General DAC Questions/Tech Thread

[jinp6301]

Who says it doesnt?

[The Monkey]

"They"

[jinp6301]

I'll beat them up

[The Monkey]

Another basic question:

Why does firewire not suffer from the same limitations that one finds with most USB DAC implementations? Or, put another way, is FW SQ the same as S/PDIF?

Some interesting reading:

Minerva Technical Background

[grawk]

The firewire bus has priority access, where usb is interrupt driven, basically.

[Smeggy]

Where does the magical mystery bus fit in all this?

One day I might even buy a real, actual desktop DAC with knobs, buttons and LEDs and stuff.

[padam]

Back onto my PC -> -> Buffalo DAC question: Since I have a desktop PC, I also have the option of using a PCI card, what about the ESI Juli@ which can also be modded for I2S output?

[Dusty Chalk]

Dew et.

[padam]

Just noticed another (newest) option just to make it a bit more complicated

TeraLink-X2 (pictures here)

This has tons of outputs and not limited to 16bit anymore either like the 1st version.

[atothex]

I had thought about that kinda configuration before as well. I believe Fallenangel does his digital that way. Well, he did at some point for sure. Anyways, I didn't do it, because I didn't have a North Star or Buffalo, and the I2S input just limits DAC choices so badly.

[Azazel]

Padam,

Actually the most promising interface is the Hiface from Italy.

http://www.head-case.org/forums/home-source-components/7701-m2tech-hiface.html

Couple of friends here are testing it and results are very good...

[padam]

Yes, I already read further into to the topic, but without extensive modding I cannot use it with I2S which the other one works with that without issues. So the question would be: HiFace via BNC >?< TeraLink-X2 via I2S...

[Azazel]

Mmm... I am not so sure I2S is the 'holy grial' so many pretend. It does have its own problems and, anyway, remember it was designed as a inter-chip (no inter-boxes) bus.

There are so many really nice sounding DACs out there working with just SPDIF...

[padam]

I am planning to buy the DAC first so it is not that important anyway.

Anybody knows something about these?

EAD DSP-7000

[n_maher]

I am planning to buy the DAC first so it is not that important anyway.

Anybody knows something about these?

EAD DSP-7000

The chip whores will love it but my results with EAD in general have not been great. My DSP 1000 required a bunch of work to get it running properly and now has a significantly modded power supply. So I guess if I had to say anything it'd be that if you get it and it works it'll probably sound very good.

[Azazel]

Padam,

There are quite often Parasound 1100 or even better 1600 on sale in Germany: if looking for something 'vintage' (and under euro 500 aprox) this is where I will be searching

[padam]

It is already on my hotlist along with a few others but I think close to 400 EUR for an 1100 is too much (that is the one I could find for now), at that price I want the 1600, hope it will pop up.

[cetoole]

Nate, the 7000 has a beefy r-core transformer instead of the pair of cheap EI ones on your 1000. My guess is that it should be good. Nice chips, and IIRC, a VCXO based secondary PLL. No idea what the output stage is like though.

[n_maher]

Nate, the 7000 has a beefy r-core transformer instead of the pair of cheap EI ones on your 1000. My guess is that it should be good. Nice chips, and IIRC, a VCXO based secondary PLL. No idea what the output stage is like though.

My DSP doesn't have either of those POS transformers any more.

[padam]

I wonder what is the empty part on the left side, I guess upgradeable to true balanced? Also, is it easy to re-wire to 230V? ()

[cetoole]

Optional phase inversion stage to give you balanced output. Still using SE DACs though.

[spritzer]

Crappy picture but there appear to be more then two wires on the primary side so rewiring to 230V may be possible.

[digger945]

It is already on my hotlist along with a few others but I think close to 400 EUR for an 1100 is too much (that is the one I could find for now), at that price I want the 1600, hope it will pop up.

If you think you would be interested in a 1600 I have one that's pretty rough I'de let go cheap. It plays fine. I also have a DSP7000 mkIII I'de let go of for about half the price of the one you linked to on Agon. You can find pics of the EAD here;). The 1600 I have pics of, just haven't gotten around to putting them up yet. I have no clue what shipping would be to your neighborhood.

[n_maher]

If you think you would be interested in a 1600 I have one that's pretty rough I'de let go cheap. It plays fine. I also have a DSP7000 mkIII I'de let go of for about half the price of the one you linked to on Agon. You can find pics of the EAD here;). The 1600 I have pics of, just haven't gotten around to putting them up yet. I have no clue what shipping would be to your neighborhood.

Arg, I do not need either of those...

[digger945]

Arg, I do not need either of those...

I'm happy to do some trading also.