Prototype images

[Paul Birkeland]

That looks much better Paul.  Have we lost the ability to switch between filter modes?

Yes, John's filter is the only one you want!

 

[marantzfan]

Nice.  I like the direction this is heading.

 

[johnsonad]

Found on another forum but wanted to confirm, is the chip in this DAC the PCM5102/5142? 

 

[Doc B]

PCM5142. In terms of the digtal to analog conversion that's just one part of this DAC. John has reassigned some of what that chip usually does to the FPGA that is, as John puts it, the brains of the thing. I am hoping to put a detailed description up tomorrow, just adding the finishing touches to it.

 

[TonyBo]

Any rough idea about the enclosure size?

The picture looks like a narrow, taller unit.

Here is a rendering of my plan for the front panel shape.  More details and specs are sitting in a PDF at the moment, and John is pouring over them to be sure nothing is missing. 

-PB

 

[TonyBo]

We have also been working on dressing up the final appearance a little bit.

A good idea. 

 

[hopeful]

The shape of the rendering is nice!  Any chance you all might consider offering a more pedestrian color scheme/option for those of us who are constantly dancing around WAF aesthetics issues?  To preserve marital harmony, I would happily pay a surcharge for a clear coat aluminum enclosure with minimal white lettering and a cutout for the led display.  Totally understand if that isn't possible but figured I would at least ask.

 

[Ryelands]

The price will be $1550. I'm putting together details about the DAC and how it functions.

Two questions.

1. Should I add UK excise duty to that price?

2. What music players are recommended to get the high upsampling rates?

Thanks in anticipation . . .

Dave

 

[JamieMcC]

Two questions.

1. Should I add UK excise duty to that price?

2. What music players are recommended to get the high upsampling rates?

Thanks in anticipation . . .

Dave

Ouch I had forgotten about that  don't forget to add the Royal mails parcel force ransom fee, err I mean handling fee either!

I wonder if DHL or FEDEX might be a cost effective option? At least there should not then be the rip of handling fee our UK end.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

The shape of the rendering is nice!  Any chance you all might consider offering a more pedestrian color scheme/option for those of us who are constantly dancing around WAF aesthetics issues?  To preserve marital harmony, I would happily pay a surcharge for a clear coat aluminum enclosure with minimal white lettering and a cutout for the led display.  Totally understand if that isn't possible but figured I would at least ask.

This DAC is not particularly large, I'd address the WAF issue by tucking it away where it can't be seen. (It's black anyway...?)

The enclosure we are using isn't available in anodized aluminum.  A 1-off aluminum box would take design time and several prototypes.  Even if the aluminum enclosure was only $800 (which would be a reasonable estimate for something that looks better in aluminum than what we have now), I would need to make a few to work out the bugs, and spend the time to develop them, so the 1-off $800 enclosure is more like $2400-3200, plus the cost of the DAC. 

-PB

 

[mcandmar]

I'm afraid of that too, if it gets caught by customs it will cost me another €352 :'(

 

[Paul Birkeland]

I'm afraid of that too, if it gets caught by customs it will cost me another €352 :'(

At some point it'd be easier to fly someone over to pick them up

 

[mcandmar]

€650 return trip.  With half a dozen UK based buyers that would actually start to work out.

I suspect running pack mule services may raise a few eye brows with the TSA

 

[Doc B]

We will look into other shippers. iI you guys have an idea of a more economical solution let us know.

 

[mcandmar]

From buying stuff on eBay anything sent USPS International Priority, or UPS is guaranteed to be seized by customs.  The only one i know of that can sneak through is USPS First Class Mail International, but i dont know how it scales in terms of shipping insurance.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

USPS First Class has insurance to $400.  Though it is inexpensive and may squeak by customs, it may spend 4-8 weeks in the mail doing so  :-\

 

[mcandmar]

Hey vs Bottlehead time that's nothing     I've never had an issue with USPS but for something this valuable i would be more comfortable with it fully insured.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

If all goes well in the next few days, we will have an updated image that is much, much closer to the rendering I put up earlier.

-PB

 

[Johnnycopy]

Anyone have some good recommendations for a fair priced, excellent transport companion fir this dac?  I am not computer driven yet.

 

[johnsonad]

I am a big fan of the Oppo 103.  Not cheap but not pricey either.  It bested my Meridian