I went and did it

sucks2beme
sucks2beme Posts: 5,671
edited November 2007 in Electronics
Monica II usb DAC kit on order with power supply.
http://diyparadise.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=62
This is assembled including the USB/ DAC/and gain stage.
Just case it up and go.The reviews say it sounds good.
I am currently using a pro EMU 0404 sound card in my music server.
It was alright, but not where it needed to be.
The pro sound card has too much stuff going on. It wants to take over
with all the control windows and effects.
I'm hoping to retire the CDP with this.
Next step, getting bluetooth remote control working with the PDA!
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
Post edited by sucks2beme on
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Comments

  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,669
    edited October 2007
    Congrats. Can't wait for the review.

    engtaz
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,671
    edited November 2007
    The Monica II DAC is in!
    This is fully assembled, but must be cased and wired up.
    I got it in a cheap plastic case, and got it plugged in.
    Sounds pretty good. I was using a E-mu 0404 pro sound card
    in the homebrew music server. Foobar player and FLAC lossless files.
    The Monica sounds warm. The Blackgates should open up in a couple of days.
    The sound of a sax is as good as I've heard it. I just started listening.
    It will be a couple of days before I get a real sense of what it can do.
    I will be working all day and night Friday, so I won't be doing anything but lettin' her burn in.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,671
    edited November 2007
    I re-cased it in an enclosure from Fry's. I removed the stock input jack
    and directly soldered a USB cable on the board, using a grommet
    in the case. I am using the available pwer supply from DIYparadise
    set at 16vdc to power it. This seems to be about the best setting.
    I am using a dedicated uATX pc in an Antec multimedia case.
    All CD's were ripped using EAC to FLAC lossless files, and are played back
    using Foobar 2000 set to 16 bit playback with slow dithering.
    The NOS DAC sounds as advertised. Smooth, analog sound.
    Oversampling adds detail, but can also add some odd artifacts to the sound.
    It does what it's supposed to very well. If you are a detail freak, go get a
    Benchmark DAC. This one seems to have a very good sound that is not tiring.
    There is good detail ,without the brightness. But then again, I like a warm sound.
    Not for everybody. Drums sound like drums. Sax and piano sound better.
    I was using a modded AMC cd8 cdp. The server was originally using
    a e-mu 0404 PCI soundcard. This is a pro soundstation product.
    Ok, not great. More to come after the Blackgates burn in.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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