Kategorie: ES 9038Q2M

Happy New Year !! ;-) / momentary “gear” / nothing new / I2S over hdmi far better than via spdif

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Hi there !! 😉

first, Happy New Year !! 😉

second: unfortunately absolutely no news from here 😉 ..i´m “stuck” at present to find the right toroidal transformer + the right rectifier for it (Dual DC +-15V) (as written here a thousand times) (btw. “burnt” meanwhile 2 rectifier + 1 Philips power-board + 1 ES9038Q2M-board ;-(  (so, be careful 😉 ) 

and because its always the same here lately, i just want to wish you a happy new year !! 😉

hope i´ll get something more interesting in future about this whole DIY-DAC-thing + ESSabre-boards !! 😉 

(some quick and dirty pics (only for happy new year) ->Sony BDP-7200->HDMI->HDMI-extractor->I2S over hdmi receiver->I2S->Skysong ES9038Q2M (only single 12V at present)..(+but after connecting it via I2S its really really far better than the normal spdif/coax-line from the Sony BDP7200)..

many greets !! 😉

Skysong ES9038Q2M / very handy..

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so, 😉

finally (and last for this), the Skysong ES9038Q2M with display and voltage-poti arrived today (see post before)->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/?p=2768 ->

meanwhile i can´t determine exactly the differences between the ES9038Q2Ms like this Skysong and some green SMPCB V1.07, cause they “sound” almost exactly the same (maybe these Skysongs are a little bit more “warm” and not so “crispy” like the SMPCB-versions of it (its the same with the Skysong-XMOS-Bridge) , but can´t say this for absolutely sure..

anyway, a real improvement in sound/SQ on these boards is to use a dual-DC -power-supply chain (with +-15V !!) (also see posts before), i would tell it like so (and come to an end with these ES9038Q2M-chinese-boards) (but its very “speculative”, only some guess/feel by myself 😉 ):

  1. 100% -> SMPCB V1.07 (Green) with Dual-DC +-15V
  2. 98%    ->Skysong ES9038Q2M with Dual-DC +-15V
  3. 82%    ->both boards with Dual DC +-12V
  4. 72%    ->SMPCB V1.07 (Green) with single 12V/15V
  5. 70% 😉 ->Skysong ES9038Q2M with single 12V/15V
  6. 68%     -> “Blue” ES9038Q2M with single 12V/15V

but as said, very “speculative” 😉

by that these new Skysong ES9038Q2M with the display, volume-poti and possibility to “control” it via some cheap (3$) Apple-TV-remote is very “handy” usability-wise; very nice to adjust the volume on the board too (its a “hardware”-volume mixer (bit-wise)) and has very little impact on the sound-quality, almost nothing..(by that i can finally change the different filter-types “on the fly”, will maybe post a little bit more of it) as originally wanted here on the site..

so again, sorry about it, but i guess thats the final post concerning the differences on these ES9038Q2Ms, maybe we´ll get some ES9038 Pro in future 😉 ,

greets for now 😉

PROJECT IV: PART 3 / Dual DC +-15 / LibreELEC / Toroidal T.+ LM317/337

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so, 😉

as said, burnt my Philips BDP9500-powerboard with these fabulous dual DC (+-12V) ->(see post before) but i didn´t give up 😉 and so i tried another way to get my wonderful dual DC 😉 ..

okay, as i have now only straight/normal +12V DC (via another line on the powerboard (have still of course the toroidal Dual AC (18V1 + 18V2, more later)) i thought why don´t buy a single DC to Dual DC-converter !! ? (found it by chance,  didn´t knew its possible)-> 5,50€ Aliexpress-> https://de.aliexpress.com/item/32924044001.html

and so i could test-out again the “benefits” from dual DC..

okay, the dc-dc converter runs a little bit hot (had to screw the poti a little bit up (from 12V to +- 15V)(use a little 5V-fan to cool it) but again, such a nice sound/tune from dual DC (absolutely better channel separation etc., see also post before) (and now with the, for me missing, “push” from the +-15V instead of +-12V before !!) + and this time i used “LibreELEC“->https://libreelec.tv 

because i´ve got the Rasberry Pi Zero 2 earlier, (and wanted to check the usability as a media-center with only 512MB Ram from the Zero 2) and voilá also a nice sound via Pi 4->Skysong XMOS-USB-bridge->I2S->ES9038Q2M; really a little bit “airier” maybe better as with “Volumio” for example (but also a little bit more “distorted”, have to evaluate it more), but absolutely nice, these better dual DC-sound 😉 ..

and because i´m an absolutely dummy/noob concerning electronical things like these whole dual AC/DC.-thing (but made these site also for people with no knowledge in these things 😉 , to learn about it) i also found out by connecting the toroidal 18V1/18V2 to a simple dual AC to dual DC-converter (see post before) that i got a massive voltage drop under load (means: set to +-15V out, dropped under load extremly about 4-5V (to 11V for example), had not such a drop with the single DC-rail/line, discussed it with some friends and yes, absolutely clear, u need some capacitor to “buffer”, like with these ->”regulated LM317 + LM337 power supply board AC-DC” with some 35V/2200uF capacitors for example ! 😉 (as said, totally clear for some electronical-hifi-freaks but not for me till this point); there are a lot of them around, also with greater capacitors, but just to learn about)..this thing cost about 9€ ->https://de.aliexpress.com/item/32570124466.html

(Voltage input-range: Dual AC28V (three lines), Voltage output-range: ±DC1. 25 V to 30 V adjustable.)

good 😉 ,

so, and now we´ve learned:

you have to use/need a regulated power-board behind some toroidal transformer !! 😉 (and some “thermistor” before, another time..)

more to come + greets for now 😉

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W / ESP32-S2 (ESP12K) / Skysong ES9038Q2M

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so, 😉

as i unfortunately “burnt” my green SMPCB 1.07 + the power-board from the BDP9500 (schniff ;-( , had not fixed the +12V-0V–12V cables correctly, only “so half-way” 😉 , moved the sabre-board a little bit and voila: a nice grey cloud lifted up here above the power-board 😉 ) (but i ordered a new one (ES9038Q2M), see at the bottom), i´ve meanwhile recognized the arrival from the new Raspberry Pi Zero 2..

has 4 cores @ 1GHZ (instead of 1 core before) (same amount (512MB) ram), some newer Bluetooth (4.2) BLE and cost about 19$->https://buyzero.de/products/raspberry-pi-zero-2-w (u can read a lot about it in the web->https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-zero-2-w/ )

(i still thought to use it as “control” for the LCD1602-display, the relais for the inputs (coax+tos) + “webcontrolled” (see other projects before), but i guess the “boot-times” for the Pi Zero 2 (also for Micro-Python btw.) are too long, so i guess i stick back with the ESP32 but this time i think i use “micro-python” because u can use the same “sketches”/python-scripts on the both platforms (its easier + more interesting for me at present (super easy to flash and work with micro-python on the ESP32 btw.))..

and so i found a newer revision of the ESP32; the ESP32-S2 (ESP-12K)..it has only one but newer core, a little less ram, without bluetooth (was either way too resources-hungry) + has a better usb-support etc..cost only about 5€; is here->https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005001489650877.html

so, and as i either way “burnt” an “old” SMPCB 1.07, i thought this time i buy a

“Skysong” ES9038Q2M with display and poti; 45€ from here->https://de.aliexpress.com/item/32979155509.html

(i wrote about this particular ES9038Q2M-board already here-> http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/?p=2211)

and i think/thought that as they made such a phenomenal XMOS-USB-bridge (“..best xmos-implementation..”)->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/?p=1040

it could be really an upgrade to the SMPCB 1.07(will report more then about it)..by that these ES9038Q2M-board is DSD512-compatible (didn´t read it somewhere else) + special japanese condensators + u can also use some Apple TV remote (3€) to select the input-channel (I2S,coax,tos) + volume adjustment + select digital filter..

by that, a new “Moodeaudio” is out (7.6)->https://moodeaudio.org/

nothing else new from here, guess i want to buy a new (spare-part) Philips BDP-9500 power-board (for the dual 12V) and will maybe post a python-script for the web-controlled/IR-receiver/LCD1602 for the “ES9038Q2M-Box” in future..

but greets from here and have a nice pre-christmas-time ! 😉

SFB2

some quick and dirty pics from the DIY-DAC / best sound via Pi4->SkysongXMOS-Bridge->ES9038Q2M (with Burson V5-D)

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so, 😉

bought today again some little stuff for the main-goal here on the site->the own “DIY-DAC/network-streamer” 😉 ..

decided to built it with a separate power supply/-unit (like for example these Mission-PSXs combos (have often posted about it)..(to eliminate any electronical interference/-noise)(the original “combos” were only for cleaner/stronger “power”)->

and so, i have ordered some dual voltage AC/DC-converter (rectifier), because the manufacturer always say “..best results with a dual 15V-0-15V power source/supply” (although the chip itself (ES9038Q2M) runs with 3,3V VCC max. (see this Datasheet ES9038Q2M (LINK))..(guess its about the LM78/9X “.fixed linear voltage regulator integrated circuits” (i think they took the fixed 15V-version of it)..

anyway, separated today the transformer/power-supply for the ESP32s,oled-display,AK4113 digital receiver etc. to a separate case (in this case also the massive Cyrus-PSX toroidal-transformer (dual 27V) will find his housing))

(Ebay, AC/DC (max. 36V) to 5V-15V Dual Voltage Converter Board Mini Rectifier Power Supply Module, 6€ ->LINK )

and okay, as “i fired it up” with the Pi4 + Volumio and my other XMOS-bridge (Leaf-audio), got problems in detecting it by the Pi, i used then these absolute wonderful Skysong-XMOS-bridge !! (posted also a lot of it before->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/?p=1883 ) and got these beautiful tune/sound again !! (and its btw. only with these Skysong-bridge (the Leaf-audio (XMOS too) for example sounds lightyears worser)..

got “dynamic-wise” about minimum 5db 😉 more “frequency-spectrum” then with my Bluray-HDMI-I2S-extraction-combo (and thats almost the best/optimum combo for this transporter/hdmi/i2s things)..

absolutely fantastic !! (as said “the Pi is made for music” + these wonderful “best XMOS-implementation” Skysong-bridge !!) 

that was it for now, more to come, many greets and stay tuned !! 😉

Raspbi HAT ES9038Q2M / Ustars R38

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so, 😉

found by chance this ES9038Q2M-HAT (38€, Aliexpress->LINK)..

interesting is that they use an “OPA1612” (i´ve just ordered one too, because i´ve often seen ES9038Q2M with this op-amp and will test them against the other op-amps i have here (Burson V5i-D, AD797, OPA627AU , Muses8920 etc,etc..))

by that they say in the description:”..Professional IIS verarbeitung chip realisiert PCM/DSD ausgang. 2. unterstützung 32BIT/44,1-384KHZ DSD64-DSD128 ausgang”, means they found apparently another way (“..professional I2S processing..” to output DSD over I2S (which i, we hadn´t got solved here (we used then a usb-bridge (or “new” now via HDMI))

u can also use an oled-display (+10$) directly connected (see pictures)..

else nothing new from here, greets for now !! 😉

Raspberry Pi 4 ->DSD(.dsf/.dff)-files over HDMI / HDMI to I2S-extractor arrived..

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so folks 😉 ,

hooray, today the hdmi to i2s extractor (from audiophonics) arrived ! 😉 (more later)..

but first, these “Raspberry Pi 4 DSD over HDMI”-thing:

i´ve read the days that openelec, Volumio, Moode + picoreplayer are also capable to sent dsf/dff(DSD)-files via hdmi-out on the Pi-4..

thats also a very nice “alternative” because u didnt have to use an usb-bridge (which is absolutely + in every way necessary) to play DSD-files from a Pi-(X) to an “chinese” ES90XX-board..(we didnt get it to work only over I2S)..

the Pi-4 should now be capable of streaming (also multichannel-DSD) via HDMI (was not (or less) possible with the Pi´s before)..

i´m reading just now a lot of it and will post then more about it..

so, and yet to the (long awaited) “HDMI-I2S-extractor” 😉 ..

“rock-solid” (not soo heavy as the before mentioned Burr-Brown-implementation in the Philips Fidelio BDP9700), but very “steady”..

in first using and setting it up, it has 2 red LEDs flashing/blinking) and no picture/sound and i´ve read elsewhere before that u have to use a 5V external power-source (although its not necessary as per “description”)..

okay, feeded it with 5V,2A and had problems (again) with the I2S-line from the extractor to the “green” (SMPCB) ES9038Q2M, not soo with the JY “Blue” ES9038Q2M..

ended it up now with a coax-line from the extractor directly to the coax on the ES9038Q2M..(but only for now, for DSD(native) u need the I2S-line)

and got finally my lovely 192/24 😉

as said, very “solid”-sounding, almost like the Burr-Brown-Gear in the BDP-9700; very exact, another step in the “hi-fi”-direction..

so, the problem is now that my Sony BDP-S7200 should play .dsf/.dff-files (SACD in anyway) via usb/network, but don´t do 😉 

got/always say “file is corrupt or wrong media-format”, + i havent got a single !! SACD here, so i couldnt test the DSD-functionality (and that is/was originally the reason for all these devices lately !!) right now..(but i´m on it !!)..

and so, these Raspberry Pi-4 playing DSD-files via hdmi came to my mind..

(i do play here with volumio->usb-bridge->es9038q2m .dsf/.dff-files “in native” but for test here the hdmi-i2s-extractor)..

(will post a lot more about it)..

so, many greets for now, hope u enjoy the pictures, much more to come 

and stay tuned !! 😉

(eventually) “Lock”-problems (coaxial/optical)-line on ES9038Q2M-boards..

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so folks 😉 ,

as slighty feared, i´ve got a new hdmi-switch with an audio-extractor-function (also for DSD) (19€/Aliexpress)->

but got “massive” lock-problems, means its “stuttering” over the coaxial and optical line on our ES9038Q2M-boards (the “lock”-LED is constantly “working/blinking”); no constantly bitstream..(had it also often, when the soldering on pi-boards/es9038q2m i2s-line was not so optimal)..

checked the coax-cable, used toslink too: same problem..

thought first the switch couldnt deliver a constantly bitstream but connected it then to our mini-dac (Ünnlink 192Khz Digital to Analog Audio Converter  (http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/?p=2384)) and voilá, no stuttering/problems anymore..

okay, but i had not such lock-problems with my Sony CD-changer, nor Blurayplayer, nor Telekom-Mediareceiver over coax/toslink..

so it seems its only on some audio-devices (spdif transmitter/receiver-chips problems/incompatible) and as we had it here in discussion a thousand times (->”.. and as we know „our“ early chinese ES9038Q2M-boards had not such a good „coax/toslink/spdif-line“ (the first onboard spdif-receiver-chips were not soo good (hashtag #SRC4192/AK4113/4118) ->http://essabre-90xx-rpi.sfb2.com/?p=2211 ->“..First, on the new, blue SMPCB they use some „DS9281“ for „better coaxial conversion, less jitter, less „lock“-„problems, „better coaxial line..“),

i/we have to make/find a workaround and for this i´ve found this little nice gem->

“AK4113 Digital Receiver Board + LCD1602 Screen SPDIF Optical/Coaxial/I2S To I2S“, 25$ Ebay/->LINK

has a lot of other advantages too !! first, we got finally our “digital format/sampling frequency/digits”-display !! got besides the 2 spdif-lines also an I2S-in (will be passed through) to whom we can connect for example another hdmi-extractor (link/description at the bottom) and can easily switch between the input-channels via some simple button switch and have in any case some beautiful digital-format/sample-rate display !! 

by that it uses the AK4113 which should result in less jitter etc. too..

so, great (i´m waiting for it now) and yet to the last point today, these “Digital Interface Board HDMI / MHL to I2S / Coaxial / Optical”-device;->

had it mentioned in some articles before and because its above the 26€ duty-edge, i thought to buy it from https://audiophonics.fr/en -> https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/diy-interfaces/digital-interface-board-hdmi-mhl-to-i2s-coaxial-optical-p-15388.html ;

it cost “double the price” (same device) 50€, but its in the EU; faster shipping times + no duty problems..(and there are a lot (all) other nice things u need to have (i2s-cable,XH 2.54mm Male Socket 5 Channels connector,  toroidal-transformer, cases, all u wish)

greets for now + more to come !! 😉

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