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Celibidache NOS DAC

Orders now are open on Celibidache NOS DACs - PM me and please remember to include your payment method and location so I can quote you inclusive of fees and shipping. Also mention whether you're wanting a kit or a built and tested DAC board. Celibidache is an upgrade of 'Deca DAC' with double the number of DAC chips (20) to achieve lower noise yet keeps the same physical footprint of 100mm * 62mm, the maximum height is 24mm. There's a digital invert function which allows a balanced output DAC to be made from a pair of Celibidaches.

Our preferred payment method is via Wise which typically adds a 2% fee. Our receiving currency is CNY (Chinese Yuan), alternatively USD or Euro. PayPal may also be used, in USD but will attract higher fees, about 16%.

Price for a Celibidache complete, built and tested : 1080RMB (~$148)
Price for a kit of parts to build one Celibidache DAC : 780RMB (~$107)

Shipping is in addition and depends on your location. Courier - FedEx, TNT, DHL - typically takes 8 - 10 days. E-packet we don't recommend as its uninsured but we'll use it if you're fine with the risk.

If your source isn't I2S, this input board handles other formats (coax s/pdif, Toslink and external I2S for USB) and comes with a screen option to identify the selected source : https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002923079600.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.4ec6611f1SqyjX&algo_pvid=4d8e6ad6-ba47-4c73-825b-5d2537acb68a&algo_exp_id=4d8e6ad6-ba47-4c73-825b-5d2537acb68a-0&pdp_ext_f=%7B"sku_id"%3A"12000022820866383"%7D

Here's a USB->I2S board (async USB is preferred as its lower jitter) : https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256802084673395.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.3c2471adXUkntw&algo_pvid=8073e594-ca79-46e3-946f-c71fa5fa7ff1&algo_exp_id=8073e594-ca79-46e3-946f-c71fa5fa7ff1-32&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000019845765273"}&pdp_npi=2@dis!USD!51.29!32.83!!!!!@21365ec216614156405292626eddab!12000019845765273!sea&curPageLogUid=z2efAECosNoh

Technical details

Celibidache runs from a single 24V DC power supply, max current 150mA

Input format is I2S 3 wire (BCK, LRCK, DATA) and 16bits (no MCK required). Nominal sample rate is 44.1kHz though higher rates to 96kHz will work with decreased frequency response flatness.

Max output level as standard is 2VRMS, customization is possible to 4VRMS. Minimum load impedance is 1kohm.

On-board plug-in filter is a modified 9th order Chebyshev giving a relatively flat FR to 18kHz (no NOS droop and no visible 'stair-steps').

Further questions about building a complete DAC and building a kit may be answered in the first post of the Kubelik thread, here : https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/kubelik-nos-dac-kits.375955/

The Celibidache kit has the majority of the parts pre-soldered by machine. You can find a picture of the supplied board here : https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...-rbcd-multibit-dac-design.324933/post-6887385 All the 0805 parts (with the exception of user options) are pre-soldered, as are the SOT-23s. Left to solder are various ICs, larger package SMD transistors and through-hole capacitors. The LC filter is supplied as a finished, tested board.

The soldering guide is now attached. Note that some component locations are 'no fit' (NF) which means nothing needs to be soldered there. The '0' resistors on the far right of the board are only to be fitted if you've decided to use off-board output coupling caps. Don't fit them if you're using the on-board Wimas. The default setting of U12 (invert/non-invert) is shown in the guide, that's non-inverting. Fit the resistor to the right pair of pads if you want an inverting DAC.
 

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Although toroidals look nice and all that, they're actually worse performers electrically in this application. That's because mains noise is an issue and toroids are an open window to that. The old-fashioned EI type has poorer coupling between primary and secondary and that's what we want.
 
Toroidals are great when you need low external magnetic field. Or best power-to-weight ratio. But here as its a wall-wart it won't be near to the DAC so external magnetic field can be ignored.

Your link will certainly work fine, but its bigger than it needs to be at 30VA. I'd go for this one : Blocked

The filter caps are already included on the PSU PCB. You only need the transformer.

<edit> Attached a couple of pics of DAC designs with ugly-looking trafos in. No toroidals in sight!
 

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Although toroidals look nice and all that, they're actually worse performers electrically in this application. That's because mains noise is an issue and toroids are an open window to that. The old-fashioned EI type has poorer coupling between primary and secondary and that's what we want.



A very brave opinion - that is, all DAC, e.g. Mark Levinson etc., are badly made because they use toroids?
 
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They need additional LP filtering to clean the AC coming out from the toroidal transformer.
Choise of a toroidal transformer is viable when there is a need to constrain the magnetic field around the transformer.
Toroidals are also more electrically efficient, thus a good choise for high power equipment.
They tend to saturate more abruptly than EI.

George