New XMOS-XU208-device / Leaf Audio 2017/8/2 / Thesycon eval. driver 4.13

so, 😉

after i´ve decided to give my “good-old” very good Skysong XMOS-XU208 a rest/use it only on my raspberry via volumio and usb to get finally real DSD/Dop (means DSD-lock-light is on (on the ES9038Q2M))(more later/in a later post), i´ve ordered a second device via ebay/cost around 30€, its a “Leaf Audio” with also an external 5V-option + Coaxial-out (up to 192khz)

first impression: very light (in weight), but looks relatively “hi-fi”; first sound-tests: very “exactly/with contur”, but not so with the fine resolution as the Skysong->it depends also on the oscillators on the board (see pictures)->this is the “cheap”-version..the skysong has more high-end-ones..(but the skysong costs double of the price (around 60€)..

“Driver-wise” it installed “Microsoft HiFi-DSD” (never seen it before), thought it would install “xmos-usb” or similar..

for that i couldnt got the driver from the seller, i searched for some and because i also got a “XMOS DFU” in the device manager i´ve downloaded some driver-pack from thesycon with dfu support; its here (link) (see pictures)..

more later…

many greets for now !! 😉

SFB2

Bargain of the day->Topping D50S ! (Dual ES9038Q2M +XU208 +BT + Remote) / AK4137 SRC

so folks 😉 ,
sorry thats its a little bit silent here on essabre-90xx-rpi lately, but there were a lot of other things to do 😉 , but i´ve just seen by chance this bargain on massdrop->
Topping D50S, XU208+Dual ES9038Q2M + BT + Remote for only 200$ !! ->
LINK
vs. “old” D50->
the D50S (in opposite to the D50) has a built-in BT-modul (was at first sight, in aspect to the “ultimate hi-fi”, is not soo good) but also comes with a remote-control + had made some improvement “soundwise”, means they solved the “IMD ESS hum”, where at mid-levels, intermodulation distortion suddenly rises”..

very good test/article about the D50S is here->https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-new-topping-d50s-dac.7914/

also they made some minor sound-improvements (all in the article)..

https://drop.com/buy/topping-d50s-dac?utm_source=linkshare&referer=Y6KDJ4

as said for only 200$ (190$ if u first join massdrop via these essabre-links here(“Xavier”)) its maybe worth a try..
so and as lately said that the onboard spdif-conversion (on the ES9038Q2M) is not so optimal we have to look for an alternative and also somebody said at my praised diyaudio.com-forum->Link that “..upsampling to DSD is always better concerning thd/snr and so on, because of eliminating/move the noise in an unaudible range..” and to reduce jitter i´m thinking about to buy some SRC4192..(SNR= 768khz, DR: 186dB !! ● THD+N: -150dB ) -> http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/?p=1833

there are some around for only 27$ on ebay->Link and the “high-end”-version with toslink and coaxial option + 1.3″ display (+ AK4118 spdif-receiver chip) for 80$->Link..

my goal at present is to raise the sq directly from a transporter via spdif and then maybe upsampled, but still more jitter-less to feed it in the ES9038Q2M..

will maybe then report more about it..

by that the raspberry 4B+ is out and so on..maybe then more,

greets for now !! 😉

SFB2

essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2 has moved / Arduino + SSD1306 / ESP32 Bluetooth-serial / 3D-printer case

so, 😉
essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2 has finally moved..was a bit more work then expected, right now i´m not 100% satisfied with the result->had btw. to change the symlinks-structure in wordpress, so some pics/categories will have another url + the “direct”-forum-link (at the top) has changed to a “2-click-experience” 😉 + some minor changes, but overall i think its now a little bit faster + on a newer OS + a newer php-version..

second i´ve ordered some SSD1306 mini-tft-display test-wise some months ago, set it up on the third !! Arduino Uno finally (i´ve ordered 2 other Unos “in-a-row” and they were both damaged) and got the following result (for u to see it in real life, to maybe get some ideas for your DIY-DAC)..

absolutely easy wiring + sketch;.ino is here->Link

third got by chance some really simple ESP32 Bluetooth-serial tutorial on “Random-Nerds“; ( 😉 ) maybe interesting for you->https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-bluetooth-classic-arduino-ide/
fourth no new Volumio-version is out and a new drop is the SMSL-SU 8 Version 2 with two (dual) ES9038Q2M for 200$ instead of 250$->Link

 

fifth, no other news concerning the ES9038Q2M, nothing spectacular in the diyaudio.com-forum about it->https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/314935-es9038q2m-board-446.html
sixth i´m still planning to buy some 15V-0V-15V toroidal transformer and for the case i was looking for some “3D-printer”-layouts/submittals; had found a site (don´t know the url right now) and maybe we could make a new “thread” here or at the forum, for some “3D-printer”-submittals for the case !!

more to come + greets for now !!

essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com will move (to a new server) + Nuforce Udac5 + SMSL SMSL X-USB II

so, 😉
unfortunately nothing new here in “modding” the ES9038Q2M; still on the search for the right transformer->there are some on Ebay+Aliexpress+Audiophonics but didnt make a choice till now:(15V-0V-15V)

Moode is now at V5.0-> (http://moodeaudio.org/)

and as also said in their description->
“Most USB audio devices work with moOde via the Linux kernel USB audio driver but some devices with high speed UAC2 chipsets may require the USB (UAC2) work around in System Config”
“the way-to-go” (and to get “real” DoP/DSD) is nowadays (IMO) via some XMOS-USB-device->I2S->ES90XX..
we had it here in discussion, and with the new USB2.0(3.0) linux-kernel-driver u can achieve real DoP/DSD with the ES9038Q2M; and only then..
by that, as also said, with USB3.0, + a wonderful xmos-bridge (see some posts before) + ES9038Q2M u already have a superb “tune”, really near to the “unbeaten” raspberry pi-I2S-ES9038Q2M-connection..(and its absolutely more comfortable)..
by that in speaking of a wonderful XMOS-usb-bridge we have now here a “SMSL X-USB II Digital Interface USB XMOS U208 to I2S LVDS HDMI ” (70€) with I2S->over HDMI which also said in some posts before, is the most “handiest “-possibilty to connect to an ES9038Q2M (with some I2S->LVDS converter directly connected to the dac-board)->
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/digital-interfaces/smsl-x-usb-ii-digital-interface-usb-xmos-u208-to-i2s-lvds-hdmi-optical-coaxial-32bit-768khz-dsd512-silver-p-13739.html



(post -> http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/2018/12/hdmi-i2s-lvds-to-i2s-modules/)
SPECIFICATIONS
Product type USB Interface
USB Interface chip XMOS U208
Input 1x Micro USB
Outputs 1x I2S LVDS via HDMI
1x Coaxial S/PDIF
1x Optical Toslink
Supported sampling rate I2S : PCM up to 32bit 768kHz / DSD up to DSD512
Optique, Coaxial : PCM up to 24bit 192kHz / DSD64
THD+N < 0.00002% Dynamic range > 140dB
SNR > 140dB
OS Compatibilité Windows, OSX, iOS, Android

by that “essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com” will move next month or so to a new server due to cost/performance reasons; i hope i can move this site/blog/forum without great problems to the new location; excuse me then for any conveniance->a mirror (from this site) is just set-up at -> http://essabre.ddnss.org <- is just right now only for testing; the main url (essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com will (hopefully, 99%) remain); u can test the above-url performance-wise.. (more > Nuforce Udac5 in Part 2)..
greets for now !!

The Burson V5i-D arrived->very “un-colored”, a little bit “lifeless”, but very clear + less distorted..

so, 😉
finally the Burson V5i-D from Massdrop arrived, hooray !! 😉 :
As said in the head/tag-line very “un-colored”; after hearing them u got the feel that the OPA627AU + the AD797BRZ (+ other) are somehow colored, they add some “push” (over the whole sound-spectrum, or to the highs or lows).The Bursons are very “neutral”.

On the other hand the V5i “sound” a little bit “lifeless” (in opposite to the OPA627AU par example, which is very “sweet”(the V5i´s are missing the “sweetness”)..
The AD797BRZ is very “bass-controlled” but they all don´t have the unbelievable room of an AD797ANZ..
(all this said of course that its absolutely depends on your personal listen-affections/preferences and so on..+ also all concerning to the ESSabre-9038Q2M->with other DACS/chips u can get another impression)
These 4 Op-Amps (OPA627AU,AD797BRZ,Burson V5i,AD797ANZ) are in a range of 95%-98& with 1% difference to each other !!(IMO and in my/this case))
so whats the conclusion now (for me) ?
My favourite OP-Amp to date was the AD797ANZ, because it has an unbelievable room + almost perfect + really some brilliance but it is also somehow too “distorted” (in comparison to the V5i), too (digitally) harsh (on the ES9038Q2M here)..
it is really head to head between the 2 (V5i + AD797ANZ), i swapped back and forth and finally i switched now to the :
Burson V5i !!

and only because it is absolutely less distorted (more “clear”+clean) and for now (for me) its some more “fresh” to hear..
The AD797ANZ has absolutely more room and is somehow also more “perfect” (the phenomenal “soundstage”, brilliance(on the ESSabre 9038Q2M)) but at present i think i stuck with the V5i and so we have a new “winner” here 😉 (for now. but maybe i´ll swap back the days 😉 )..

(PS: i´ve tested it all with Volumio V2.572, “Allo Katana” !!-sound-device-settings, NO software-mixer, ES9038Q2M..works all, no problem)
more to come and stay tuned !! 😉
SFB2

Massdrop: SMSL SU-8 Version 2 DAC 200$ Dual ES9038Q2M + Volumio 2.565 (12-03-2019)

so folks 😉 ,
sorry that i lately post so much “massdrop”-related things, but this is first an audio (ESSabre)-site and second heavy related to the ES9038Q2M 😉
as said, DUAL ES9038Q2M on it, some additional specs:
Input: USB, optical, coaxial
Balanced !! Output: RCA, XLR 
USB sampling rate: PCM: 44.1–768 kHz; DSD: 2.28224–22.5792 MHz
200$ (instead of 250$)
Link-Massdrop-<
(PS.: and btw.: u get 10$ “start”-bonus !! if u join massdrop via these essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com – link(s) (on the site + right via the “widget”(“Xavier”)) !!..
so hop, hop and join !! 😉 )
(“display-wise” its not soo great, but for all these problems we have here on essabre-90xx-rpi “tons” of display-tuts and possibilities (for DIY)) 😉

Driver (Shenzhen-Audio) are here (XMOS V4.47)->https://download.shenzhenaudio.com/Smsl/SU-8_v4.47.0.zip
and an review is here ->https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/smsl-su-8-version-2-balanced-dac.5433/
interesting at this review is the following “SINAD“(some distortion-/noisemeter)-diagram, with some “oppononents” like Benchmark DAC3, Schiit Modi USB, Chord Mojo, Katana, Auralic Vega and such->

by that some new “Volumio” is out (now at VERSION: 2.565)->LINK, some fixes, and since V2.527:->Add direct DSD Support to many USB DACs, Mpd 0.20.18 version..

essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com-wise its a little bit on “hold”, just ordered (as said before) some Burson V5i-D and can then report about the Op-Amp and the “general”-massdrop-experience..

greets from here for now and stay tuned !! 😉
SFB2

Absolutely simple Arduino IR-repeater for Hi-Fi Gear Cambridge Audio CA-540A or other..

so, 😉
after i´ve made some IR-Remote substitutions for my Cambridge Audio CA540 Azur Amp (see “Project-1” and “Project-2” and so on) here on the site with first Bluetooth and then Web-Control i´ve finally made it “over-simple” 😉 and use an Arduino (2,50$) + some IR-receiver (VS1838B)(0,40$) + IR-Transmitter (0,40€) + some dupont-cable (also 0,50$ incl.shipping)->on aliexpress by example..->Link,Link,Link

 


the point was the right library for this and i used (many,many thx to “Eddy Yanto” !!) the simple IR-repeater-library on github->https://github.com/eddyyanto/ir-repeater
point was that in description it says:”..This sketch receives the infrared signal on standard pin number 3, decodes and dump the infrared information on Serial and forward the raw infrared signal to pin number 4.”; but that works not !!
in the .ino on the other hand it says:”..int RECV_PIN = 4;
IRrecv irrecv(RECV_PIN);
IRsend irsend; // Defaults to pin 3” and thats the opposite !! (works with the .ino-settings now of course)..
tried to reach him via e-mail to correct the description->no success until now..
anyway, u can now use almost any (hi-fi)-remote; place the ir-receiver at some point near u (and to which your remote can point/send to of course), make a dupont-cable-connection to your arduino in any length u wish and from there also in any length to the ir-transmitter !!
(the sketch only receives + transmit->no more other modifications to do in the sketch !! (noob-friendly 😉 )
easy as this and thats it ! 😉 (Total costs: 4$)
(working sketch is here btw.->Link) and on Github of course, again->https://github.com/eddyyanto/ir-repeater
by that i´ve bought some Burson V5i as D (Dual) and will report then about it !!

greets for now 😉

New XMOS-USB-Driver (Skysong/Singxer) -> v4.59.0_2019-02-13 + Massdrop ES9038Pro

hi there, 😉
found by chance on then shenzhenaudio-website this new XMOS-USB-driver V4.59 (02/13/2019)..is originally for the Singxer SU1/SU6;
tested here with with the Skysong(Singxer)-XMOS-USB-device (XU208)(+ES9038Q2M) on Win10 -> works fine !!
->https://download.shenzhenaudio.com/Singxer/Singxer_USBAudio_v4.59.0_2019-02-13_%28su-1%2Bsu-6%29.rar
Link Essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/pics/Singxer_USBAudio_v4.59.0_2019-02-13.rar

by that there is some Dual !! ES9038PRO on Massdrop->
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/smsl-vmv-d1-dac
SMSL VMV D1 DAC $900


->Dynamic range: 131 dB
USB: PCM 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384, 705.6, 768 kHz

interesting is the separation from the device + power supply..
it is the same principle as maybe earlier with the Mission Cyrus Amps 1-3 with an extra PSX which cost the same !! (and i had luckily here) and which remind us of the great importance of a clean, strong power supply !!

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