Review and Measurements of WesionTEK Khadas Tone Board DAC

[somebodyelse]

I see...I was planning to use my phone as s source for starters (when chilling on a sofa with the KTB and Atom being integrated in my sofa-table)

So I guess I might need an adapter like you showed me just now. But won't a Y-adapter like that influence the sound quality of the whole chain, or does that not matter?

You can also power the KTB from another 5V supply via the header pins - see the schematics or the external powering thread for details.

 

[zermak]

@OldStager I may read your needs too fast or missed a part so I apologize if I misinformed you. Aboutr the split USB cable it probably won't cause any trouble because I believe the USB plug/part you will use to power it will only use the power lines pins

 

[milw50717]

Здравствуйте! Как вы думаете, этот линейный блок питания подойдет? или ты предопределил что-то еще?
1 841,07 руб. | WEILIANG Аудио 15 Вт линейный стабилизированный блок питания на выходе USB * 2 + DC 5V
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/bGO2sEpM

An external linear power supply won't harm, but there may be no benefit. A few people have posted that they have used various external power supplies over and above a decent USB phone charger and I believe that I am correct in saying that the general consensus is to spend your money elsewhere.

My KTB is fed power from either a phone charger or from a Raspberry Pi 3. Maybe others can provide input on the types of power supply that they use with their KTB.

 

[OldStager]

@somebodyelse : Thank you, that's also a cool solution

@raif71 : I see...since there's a power strip in my setup anyway for the power supply of the Atom, I might as well connect something like this to the KTB instead of a power-bank, right?

@milw50717 : So you are using a Y-splitter as well? Or don't you feed it with data via USB-C port?

@zermak : No worries, I didn't mention the phone before, so it's natural you assumed I might connect a stationary computer to it

 

[raif71]

@OldStager , power bank is just a suggestion. You can choose any usb powered devices. Good luck

 

[hyperknot]

I've finally received my custom Ghent Audio A01 cable in black color, so I could finally test if the Khadas Tone Board in Audiophonics case gets lifted or not, when placed on an JDS Atom.

Good news: not, they look perfect. Actually kind of cable porn with these shiny RCA connectors.

The bad news is that these connectors are quite loose, by that I mean 3 out of 4 is looser than a cheap "plastic" RCA cable I have at home. I've emailed Ghent about it and I'm waiting for his reply.

In conclusion, I'm really happy with this setup!

 

[OldStager]

I've finally received my custom Ghent Audio A01 cable in black color, so I could finally test if the Khadas Tone Board in Audiophonics case gets lifted or not, when placed on an JDS Atom.

Good news: not, they look perfect. Actually kind of cable porn with these shiny RCA connectors.

The bad news is that these connectors are quite loose, by that I mean 3 out of 4 is looser than a cheap "plastic" RCA cable I have at home. I've emailed Ghent about it and I'm waiting for his reply.

In conclusion, I'm really happy with this setup!

View attachment 37401

View attachment 37402

Looks beautiful! This is exactly how I want it. I already ordered the Atom, the Khadas and that audiophonics case! So these cables are custom made?

 

[OldStager]

@OldStager , power bank is just a suggestion. You can choose any usb powered devices. Good luck

Thanks a lot

EDIT: Could it be that for whatever reason USB Ogt Y-Splitters are not an easy thing to get as USB C? I'm struggling a little finding a USB C one as both my phone and the KTB use USB C

 

[raif71]

I've finally received my custom Ghent Audio A01 cable in black color, so I could finally test if the Khadas Tone Board in Audiophonics case gets lifted or not, when placed on an JDS Atom.

Good news: not, they look perfect. Actually kind of cable porn with these shiny RCA connectors.

The bad news is that these connectors are quite loose, by that I mean 3 out of 4 is looser than a cheap "plastic" RCA cable I have at home. I've emailed Ghent about it and I'm waiting for his reply.

In conclusion, I'm really happy with this setup!

View attachment 37401

View attachment 37402

Great setup there. Stay loose bro

 

[hyperknot]

Looks beautiful! This is exactly how I want it. I already ordered the Atom, the Khadas and that audiophonics case! So these cables are custom made?

It's the Ghent A01 cable, with specifying that I want it in black, not in red. It costs the same price as in red.
https://www.ghentaudio.com/part/a01.html

 

[OldStager]

It's the Ghent A01 cable, with specifying that I want it in black, not in red. It costs the same price as in red.
https://www.ghentaudio.com/part/a01.html

Very nice how do you power your KTB?

 

[hyperknot]

Very nice how do you power your KTB?

Just the supplied USB cable between my MacBook Pro 2013 and the KTB, I don't even know how else should I? It got these really nice measurements using the USB power so there is no need to tweak it for me.

 

[raif71]

Thanks a lot

EDIT: Could it be that for whatever reason USB Ogt Y-Splitters are not an easy thing to get as USB C? I'm struggling a little finding a USB C one as both my phone and the KTB use USB C

Here is my setup using a DAP with a dac/amp connected by micro usb otg with power cable

(C) my dac/amp in your case KTB is connected to the (A) otg. If you notice the (A) is also connected by power cable (white) to a usb source. Now (B) is an adapter in your case should be micro-usb female to micro usb type c male, to connect to your phone .

 

[OldStager]

View attachment 37405

Here is my setup using a DAP with a dac/amp connected by micro usb otg with power cable

(C) my dac/amp in your case KTB is connected to the (A) otg. If you notice the (A) is also connected by power cable (white) to a usb source. Now (B) is an adapter in your case should be micro-usb female to micro usb type c male, to connect to your phone .

Kinda feeling bad giving you all the trouble with the picture and the editing, but thanks. Lots of cables. I kinda hoped I'd be manageable with less cables/adapters, but I guess that's the way to go for what I want to achieve .

 

[OldStager]

Just the supplied USB cable between my MacBook Pro 2013 and the KTB, I don't even know how else should I? It got these really nice measurements using the USB power so there is no need to tweak it for me.

Didn't know you use your MacBook for it I was wondering if you might also use your phone or a DAP

 

[milw50717]

@milw50717 : So you are using a Y-splitter as well? Or don't you feed it with data via USB-C port?

I have never used a Y-Splitter. I use a Raspberry Pi as a network streamer that feeds the KTB and have connected the Pi to the KTB in the following configurations:

1. A USB cable between the two providing both power and data to the KTB
2. Mounting a Hifiberry Digi+ HAT onto the Pi and then feeding power via USB and data via HAT S/PDIF
3. Pi + HAT as above, but power from a phone charger and data via HAT S/PDIF

I have settled on #2 as my final configuration for no other reason than it is one less thing to plug into my power strip. I simply plug in and pull out the USB cable to power the KTB on and off.

 

[OldStager]

I have never used a Y-Splitter. I use a Raspberry Pi as a network streamer that feeds the KTB and have connected the Pi to the KTB in the following configurations:

1. A USB cable between the two providing both power and data to the KTB
2. Mounting a Hifiberry Digi+ HAT onto the Pi and then feeding power via USB and data via HAT S/PDIF
3. Pi + HAT as above, but power from a phone charger and data via HAT S/PDIF

I have settled on #2 as my final configuration for no other reason than it is one less thing to plug into my power strip. I simply plug in and pull out the USB cable to power the KTB on and off.

Okay, thanks for clarifying on this.

It seems that either I build that chain

KTB -> USB cable -> OTG

Electricity source -> USB cable -> OTG

OTG -> Micro USB to USB C converter -> phone

and hide that somewhere or I'll learn how to run it with an 5V external power via the 1/21 pins.

Maybe I'll actually go with the latter.

 

[zermak]

@OldStager
Go for the latter so you can design your own case for the KTB and even use batteries with it for a more portable look.

 

[raif71]

Kinda feeling bad giving you all the trouble with the picture and the editing, but thanks. Lots of cables. I kinda hoped I'd be manageable with less cables/adapters, but I guess that's the way to go for what I want to achieve .

No problems @OldStager . Actually I'm reminded of a nursery rhyme when penning the explanation of my setup...

So the foot bone connected to the leg bone,
The leg bone connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the thigh bone,
Doin' the Skeleton Dance.
Yes the thigh bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone connected to the head bone,
Doin' the Skeleton Dance.

Appopriate for holloween

 

[JaapDeventer]

With Audiophonics case and 5mm power input connected to GPIO pins