Should I build a ProtoDAC?

[Guido57]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186679360015
I'm sure one could build an equivalent board, probably for less but I did not price out the components. I was also curious about boards available on Ebay and decided to take the chance. Seems to hold a solid 5V when adjusted.

[Guido57]

FWIW I completed my regulated linear power supply project to power my Pi/ProtoDAC combination.  Subjectively, with this PS the ProtoDAC is in the same league as the Modius.  I would be surprised if this wouldn't help other I2S DACs on the Pi.  Cost for PS board was about $20, add five more for cables and jacks.

That's good to hear. Which PS board are you using, if you don't mind me asking?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186679360015

I'm sure one could build an equivalent board, probably for less but I did not price out the components. I was also curious about boards available on Ebay and decided to take the chance. Seems to hold a solid 5V when adjusted.

[hifinet]

Thanks for the info. Below is the same one on Ali. It's an LM317 based regulator board, which is high output current capable (although I don't see it in the specs). The pass transistor 2SA1943 is rated at 15A. The voltage drop to 5V (from the input caps) times the current will be the power dissipation in watts, and will determine the need for a heatsink on the pass transistor. I like that the pass transistor is insulated, so you can just attach it with thermal paste to the chassis. It's a very beefy linear regulated supply. An LM317 alone can provide 1.5A, and can easily supply ProtoDAC alone, which uses less than 30mA. If you have other HATs or are also powering the RPi, you may need the higher current capability that the A1943 PS provides.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804285491663.html

[Guido57]

The Innomaker HiFi DAC HAT for Raspberry Pi has "dual low jitter oscillators(45.158M and 49.152M)" , extension GPIO, and is a master DAC that will reclock the I2S. It is inexpensive as a reclocker. Better than the RPi's clock. You also get a PCM5122 OS DAC with TPA6130A2 headphone amp. The oscillators are made by Shenzhen SCTF Electronics.

If I'm interpreting this correctly this Innomaker DAC HAT can re-clock the signal to the Proto DAC by installing it between the Raspberry Pi and the Proto DAC.  I think I've got to be missing something.  If this could improve the sound I'm getting now I would be tempted to spring for IanCanada re-clocker but am a bit unsure about possible benefits at this point.

[hifinet]

The FifoPi MA is a reclocker. The clocks can be easily changed. It operates in master mode like the Innomaker. The clocks in the Innomaker are soldered in place, and cannot be easily changed. The FifoPi Q7 is an I2S isolator for lower noise, a reclocker and the clocks can be easily changed. The Q7 also has FIFO memory, the MA does not.

Without a reclocker, the RPi produces the clock signal for the I2S. Jitter is higher. Subjectively, the sound is more focused with lower jitter.

There is a comparison chart of the three IC products on page 17 of the MA manual, section M.

[Guido57]

The FifoPi MA is a reclocker. The clocks can be easily changed. It operates in master mode like the Innomaker. The clocks in the Innomaker are soldered in place, and cannot be easily changed. The FifoPi Q7 is an I2S isolator for lower noise, a reclocker and the clocks can be easily changed. The Q7 also has FIFO memory, the MA does not.

Without a reclocker, the RPi produces the clock signal for the I2S. Jitter is higher. Subjectively, the sound is more focused with lower jitter.

There is a comparison chart of the three IC products on page 17 of the MA manual, section M.

Let me rephrase my inquiry so perhaps you can provide a simple answer for a simple mind.
Can I use the Innomaker as a reclocker for the Proto DAC simply by stacking the Innomaker between the Pi and the Proto DAC?

[hifinet]

Yes, you can.

[Guido57]

FWIW I've added the InnoMaker DAC HAT as the reclocker. Subjectively I'd say there is an improvement. Though I am aware of expectation bias I find myself tending to longer listening sessions. (I do not use music as background, I enjoy silence as much as music.)

[eDad2003]

FWIW I've added the InnoMaker DAC HAT as the reclocker.  Subjectively I'd say there is an improvement.  Though I am aware of expectation bias I find myself tending to longer listening sessions. (I do not use music as background, I enjoy silence as much as music.)

I am happy to see this worked; it's an interesting low cost way to re-clock. Having 2 DACs is confusing me a bit though - what Settings|Audio did you use, did you need to make other software changes (such as manually add a DT_OVERLAY)?

TIA

[Guido57]

It is beyond my knowledge to say how this exactly works. My basic understanding is the InnoMaker DAC takes over the master clock and the ProtoDAC follows as it has no clock facilities of its own. Correct? Perhaps, perhaps not, I'm just going with what I think @hifinet said.
It does appear to me that on many DACs the reclocking is done through the DAC chip with input from the clocks in the DAC card circuit. Correct? Perhaps, perhaps not. My observations are based on which setup makes me want to listen longer.
moOde required no adjustments. I have not tried this with any other players.
All I did was install the InnoMaker between the Pi and the ProtoDAC.