R2R DA M1 Ultracap powered build

[bballas]

some spec:
Weight:1.5kg
size: Gd Nfb1 Chassis
power con.: 5Watt
input: i2s
dc input:12-24v 10A
outputs:rca,xlr,acss
output Stage:Gd NFB1
DaM1 modules:4Pcs.
Lt 3042 modules:6Pcs
U cap relay modules:5Pcs
Voltage meter on display
In wire analog and digital:0.6mm silver
Sound class:Ultra Neutral-High End

 

[bballas]

Burn in lt3042,sounstage get very very wide

 

[bballas]

Not finished yet

 

[bballas]

 

[bballas]

Detonator server

 

[abartels]

Here are some pics of my supercap / ultracap designs, take use of 4-Channel relay boards to cut common ground,
1-Channel relay-delay timer (simpler version, but has also powersaving mode to turn-off display) and can be used
as startup-delay also (1-time switching). DC-DC converter used is a CC/CV (Constant Current / Constant Voltage) type with both LED display for Current and Voltage.

AK4495SEQ DAC, my design, uses 4x 7V for Analog (2 different sets for L/R) and 2x3.3V.

I made a mistake when ordering the delay-relay-timer boards and only ordered 3 pieces instead of 6.
In my design this is no problem at all, each relay-delay-timer board will activate one set of two ucaps psu's (2x4-channel relay boards).

Didn't manage to configure DC-DC converters today, had some other duties to take care of.
It is best to configure DC-DC converters Voltage A N D Current before connecting them to the Supercaps.

I have a 1 Ohm resistor which I will use for this since Current isn't configurable when there's no current flowing, LED display otherwise doesn't show anything.

Second thing to do is to program the timers, in my case I will start with 10 minutes (600 seconds on display of timers). After DC-DC converters and timers are configured, all will be connected and first testphase will start

Of course I have to measure voltage drop within 10 minutes, and monitor this real good, if voltage drops too low at one of the voltage rails, AK4495SEQ will not perform at its best. Curious if I really can use 10 minutes setting.
If not, I probably will modify all the psu's with twice as much supercaps (in parallel) to double the runtime.
Wish me good luck

 

[abartels]

To explain the difference between Bballas and my design, I use seperate timer and relay boards because the 4-channel relay-delay-timers are too expensive. And this way I have more future-proof options. I take use of 4-channel relay boards to have the ability to cut ground completely between loading circuit (which is smps and has polluted ground) and running circuit. Further I use CC/CV DC-DC converters to limit the flowing current when charging the supercaps. This will increase the lifespan of the supercaps by a huge factor. I opted for a seperate DC-DC converter on each psu, this gives me more options, and ability to exactly adjust voltage and current for each supercaps psu.

Cheers

 

[abartels]

Before I forget to mention, I have one of those ucaps psu's, Bballas's design, connected to my Allo.com Kali reclocker.
Kali reclocker has LDO's on board, so it is possible to start at a higher voltage level and have some increased running time.

Kali runs 900 seconds, 15 minutes, on one load of 2 supercaps!!!!!!! Voltage drops from 5V to 3.5V
I use a max of 5Volts to load the supercaps, but could go upto 5.4Volts. The reason why I'm NOT doing this
is because of lifespan supercaps. If not loading them to their max, they will live much longer.
But, imagine if I double the supercaps, it can run for half an hour on one load!!!

Last week a friend of mine came over to listen, he's an audio designer and knows my revealing system very well.
When starting listening, after 3 or 4 seconds he said: I don't need more time to listen to conclude this is MUCH better. But, during the evening I noticed his face, his facial expression was one of disbelieve or even maybe some sort of jealous expression. I know him for about all my life, together we had an audio company 25 years ago (dac's) and together we experienced a lot in the audio world. It seemed he didn't have heard this kind of sound before, ever..... even with his newly designed high-end pre and power amps......

And, I must admit, it really is very very good.

So, Balazs, I have to thank you a lot for pointing me into this direction. I never could have dreamed this much of improvement, and, I must say, I really think this kind of powersupply, if you can use it in your design, I am VERY sure it is the absolute best available. There doesn't exist anything that performs better than supercaps / ultracaps.

So, now have to go to a dinner party, and maybe this evening I will start configuring DC-DC converters and timers.
And maybe..........

Cheers guys!

Alex

 

[abartels]

Today I finally connected the ultracap psu's to my dac. I took a few hours, but the result is great!
It outperforms my whole "Monster psu-build".

There still is a lot improvement to come because of burn-in, but cold out of the box it already is much better than the extensively build psu's based on R-Cores, Lt3042 and EMI/RFI filters, which already sounded heavenly.

We will have to wait another 2 weeks to burn-in before I will write my final findings about this psu's.

I managed to run my dac for 10 minutes on the ultracaps before it switches to a new loaded set of ucaps.
So, only once per 10 minutes it switches!

First listening impressions:

Very detailed and musical, very airy and the lows again are much tighter and powerful.
I can hear it is not at its best now, but that will change the next two weeks

 

[bballas]

Great job!!!!!
I'm ordered 8pcs r2r dam1 balanced,become tomorrow.So many options here,i want to trial.
example battery-u cap combinations,with-without regulator analog-digital,
different output stages,shorter i2s silver wire,output transformers,...........

 

[bballas]

Balanced detonator 1.8v version

 

[bballas]

 

[abartels]

Nice job!!!

Still waiting for my 8x DA-M1 modules to arrive.......

 

[bballas]

Nice job!!!

Still waiting for my 8x DA-M1 modules to arrive.......

Kingwa testing with your Dibao output transformers.Haha!!

 

[bballas]

Dibao vs. Lundahl