Taking orders :)

[Natural Sound]

Is that the 10" X 12" layout like the Stereomour? Looks great! Any idea of the price point? If this is to be released in the summer sometime I'd like to budget a "bottlehead" category in my financial planning.

[Doc B.]

In this case one switch is for the DAC power supply and is intended to be left on between listening sessions to keep the circuit warmed up and sounding its best. The other is for the tube circuit so that one can shut the tubes off when not in use to extend their useful lifetime.

This is just a functional prototype and that's the kind of stuff that can change in the production prototype. There may be a few more switches added before we are done.

This chassis is 12 x 12 - subject to change also. Price is not yet determined. We have a slightly different design in the pipeline and will be comparing the two different prototypes around the end of the month. That will have some influence on size, pricing, layout, etc.

[xcortes]

Early summer? You could deliver it personally!

[Fridgebuzz]

You don't need a switch to connect something that has low output impedance and decent drive to two easy to drive loads at once. Just use a Y cable or drill extra holes and install more jacks.

Thanks for answer.
I was thinking about a switch precisely to avoid Y cable ^^
I have a few month to think about a customisation for multiple outputs...

Have a nice day 

[GLF]

In this case one switch is for the DAC power supply and is intended to be left on between listening sessions to keep the circuit warmed up and sounding its best. The other is for the tube circuit so that one can shut the tubes off when not in use to extend their useful lifetime.

Thank you, thank you, thank you

Andrew

[Doc B.]

Good headway today. PB finished up the latest prototype and we got a few minutes of quite impressive sound. Two good steps forward besides sonics - the sample rate was being properly identified, and the TOSLINK connection was working perfectly, even with a rather recalcitrant Mac Mini that wouldn't talk to the previous iteration of the DAC without a reclock thru an external sound card.

Unfortunately some electronic component in our prototype power supply was fading out after a few minutes so we weren't able to do an extended listen. Staring at the sucker under the big magnifier on the lab bench for maybe 20 minutes convinced me that we needed to try the power supply we designed without it being connected to the DAC. Son of a gun, the negative rail was going south after a few minutes. Not exactly sure why, but it seems to be a filter cap issue. We have some new parts on order that should resolve the issue, and I will share our extended listening impressions as soon as we have the necessary adjustments completed.

In the few minutes that we were able to listen this afternoon there was definitely some magic happening. If you have heard the old proto, this is a step up.

[xcortes]

I like the phrases magic and impressive sound in the same post! Redbook rez?

[tdogzthmn]

I'm really looking forward to being able to play my 96K and 192K files via USB!  My library of hi rez tracks is growing and a DAC able to handle these is important. 

[johnsonad]

Can you tell us what tubes you are considering in the output stage? We realize that it may change still.

[Jim R.]

Wow, sounds verry good and promising.  if you can get 24/192 via usb 2.0 out of the gate, then I'll be much more intersted.

-- Jim

[Doc B.]

Yes we were playing 44.1 files yesterday. Since we have a new board coming in about three weeks this prototype board is mostly just for working up our layout and was just set up for 44.1/48. The next one will be capable up to at least 192 and have USB2.0 in the basic configuration as well as SPDIF

At the moment we are using 6922s but that is subject to change as the chip we are looking at for the next board has different output requirements.

[debk]

Very cool, I am looking forward to the final product

Deb

[BNAL]

I'm going to hold tight onlooking at other DACs and wait for the this one. I will start looking at a media server based on what Jim R has been doing.

Ok, now I have some time to look for a turntable.

[xcortes]

Thanks for the answer. My Electrocompaniet emc1up just arrived. They build this transport starting from a Philips pro transport and taking care of vibrations "as if it was a turntable". Haven't seen her in the flesh but very soon. As I've said the simplicity of cds is paramount for me in this system. Having said that, in my experience, high rez is notably superior and someday I will add a server for the ever more recurrent late nights at the office.

Saludos

[dw]

Will the DAC be able to handle DSD files natively?

Thanks,
Dave