muskyhuntr 26 Report post Posted February 17, 2018 Very nice! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mwl168 632 Report post Posted February 18, 2018 2nd DAM1021 build close to being complete, waiting for a 1-foot USB cable. This one is with the DAM1021-12 board, the one the uses .01% and .02% resistors which can be visually identified by the blue resistors in the R-2R ladder. The TPA Cronus/Hermes re-clocking and isolator is probably an overkill here given the DAM1021 already provides both functions on the board. The power supply for the DAM1021 is based on TPS7A3301 set for 9.3VDC rails. Based on my experience I would not skimp on the PS for the DAM1021. The extra power supply is needed for the Cronus/Hermes. 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mwl168 632 Report post Posted February 25, 2018 The last part finally came in so here is the finished build. I did run into a weird problem using the Cronus/Hermes/Amanero with this DAM1021 - the combo plays music through Audirvana fine but had serious dropout issues when playing YouTube and Amazon videos. I was able to find a few Amanero CPLD/CPU firmware combinations that seems to have addressed the issue. I started a thread over at DIYAUDIO on this topic. Right now I am using CPLD firmware "slave_for_1080" and CPU firmware "CPU_1099c". Even though the DAM1021 has its own isolator and re-clocker I feel subjectively adding the Cronus/Hermes is an improvement over using Amanero alone. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masamoto 10 Report post Posted February 27, 2018 I can't decide... go the extra mile and make a soekris+xmos build or get a DSD dac from ebay. Running the Dynalo mk2 with a DragonFlyBlack for a while now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mwl168 632 Report post Posted February 27, 2018 (edited) With a pre-built LM317/337 based PSU, it took me less than 30 min. to get the first DAM1021 to start playing music with a SPDIF input and a digital volume wired. It plays both PCM and DSD. The sound is hard to beat for the money. Edited February 27, 2018 by mwl168 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pars 1,225 Report post Posted February 27, 2018 ^ Starting to get interested in these myself. I know you were getting some of the buffers for something Michael, but had you thought about using a ubal board for the balanced on the DAM1021 instead of the opamps Soekeris is using? Also, did you have any luck finding a Mac serial cable (USB->serial)? I thought it was for dealing with the DAM1021? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mwl168 632 Report post Posted February 27, 2018 Ordered a USB - serial cable but have not received it after several weeks so have not tried configuring the filter files etc. using a Mac yet. Also have not tried the diamond buffer nor the unbal-bal with the DAM1021 yet. I built this DAC for my son to use at school with the single-ended Dynalo so really not intend to max it out. Although I will likely be exerimenting with it. I personally did not find the OP based balanced output as bad as some have made it out to be on the web. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sbelyo 266 Report post Posted February 27, 2018 would love to test this vs a TPA Buffalo III or pro. I listened to the yggdrasil at canjam and it didn't wow me but can't vouch for source material and the headphones were Audeze LCD-3 I think then switched to some Mr speakers model. I think the amp was the ragnarok Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mwl168 632 Report post Posted February 28, 2018 Have been using a dual-mono Buffalo II for close to two years now, used a stereo Buffalo II for many years before that, also built a Buffalo III for a friend. No experience with the Buffalo Pro and the yggy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sbelyo 266 Report post Posted February 28, 2018 I'm finishing my BIII recase with reflektor d and BiB psu's. When complete I'll build a soekris and see what happens Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wink 358 Report post Posted February 28, 2018 I'll be waiting for next year's new model - the R2D2. I hear the performance is out of this world...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mwl168 632 Report post Posted November 19, 2018 Just came across this new DAM1941 from Soekris, basically a DAM1021 with four full Sign Magnitude R-2R networks for fully balanced operation. The boards are being shipped now. http://www.soekris.dk/dam1941.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
