Dorati NOS DAC kits

[abraxalito]

Guglielmo,

So you will use both these DACs in a digital crossover system? That's a tricky question because Celi is better both in the bass and in the higher frequencies it has the better filter. Maybe try Celi for its bass and Dorati for the mid and HF?

 

[nautibuoy]

Thanks for the Dorati kit Richard.

I soldered all the smd parts for my project today; aiming to get some testing done tomorrow.

 

[abraxalito]

Super-neat soldering job there Ray. Must be with a hotplate and paste. Top notch!

 

[nautibuoy]

Paste and a reflow oven Richard.

I've just swapped out the opamp on the kubelik so will try to test that tomorrow too.

 

[jimk04]

Nice work as usual Ray!

 

[nautibuoy]

I'm listening to my Dorati DAC - measured and worked spot on straight off the bench.

It's a nice little DAC Richard and performs very agreeably. I agree wiith your comment in post #1, it is a step up from the Kubelik, though that's not to denigrate the performance of it as it is also a very good performer - I think the Dorati just seems to be a little more transparent and authoritative.

Thanks for another great little project/kit.

 

[Vunce]

Well done Dorati Ray!
Did you modify a toaster oven for SMD or purchase a commercial product.

 

[nautibuoy]

I'm fortunate to have a friend who owns a small commercial reflow oven and he's been very kind and let me borrow it for a few weeks, primarily for my RTZ DAC builds but I thought I would have a bit of an smd blitz...

 

[forsakenrider]

Picked up my kit from the post office this morning, and just got it finished! So far everything seems to have gone smooth, a couple voltages seemed to change after adding the caps, but its playing music and I cant hear any hum so I'll call that a win for now!!

 

[forsakenrider]

So here are my voltages, all taken while playing music. Using a 7022 i2s board. All voltages were in spec before adding the caps and inductors. That said, it sounds great on my little computer/soldering room system, but I haven't tried it in the living room system yet. I did not populate R22, R60, and I wasnt sure if it mattered which way the inductors went so I put them both with the magnet wire parts facing inwards.

TP1 4.817 - good
TP2 2.492 - good
TP3 1.664 - good
TP4 4.531 - a little low
TP6 5.69 - seems too low
TP7 4.333 - quite low
TP8 5.002 - good
TP9 6.885 - quite low
TP10 5.523 - low
TP12 6.702 - quite low

 

[abraxalito]

I've run through all those voltages and while some are on the low side there's no issue there that I can see, just the normal variability of the DAC chips. So all in all, I'd say excellent job there, bravo!

 

[nautibuoy]

I thought it was time to finish boxing up my Dorati.

 

[marcomosca]

Hi Richard. Is the kit still available?

 

[abraxalito]

Sure thing, we still have some left.

 

[marcomosca]

Great! Can we get in touch to make an arrangement? I cannot start a conversation yet.

 

[nautibuoy]

All hooked up and working so just the front and rear panels to fabricate and install.

 

[marcomosca]

The kit has arrived and I have soldered step 1 and step2. Following are the voltages with 12.5V PS:

TP1=4.86V
TP2=2.49V
TP3=1.66V
TP8=4.99V
TP6=6.09V
TP9=12.24V
TP10=6.09V
TP12=7.32V

What could be wrong?

Tx
Marco

 

[abraxalito]

Could be R45 is damaged, seems the termination on the left side is missing? Check across it with an ohmmeter to see if its still 680ohms.

 

[marcomosca]

Both R45 and R48 measure 674 ohm.

I have also re-soldered the R45 left join but with the same result.

Voltage around R45 and R48 is 6.1V

Marco

 

[abraxalito]

OK then next step is check the voltage on both sides of R5 (1k5). And also double check soldering on Q22 - the right pin (E) might not be making good contact with the pad.