ProtoDAC TDA1387 X8 project

[Skip Pack]

Not digital, but very successful for me is the line level Full Range EQ board designed by Nelson Pass:

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threa...eq.399413/

It is an active board using jfets and has a low frequency boost section and a mid/hf cut section, all configurable. While designed for full range speakers, it is good for baffle-step and open baffle situations as well. Good for speakers that are a bit too hot which includes a lot of modern speakers to my 77 year old ears.

I use it between my RPi4b/Protodac and my line level preamp. It is available as an essentials kit at the DIYAudio store. If you've knocked together two Protodacs in short order this EQ should be easy.

Skip

[DRONE7]

Thanks for your input Skip!
I feel my need is the reverse Lol ! "An equalizer for full range speakers that addresses the common need for a bit of of a bump in the bottom end and a dip in the top."

I have used camillaDSP to smooth the bottom and bump the top to suit my old ears !

[varunach]

I finally managed to put together an entire RPi4 streamer + DDC + ProtoDAC stack. It works great, the performance and flexibility is unparalleled.

Here is the full stack -

1) RPi4 (with FENVI AX1800 wifi dongle from Aliexpress)
2) IanCanada components for DDC
         - PurePi
         - ReceiverPi DDC with Amanero type USB board from Aliexpress (supports PCM1536 DSD1024)
         - FifiPi Q7 reclocker with Accusilicon clocks (The difference with and without FifoPi in terms of sound quality is huge)
         - MonitorPi to toggle between USB, RPi4, Coax, HDMI and Optical inputs on ReceiverPi DDC
3) ProtoDAC

[OnkelPH]

I finally managed to put together an entire RPi4 streamer + DDC + ProtoDAC stack. It works great, the performance and flexibility is unparalleled.

Here is the full stack -

1) RPi4 (with FENVI AX1800 wifi dongle from Aliexpress)
2) IanCanada components for DDC
         - PurePi
         - ReceiverPi DDC with Amanero type USB board from Aliexpress (supports PCM1536 DSD1024)
         - FifiPi Q7 reclocker with Accusilicon clocks (The difference with and without FifoPi in terms of sound quality is huge)
         - MonitorPi to toggle between USB, RPi4, Coax, HDMI and Optical inputs on ReceiverPi DDC
3) ProtoDAC

Nice project @varunach
I’ve experienced some unstable WiFi with Q7 in the stack. Is the WiFi dongle a good solution?
How are you feeding the ProtoDAC with 5v?

[varunach]

I finally managed to put together an entire RPi4 streamer + DDC + ProtoDAC stack. It works great, the performance and flexibility is unparalleled.

Here is the full stack -

1) RPi4 (with FENVI AX1800 wifi dongle from Aliexpress)
2) IanCanada components for DDC
         - PurePi
         - ReceiverPi DDC with Amanero type USB board from Aliexpress (supports PCM1536 DSD1024)
         - FifiPi Q7 reclocker with Accusilicon clocks (The difference with and without FifoPi in terms of sound quality is huge)
         - MonitorPi to toggle between USB, RPi4, Coax, HDMI and Optical inputs on ReceiverPi DDC
3) ProtoDAC

Nice project @varunach
I’ve experienced some unstable WiFi with Q7 in the stack. Is the WiFi dongle a good solution?
How are you feeding the ProtoDAC with 5v?

@OnkelPH yes i had the same wifi issue with FifoPi Q7 that the wifi dongle helped resolve. I bought one from Amazon which didnt work well. Found this one on Aliexpress which works really well for 10$, it is plug and play and gets me 400Mb/s speed which is great. https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805749323751.html

I'm feeding the ProtoDAC 5V from the PurePi 5V terminals.

[OnkelPH]

varunach

I finally managed to put together an entire RPi4 streamer + DDC + ProtoDAC stack. It works great, the performance and flexibility is unparalleled.

Here is the full stack -

1) RPi4 (with FENVI AX1800 wifi dongle from Aliexpress)
2) IanCanada components for DDC
         - PurePi
         - ReceiverPi DDC with Amanero type USB board from Aliexpress (supports PCM1536 DSD1024)
         - FifiPi Q7 reclocker with Accusilicon clocks (The difference with and without FifoPi in terms of sound quality is huge)
         - MonitorPi to toggle between USB, RPi4, Coax, HDMI and Optical inputs on ReceiverPi DDC
3) ProtoDAC

Nice project @varunach
I’ve experienced some unstable WiFi with Q7 in the stack. Is the WiFi dongle a good solution?
How are you feeding the ProtoDAC with 5v?

@OnkelPH yes i had the same wifi issue with FifoPi Q7 that the wifi dongle helped resolve. I bought one from Amazon which didnt work well. Found this one on Aliexpress which works really well for 10$, it is plug and play and gets me 400Mb/s speed which is great. https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805749323751.html

I'm feeding the ProtoDAC 5V from the PurePi 5V terminals.

Thanks,

[DRONE7]

I have been comparing the stock ProtoDac i2s from the MoOde drop-down (with polarity inversion and Fixed-volume out) with the ProtoDac V2 setting from the CamillaDSP tab and prefer the former.

Mark, I note you use a Pi Zero W as your source and have seen on another forum you prefer it for lower CPU-activity hash.
I seem to recall the Zero W (not 2) is not 64bit so presumably is legacy and also not capable of running CamillaDSP so you're using the MoOde-rpi i2s setting?

I have added a Kali to the stack and at this early stage feel it detracts by losing air and dynamics and muddying vocals.
This may be that my Kali has the higher clocks and outputs to 384kHz ....and is not as suited to the ProtoDac as the version that topped out at 192kHz ?

Phase shift being better for the latter ?

I still have a LPS to try for the Kali...in other stacks I found the Pi was better supplied with it's own RPI wall-wart and isolated from the LPS supply to the Kali so will try both powering the full stack from the LPS and powering only the Kali and ProtoDac from the LPS and the Pi from an RPI supply.

cheers,
Bob

[OnkelPH]

Much, much simpler. The LifePO4 Mini 6.6V without the battery management system, and with a 5V linear regulator on the output to get 5V. There is no undervoltage protection. No charging circuit.

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Finally got the battery and LT1963 module up and running. Made some rookie mistakes that I sorted out with good help from @hifinet
Really like the sound with the separate psu on the ProtoDAC. 
My next update will be some second hand ODAM V-cap on the output. Hopefully a good match my Decware amp. 
Also ordered a WiFi dongle same as @varunach

[v12nut]

Hi all,
Does anyone know if there is a difference in quality between the Round red Audiophiler cap and the Yellow Oval shape Audiophiler cap?
cheers

[OnkelPH]

Hi all,
Does anyone know if there is a difference in quality between the Round red Audiophiler cap and the Yellow Oval shape Audiophiler cap?
cheers

Only used the red ones, and they sound fine to me. It’s a good baseline.