Review and Measurements of WesionTEK Khadas Tone Board DAC

[derp1n]

hello, you can check on the datasheet of Tone Board, there is details on it with opamps, RT6862/6863

Thanks, yeah, someone posted those earlier... but we couldn't find any information about them at all, no datasheets or specs, really only a single reference about custom ICs.

 

[willow]

Thanks, yeah, someone posted those earlier... but we couldn't find any information about them at all, no datasheets or specs, really only a single reference about custom ICs.

there is the NDA, so we only can make it only our Khadas Tone board datasheet.

 

[pos]

@willow, can you please tell me if the DAC emits noises or pops on its analog outputs when turned on or off?

 

[FrantzM]

Stack & Sync: this DAC seems to be the ideal candidate to stack & sync for multichannel usage. I could not find any details on this possibility yet.
Since I have a lot of ripped SACD MCH (5.1) music, I was thinking of building a mch DAC with Network access to my NAS and with Analog mch outputs as well as HDMI output.... It seems almost impossible to find such a device that is comparable with the OPPO 205 feature set.

What about this? I would be interested... Sync these oard in a 10 Channels DACs... then again one is approaching the price of those Pro Audio interfaces whose performance is not too shabby either ..

 

[TimW]

@amirm or @willow could you tell me what the thickness of the PCB is?

 

[TimW]

Using dimensions from the .DXF drawing available on the Khadas website along with dimensions taken by Amir and RCA connector drawings supplied by willow, I have created a dimensioned drawing of the board for mounting purposes. This should provide you with all of the necessary dimensions to be able to size and position mounting holes for a back panel. It also gives you standoff mounting hole locations. If you print it out full size on a standard letter size sheet it should be to scale. When I receive one of these boards I will measure and verify these dimensions and update this drawing if necessary.

 

[gvl]

Stack & Sync: this DAC seems to be the ideal candidate to stack & sync for multichannel usage. I could not find any details on this possibility yet.
Since I have a lot of ripped SACD MCH (5.1) music, I was thinking of building a mch DAC with Network access to my NAS and with Analog mch outputs as well as HDMI output.... It seems almost impossible to find such a device that is comparable with the OPPO 205 feature set.

The ESS chip runs in async mode on these boards, so the latency across channels can be random, however the differences might be small enough to cause issues.

 

[amirm]

@amirm or @willow could you tell me what the thickness of the PCB is?

About 1.2 mm.

 

[Jos]

The ESS chip runs in async mode on these boards, so the latency across channels can be random, however the differences might be small enough to cause issues.

Perhaps it is not required to add further boards.... The ESS 9038Pro is capable of running 8 ch anyway.

 

[Dominique-T]

I have just received and connected this nicely built small board. Incredible... It is not only the measures result, it is also the sound it delivers...

I can compare with Dangerous Source, Benchmark DAC 2, the Yamaha CD-S2100 and the internal DAC of the SMSL DP3.

This small board is just better...

Dominique

 

[pos]

@Dominique, does the unit emits turnon/turnoff pops or clicks?

 

[Dominique-T]

@Dominique, does the unit emits turnon/turnoff pops or clicks?

I am not sure to understand the question... During my listening session yesterday evening (3 hours) no pops or clicks but I am not switching the unit On or Off while I am listening

 

[rajapruk]

@Dominique, does the unit emits turnon/turnoff pops or clicks?

I think you will emitt turnon pops and clicks soon when receiving the Massdrop THX headphone amp!

 

[pos]

I am not sure to understand the question... During my listening session yesterday evening (3 hours) no pops or clicks but I am not switching the unit On or Off while I am listening

Would mind please testing for any noise when switching the board on and off (pluging and unpluging the DC in) while your amplifier is on?

 

[Biblob]

@Dominique, does the unit emits turnon/turnoff pops or clicks?

I've seen you ask this many times. Out of curiousity, why do you pay so much attention to this?

 

[Dominique-T]

Would mind please testing for any noise when switching the board on and off (pluging and unpluging the DC in) while your amplifier is on?

I will not do it because this is a bad practice. I always switch my amplifier off before the sources.

It is normal that switching the sources off first can create a strong noise in the speakers. I do not want to take the risk to damage my expensive compression drivers.

And what would be the point? This board get the power supply from the USB port, there is no switch. It is switched off when I turn my SMSL DP3 off.

 

[Veri]

I've seen you ask this many times. Out of curiousity, why do you pay so much attention to this?

Probably afraid that the pops, if present, could hurt his speakers.

 

[maverickronin]

Probably afraid that the pops, if present, could hurt his speakers.

It's sad that so much equipment has that problem.

It's either put it on a battery backup or play Russian roulette with your transducers.

 

[pos]

I've seen you ask this many times. Out of curiousity, why do you pay so much attention to this?

I use digital volume control only, with around 120dB SPL @1m for 0dBFS. Any pop or click can be very loud and, depending on the spectral power distribution, possibly break an unprotected compression driver in an active crossover scenario.
Power sequencing, either manual or automated, does not address the risk of a power outage or human error.
There is no shortcut to a well behaved DAC in this kind of situation.

 

[Ron Texas]

After reading the entire thread my conclusion is this is more of a DIY component than a complete product. The turn on and off pop issue bothers me, especially after seeing one owner here become very defensive about it. I would have to say guilty until proven innocent on that one.