Updated: 07-Sep-03
Welcome to the DDDAC Column!

#9

A fresh new wind blows through my audio and Web Site .....


Stopped the DDDAC2002 project / Non Oversampling DAC project
Overall Update from the Site
Gydinel
(STILL :-) In the  pipeline

 


Stopped the DDDAC2002 project ..... / Non Oversampling DAC project......
OOppsss, why is that??? Short on time or budget? Well actually neither. It started with a visit to audio friend Dick half a year ago. He let me listen to a new DAC he built and beside some little comments (which are already fixed by the way) I was VERY much impressed by the dynamics and extreme pin point !! Then he revealed what this was, a very simple non oversampling DAC with a TDA1543 and only a R i/v resistor as output. Input with a CS8412 SPDIF receiver. Nothing new I found out later, as there seems to be a whole community on the WEB building this nice little and cheap DAC.... I decided to build a prototype with enhancements (Otherwise there is no need for this site, eh? :-) to see if the small backdrops from the DAC (less low level detail and spatial room) could be improved. I had basically 2 ideas to do this based on the experience with the DDDAC2000 (reclocking to improve jitter) and the Sony 777 (parallel DACs to improve linearity). To make a long story short, this proved to be the solution. The 2 extra tweaks have been upgrading the 1543 DAC dramatically. Also by measuring distortion spectra, I was able to determine that the DC biasing is of extreme importance..... Ofcourse I have designed a PCB, so a professional construction and bias adjustment will be possible... Just have a look at the new pages (which I will fill from today on) and check for your self...

And here lies the answer why I stopped.... I am so convinced of the audible qualities of this concept, I did not wanted to spend any more time and money on all kind of experiments with Digital filters..... I am sure not every one will agree to this, but just built this version and compare to whatever DAC and conclude for your self......

 

Overall Update from the Site.....
I used the opportunity to throw out all site parts which were not used any more and to update some texts of the backgrounds. Also the navigation has changed some what. Therefore I have not updated the "updates" page in detail. Just give your self a new discovery tour on my Site ! Sit back and enjoy :-)

 

Gydinel.....
This project was announced some time ago and in the meantime I am the proud owner of these wonderful furniture pieces. Guido, my Belgium audio buddy, spent an enormous amount of time, which I will not reveal, haha, building the enclosures. I am in the middle of the very interesting and motivating task of finishing the loudspeakers and the filter design. I have updated already a couple of pages with the story on the finishing and filter design. Specially for this project I purchased Hobby Box 5.1; great piece of software. Without I would not have been able to come to a design quickly and to understand the electrical and acoustical  aspects of the Gydinel Loudspeaker. Later this year, I like to experiment with a full active version. I am just lacking a set of amplifiers for this experiment..... so may be I have to built an extra TUMOS set.....

 

(STILL :-) In the  pipeline....
What a luxury problems I have !! Still a lot of projects in the fridge or are "half way" from its final stage.....
Just peek in my design kitchen to keep your appetite in visiting my Site......
 

  1. Laboratory Power Supply (all you need to test tube and other equipment):
    Regulated outputs: 0-500V 200mA, 0 - NEG100V (negative grid) 0-25V  1A   (2x), 0-100mA  current  source, 100mA  - 1A current source
    AC outputs: many, many, all you need to feed filaments from any possible tube....
    LCD Voltage meter
    LCD  Current  meter
  2. New Line and RIAA amps, modular setup
    Basically the existing DD PRE, but with 3 chassis, Power supply, RIAA amp  and line amp. The Line amp will use the Siemens SIF Ba Tube. The RIAA amp will be reduced to a 2 stage with passive RIAA in between the 2 stages, some new design ideas are cooking and should lead to..... wait and see ! The Power supply will use the latest and greatest Black Gate Power supply capacitors and independent current sources for the filaments.
  3. Head Phone Amplifier for Stax Electrostatic Headphone
    I bought a Stax SR-404 Signature, very cheap on EBAY ( !! ) and ofcourse made an amplifier design. It will be a transformer less output based on a differential amplifier with MU-followers with ECC99 and NO capacitors in the signal to the headphone..... This will be very interesting..... No extreme high end design, but with existing parts, realistic budget and a somewhat different approach.....

 

Happy Listening and Building !!!!

Doede Douma

 


IMPORTANT: The information provided on this page is intended as guide for DIY activities and therefore free to copy and or publish. If any one wishes to use any of the information from my WEB site, please make sure to refer and footnote to my URL Link as source! Doede Douma