#1 Soekris DAC Build
Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 9:35 pm
I've now taken delivery of my Soekris 1121-01 R2R DAC board. First impressions after unpacking it are of a very nice neat board that seems to be a high quality product. There are an awful lot of tiny smd parts packed onto this small PCB.
http://www.soekris.dk/dam1121.html
I will feed I2S signals into the R2R board courtesy of a JLSounds USB board. This features galvanic isolation (from USB noise) and reclocks the I2S output so the DAC will receive a good quality data stream. The JLSounds board is really good and excellent value; I've used them in several previous projects with consistently good results. If you're currently running SPDIF into a DAC that has an I2S input option I suggest you check it out.
http://jlsounds.com/i2soverusb.html
I have also ordered some very low noise regulated power supplies courtesy of AckoDAC that will soon be making their way from down under, and an AudioZen control unit (takes care of volume, filter selection etc and uses a small OLED screen to show the DAC status) that's currently on its way from China.
I'm currently working on a small PCB that will connect the JLSounds with the Soekris (it provides the I2S and comms. interfaces as well as setting the initial startup config. straps. I'm ordering a customised case from Modushop in Italy, The they'll be a short hiatus while all the various bits make their way to Taunton.
The Soekris output is a single-ended, unbuffered 1.4V and initially I'll feed that to my amps but the plan is to then experiment with valve based buffers as that seems to be the way to go from others with experience of this DAC. I am planning to start with a Broskie Aikido buffer using 6SN7 octal valves and to then try a #26 DHT buffer (the chap who worked with me on scratch building the Transcendent 300B SE-OTL amps that I brought to Owston has gone down a similar route and gives it a very strong endorsement).
More to follow when I have something to report.
Ray
http://www.soekris.dk/dam1121.html
I will feed I2S signals into the R2R board courtesy of a JLSounds USB board. This features galvanic isolation (from USB noise) and reclocks the I2S output so the DAC will receive a good quality data stream. The JLSounds board is really good and excellent value; I've used them in several previous projects with consistently good results. If you're currently running SPDIF into a DAC that has an I2S input option I suggest you check it out.
http://jlsounds.com/i2soverusb.html
I have also ordered some very low noise regulated power supplies courtesy of AckoDAC that will soon be making their way from down under, and an AudioZen control unit (takes care of volume, filter selection etc and uses a small OLED screen to show the DAC status) that's currently on its way from China.
I'm currently working on a small PCB that will connect the JLSounds with the Soekris (it provides the I2S and comms. interfaces as well as setting the initial startup config. straps. I'm ordering a customised case from Modushop in Italy, The they'll be a short hiatus while all the various bits make their way to Taunton.
The Soekris output is a single-ended, unbuffered 1.4V and initially I'll feed that to my amps but the plan is to then experiment with valve based buffers as that seems to be the way to go from others with experience of this DAC. I am planning to start with a Broskie Aikido buffer using 6SN7 octal valves and to then try a #26 DHT buffer (the chap who worked with me on scratch building the Transcendent 300B SE-OTL amps that I brought to Owston has gone down a similar route and gives it a very strong endorsement).
More to follow when I have something to report.
Ray