Fully balanced Buffalo II DAC with Tube-I-zator tube output.

headrott
headrott Posts: 5,496
edited May 2011 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
I have finally pretty much completed my fully balanced Buffalo II DAC with the Tube-I-zator tube SRPP I/V stage output. The Tube-I-zator boards include Mundorf Silver/Oil caps, Texas Components TX2575 resistors and the Telefunken ECC88/6DJ8 tubes (thanks to Ben (strider) for these) in the output stage. It sounds absolutely phenominal! I cannot recommend others doing their own enough. You will be blow away by the clarity, soundstage, resolution, and both bass and trebble extension of this DAC. Amazing. I have included some pictures below if the DAC. Thanks for looking.

Greg

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Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
Post edited by headrott on
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited May 2011
    Ooops. Sorry about the large pictures.:redface: They weren't that big on the other sites I posted them.:confused:

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    edited May 2011
    Nice job Greg :biggrin: Now maybe you can get onto your 3.1TL's (hint, hint):wink:
    “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,310
    edited May 2011
    Very Nice!!!!! +1 what gimpod said..
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited May 2011
    Nice work ,I bet it does sound good.I can't remember ever seeing a fully balanced tube ouput stage in a DAC.
    I hope soon to get my mitts on an ESS Sabre eval board to try but it won't have those thermionic valve thingies at the output.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited May 2011
    gimpod wrote: »
    Nice job Greg :biggrin: Now maybe you can get onto your 3.1TL's (hint, hint):wink:

    I most certainly will Tony. I am pretty good at using the desoldering iron now as I needed it a few times for this project. So I think I can get the caps off the other boards. (As long sa I can get the glue off):eek:

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WGDB
    WGDB Posts: 162
    edited May 2011
    Sweet.... I think you ought to have an engraved badge that says: "Acoustics by Buffalo~headrott" to place on the front and the engraved power ratings on the back.
    Pioneer Elite SC-35, Polk RTA (Real Time Array) 12's,
    Polk Monitor 40 surrounds, Polk CSiA4 Center,
    Polk PSW125, Sharp LC-46D62U,
    Panasonic DMP-BD85, Harmony One,
    iMac streaming an Apple TVII, or Squeezebox Touch
    Bedroom Rig~Sony STRDG-920, Polk Monitor 60 fronts, Polk RM6750 Satellites and Sub, Panasonic DMP-BD85
    Rabbit Hole Rig~Yamaha CA1010, Yamaha CT1010, Polk SDA 2A's, Teac A1500 R2R
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  • cokewithvanilla
    cokewithvanilla Posts: 1,777
    edited May 2011
    headrott wrote: »
    I most certainly will Tony. I am pretty good at using the desoldering iron now as I needed it a few times for this project. So I think I can get the caps off the other boards. (As long sa I can get the glue off):eek:

    Greg

    what kinda desoldering thing you got? I'm so crappy at that. I used to use the solder sucker thing from radio shack... it never sucked anything up... then I said "screw this" and started using an air compressor... very messy... I need one of these... I'm gonna make one some day:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8nX2yD96AM
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,310
    edited May 2011
    Greg,

    Where did you get the chassis???
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
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  • jinjuku
    jinjuku Posts: 1,523
    edited May 2011
    Sweet. Nice looking build. Very clean.
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  • strider
    strider Posts: 2,568
    edited May 2011
    Excellent work, Greg. Nice to see the tubes go in a project of that caliber. The Buffalo DAC is something I've had my eye on for a while, at some point I'd really like to build one as well.

    Enjoy the sound!
    Wristwatch--->Crisco
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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    edited May 2011
    Very nice Greg. I love the sound of my Buff II. I use the IvyIII for an output stage and like it better than the Legato. I havent seen any one use a balanced tube output so hats off to you for the great implimentation. Do you hear any tube rush or hiss during silent passages?
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited May 2011
    Where is the review?
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • punk-roc
    punk-roc Posts: 1,150
    edited May 2011
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    Where is the review?

    lol.. I was thinking something similar.. maybe its just for us to review his work =)
    2-Channel - So far...
    Pre: Dodd ELP
    DAC: W4S-Dac2
    Source(s): Computer and Denon 2910
    Amp: Parasound HCA-1200II
    Speakers: LSi9s - Vr3 Fortress Mod
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  • cdy
    cdy Posts: 14
    edited May 2011
    Nice. Love those tubes.
    Living Room...Sony NS3100ES SACD, Rotel RC-1070+RB-991, Revel M20, Rel Strata III

    Family Rm...Sony NS3100ES SACD, VPI Scout/Dynavector DV-20X low output, Audio Note Soro SE, Rogers Studio 1

    Office...Sony CA70ES CD, Jolida SJ-502A modded for el34, B&W DM 601S2

    Vacation home: Sony ES CD, Rotel 1060 and PSB Alphas with Monitor Audio sub.

    I forgot, the garage: Yamaha 640 and KEF speakers.


    :smile:
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  • gimpod
    gimpod Posts: 1,793
    edited May 2011
    headrott wrote: »
    I most certainly will Tony. I am pretty good at using the desoldering iron now as I needed it a few times for this project. So I think I can get the caps off the other boards. (As long as I can get the glue off):eek:

    Greg
    Try this use rubbing alcohol to remove hot glue from nearly anything

    Hope this helps.
    “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited May 2011
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    Where is the review?

    I guess you just gave one?:biggrin:

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited May 2011
    TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »
    Greg,

    Where did you get the chassis???

    It's made by Bud Industries. I got mine from a place in Boise Idaho. They had the cheapest price I could find for it. I had to wait a little longer to get it though because it came directly from Bud Industries. If you are looking for different sizes try here: http://www.budind.com/view/Aluminum+Enclosure/Rackmount+Chassis

    The place I actually purchased mine from is here: http://www.aiconsol.com/rm-14212-bud.html

    Actually, now looking at the price, it's about $10.00 more than I paid. So, you may be able to find it cheaper somewhere else. But it's a start. Hope that answers it for you Larry.

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,310
    edited May 2011
    Holy Crap!!! PDF prints and all!!!!! I can build that stuff all day long, the PDF's make it all that much easier..:wink:

    Thanks for the link..





    headrott wrote: »
    It's made by Bud Industries. I got mine from a place in Boise Idaho. They had the cheapest price I could find for it. I had to wait a little longer to get it though because it came directly from Bud Industries. If you are looking for different sizes try here: http://www.budind.com/view/Aluminum+Enclosure/Rackmount+Chassis

    The place I actually purchased mine from is here: http://www.aiconsol.com/rm-14212-bud.html

    Actually, now looking at the price, it's about $10.00 more than I paid. So, you may be able to find it cheaper somewhere else. But it's a start. Hope that answers it for you Larry.

    Greg
    Polk Audio SDA 2.3tl Fully Hot Rodded. 😎

    SVS SB16 X2

    Cary SLP-05/Ultimate Upgrade.
    Cary SA-500.1 ES Amps
    Cary DMS 800PV Network
    OPPO UDP 205/ModWright Modification
    VPI Scout TT / Dynavector 20x2
    Jolida JD9 Fully Modified

    VPI MW-1 Cyclone RCM

    MIT Shotgun 3 cables throughout / Except TT, and PC’s
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited May 2011
    bikerboy wrote: »
    Very nice Greg. I love the sound of my Buff II. I use the IvyIII for an output stage and like it better than the Legato. I havent seen any one use a balanced tube output so hats off to you for the great implimentation. Do you hear any tube rush or hiss during silent passages?

    The only way you can hear any noise is if you put your ear right up to the speaker and have the volume pretty loud. The DAC is pretty darn quiet. You absolutely cannot hear anything from the seated position while listening. As the components burn in, the sound is improving greatly! Those mundorf silver/oil caps along with the TX2575 resistors are very nice sounding.:biggrin:

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter