TOPIC:

Hi all,

just wanted to give a short update about the progress of my I2S input DAC using ESStech ES9023 V-out DAC.

Some features:

<li>I2S input via pin header or U.FL</li>
<li>internal or external MCLK with onboard 1:4 divider using high speed flip flops</li>
<li>analog output with LCR filter +

JFET Buffer according to Joachim Gerhard </li>


I am just about to finalize the routing and will order some prototype boards soon.

Any comments are very welcome, however if possible recommendations and discussions regarding the schematic and board layout should take place at the corresponding thread on DIYaudio (hope thats OK, DevTeam ).

Best regards, Daniel

That's great Daniel,

We're certainly looking forward to seeing your card coming up to life! Please do keep us updated. It's a neat project that would be a great addition to the miniSHARC or even the USBStreamer. Did you consider providing compatibility with the USBStreamer?

Devteam

Thank's

The board should also work with USBStreamer. Either using MCLK from USBStreamer (synchronous operation, all modes of USBStreamer are supported by ES9023) or using onboard MCLK (asynchonous operation, feature of ES9023).

However I did not follow the exact pin layout of USBStreamer (no stacking like another guy showed, very nice work by the way ). So some point to point wiring is necessary or I'll design a small interface board with U.FL receptables

The same (interface board) could also be interesting for miniSHARC. Currently I am not sure about a suitable implementation with respect to input source selection. Would be nice to use the DIGI-FP board (for IR remote control, no external MC necessary), however currently it is not clear how to interface outputs in this case. Probably the miniSHARC user manual will bring more info

BTW: What is MCLKIN (pin9) of miniSHARC I2S expansion connector. Is it actually MCLKOUT (typo)? Or is it possible to connect external MCLK here (specs?)?

I think I'll have to order a second miniSHARC for betatesting

I'll keep you updated about the progress! Have a nice chinese new years holiday!

Best regards, Daniel

I'd like to post a little update: protoboards arrived and first board is up and running! See the nice sine comming from miniSTREAMER

Nice! Some good progress here Daniel...
Keep us updated, it's looking like a neat little board that I'm sure a lot of people would love to use.

Devteam

Really exciting project this, had a quick flick through the DIY audio thread. Mostly over my head but it seems these little boards could fill a gap in the minisharc capabilities by giving us a small, good quality voltage dac connected via 12S utilising any sample rate our source files are mastered at.

Have the Dev-team thought about a partnership with Curryman on this one?

Will we be able to get our hands on some if these at some point Curryman?

Stefan

Oh, meant to ask if the card would support balanced operation?

Stefan

Glad that you like my boards

I build two prototype boards (third one is almost finished) and am just about to put them into my PreXover . The new setup will solely use miniSHARC (2x8 plugin) and no longer the combination of miniSHARC (2x2) + miniDSP 2x8. Processing power will be enough and I will get rid of double ASRC

As you might have seen on DIYaudio we are currently doing a betatest with the first run of prototype boards. They already worked from scratch and sound very nice. However I (we) found some minor issues and so I am just doing a second (probably final) layout with some further improvements (got some help from some very experienced PCB designers ). Maybe I will do a groupbuy on DIYaudio (not sure if I really want that, need some time for my family ), but if you are interested there will be a way to provide you some boards

The DAC output is single ended (ES9023 output is single ended). You could make a balanced configuration using two boards + an inverter or you could use a single ended to balanced converter if you really need that.

You can follow the progress on DIYaudio ( Build thread for ES9023 + JG Buffer boards (betatest) ) and I will also post here when I got my system running (with betaboards first).

Best regards, Daniel

Just a short Update:

Second Version of the board makes good progress (see attachment, top layer ground plane is not yet routed!). I am soon ready to order the improved version. Please find details in the DIYaudio thread mentioned in my last post.




For the connection of the I2S signals from miniSHARC to my DAC I designed a passive interface board (see attached picture). @Devteam: do you see any problem with miniSHARC driving the paralleled I2S receiver. If anyone is interested please let me know.



I am also about to design an active interface board using high speed fan out buffers and the possibility to provide a precision MCLK Signal to all components (receiver, miniSHARC [24.576 MHz], ES9023 DACs [49.152 MHz]). The latter will of course only work with miniSHARC I2S slave firmware

Both of those boards sound great. I'd like to hear more.

Read the rest of the 9023 thread and realised that it's not for me. I'm running a balanced system so will look at something else. These interface boards sound like a great way of piping i2s and clock signals around though.

Well done, nice work.

Stefan

just another short upgrade:

I just received the new improved version of the ES9023 DAC boards




Will try to stuff and test one board this weekend...

Have fun, Daniel

Nice work Daniel.

I am also interested in the second board above, for connecting analog stage after the 8-channel SHARC. Is that an MCU at the center?

TJ

Thanks

The second board is just a simple passive (no MCU) interface PCB for the miniSHARC. In the center is a pin header that connects to J2 of the miniSHARC board. However I am not sure whether passive interconnect will work properly or if a buffer will be necessary (or will at least improve things). I am about to finish number 3 and 4 of my DACs and will test the system. If passive interconnect works i'll probably order the boards

Looking great curryman! Eager to see your findings!

Would an I2S splitter board be an application for this port expander ?