Review and Measurements of WesionTEK Khadas Tone Board DAC

[JBNY]

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

It works. I am running native DSD via roon both through a microrendu and an SOtM sms-200 Neo, I could only get DSD to work via DoP when using windows 10.

 

[Roen]

It works. I am running native DSD via roon both through a microrendu and an SOtM sms-200 Neo, I could only get DSD to work via DoP when using windows 10.

What is the maximum DSD rate over native?

 

[JBNY]

What is the maximum DSD rate over native?

256

 

[Roen]

256

Surprising, I would've expected 512 since max DoP rate is already 256.

 

[Ben1987]

Upgrade On Mac OS (BETA)
Preparation:

• Visit our Github and download the Mac OS X - USB Upgrade Tool.
  • Click the green Clone or download button.
  • Then press the Download ZIP option.
  • Afterwards, extract the .zip file to a directory of your choosing.

Installation:

• Open a Mac OS X Terminal window, by pressing Command-Space on your keyboard, then type terminal into Spotlight.
• From within Terminal type cd your_custom_directory/sc_usb_audio/module_dfu/host/xmos_dfu_osx.
  • Replace your_custom_directory with the directory that you’ve unzipped the USB Upgrade Tool to.
• Alternatively, navigate to /sc_usb_audio/module_dfu/host/ from within the Finder.
  • Then type cd, followed by space, into Terminal.
  • And drag the /xmos_dfu_osx/ folder into Terminal, and hit your Enter key.
• Build the tool by typing: make -f Makefile.OSX all into your Terminal window, original instructions are here.
• If build was successful, you should see the following:
  make -f Makefile.OSX all
  g++ -g -o xmosdfu xmosdfu.cpp -I. -IOSX libusb-1.0.0-x86_64.dylib -m64
  xmosdfu.cpp:96:1: warning: control reaches end of non-void function [-Wreturn-type]
  }
  ^
  xmosdfu.cpp:100:1: warning: control reaches end of non-void function [-Wreturn-type]
  }
  ^
  xmosdfu.cpp:104:1: warning: control reaches end of non-void function [-Wreturn-type]
  }
  ^
  xmosdfu.cpp:108:1: warning: control reaches end of non-void function [-Wreturn-type]
  }
  ^
  xmosdfu.cpp:256:1: warning: control may reach end of non-void function [-Wreturn-type]
  }
  ^
  xmosdfu.cpp:417:3: warning: bool literal returned from 'main' [-Wmain]
  return true;
  ^ ~~~~
  6 warnings generated.
• Finally, type source setup.sh into Terminal, original instructions are here.
  • If successful, Terminal will be silent.

Upgrading:

• Download a firmware image file from https://dl.khadas.com/Firmware/ToneBoard/, then extract the .zip file.
• Next connect your Tone Board to your Macbook / iMac via a USB-C data cable.
• Then return to Terminal and type ./xmosdfu --download, followed by space, and drag the firmware.bin you just downloaded, from the Finder into Terminal. Then hit Enter.
• If successful, you should see the following Terminal output:./xmosdfu --download /Users/ossyx/Documents/Wesion/TONEBOARD\ FIRMWARE\ UPGRADE\ TOOL/Khadas_Tone_Board_dfu-2018-1226-Upgrade-Firmware/Khadas_Tone_Board_dfu_1226.bin
  VID = 0x20b1, PID = 0x8
  XMOS DFU application started - Interface 2 claimed
  Detaching device from application mode.
  Waiting for device to restart and enter DFU mode...
  VID = 0x20b1, PID = 0x8
  ... DFU firmware upgrade device opened
  ... Downloading image (/Users/ossyx/Documents/Wesion/TONEBOARD FIRMWARE UPGRADE TOOL/Khadas_Tone_Board_dfu-2018-1226-Upgrade-Firmware/Khadas_Tone_Board_dfu_1226.bin) to device
  ... Download complete
  ... Returning device to application mode

Notes:

• If you get the following output when attempting to upgrade the firmware on Mac OS X:
  ./xmosdfu --download /Users/ossyx/Downloads/USB-Audio-2.0-Software-v6.1-master/sc_usb_audio/module_dfu/host/xmos_dfu_osx/Khadas_Tone_Board_dfu_1226.bin
  dyld: Library not loaded: /usr/local/lib/libusb-1.0.0.dylib
  Referenced from: /Users/ossyx/Downloads/USB-Audio-2.0-Software-v6.1-master/sc_usb_audio/module_dfu/host/xmos_dfu_osx/./xmosdfu
  Reason: image not found
  Abort trap: 6
• It means you need to upgrade libusb. You can do this by typing brew install libusb.
• To install homebrew on your Mac: Homebrew

https://docs.khadas.com/toneboard/H...ade-On-Mac-OS-BETA?tdsourcetag=s_pctim_aiomsg

 

[Boromirka]

Got it today, works like a charm with JDS Atom. I am happy as hell!

P.S. Panicked first, there was no sound. Had to run XMOS driver setup .exe as an admin

 

[awdelft]

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

From the measurements it is clear the output components and schematics are well designed. It would be nice to know them in order to improve those very cheap aliexpress designs.....
The output schematics with dual opamp rt6862 and dual difference to single-ended amp rt6863 is quite elaborate, and I am yet not sure the es9038 is used in current or voltage output mode: the resistor values connected to between DACL, DACLB, DACR and DACRB and dual opamp are quite low so the dac may still be in current mode.
By the way, I suspect the pin out drawing of the dual differential amp rt6863 is wrong since it shows 11 pins connected while the shape says it is 10 pin (dfn10). I suppose the Vee or the Vee1 pin (and connected components) do not exist.

 

[awdelft]

Oh wait, the output schematics does look quite similar to the analog output schematics of figure 32 in the datasheet of analog devices http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/pcm1798.pdf . This may proof that the es9038q2m is in current output mode on the khadas tone. Also, I may have to revise: rt6863 probably is not a differential to single ended (ina -like) amp but could just as well be a dual opamp like rt6862.
Funny, also the 'rt6862' drawing has the Vee1 pin which most probably is not present.

 

[Boromirka]

I need a case for the board now. If i get some wood/plastic enclosure, will i need to do grounding work or will i be fine with just standoffs?

 

[Roen]

I need a case for the board now. If i get some wood/plastic enclosure, will i need to do grounding work or will i be fine with just standoffs?

Aliexpress DIY case?

 

[Boromirka]

Aliexpress DIY case?

I didn't find anything worthy on Ali

 

[Roen]

A $5 DIY case can tide you over until you get a real one.

 

[Boromirka]

A $5 DIY case can tide you over until you get a real one.

Well, i need a real one now. Board is currently lying on Amp without any problems

 

[Roen]

I'd point you to 3D printing some of the schematics found on this forum.

 

[drewfIr]

Well, i need a real one now. Board is currently lying on Amp without any problems

Can find the 3D files here:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3230306

The above is from this thread:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...rintable-case-for-the-khadas-tone-board.5098/

And the specific post from the thread above:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...the-khadas-tone-board.5098/page-2#post-118310

Suggest you read the whole thread before sending it off
to printing. It is my understanding that the design above
is ONLY for the generic version of the Khadas Tone Board.

 

[Boromirka]

Can find the 3D files here:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3230306

The above is from this thread:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...rintable-case-for-the-khadas-tone-board.5098/

And the specific post from the thread above:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...the-khadas-tone-board.5098/page-2#post-118310

Suggest you read the whole thread before sending it off
to printing. It is my understanding that the design above
is ONLY for the generic version of the Khadas Tone Board.

Thanks, i've read all the pages of that thread earlier

So, can i just put the board inside the plastic enclosure without using standoffs?

 

[bequietjk]

For some reason I cannot transfer audio from the SPDIF out on my tone board. Only the RCA works. I'm using an RCA cable on the SPDIF out into my ENOG2. Do I specifically need a SPDIF Coaxial cable for this?

 

[BYRTT]

If your Tone Board is the Generic Edition that SPDIF terminal is a input

 

[bequietjk]

It's the VIMS edition

 

[gvl]

It's the VIMS edition

Connected to a VIM?