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Setting up Nvarcher ES9018K2M Expansion Board I2S HiFi DAC
#1
Greetings, I purchased this generic ES9018K2m board and have it set up by choosing what seemed a compatible device (I think its the Sabre one).

The board is working as an I2S device, but I don't see any device options, and the sound doesn't sound the best.

Any suggestions about setting up this sound board?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33006265...f19cBddDu5
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#2
(04-19-2023, 03:43 AM)kiwipaul Wrote: Greetings, I purchased this generic ES9018K2m board and have it set up by choosing what seemed a compatible device (I think its the Sabre one).

The board is working as an I2S device, but I don't see any device options, and the sound doesn't sound the best.

Any suggestions about setting up this sound board?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33006265...f19cBddDu5

In the pictures I see they "suggest" selecting "HiFiBerry DAC" as I2S device...
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#3
The generic ESS boards don't support the nice ESS chip or driver options because this requires a custom microcontroller interface to the ESS chip that none of these board makers implement.
Enjoy the Music!
moodeaudio.org | Mastodon Feed | GitHub
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#4
(04-19-2023, 12:54 PM)Tim Curtis Wrote: The generic ESS boards don't support the nice ESS chip or driver options because this requires a custom microcontroller interface to the ESS chip that none of these board makers implement.

I see that there is one github repository where someone has identified the registers etc in the chip to enable control via I2C. Would this be enough info to code an overlay?

https://github.com/possum64/BuffaloDAC
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#5
Here are some scripts to manage the chip via i2c. Looks doable albeit clumsy...

https://community.volumio.org/t/guide-se...io-2/11830

Looks like I should have undertaken more research before buying this board.
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#6
The only two I2S boards that I'm aware of that implemented ESS microcontrollers and matching I2S drivers are the Allo Katana which is out of production and the Audiophonics ES9038 DAC which appears to be still available.

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/dac-and-i...12795.html
Enjoy the Music!
moodeaudio.org | Mastodon Feed | GitHub
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#7
(04-20-2023, 08:06 AM)kiwipaul Wrote:

Looks like I should have undertaken more research before buying this board.

Maybe, but look at the great adventure you’ve embarked on Big Grin

Besides the Volumio forum you might try the diyaudio.com forums (esp Source & Line > PC Based). Many more hackers hang out there.

Regards,
Kent
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