DAC crowdfunding now in progress

[Doc B]

As of this morning I think we are at 25 DACs ordered. We crunched the numbers for this run a couple months ago and I was reviewing them this morning. Basically it works out that we need to order parts for 40 DACs (plus a $minimum order$ of a much larger number of oscillators and USB chips) to get the best prices and actually break even. I figure we will need a few review samples, so that means we have about 10 left from this first run. Certainly we will do more runs so this is not a one time deal. It will just some extra time to get the boards made for those future runs as we will need to continue to order the boards in lots of at least 40. So if you want to get a DAC sooner rather than later (like probably January rather than maybe February or March) it might behoove you to commit to one of the ten or so remaining in this first production run.

 

[denti alligator]

Does this mean every new run will require a certain number of orders, or will there just be a longer wait as funds come in from other places, too?

 

[Doc B]

The plan right now is to get the first 40 going ASAP. It might take a little time to get a feel for how far ahead to order another run so that it comes in around the time the existing run sells out. For this first round the lead time on this stuff is like 4-6 weeks to get the chips made and programmed and then after that a couple more weeks to get the boards made and assembled. Then we have to assemble, test and burn in the DACs. For board production runs after the first run that initial 4-6 week wait for the chips won't be a factor for quite a while, because we have to buy a s**t ton of them up front.

 

[PassionForSound]

Congratulations Doc and Team Bottlehead!!! I wish I could have been a part of the opening run, but I'm excited to see that the project is now a reality - very excited for you all!!!

 

[Doc B]

Just a quick reminder that today is the last day to get in on the free-Supra-USB-cable-with-your-DAC-order deal.

 

[davechen]

Just a quick reminder that today is the last day to get in on the free-Supra-USB-cable-with-your-DAC-order deal.

My order got in under the wire, right?

 

[Doc B]

It sure did, Dave. Thank you!

I will try to have a photo of the back panel posted in the next day or two.

 

[Doc B]

We have officially begun the first DAC production run today, by ordering the two chips that need several weeks lead time - one large quantity order that takes a pretty long lead time for programming and the other a large quantity order to qualify for the license for the necessary Windows USB driver. Since we have  already achieved our funding goal we figured that by starting these now we should be able to deliver a little sooner than if we wait until the end of the funding period. In for a penny, in for a pound.

We still have a few DACs left in the first run. The closer you wait until the end of the funding period the better chance of your DAC order getting slated for the second run.

 

[mcandmar]

"Windows Driver License", god that must have killed you to pay for that

 

[Natural Sound]

"Windows Driver License", god that must have killed you to pay for that

LOL I gave up on Windows a long time ago. I'm a Linux guy myself.

 

[Doc B]

The available DACs continue to be reserved and we have comitted about 3/4 of the initial run. That means that, after I annex some units for demos, there are about half a dozen DACs left available in the first production run. We have analyzed the costs of a production run in some detail and it only makes sense to do another run when there are enough participants willing to commit to justify the quantity purchase of motherboards needed to make this economically feasible. Thus we will probably space out the production runs a bit and do the second run in spring of 2015. So if you don't want to wait that long it will be worthwhile to order a DAC from this initial run.

 

[aroide]

I pulled the trigger tonight.  They call me 'gadget boy' at work, and I have a reputation to uphold.  Can't wait!

 

[Doc B]

Thank you, and thanks to everyone else who has come on board the last week or so!

 

[Doc B]

Looks like we now have about four DACs left in our first production run.

 

[pdxgrampa]

Hey Dan would you post the dimensions of the DAC and the battery kit if that's far enough along.

Thanks

 

[Johnnycopy]

I am in!  Excitedly looking forward to it.

 

[Doc B]

Thanks John! And thanks to all the folks who have ordered in the past few days. I think we have maybe two DACs available from our planned initial run of 40 units.

The DAC box is approximately 5" wide x 3.5" tall x 8" deep. The battery supply box dimensions are unknown at this point, but it will probably be a little bigger.

 

[PassionForSound]

I might be looking in the wrong places so apologies if this is easily found somewhere else, but is there an image of the finished product (casing, etc.) anywhere to be seen yet?

EDIT: Sorry - just found it for myself!  :-[

 

[Hank Murrow]

Say Doc or Paul; How about an update on DAC progress for those who have ordered, and eagerly await news?

Cheers, Hank in Eugene

 

[Doc B]

The chips that take several weeks to be manufactured and programmed were ordered a while ago. We checked in with the motherboard manufacturer and they say they should have them and be able to begin board production by the end of December. In the meantime we are waiting for a delivery of chassis boxes to arrive any day so we can start on the cabinets.

John has reworked the display board to better fit the cabinet and he has further tweaked his software filter. 

We have also begun to acquire the components for the programmer that will burn the EEPROMs. Peebs hopes to have that assembled and tested in the next couple weeks.