Twisted Pear Buffalo III DUAL MONO DAC Build

Amherst

It just gets better....your knowledge and build is stunning :idea:

tonyb

Amherst wrote: »

It just gets better....your knowledge and build is stunning :idea:

Amen bro....

I think I have a man crush on this guy.:biggrin:

schwarcw

Very nice Rich!

If I could only find one like yours on Craigslist! :cool:

SCompRacer

Thanks for the kind words!

Carl, there were days I wished I could have found one on Craigslist too.:eek:

Next month, the Krell-der will land, eh? I gotta pull more wires for a second 20 amp circuit and put down a deposit at Com Ed.:eek:

SCompRacer

The Amanero USB to I2S module is installed. I opted for inside mounting with short patch cable from a Neutrik panel mount USB connector as I am not sure if this will be the last USB module installed or further modded. The power wire is cut in the USB patch cable; power to the module is supplied from a linear PS set to 3.3v, not the 'putie. Some small coax of different color was used to connect the I2S signals. The shields of the coax are grounded at both ends.

FTGV

Very neat as usual.For me atleast I find making little wire harness's as much fun as root canal.

SCompRacer

Thanks Fred! I hear you on them small harness connections; I have some time in them. I have crimp pliers for the small gold female contacts and hit them with a dab of solder, just to be sure. Once I'm done messin around, I could just direct solder everything.

SCompRacer

Fred, it didn't take long for someone to offer an isolator/reclock board for the Amanero. $25US, bare board. Connect to the BIII ultra low jitter Crystek 100Mhz clock. I've got zero noise but interested in the reclocking the I2S close to home. And I thought I was almost done...:cheesygrin:

FTGV

Cool.At least you still have some room left for it. Do you have a linky?

SCompRacer

There have been various DIY attempts of synchronous reclocking of the bitclock mod with the Amanero. Some of the few dollar mods were compared to antennas or RF transmitters with broken ground planes when finished but still provided improvements.



This example is by glt of HiFiDuino.



A well designed board started here in the Acko DAC thread. Details and BOM to follow.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/147817-ackodac-based-es9018-65.html#post3320259

The GB thread.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/group-buys/227502-amanero-isolator-reclocker-gb.html#post3320268

AckoDAC web site.
https://sites.google.com/site/ackodac/home

The other alternative is Ian's I2S FIFO solution with reclock board, the ultimate weapon to fight jitter. He has made some neat boards. He also has an interest list going for a better Si570 clock board.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/group-buys/207438-ian-asynchronous-i2s-s-pdif-fifo-kit-group-buy.html

FTGV

Thanks for the links Rich.Looks like some good reading.

SCompRacer

You are most welcome Fred.

I2S is better compared to SPDIF but one must remember it was designed as a local digital bus inside a CD player. Smart folks say after a few inches of wire length you start to lose its benefits. LVDS (low Voltage Differential Signaling) is the best way to fly with moving I2S signals over long distances, like with the Twisted Pear Teleporters; one set up to send and one to receive (up to 100 feet IIRC). There is still the issue of recovering the clock. By reclocking at destination, we solve any source or travelling clock issues. I think it is worth a try to hear what happens. I do know that I2S/DSD (CD/SACD) from the modded Denon is outstanding via LVDS. Same with the modded Touch. It would be kewl to get even more bang.

This blog post at HiFiDuino sorts most of the useful info out with pics of Ian's FIFO/reclocker. You Canadians are pretty smart! In hindsight I am thinking this is the direction I should have went.

http://hifiduino.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/ians-fifo-reclocker-and-buffalo-iii-dac/

The BIII default operation is in asynchronous mode generating its own local master clock. There is an asynchronous reclocker in the Sabre32 DAC. To run in synch mode, you need a source of low jitter and need to disable or remove the BIII master clock. Ian (also a Canadian) made a neat clock board for the BIII DAC. Simply remove the clock and attach the FIFO reclocker via U.FL cable to run in synch mode. Remove the U.fl and stick the clock back in for asynch mode. With the Acko board you run the master clock signal to the board and let the Sabre reclocker figure it out. Like a synch/asynch approach?

schwarcw

I gotta ask, does it sound good? :twisted:

Very nice Rich! I am not at the point where I need something like you've got. It is a beauty. I hope to come out there and see it soon. The Krell is too heavy to bring in my carry on.

SCompRacer

Hey Carl! Airport security would take you to that windowless room if you brought that monster with as carry on.:cheesygrin:

I've gone to great lengths to get the best sound out of digital here and it has been worth it. The DAC sounds absolutely wonderful. Dead quiet, highly dynamic, revealing, no background hiss/hum. Of course I could use and welcome another opinion now. Ed preferred the single Buffalo III DAC build over the ModWright 9100ES, but then again he does like that Krell gear?...:eek::cheesygrin: I2S sounds better than SPDIF in; I'll see if it gets even better with the isolator/reclock board for the Amanero USB to I2S module. Folks have been reclocking I2S at destination to get the absolute minimum of jitter for best SQ. Like high end gear, extremely low jitter numbers.

Jay may pop over this weekend.....hopefully I'll have the Krell KSL pre amp main and power supply boards recapped and it will still work.

thejck

thanks for posting i enjoyed the read.

SCompRacer

I missed this along the way with my build. Back in 2010, Rosendorfer in Krak

SCompRacer

I installed a Twisted Pear OTTO II 2:1 digital switch in the DAC to switch between USB to I2S input and the Denon I2S/DSD input. It stacks nicely on the Sidecar with a female header and clipped cap leads. The Sidecar is bewteen the 4 channel SPDIF input board and DAC. I just have to do some coding to make it work with the Arduino I2C serial control. I have to add an input and instruct it what to activate. Haven't coded in a while, nightmares will be returning....:eek:

tonyb

Rich, you have to stop.....your making me sick with that dac build bro. Whatever it is you do for a living, you should stop and just build dacs. I don't think I've ever seen such quality in a DIY project. Your talent continues to impress, when are we lower level slobs gonna be able to get an ear on this puppy ? I'm waiting for a group get together so I won't be the only one crying in the crowd.:biggrin:

SCompRacer

Hey Tony! Thanks for the kind words about my 'beyond retail' adventure.

The wife went and got herself allergic to some ingredients found in most common household items so I am waiting for her to stabilize to the replacement 'safe' products before I host something. I stand by with EpiPen and have that scene from Pulp Fiction memorized.:twisted::biggrin:

schwarcw

SCompRacer wrote: »

I stand by with EpiPen and have that scene from Pulp Fiction memorized.:twisted::biggrin:

The DAC looks magnificent! I have to get my ears on it soon. Ed and I intend to invade Chicago for Apoxana and crash at your place. Best place Dana in some safe haven because Ed and I come with some toxic smells and chemicals in our suitcases. We're planning to setup a meth lab in your basement while we listen to that DAC. We need some quick cash so we can have the Scompracer Super DAC in our systems!! We have to carry weapons 'cause we always carry cash.

schwarcw

BTW, any idea of the parts count in that beauty? Ir rivals the Krell preamp!!

SCompRacer

Thanks Carl! Hey, you should know you could build two or more pres from the parts found in a Krell!

You and Ed either stay in the same room here or one of you stays with Jasper in his room. That is a locked down unit after lights out so you'd have to share his litter box too.:cheesygrin: As for the meth won't it kill the weed growing down there?:eek::cheesygrin:

SCompRacer

Fred, was wondering if I could send you these Acko isolation/reclock boards with parts for the Amanero USB/I2S module. Show me your technique for soldering SMD parts. Video it and put it on you tube. Just do these two......then I'll know how in the future....:cheesygrin: Larger board for the dual Potato chips.

agfrost

Where'd you get that giant dime from, Rich?

FTGV

SCompRacer wrote: »

.... soldering SMD parts.

That looks like some real fun right there Rich.

dragon1952

I was making op-amp upgrade boards for a while and having to solder the SMD's on boards smaller than the dime. Talk about "fun" :^ /

bikerboy

Rich,
I got a set also! Looks like oven baking is in the works. If I find the solder paste I'll let you know. I don't have much motivation right now due to the great sound I hear with the sdtrans384. I2s and wave files. Computer is used to convert flac to wave. Kind of like making cassette tapes. Ha ha. But sounds way better.

SCompRacer

The OT got cut so I'll be more rested and better able to deal with the tiny stuff. I just want simple, so the whole point of this excercise will be to see if isolation/reclocking improves the USB to I2S SQ at present. I have no noise/hiss/hum at full volume with no music playing now with the non-isolated Amanero. My expectation is the BIII clock will be better than the Amanero clocks. I could try just isolation too, but the smart folks say transformer or chip isolation alone adds jitter. Might be good to try it both ways.

The Potato chips are fast and said to handle well above 100Mhz clocks.

strider

Rich - How does the Otto work? If I wanted to be able to choose between an S/PDIF input and an I2S input from a USB module what else would I need?

SCompRacer

Ben, the OTTO II is a 2:1 Mux that can switch digital output between two four channel inputs. I use it in my DAC to switch between two I2S inputs. I’ve never used it to switch SPDIF but I think Brian at TP did and it worked. The TP diyaudio OTTO II thread.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/twisted-pear/216799-introducing-otto2.html

The only issue I can think of for you is input mapping. That is you have up to four channels of output (1A to 4A) plus GND to connect to your DAC board and how does SPDIF and I2S connect to your DAC board inputs. Your inputs on each channel (1B1 - 1B4 / 2B1-2B4) would have to be mapped to proper 1A-4A output.

You just add a jumper and pull up resistor to OTTO II and switch it by applying 4-5v. I tried it without the pull up resistor and switching was delayed. I use a mechanical switch in my Denon 3910 to switch OTTO II between I2S and DSD output. The only restrictions are the signals switched can’t be greater than the voltage used to switch it, which shouldn’t be an issue with I2S/DSD/SPDIF. Details are in the Integration Guide.

http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/docs/community_docs/leonvb-Buffalo_III_DAC_Integration_Guide_V2.0.0.pdf

If using a micro controller (Arduino or equivalent) they can still pass a small voltage (like .009v) when switched low that kept my OTTO II switched on. I had to add a relay on the one in my DAC. No such issue with a mechanical switch.



The OTTO II in my DAC connects to a Twisted Pear Sidecar which is between my four channel SPDIF input board and DAC. The Sidecar just has one input and is switched by 5v so I get I2S/DSD input or up to four channels of SPDIF input for a total of six inputs. This was taken before the pull up resistor and relay were added.