So I purchased a Dual AK4495SEQ board from Aliexpress, modified to run straight into my A20's the DAC has no problem at all driving the transformers just make sure the DC resistance is 1k ohm
I bought this board
AK4495SEQ Dual Parallel Soft Control Board Assembled Support DOP DSD-in Amplifier from Consumer Electronics on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
and have just upgraded to a rasberrypie3 running Piecoreplayer to Hi-Fi Berry DIGI + to Tubleab SSE amp
so using SPDIF for the moment will be goin to I2S later
I started with the LME49720 it was a good upgrade...but I just love the sound of the UTC A20's connected to any DAC I don't now why maybe it suits my tube amp🙂
Still more work to be done, boxing Rasberry3 etc
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I know this board, but didn't own or listen to it. Doesn't have I2S input, so you have to create it yourself.
There's something with those boards (and 99% of other AK4495 based boards, even very expensice AK449x based dac's,,,,) you can change to get a much better SQ, especially in low freq.
Article at Hifiduino:
https://hifiduino.wordpress.com/2014/12/07/akm-verita-4490-dac/
You have to put bigger caps (in Parallel) between VREFHL/VREFLL and VREFHR/VREFLR Try at least 2200uF, or, if you can, 4700uF.
This really makes a big difference. Probably your design has 100uF only......
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5ivzpgUT3UYQlI4ODdDcHBTYkE/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5ivzpgUT3UYRmVnbUZmNDBsOFU/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5ivzpgUT3UYek93T2dqeXNEWms/view?usp=sharing
I based my MonsterDAC on AK4495SEQ too.
Here's the original version, with isolated XMOS USB input:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5ivzpgUT3UYU0tMLVdnQ0NodFk/view?usp=sharing
And this is final version:
With RPI3(PiCoreplayer) + Modified HifiBerry DAC+Pro(I2S) + Discrete Chinese Class-A FET output stage (all in 3M AB5100S+Copper shield)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5ivzpgUT3UYVkdBd3UtT1lwQmc/view?usp=sharing
How it sounds? Not to describe with words, it's just R E A L.
Next and final step would be to use FIFO reclock (from Ian Canada).
But product (HAT) is still in development.
Cheers 🙂
Alex
P.s. Sorry for the picture links, tried to put them straight on the site, but that didn't work, probably too big.....
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I am sure that everyone is tired of talking about this but....I bought the Lampucera DAC from Lawrence on ebay. I am really enjoying it so far. I didn't buy the tube stage for it but I am running it to my Fisher 400CX-2.
I have been emailing with Lawrence about this and he suggests the opamp upgrade to a dual channel HDAM which he sells. He said that it is highly suggested and will make a big difference.
Has anyone used this opamp upgrade? Is it noticeable?
Is there anything else that I need to do in the meantime? Maybe change the power supply to a toroidal?
Thanks in advance.
Wendell
I have been emailing with Lawrence about this and he suggests the opamp upgrade to a dual channel HDAM which he sells. He said that it is highly suggested and will make a big difference.
Has anyone used this opamp upgrade? Is it noticeable?
Is there anything else that I need to do in the meantime? Maybe change the power supply to a toroidal?
Thanks in advance.
Wendell
Hello together,
its been quite a while since people got the Gigaworks DAC from ebay, I hope I still can find help here:
I was using the coax ouput now for many years but now I need to switch to USB. Connecting the DAC via USB with my computer works fine and the DAC gets recognized. So far everything is fine, but somehow I have no sound output.
I know that I have to use jumpers, now my question is, which configuration is correct. Can someone maybe confirm the connection like shown in the attached picture?
And: Are any other changes required to use the USB input?
its been quite a while since people got the Gigaworks DAC from ebay, I hope I still can find help here:
I was using the coax ouput now for many years but now I need to switch to USB. Connecting the DAC via USB with my computer works fine and the DAC gets recognized. So far everything is fine, but somehow I have no sound output.
I know that I have to use jumpers, now my question is, which configuration is correct. Can someone maybe confirm the connection like shown in the attached picture?
And: Are any other changes required to use the USB input?
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I’m playing with mine these days. I’ll post the jumper position for USB input.
On mine I’m going to attach a rotary switch so I can change input without popping the hood.
On mine I’m going to attach a rotary switch so I can change input without popping the hood.
