DAC progress

[Doc B.]

We have a lot going on over the next few weeks so it's a little hard to say if we will have the DAC in a form ready for demonstration.

[Wanderer]

I know the DAC is a bit a way from being a "product" but....

Will there be any surface mount componants used in construction? I really HATE working with SMCs. I found nothing awful about the level 2 "Seduction" I built and no issues stuffing a SDS PAS power supply board.....BUT trying to build a Bantam DAC kit with SMCs made me crazy!!!   

Not asking for exact price BUT can you give a range? Will the BH DAC be priced more like Seduction or Crack or more like Stereomour, Eros or even Paramount? Guess I am asking if under or over $500 or above $1,000? Should I be saving my pennies or planning to knock over a bank?

Are you planning a contest to name it? Winner gets a,..ahem..., "free one"? My entry for that is "Digital Self Gratification" ("...in Space they can't hear you scream...in cyber-space they can't see you blush")

Kevin R-M               

[Doc B.]

We plan to have the SMCs pre mounted. I don't have a price yet, but we will be getting back into this project full swing in the next few weeks.

[Wanderer]

We plan to have the SMCs pre mounted....

Bless you! I have nothing against the idea of SMC, but trying to hand solder 'em is, well, trying.   

[AudioDave]

Doc,  as its been over a month since anyone has posted,  would you mind giving us an update on the status of the Bottlehead DAC?  I'm starting to get more and more interested in this kit!
Thanks!
Dave

[ironbut]

I got a chance to hear Doc's DAC this past weekend and I can assure you that your patience will be well rewarded!
It was hooked up to a Mac Mini via optical S-PDIF running Amarra. I listened to it on a headphone rig as well as Doc's fantastic sounding multi speaker/multi amp system and even though I'm not a big fan of digital, it sounds chiller-diller-killer!

[xcortes]

Thanks for reporting Steve.

This is a product that has indeed caused high expectation!

[HF9]

Excellent news, I can't wait!

[xcortes]

Mac Mini via optical S-PDIF running Amarra.

Two questions:

does the optical s-pdif out of the mini go all the way to 24/192?
would buying a mini be a safish bet if I were to eventually order a BH Dac?

Thanks!

[Doc B.]

Unfortunately TOSLINK is limited to 24/96. I think a Mini is a great approach, but it will need some sort of USB or Firewire to SPDIF coax adapter to work all the way to 24/192. Don't have any suggestions about that yet. The next step in John Swenson's investigation of those interfaces was delayed by my getting too many items on my plate past year. But I intend to get this DAC project high up on the development list ASAP.

[xcortes]

Thanks,

I'll wait 'till it's out then.

Keep us posted!

[Jim R.]

Dan,

Please don't hate me for asking this, but any ballpark guesses at a price?

I love my current dac, but a NOS 24/192 is not going to be something I can easily overlook, especially considering where it comes from :-).

BTW, a friend has recently had some good results with the audiophillio usb to spdif interfaces under osx and linux with MPD.

-- Jim

[Doc B.]

Sorry Jim, I can't even ballpark a price at this point. We still have some parts to figure out that can vary in cost quite a bit.

[denti alligator]

I less interested in a ballpark price than in a ballpark date when we might be able to buy.  This year?

[Jim R.]

Dan,

Understood... and what Sam said. :-)

-- ZJim