Tag:

W-DAC

W-DAC S 4493 – I2C controlled version of W-DAC 4493

by nihtila December 28, 2020

written by nihtila

This board is a software-controlled version of W-DAC 4493, plus a few tricks added to improve it’s practical performance and usability especially in preamplifier applications. Another new feature not possible in HW-controlled version is DSD support. Here are the new features summarised:

I2C-controlled – requires a microcontroller (e.g. Arduino) or any I2C host for control firmware
- Control firmware is not provided but there are code snippets on how to get it up and running
- Note that I2C control is required to get any audio out of the DAC
DSD support
Automatic hardware output mute
- Very useful in preamp application to avoid pops at power-up and shutdown
Hybrid volume control – digital volume and one-step relay attenuation
- Greatly improves performance in practical volume levels in preamp use

December 28, 2020 1 comment

Wee DAC

JLSounds I2SoverUSB and miniDSP MCHStreamer USB-to-I2S boards with W-DAC

by nihtila April 11, 2020

written by nihtila

Two examples of USB to I2S boards have been tested with W-DAC. They both have very extensive but also different feature sets. Key takeaways from measurements are:

Both can get the best performance out of W-DAC 4493: -115 dB THD+N and 121 dBA dynamic range
Lack of galvanic isolation in MCHStreamer may become problematic though and deteriorate performance figures

April 11, 2020 3 comments

Wee DAC

W-DAC 4493 – Very high performance compact DAC

by nihtila February 27, 2020

written by nihtila

Superb performance:
- THD+N ratio: -115 dB (1 kHz -1 dBFS)
- THD ratio: -121 dB (1 kHz, -2 dBFS)
- Dynamic range / SNR: 121 dBA
- Crosstalk: -125 dB, 10 kHz
- Comprehensive measurement data available
Unbalanced RCA, 2 V output level
- Balanced addon available
I2S input, supports up to 32 bits and 768 kHz sample rate
6 digital filters selectable with jumper links
AK4493EQ DAC, LM4562 opamps, LT3042 regulators
Compact size at 70 mm x 50 mm
Can be used with any compatible I2S source or in Wee DAC system
Wee DAC ecosystem offers numerous compatible boards
- Balanced XLR addon
- S/PDIF input boards (Coax, Toslink, AES/EBU)
- Baseboards with or without power supply
Assembled boards available

February 27, 2020 0 comment

Wee DAC

W-DAC 4490 – Very high performance compact DAC

by nihtila November 5, 2019

written by nihtila

Very high performance
- THD+N ratio: -108 dB (1 kHz -5 dBFS)
- THD ratio: -115 dB (1 kHz, -10 dBFS)
- Dynamic range / SNR: 119 dBA
- Crosstalk: -125 dB, 10 kHz
- Comprehensive measurement data available
Unbalanced RCA, 2 V output level
- Balanced addon available
I2S input, supports up to 32 bits and 768 kHz sample rate
5 digital filters selectable with jumper links
AK4490EQ DAC, LM4562 opamps
Compact size at 70 mm x 50 mm
Can be used with any compatible I2S source or in Wee DAC system
Wee DAC ecosystem offers numerous compatible boards
- Balanced XLR addon
- S/PDIF input boards (Coax, Toslink, AES/EBU)
- Baseboards with or without power supply
Assembled boards available

November 5, 2019 0 comment

Audio Theory

DAC digital filters part 2 – deeper dive into AK4490 and AK4493 filters

by nihtila October 18, 2019

written by nihtila

This post delves into digital filters in AK4490 and AK4493 DACs used in W-DAC boards and provides extensive measurement results of the filters in time and frequency domain. This is not only relevant to these specific DAC chips and filters but general information on DAC digital filters from audio perspective. This is a practical approach – no poles, zeros, or formulas but lots of plots.

October 18, 2019 10 comments