Multifunctional DAC

[yulun]

Everyone, I made a DAC based on my friend's request. The hardware structure is:
-Has two AES/EBU inputs, two AES/EBU outputs and a pair of balanced analog stereo outputs.
-One way BNC interface WORD COLCK input
-An encoder for adjusting parameters
-One button for silent mode setting
-One retractable button for selecting clock source

The same hardware can be used in boxes with different functions by configuring the firmware:
1. Switcher with gain adjustment
2. DAC with mixing function

 

[TonyJZX]

i thought this was the new RME!

that front plate color is nice

reminds me of this:

https://imgur.com/a/1J3bZ8u

also i would imagine working firmware isnt that easy

really amazing work

 

[LTig]

This is DIY? Wow, great job!

 

[antcollinet]

Nice work. Have you designed the internal electronic PCBs yourself, or is it an off the shelf component? (or components)

 

[MCH]

Very nice @yulun
What do you mean with "DAC with mixing function"?

 

[MCH]

Hello, @MCH
the mixing function is roughly as follows:

Two sets of AES/EBU inputs can form new left and right channels through left channel + left channel, right channel + right channel.
And the gain of each AES/EBU input can be adjusted, and the gain of the newly formed left and right channels can also be adjusted.

Very very cool functionality. Was thinking on something like this for my kid (games+music). But he doesn't have two AES/EBU sources
Are you selling this one as well? (I insist you should send some of your stuff to amir to measure. Are you familiar how asr works?)

 

[unpluggged]

-One way BNC interface WORD COLCK input

Why?

 

[unpluggged]

Mainly for clock synchronization between multiple devices

Which multiple devices? You have only AES digital inputs that carry embedded clock, no analog inputs, no other exotic inputs that might require external clocking. There is no need for an external clocking input. So it looks like the word clock input is there just for the sake of making an impression of a high-end device.

 

[Rednaxela]

Amazing!

 

[unpluggged]

As for the external word clock, it is sufficient for individuals to simply use it as a DAC.

If you use AES input with a different clock source, your DAC will be out of sync with the data that comes over AES input and will get artifacts (ranging from random clicks to no output at all). You can try it yourself to see what I am talking about. Or does your device have an SRC of some kind that would allow it to receive an AES stream on the input and then output it resampled and resynched to the incoming word clock signal at its AES output? This is the only case I could imagine that would make use of an external clock, but this is not something that would apply to the quoted example.