Douk Audio K5 DAC Headphone Amplifier--Let’s discuss it together!

[Douk Audio]

Hello all members,

Recently, we will release our latest dac headphone amp-K5, with USB and optical inputs, optical, stereo RCA, 6.35mm and 3.5mm headphone jack outputs. The USB supports PCM384/32bit,DSD256.
On the basis of our Q4 DAC, we collected many useful opinions and feedback from our users, upgraded some functions and modified some problems now.
Below are the outline sketches, what do you think of it?

Later, I will share its related specs and AP report.

 

[raif71]

Looks like a dac/amp (not only amplifier)...perhaps you can change the topic of this thread.

 

[Douk Audio]

Looks like a dac/amp (not only amplifier)...perhaps you can change the topic of this thread.

Yeah, it is a dac amp. We are dealers, so we are only allowed to share our posts in this thread... Do I understand wrongly again? Is there any other threads that I can share our products?

 

[raif71]

Yeah, it is a dac amp. We are dealers, so we are only allowed to share our posts in this thread... Do I understand wrongly again? Is there any other threads that I can share our products?

I meant change your Title (hopefully u can do that) As it is, now it is "

Douk Audio K5 Headphone Amplifier--Let’s discuss it together!"​

So, just change it to "

Douk Audio K5 Headphone DAC/Amplifier--Let’s discuss it together!"​

or something like that

Edit: ASR moderators should be able to help u, right ?

 

[MCH]

Hi @Douk Audio do i read right, SPDIF in and SPDIF out?
Will the SPDIF out be affected by the volume and tone controls? Also when the input is spdif in? If yes, this is an interesting device. Does it have remote control?

PS: looking forward to those measurements. Please include the frequency response of the tone controls.

 

[raif71]

What DAC chip will be used with the K5 ? You mentioned Q4...proprietary DAC chip?

 

[Douk Audio]

I meant change your Title (hopefully u can do that) As it is, now it is "

Douk Audio K5 Headphone Amplifier--Let’s discuss it together!"​

So, just change it to "

Douk Audio K5 Headphone DAC/Amplifier--Let’s discuss it together!"​

or something like that

Edit: ASR moderators should be able to help u, right ?

Oh, I got it! Thank you for pointing out this! So nice of you！ I will try.

 

[Douk Audio]

What DAC chip will be used with the K5 ? You mentioned Q4...proprietary DAC chip?

K5 uses ESS9038Q2M dac chip and SA9312 USB chip. Q4 uses ES9018, here is the amazon link of more details: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09J2L3N32?ref=myi_title_dp

 

[restorer-john]

So, a desktop design with indicators on the top - looks sensible to me. It actually is a product I would like to use.

Back panel is great.
Top panel is also great. (LEDs should be all the same colours (except power being red/green) and not too bright)
Front panel needs work...

• Align the 3.5mm and 6.35mm sockets on the same centre as the switches. If it (3.5mm) needs a small riser PCB, do it.
• Mark the three switches above with "Gain", "Tone" and "Input", then have high/low, in/pure* and SPDIF/USB.

Hope that helps.

*I don't like "pure". I'd prefer out, bypass, straight etc. But pure is OK and somewhat unique.

 

[Douk Audio]

Hi @Douk Audio do i read right, SPDIF in and SPDIF out?
Will the SPDIF out be affected by the volume and tone controls? Also when the input is spdif in? If yes, this is an interesting device. Does it have remote control?

PS: looking forward to those measurements. Please include the frequency response of the tone controls.

Hi, yeah, you are right, K5 with both SPDIF in and SPDIF out.
The SPDIF out will not be controlled by the volume and tone knobs, and it will only work when USB inputs.
Unforunately, it doesn't equips with remote control, and l I will convey this to our PD! Thank you!

 

[Douk Audio]

So, a desktop design with indicators on the top - looks sensible to me. It actually is a product I would like to use.

Back panel is great.
Top panel is also great. (LEDs should be all the same colours (except power being red/green) and not too bright)
Front panel needs work...

• Align the 3.5mm and 6.35mm sockets on the same centre as the switches. If it (3.5mm) needs a small riser PCB, do it.
• Mark the three switches above with "Gain", "Tone" and "Input", then have high/low, in/pure* and SPDIF/USB.

Hope that helps.

*I don't like "pure". I'd prefer out, bypass, straight etc. But pure is OK and somewhat unique.

Hi John, thank you for your idea! I have conveyed that to our PD and later I will let you know their reply.

 

[restorer-john]

K5 uses ESS9038Q2M dac chip and SA9312 USB chip.

That's the same D/A converter as used in my Quantasylum QA403 audio analyzer. I'd love to compare your implementation. How much will it cost?

 

[Douk Audio]

That's the same D/A converter as used in my Quantasylum QA403 audio analyzer. I'd love to compare your implementation. How much will it cost?

Hi, the sales price of K5 is expected to be around $90.

 

[Douk Audio]

So, a desktop design with indicators on the top - looks sensible to me. It actually is a product I would like to use.

Back panel is great.
Top panel is also great. (LEDs should be all the same colours (except power being red/green) and not too bright)
Front panel needs work...

• Align the 3.5mm and 6.35mm sockets on the same centre as the switches. If it (3.5mm) needs a small riser PCB, do it.
• Mark the three switches above with "Gain", "Tone" and "Input", then have high/low, in/pure* and SPDIF/USB.

Hope that helps.

*I don't like "pure". I'd prefer out, bypass, straight etc. But pure is OK and somewhat unique.

Hi John, our PD replied to me that the 3.5mm and 6.35mm sockets cannot be aligned as the switches because the circuit board is not easy to adjust now. As for the switches, K5 is very compact and the space of the front panel is limited so they think that it is not suitable to printed too much characters. By the way, I like bypass.
Anyway, thank you for your sharings.

 

[Basic Channel]

Is the line out balanced?

 

[JSmith]

But pure is OK and somewhat unique.

@Douk Audio, treble/bass controls are most welcome.


JSmith

 

[Douk Audio]

Is the line out balanced?

Hi, K5 without balanced output...

 

[Douk Audio]

@Douk Audio, treble/bass controls are most welcome.

Looks nice! What's the model of it?

 

[JSmith]

Looks nice! What's the model of it?

Oh that's from Yamaha AVR's/amps which bypasses any DSP or tone controls. I was just pointing out that "pure" was also used elsewhere.


JSmith

 

[Douk Audio]

Here is the AP test of K5 DAC headphone amplifier!