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A Thread Dedicated to Cirrus Logic CS43131

ElNino

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So far it seems XMOS and the Thesycon ASIO driver are not reprogrammable things. XMOS is widely known, arguably well documented, and easy to start. However its pricing, power consumption (110mA), with many surrounding parts make it unsuitable for portable DACs. Yet we have Clarity Aura.

XMOS is definitely reprogrammable. It's actually not even designed specifically for handling USB audio; it's a general purpose series of chips developed with USB audio as one of several target applications.
 
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Saidera

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Is it possible for end users to program the CS4398 chip via XMOS to enable direct DSD?
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/252266-cs4398-dsd-format.html
Also somebody asked 'Does the cs4398 support DSD256?' Most implementations only do 5.6 MHz.

Audio Precision APx525 http://archive.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_112766/article.html
A very nice review of DIY CS4398 for beginners http://wwenze.blogspot.com/2012/03/cheap-and-good-or-just-cheap-ljm.html
It seems CYBERDRIVE SEIUN JR-2 was an attempt to copy Sony's early 2010s walkman design.
Back in 2016 they could rely on audio fairs, crowdfunding and the DSD logo to drive sales. They included the CAEE technology, a clear copy of Sony's DSEE. They used ESS9018Q2C and xmos.

Worth noting for Feather/Aura that some earphones exhibit noise and the default volume is always loudest, whereas SHDP remembers the volume setting for next use.

This is probably setting records for 'cheapest DSD capable DAC': https://www.makkyon.com/2019/08/27/cyberdrive-clarity-feather-dac/
So in Japan, Feather was 1480 yen and Aura was 1280 yen shipped in Aug 2019. In the history of DSD audio and online shopping there has never been nor can there ever be such a low price for a CS4398 DAC! Of course in China the regular price is around the same on taobao. If this is the true cost of the device, it is not bad at all.

Specs for Feather/Aura are stated to be 112 dB SNR, 0.0085% THD+N, headphone amp is DirectDrive 40 mW at 16 ohms. Feather/Aura is likely to rank quite low. The CS4398 used to be a high-end chip, but over the years the price per chip has probably come down so much that it can now be used in very cheap DACs. It's no exaggeration to say that this chip is the whole package you get (although the XMOS is more conspicuous in terms of area).

By the way, the headphone amplifier part is a chip called "AIF BDM", which is probably the same as "MAX97220", based on the photos of other teardowns. How it works is explained: https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/design/technical-documents/tutorials/3/3979.html
The combination of CS4398 and MAX97220 is used in Vivo x5 pro. Unfortunately little is known about Vivo x5 pro except that its CS4398 is a custom version. Clearly phones nowadays can't use such an old bulky chip!
Maxim Integrated's DirectDrive tech is fairly old. But it must have contributed to making portable audio possible. These days people might still prefer more attention to the amp section instead of eliminating capacitors. But it's not that simple. It is not clear how the amp creates a doubled supply voltage to output 2V from 5V supply. Meanwhile, amps are explained here: https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/design/technical-documents/tutorials/5/5590.html
They say the MAX97220A headphone amp uses a Class AB topology in a bridge-tied-load configuration with low THD+N and delivering up to 125mW of power and that it 'is one of the most widely used Class AB headphone amps in the world today'.
So is "AIF BDM" really a MAX97220A? See the datasheet for MAX97220A. It says the 'top mark' is '+AIF' for MAX97220AETE. It's a 3mm x 3mm x 0.8mm, 16-pin TQFN. Yes, check the pic, it is 16 pins. A 3D model is here. Price is $0.59/unit. Also, Cyberdrive seems to have copied from this datasheet the value of '112 dB SNR'. So that really helps! But THD+N is quoted higher by Cyberdrive.

All in all, this small CYBERDRIVE drives well. The overall performance is definitely above the price. Because of the size of the unit, there is no room for analogue processing using operational amplifiers, so you could say that the sound comes from the DAC chip as it is. On the other hand, ultra-high frequency sound can feel a little uncomfortable or a bit painful. The CYBERDRIVE has a 'muddier sound' and feels noisier overall compared to other modern dongles. It's perhaps not even the headphone amp's fault. As you can see, the CYBERDRIVE is not a replacement for a good measuring USB DAC but it may be the perfect introduction for those who want to buy a DSD compatible DAC.

Regarding XMOS, D30 (not all iterations)/Feather/Aura uses 6U6C5 which is also called XS1-U6A-64-FB96-C5. It provides a lot of info. CAD is here. Its price for one is quite high. Perhaps CYBERDRIVE does cost more to manufacture than its current low price. So it's still not known whether XMOS XS1 can be accessed via USB on a PC. The USB controller XMOS XS1, which is referred to as a "controller" rather than an interface because it has a powerful multi-core microcontroller inside. The core processor is a 32-bit, 6-core processor with a processing speed of 500 MIPS and supports USB Audio Class 2. The XS1 can be programmed by the manufacturer to be used not only as a USB interface, but also as an embedded device in a wide range of consumer electronics, automotive, industrial and robotic applications.

The Cirrus Logic CS4398 is a 24-bit/192kHz multi-bit delta-sigma D/A converter. It has a dynamic range of 120dB. The music signal (PCM) is processed through a fast and slow roll-off digital interpolation filter (digital filter) and then through a multi-bit delta-sigma modulator. It then passes through a multi-element switched capacitor and a low-pass filter to the analogue output.
The analogue output is a voltage output in a differential configuration. The DSD mode can be processed either directly or via a Direct Stream Digital (DSD) processor. The DSD processor has a 50kHz filter to prevent damage to the speaker's tweeter, and an adjustment function to match the output levels of PCM and DSD. Other internal features include digital de-emphasis, volume control and ATAPI channel mixing.

Now that I'm an expert in the surface useless pieces of knowledge on CYBERDRIVE Feather/Aura, I'd like to move on to XMOS programming for newbies.

ba617c7c.jpg
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Saidera

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Is it possible for end users to program the CS4398 chip via XMOS to enable direct DSD? https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/252266-cs4398-dsd-format.html I understand that one would use xTIMEcomposer and some other boards? Is the XMOS on a DAC recognised by a computer? Are other boards necessary? I've been through all DSD, CS4398, and DAC implementation threads on https://www.xcore.com/ Do you program XMOS before it's soldered onto the PCB or after? If it's after, then I suppose firmware upgrades and user customisation is possible (like with Realtek codecs using their confidential tools).

IVX answered me: "Do you program XMOS before it's soldered onto the PCB or after?" - After.

But is it possible to access the XMOS chip (and whatever code is inside it) shown in the pic and control CS4398? Or must the original XMOS firmware be edited and reflashed to XMOS XS1? And if you know anything regarding direct DSD mode in CS4398, apparently it has an unchangeable volume, so I am worried whether it will damage the DIrectDrive amp and also wondering whether the volume control buttons are connected to the DIrectDrive amp or CS4398.

staticV3 said: I suspect that the volume buttons change digital gain on the CS4398 ... As suspected, the CS4398 has two ways of outputting DSD. You can route it through the delta sigma modulator and retain volume control, or you can feed it directly into the DAC but without volume control.

Also see this person: http://eet.etec.wwu.edu/AndyS/
 
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Saidera

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New discoveries regarding Cirrus ADCs in Apple a2049, a2155, Meizu Hifi, or Meizu Hifi Pro. Artifacts occur when voice recording but not when recording sine waves or silence. Credit: staticV3.
 
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Saidera

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Actually, Cyberdrive isn't the cheapest DSD capable USB thumb drive DAC, if Realtek-based dongles are considered. However, those usually do not have ASIO support and its DSD is questionable.

Cyberdrive reports that its THD+N is 0.0085%. If this is taken to be an honest measurement, we can use some layperson's searching skills to find that THD+N is the reciprocal of SINAD, but since it's a percentage, we use 20log(0.000085)=-81.4 dB.
That should be the SINAD if I haven't made a fatal mistake somewhere. We could also find the ENOB by (81-1.76)/6.02=13.16 bits.
This is terrible performance, just going by what they've stated in the specs table. Measurements are likely to show worse values. For now, we'll accept that this performance was acceptable in 2015. It is likely comparable to or worse than Periodic Audio Rhodium DAC (SINAD 81 dB / SNR 93 dB) which uses Realtek ALC5686. The maker replied with some explanations on measurements, which was interesting. Cyberdrive hasn't replied to me.
 
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Saidera

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Didn't realise 52audio had already toredown Xiaomi Hifi DAC: https://www.52audio.com/archives/55198.html
They use a 24MHz oscillator (cf. Meizu Hifi) but it's still unclear how the audio part is separated from the USB charging part.
A bunch of measurements of Sonata HD Pro and Meizu Hifis suggested in the Meizu Hifi thread forms the basis for the appeal for Meizu Hifi to gain greater recognition: https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/206709234; https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/94991395; https://www.0db.co.kr/REVIEW_0DB/1005449.
 
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Saidera

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Seems that vivo’s words were all a marketing method. They said ‘custom CS4398’ perhaps to appeal to hifi enthusiasts who believed that vivo kept on using CS4398 in their phones. No, in reality they did use it for their first phone, perhaps, but in later phones like X5 pro, you can see in teardown videos that they are using a CS4385 or 65 square chip. They call that ‘custom CS4398’.

Still, many phones do use DACs from big brands and only rarely see fit to advertise it. Even a free alcatel phone might carry an AKM chip, although it is underpowered and only capable of 24/96 native PCM.

Regarding XMOS, diyinhk has kindly explained as follows:
We do not have specific xmos firmware for cs4398 dac currently.
Advance diyer can always write their own firmware and flash it to the xmos pcb.
The multichannel xmos pcb includes standard 2.54mm xsys connector and it can connected to the xmos xtag debug adapter pcb. (the pin arrangement is printed on the bottom of the pcb)
https://www.diyinhk.com/shop/audio-...high-quality-usb-tofrom-i2sdsd-spdif-pcb.html

In other words, for Cyberdrive USB dongles without any such xsys connectors, direct DSD is unlikely to be properly implementable.
 
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Saidera

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Many thanks to a member who told me about a 'potential new' adapter: JCALLY JM30 CS43198. https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=652747287607 At 209 yuan or above 40 AUD it is basically equivalent to SHDP's price on taobao.

They told me that it's the first small dongle (like Meizu/apple type ones) with CS43198...

No mention of what amp it's using though. I don't expect JCALLY to implement Direct DSD mode (CS43198's only appeal to me) either...
 

mt8848

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Hi ! Which of the USB DACs take in Microphone (ADC) when used with PC or a Phone ?
 
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Saidera

Saidera

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  1. Meizu Hifi
  2. Apple USB-C
Samsung USB-C, Google USB-C, Microsoft Surface USB-C, most of the smartphone makers' dongles include an ADC.
Tempotec Sonata HD II also has ADC enabled.
Look at the product info page and it should say. Audiophile DACs usually don't have ADC.
 

djstree

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Glad I spotted this page!

Can anyone help me decode the power rails and register settings on the CS43131?

It looks like you can power the analog pumps from

1). VP_LDO Mode
VP (3.3 to 5.25V battery) -> internal LDO to 3.0V (HV_EN=1) -> internally connnected to VCP pump

2). VCP Mode
External 1.8VA -> VCP (pin 25)

For option 2). the VCP (pin 25) has a suggested 1.8V voltage. I assume the pump also has a internal boost feature of some kind if using this voltage source option as it will need to get up to 3.0V internally.

If using option 1). do you have to connect 1.8VA on pin 25 too?

Option A - 1.7Vrms in 600ohm
ADPT_PWR = 001 Fixed, Mode 0 (±VP_LDO)
Internal ±VP_LDO (±3.0 V with HV_EN=1)
HV_EN = 1 (VP_LDO = 3.0 V)
No voltage connected to pin 25

Option B - 1.4Vrms in 32ohm
ADPT_PWR = 001 Fixed, Mode 0 (±VP_LDO)
Internall ±VP_LDO (±2.6 V with HV_EN=0)
HV_EN = 0 (VP_LDO = 2.6 V)
No voltage connected to pin 25

Option C - ??? Vrms in 32ohm
EXT_VCPFILT = 1
VCP_FILT± voltages provided externally at ±3.1 V
+1dB_EN = 1
Can this option C allow for 2Vrms into 32ohm as dedicated external supplies are used - unlike option A ?
No voltage connected to pin 25

Full scale 2Vrms option
OUT_FS = 11
HV_EN = 1,
+1dB_EN = 1

+1dB_EN seems to drop DSD THD+N from -108 to -105 (table 3-6). I assume there would be a 3dB drop for PCM too.

Hope that makes sense and look forward to your comments. A complex DAC indeed!
 
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adolchristin

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Bit of a necro and maybe slightly unrelated but does anyone know where I can find the datasheet for the CS46L41? I spotted https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B089M895ZB on Amazon and bought a couple to try. I sacrificed one to make sure that the chipset inside was as advertised and it is a genuine CS46L41-CWZR. I can't find any datasheets for this chip anywhere! I was wondering how it stacks up against the CS43131-CWZR.
 
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Saidera

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Wow, ok. Just to clarify, I have no technical expertise and this thread is existing solely for its entertainment value - surface knowledge only. There are members here and on diyaudio forum who do read datasheets for a living or as a hobby but who knows when they'll drop by here?

As IVX noted over at diyaudio, CS46L41 is secret info and only released to selected customers. https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/351441-2020-choice-usb-audio-bridge.html

Wow, i have 4K views on my Remaining Considerations on DSD thread!
 

adolchristin

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Wow, ok. Just to clarify, I have no technical expertise and this thread is existing solely for its entertainment value - surface knowledge only. There are members here and on diyaudio forum who do read datasheets for a living or as a hobby but who knows when they'll drop by here?

As IVX noted over at diyaudio, CS46L41 is secret info and only released to selected customers. https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/351441-2020-choice-usb-audio-bridge.html

Wow, i have 4K views on my Remaining Considerations on DSD thread!
Hey, thanks for the info! It's surprising that the info about the CS46L41 is so closely guarded. I can't distinguish the sound between the JSAUX Pro and my Meizu Hifi so it seems to be "good enough". It's got the most rugged strain relief I've ever seen in a this dongle form factor and it's only $12...
 

Jin233

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Has anyone's CS43131 DAC that's paired with a Savitech SA9312L managed to play DSD 256 properly? I have a JCALLY JM10 (Latest version) that doesn't play DSD 256 at all. And I finally persuaded JCALLY enough to finally ask the OEM (Shenzhen TTGK or CBHT) of the DAC module to provide a "software" upgrade, still waiting for it though.
 

MalinYamato

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My little dongle ifi go blu has this chip. Is that why it sounds so good despite its tinyiness?
but I hate the company that makes it for their ultra woke anti-white racism so I am replacing it with
an Ibasso. I prefer AKM, a decent Japanese company with its head office near where I live.
 

Blorg

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@WolfX-700 has measurements of this new Moondrop Dawn 4.4mm (only) dongle. Apparently going to be priced ¥399-499 ($60-75). Dual CS43131 chip. Measurements seem on a par, even slightly better than the MoonRiver 2.

 
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