Review and Measurements of WesionTEK Khadas Tone Board DAC

[RayDunzl]

If I could find the es9038q2m IC, I could replace de damaged one. But it's not available anywhere, including eBay.

Interesting. Mouser and Digikey searches for es9038q2m lead to the Khadas Tone Board:

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Seeed-Studio/102991146?qs=/ha2pyFaduhpsiczcE9SrrH2QXBRMLSwP9deD8QU7KGeTVFN9t6e5g==

 

[helloworld]

If I could find the es9038q2m IC, I could replace de damaged one. But it's not available anywhere, including eBay.

If you could buy from taobao, it’s about $7 each https://h5.m.taobao.com/awp/core/de...80be28e8&sid=3071865347a69e2f2cc3c5c19e63b351

 

[Silou]

You can buy the Chip on Aliexpress aswell https://de.aliexpress.com/item/Neue..._expid=d72ef86e-f3c4-4d4f-b5e1-3aec7bb43d03-0

 

[WoodyLuvr]

Updated my generic Khadas Tone Board in "Steampunk" with the latest dfu_2018_1226_Upgrade_Firmware. No issues; all was well but due to the 30 second eval beep I went back to "Thesycon-Stereo-USB-Audio-Driver-v224".

 

[WoodyLuvr]

One question out of sheer curiosity... how is the upgrade tool titled "toneboard_dfu-tool" used exactly, what is it for, and used when?

 

[drewfIr]

One question out of sheer curiosity... how is the upgrade tool titled "toneboard_dfu-tool" used exactly, what is it for, and used when?
View attachment 19422

That is that upgrade tool for Linux users. See:

https://forum.khadas.com/t/firmware-update/3283/11

Updated, upgrade procedure of the above:

https://docs.khadas.com/toneboard/HowtoUpgradeFirmware.html#Upgrade-On-Ubuntu

 

[Jimmy]

As RayDunzl pointed the toneboard is now being distributed under the Seeed brand by Mouser and Digikey, with free shipping at least in Mouser (no stock yet), but I have a couple of doubts :

- In the forums and as reported by other users, the VIM edition can be used the same as the generic one, connecting it to a windows PC, but in the spec sheet it says "nc" under USB. Anyway when looking at the pictures both seem to be identical, with the only difference being that the generic one doesn't have the I/O connectors soldered, but they are still provided in the kit.

- The SPDIF connector can be set as output in the VIM edition, is it possible to use it as a USB to SPDIF converter when the board is used standalone with a PC (without the VIM board)?, if so how are operation modes switched.

Thanks.

 

[Veri]

As RayDunzl pointed the toneboard is now being distributed under the Seeed brand by Mouser and Digikey, with free shipping at least in Mouser

That's very cool! Tone Board performance might actually sneak into other/new devices this way good job, Khadas.

 

[Frost]

had too look it up when Ray pointed out the toneboard was being distributed by Seeed, and well, it seems like you'd get a $5.10/ea discount if you buy 2 or more

 

[Ben1987]

is it possible to use it as a USB to SPDIF converter when the board is used standalone with a PC (without the VIM board)?,

It didn't use like USB to SPDIF.

 

[bigx5murf]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but on Khadas's forums. Someone from their staff stated Q2, 2019, they're expected to release a balanced version of the tone board.

Just curious, has anyone been successful in getting an optical input working with this thing?

 

[Veri]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but on Khadas's forums. Someone from their staff stated Q2, 2019, they're expected to release a balanced version of the tone board.

=o interesting

(not that balanced is really that valuable in simple audio applications, but still cool).

 

[Silou]

Is it somehow possible to publish a firmware that recognizes that no music is playing and shuts down the device so it does not have to be always on?

 

[Tatteredmidnight]

Is it somehow possible to publish a firmware that recognizes that no music is playing and shuts down the device so it does not have to be always on?

It would be really great if WesionTEK could open source the firmware so features like this could be community driven, but I doubt they have the latitude given how protective ESS seems to be with the implementation details for their chips.

 

[Roen]

Keep that discussion and suspicion where it belongs in the March Audio Dac 1 review. This is a thread specifically for the review and measurement of the Khadas Tone Board along with updates on the product and firmware and comments about products specifically listed as the Khadas Tone Board.

Considering it's now known (from the other thread) that the March DAC1 uses a Tone Board on the inside, both threads, as related to DAC performance, should be able to reference each other without confusion that it's the exact same DAC board being used.

 

[WondrousHippo]

=o interesting

(not that balanced is really that valuable in simple audio applications, but still cool).

Oh wow, if there isn't a significant cost increase, that could be KILLER.

 

[Maunad83]

Any news on the pops in the speakers during Boot and on/off? New firmaware solved this problem?

 

[Roen]

Can someone confirm if Native DSD works on the Tone Board or is it only DSD over PCM (DoP)?

 

[kiat]

Can someone confirm if Native DSD works on the Tone Board or is it only DSD over PCM (DoP)?

Via DOP

 

[Roen]

Ah, no wonder DSD support is limited to DSD256 while using a ESS9038Q2M. Thanks.