DIY project for the year - DAC with valve output stage

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El Sid

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After almost a year of getting back into audio after a long layoff, I've started getting a sense of things and what I like/want. I bought a Maverick TubeMagic D1 DAC to get a feel for the (new to me) world of  Dacs, and have been very pleased with it and learnt a lot. But it is very entry level, and has shortcomings, eg USB is 16 bit max.

I quite enjoy DIY and, as a no-longer-practising elec eng, am fairly capable.  So i have decided to build a DAC, and because I like the sound of valves, one with a valve output stage.

This isn't much more than an idea at the moment, but here are some random thoughts on where i'm headed:

  • I think i'll base it on the Soekris DAM R2R DAC - seems to be well-regarded, and there's a wealth of info out there on using it.
  • It already has line-level SS outputs, but I want to learn about valves, so i want to add a valve output stage. More of a buffer than an amp i suppose. i could make a switch so you could use either the valve or the on-board SS output.  Valves only got a passing mention when i studied elec eng, so i don't know much about them other than general principles, never designed around them. For me this is the most daunting part of the exercise.
  • I will build it up modularly, starting with the Soekris board with the bare minimum of support circuits, and add more functionality from there. Ultimately i'd like it to be fully remote controlled, take any data stream the Soekris can, and maybe have a detailed display.
  • I would like it to look really good, so for the aesthetics will rope in my bro who is a set/display/furniture designer and has a really good eye. He studied civil eng for a year designs very practically too

Any advice/comments/suggestions/criticism welcome - i'm sure i'll often come to the DIY section for help. Sensible advice such as "rather just buy a DAC" will of course be ignored.

Besides, I put all that effort into building my workbench, so need to use it....

Workbench_zps87ub6g7k.jpg


(right half is wife's jewelry work station)



 

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