Review and Measurements of WesionTEK Khadas Tone Board DAC

[Veri]

thank you. I was googling on how to disable software volume in pc. I thought it can't be done, can it? I am using Windows 7x64

On software side you can use WASAPI or ASIO direct modes. System-wide it's less feasible. 100% volume is easiest approximation.

 

[g29]

For Bit-Perfect playback you need the computer to be at 100% volume or even better with disabled s.ware volume.

thank you. I was googling on how to disable software volume in pc. I thought it can't be done, can it? I am using Windows 7x64

JRMC-64 has a 64-bit internal volume control and the KTBD has a 32-bit interface. You probability can't do much better than that.

 

[Bourneendboy]

If anyone is looking for a nice high quality case, I have just put one up for sale in the classifieds

 

[DomieMic65]

Finally we decided to stick to this solution because even if my friend tested with extra USB input to cut the power 100% from USB.
I will post later some photos and video with the findings.

 

[DomieMic65]

View attachment 40987View attachment 40988View attachment 40989
Finally we decided to stick to this solution because even if my friend tested with extra USB input to cut the power 100% from USB.
I will post later some photos and video with the findings.

There is an unfinished sentence here:
"...100% from USB, he discovered that there is not really a point to do so."

 

[orangefx]

i'd like to place the board hard to reach but connect 2 different usb sources. is there a way to connect 2 usb c cable without having to disconnect either one while the other is in use?

 

[somebodyelse]

i'd like to place the board hard to reach but connect 2 different usb sources. is there a way to connect 2 usb c cable without having to disconnect either one while the other is in use?

IIRC switching between them is done by presence or absence of 5V on the USB-C connector. You could use a USB cable with an inline power switch on that cable, or modify the board.

 

[orangefx]

i would need an USB y cable with an inline power switch on both. cant find something like that. would a usb hub work?

 

[Reddy]

View attachment 40987View attachment 40988View attachment 40989
Finally we decided to stick to this solution because even if my friend tested with extra USB input to cut the power 100% from USB.
I will post later some photos and video with the findings.

Sound it beter?

 

[orangefx]

thanx, funny (at least to me) having not seen the solution.

 

[Kalander]

i'd like to place the board hard to reach but connect 2 different usb sources. is there a way to connect 2 usb c cable without having to disconnect either one while the other is in use?

Use something like this UGREEN USB switcher : https://is.gd/99XWuh

 

[Veri]

To those eager for balanced khadas tone board. Member WolfX told me the designer of the KTB apparently started his own business, a balanced DAC will be the first product. Initial measurements look incredible. WolfX should get a unit for testing.

 

[g29]

To those eager for balanced khadas tone board. Member WolfX told me the designer of the KTB apparently started his own business, a balanced DAC will be the first product. Initial measurements look incredible. WolfX should get a unit for testing.

Thanks for the heads up. Khadas has been very tight lipped about the balanced version.

 

[somebodyelse]

i would need an USB y cable with an inline power switch on both. cant find something like that. would a usb hub work?

Sorry, I'm assuming too much knowledge about the TB. It has a second USB port on the VIM header - see this thread for details. This post has the details of the switching between the two, and a potential problem using USB-C to USB-C cables. You'd only need one inline power switch. If you want both USB hosts to share the existing port on the back of the TB the only thing I've seen that switches a USB device between hosts is a KVM switch using it to switch mouse and keyboard between two computers. You may be able to find one that does only USB though.

 

[WolfX-700]

To those eager for balanced khadas tone board. Member WolfX told me the designer of the KTB apparently started his own business, a balanced DAC will be the first product. Initial measurements look incredible. WolfX should get a unit for testing.

In fact, as far as I know, the designer of KTB has sent a smaller unit than you found to Amir. (a single 9038Q2M balanced output)

This unit is more similar to KTB-but the advantage is that it has a sturdy casing.

 

[PJotr]

Another small project: ESP8266 + oled module to control khadac via i2c. ESP8266 includes a Web Server to control some Khadas registers via HTTP.
This is only for better knowledge of es9038q2m

 

[porotikos]

my tone board is coming today. so, 2 quick questions
what is the best driver to install?
secondly, do i have to change any settings in my pc? i am using windows 7 x64 and listening to music through foobar (asio). are any settings needed in windows and foobar, or is it an automatic procedure for dac to maintain everything, after i install the drivers? thank you.
ps. ill try and make a tone board case out of the package. as seen in khadas facebook post

 

[Haze]

Okay I may be nuts but I swear the Thesycon Xmos drivers sound worse than the default Windows 10 drivers. Worse to the point I think they might be broken. The midrage is recessed, imaging is terrible and there is no instrument separation. I've done a few RMAA tests and the xmos drivers do test slightly worse than the default windows drivers but RMAA isn't super reliable.

Anyone else hearing this?

 

[scruffy1]

my tone board is coming today. so, 2 quick questions
what is the best driver to install?
secondly, do i have to change any settings in my pc? i am using windows 7 x64 and listening to music through foobar (asio). are any settings needed in windows and foobar, or is it an automatic procedure for dac to maintain everything, after i install the drivers? thank you.
ps. ill try and make a tone board case out of the package. as seen in khadas facebook post

foobar will let you define the sound out (once the driver is working)

library > configure > playbac > output >> device

 

[porotikos]

foobar will let you define the sound out (once the driver is working)

library > configure > playbac > output >> device

should i use
ds:speakers (xmos xs1-u8 mfa)
or
dsd ks: khadas tone control
or
ks: khadas tone control

these are the 3 options i see in foobar... no asio with khadas. should i reinstall asio and choopse this, if i see an option like " asio - khadas"? (or something like that)

btw i did a stupid thing. i wanted to connect my toneboard to my mixing console. and i had ordered rca to rca cables. and i just realised i need rca to jack cables. how stupid can i be? now i cant ttest the toneboard until i get these cables....
can someone confirm if i am correct using this cable?
https://www.ghentaudio.com/part/c02.html

i feel so stupid right now...