DAC progress

[Doc B]

Just a quick update-

We are back at this project after letting it percolate for a few months while we got caught up on other projects. During this time John Swenson has made some very interesting breakthroughs that make the DAC even more useful and even better sounding. I still don't have an exact time frame for release, but wanted to let everyone know that it is high on the priority list these days.

 

[2wo]

Good to hear. By useful, I hope there will be a USB option. I don't plan to go back to a sound card. I moved to a Vortex box on my old computer. That gives me USB and SPDIF, with a Squeezbox...John 

 

[Yoder]

I think Doc mentioned both TOSLINK and USB interfacing capabilities.

 

[HF9]

I think Doc mentioned both TOSLINK and USB interfacing capabilities.

I'd like to see a good old fashioned 75ohm BNC input myself

 

[tdogzthmn]

Can anyone give a size estimate of the DAC?  Is it smaller/larger than the Crack I currently own?  I am hoping it has a somewhat small footprint as many DACs need to share space on desks with lots of other peripherals.

 

[jrebman]

Funny, I was just wondering the same thing today as I was looking at my very crowded rack.

-- Jim

 

[Doc B]

Sonic performance comes first on this project, and if it takes some real estate to incorporate what we feel we need to get the best sound, we will make it as big as it needs to be. We're still talking about different approaches, one of which is two chassis. Right now I am leaning toward a single chassis if possible. This will have the DAC, possibly three separate power supplies (real ones, not wall warts) and some tubes. So it might end up the size of a Crack or maybe a Foreplay or maybe even a Stereomour. But we are still working through this. John has been working hard on the latest iteration of the DAC circuitry and I'll have a more to share soon.

 

[denti alligator]

Another month gone by ... any update on the DAC? Obviously you'll post when there's something to share, but I thought I'd prod you just once...

 

[Doc B]

John is working on a layout concept that requires some careful squeezing in of all the parts. You just reminded me that he may be waiting for some dimensional info from me.

 

[denti alligator]

Happy to oblige

I'm waiting off on getting a DAC for the BH model, though it's hard, especially with the increasing number of albums I'm getting on FLAC only.

 

[denti alligator]

It's scary that it's been another month (I have so much stuff to do), but I'm just checking in again. I'm wondering if the DAC will be ready by the end of the year still, or if more time will be needed.

 

[castelletti]

i still need to figure out what i can sell to get one of these

 

[Grainger49]

Doc,

You might make me go to a PC based digital system after all.  I have faith in the Bottlehead designs.  I just hope it becomes available in the foreseeable future.

 

[2wo]

No actual tubes were harmed while making this post...John

 

[MxT]

Also Keen on this!

 

[Doc B]

We're continuing to work on the project. As I said this one is going to take some time. But I think we should have a prototype that is a bit closer to the final product in the next few months.

 

[denti alligator]

I've suddenly become much more patient about this, since I just did a side-by-side comparison of a CD played on my Denon with the same CD in FLAC form on my PC, output from the Juli@ (which does the DAC). The difference is almost imperceptible. I don't know if that means my Denon has a crappy DAC or that the Juli@ has a great one, but either way things are pretty nice the way they are.

 

[Doc B]

John and I had a great meeting at CAS 2011 and worked out several more details of the DAC. It will present the potential for some pretty neat upgrades. I think the pace will be picking up a bit now. I'll continue to post about our progress.

 

[Grainger49]

Dan,

How about a thread that charts the proposed features of this future Bottlehead product?  The information is fragmented throughout this thread and possibly others.  The OP could be updated as features were added or decided against.  

Possibly this would be a good suggestion for new and revised products as Bottlehead cooks them up.  That is, a thread dedicated to the proposed product and its features.  Like the SUT that didn't quite make it.  I realize that if it doesn't meet your standards you are not going to market a product.  But it will both gauge interest and allow you to see what your market is looking for.

 

[InfernoSTi]

Great news.  Add me to the list who will be pre-purchasing when available (assuming I can afford it!)....

John