre-amp. He calls it "super-discount". However he used an A900 to evaluate it so i dont think this says anything about the quality of the headphone amp.
It seems to have a fanbase in japan, so it cant be crap. Somebody go and order it!

Here's some links i collected and will add more as i find them:

http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~brichan/...cification.htm specs
http://www.soundhouse.co.jp/shop/Pro...Item=304^DRDAC
http://httalk.xrea.jp/mt3/archives/audio/drdac/ modding info
http://dbp.cool.ne.jp/drdac/ more modding info
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~brichan/...rDAC/DrDAC.htm review


pics from:

http://httalk.xrea.jp/mt3/archives/2005/08/drdac_3.html
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~brichan/...DAC_photos.htm more photos

 

[Sisyphos]

Looks nice and quite handy.

According to the the circuit diagram there should be some OPA627s, but I don't see any in the actual circuit.
And what about this processing switch, looks like some kind of crossfeed.

 

[Sisyphos]

OK, I see, the circuit board refers to a mod using a browndog-adaptor and two 627s per channel instead of the dual op amps.

 

[eduj]

http://www.stgd.ch/home.htm?ego/DRDAC/DRDAC

 

[lan]

I'm intruiged by this DAC. I would buy it to fool around with.

 

[eduj]

I want to get one to go Marantz Superscope coaxial>>>Dr.Dac>>>HD595 or Grados.All battery powered

It says "New Product Middle May 2006" so its available in Europe now.But price?

 

[lini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lan I'm intruiged by this DAC. I would buy it to fool around with.

Yup, looks alluring - could be fun. However, 4580s as buffers for the headphone driver opamp - oh my...

Greetings from Hannover!

Manfred / lini

 

[eduj]

can this be found in one of those Japan on line stores that ship worldwide?

 

[Veniogenesis]

Haha I remember this.

I noticed it on ESI's website two days after it was first revealed. I almost bought it on impulse. (I tried to get zChan to buy it for me. Haha.

)

lan, get it and work some of your magic.

 

[uzziah]

9 screws to change batteries? yikes... might have to ghetto-rig some duct tape to keep the thing closed without screws

edit: oh wait, maybe it's just one screw and that top part slides out? ok, maybe

 

[some1x]

It charges your batteries, too, So no need to remove that much.

 

[denis]

Hi guys,

I bought this DAC/headphone amp about one year ago and I like it ! I use it with my sony PCDP via a Sysconcept 15 cm optical cable and my Etys 4Ss. Very natural and live sound!

The battery autonomy is about 2 hours and the recharging process about the same time. So I forgot it and am using a 10 AA pack for about 6/7 hours, which is not an ipod autonomy but enough for an afternoon outside. But the best sound I get from my DrDAC is when connecting it to a 14V/1,6A transformer. With a better transformer, it could be even better!

Regarding the op-amp mods, I am using 4 OPA627s and the sound is far better than with the stock ones.

There is also another mod which consists in replacing some caps with Black Gate ones (I find it on japanese sites). I bought the caps and will ask to a friend to make it. I also would like to change the clock but it is another story because I am not DIYer...

Hope it can helps. Cheers,

Denis