DAC crowdfunding now in progress

If you mean are you able to control the volume ahead of the DAC, that will depend upon your setup. If, for example, you are using a computer and a player like Amarra, then yes, you can control output level in Amarra. If you use the DAC via coax or TOSLINK with a CD player that has no volume control, the DAC itself does not have a level control in the firmware. You would adjust level at the preamp or amp that it is connected to.
 
We have tried a couple of different ways of programming the XMOS chip that handles USB in the DAC here in the lab and we've run into a hitch. John Swenson has been writing new routines, verifying them on his setup and sending them to us. Unfortunately this has not resolved the issue for us, so today we are overnighting our programmer and a DAC board to John so he can work out what is going on. Once this issue is worked out everything will be in place and the DAC elves should be finishing up a big stack 'o' DACs to burn in and ship out.

In the meantime we have received the first shipment of Supra USB cables to go with those DACs ordered by early birds. We got all the cables they had in the US, and more are on their way from the factory in Sweden in about a week.
 
Thanks for the update Dan. How many DAC's are you going to get out initially and what is your expected turn around for the rest of the first run?
 
It depends upon the timing of this last adjustment. We have eight of the 25 cables that were ordered. So if the programming fix is quick we might ship those ASAP. If the fix takes a few days we might have the rest of the cables by then and be able to ship more. I will keep everyone posted.
 
Hey Dan, et al,

I just have to say thanks for the updates and transparency throughout this process.  It is, I think, a unique model of new product development and introduction (at least in my experience - I don't count Kickstarter projects because I have learned delivery is anything but guaranteed), and I sincerely appreciate it.

thanks!

David
 
The flash chips used in the prototypes were not available anywhere on the planet, so the board house had to use a slightly different model that was supposed to be completely compatible, but it turned out it had a different "device ID", the programmer was checking the ID and wouldn't program it.

I had to create a custom flash configuration and compile the program for that, then it worked. So crisis resolved.

John S.
 
I may be overly bold here, but that seems to be the last impediment to getting some DACs assembled and burning in. I requested that John be sent our adapter for programming the flash chips as well as a DAC board, just to rule out that the adapter might be the problem. As I already mentioned the main programmer that sets up the software for the FPGA seems to be working great. So once the adapter gets back here to the lab PB will start turnin' 'em and burnin' 'em.

 
Caucasian Blackplate said:
Yes.
Click to expand...

Doc B. said:
If you mean are you able to control the volume ahead of the DAC, that will depend upon your setup. If, for example, you are using a computer and a player like Amarra, then yes, you can control output level in Amarra. If you use the DAC via coax or TOSLINK with a CD player that has no volume control, the DAC itself does not have a level control in the firmware. You would adjust level at the preamp or amp that it is connected to.
Click to expand...

This is confusing. Although I think I have the answer I need, which is in bold. I would like clarification. I understand that volume can be controlled in your music player via software, that should be obvious. I was wondering if we have any control over the output levels of the DAC directly through the OS. (ie. my odac can be controlled using the volume keys on my keyboard) From what Doc wrote above, it looks like the answer to what I'm asking is no. I can assume a constant output then (when all software volume is at 100%), in all situations, correct?

Good to see the first run of DACs are almost out the door, I'm eagerly awaiting to hear people's responses.
 
Doc B. said:
I may be overly bold here, but that seems to be the last impediment to getting some DACs assembled and burning in.  .  .  .  .   
Click to expand...

You have passed bold.  I have said something like this to a production manager in troubleshooting situations and learned to regret it.

I wish you much better luck!  I really want to see this succeed.
 
Yes that is correct, the DAC does not include software for volume control. You would adjust level in the player software or at the preamp that the DAC is connected to.
 
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