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Thoughts on upcoming DAC

76.107.37.109
Posted on October 12, 2009 at 20:57:26
Glynn W
Audiophile

Posts: 158
Location: NW Louisiana
Joined: February 11, 2000
 For over a year I have been using XXHighEnd as my player of choice on my PC, but always felt that a few others were in the same league. However, XXHE recently released a new version which has completely changed my thinking. It is simply stunning - my system has never sounded better. In some of the comments from users on the XXHE forum, the requirements for a perfect DAC for this player are laid out, which I would like to pass on to you guys at Chez Bottlehead in hopes you might use them in your new DAC.
1. NOS
2. filterless
3. 24/192
I couldn't wait for your DAC, so I recently purchased a Brick, but still plan to get one of yours when it becomes available and do a comparison.

RE: Thoughts on upcoming DAC, posted on October 13, 2009 at 09:05:08
nullspace
Audiophile

Posts: 203
Location: Philly, PA
Joined: June 18, 2004
 I too am really, REALLY exciting about the DAC project, and if John and the Bottlehead guys are taking requests I have one as well...

1. Able to drive a 10k-input on the next stage.

Regards,
John

RE: Thoughts on upcoming DAC, posted on October 13, 2009 at 08:10:07
John Swenson
Audiophile

Posts: 2013
Location: No. California
Joined: October 13, 2002
 1. The DAC is NOS (No oversampling, no digital filter)

2. There will be some analog filtering, carefully worked out gentle filtering after the DAC chip can radically improve the sound of a NOS DAC. This is NOT high order "brick wall" filtering that some use. The primary filter element is a high quality transformer after the DAC chip, this does a wonderful job of smoothing out the stair step from the DAC without adding other nasty effects.

3. Yes it will do 24/192.

John S.
RE: Thoughts on upcoming DAC, posted on October 13, 2009 at 08:38:43
Doc B.
Manufacturer

Posts: 5755
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: October 6, 1999
Contributor
  Since: July 1, 1999
 I have received some transformers that I hope to try this week. PJ is doing experimental measurements on some tubes we have in mind to use. So the project is moving along.

RE: Thoughts on upcoming DAC, posted on October 14, 2009 at 09:54:10
Doc B.
Manufacturer

Posts: 5755
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: October 6, 1999
Contributor
  Since: July 1, 1999
 Shawn is building a tube stage to test with the step up transformers today. It will be pretty simple, built on a Seduction chassis. One triode of a 6DJ8 will function as a CCS'd gain stage and the other triode will be configured as a CCS'd hybrid shunt regulator - sort of "Seduction power supply and tubes meets Paramount driver stage". Should give ample gain, well over the typical 2V CD player output. Hopefully we'll have it up and running this afternoon.

I plan to try a few different tube output stages, with the idea of coming up with one that is reasonably priced and fairly easy to build, and one that is an all out finished piece to go in a high res music server.

Some general questions about setting it up, posted on October 13, 2009 at 11:16:46
Steve Reese
 All but my CD player are Bottlehead... the player I use is a Toshiba I modded taken from John's website. My questions are after getting a compatible sound card for my PC, how long can the cable(s) be to reach the DAC? My problem is that the PC is around 20 plus feet from my media console... think of rectangled living room 22 ft X 14 ft. Finding room in the console isn't problem. And I believe this was answered a while back, but I can't find it... will there be a listing of compatible sound cards or criteria to go by? Thanks.

RE: Some general questions about setting it up, posted on October 14, 2009 at 00:34:19
mingles
Audiophile

Posts: 123
Location: SF Bay area
Joined: April 9, 2006
 Steve, you might consider a wireless connection from iTunes to Airport Express. The sound quality is exceptional. IMHO, it's equal to a wired connection while eliminating clutter and questions about cable length.

RE: Some general questions about setting it up, posted on October 13, 2009 at 12:15:27
John Swenson
Audiophile

Posts: 2013
Location: No. California
Joined: October 13, 2002
 If you want up to 24/192 cards such as the Juli@ and the EMU 1212M will work well. If you only want to go to 24/96 the EMU 0404-USB can be used as well.

There is also a new tiny little USB Edirol UA-1G which should work as well (optical only) (max 24/96) but I haven't tried this yet.

The length of the cable SHOULD not matter, either optical or coax. You should be able to get away with up to 30 feet or so with either. Given the way the circuit works (the S/PDIF timing is ignored) the cable type and length SHOULD not matter, but unfortunately it probably will. There are things going on with DACs that we don't fully understand that cause things to make a difference that should not.

The big criteria for a soundcard is that it has to be able to sync its digital output to a digital input. Many higher end PCI cards do, very few USB do. There are a number of firewire boxes that can also do this but they tend to be more expensive and that expense doesn't actually give you an advantage here.

John S.

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