March 20, 2024

The Nakamichi Dragon DAC Clone 2024 Updates

One of my reason posting the same DAC again is because I not making any new DAC anymore. I listen the music from my digital source, with the SPDIF output, then it convert the data to the analog sound by using this Nakamichi Dragon DAC clone. I like it so much and this might be the most expensive DAC I've ever built. It sound so good, probably not the best, but I feel proud to having this DAC.

I guess more than three month has pass and I think I should revisit this DAC again.

Actually I have some issue with the sound, not really major for me, but I think it is lack of the detail music presentation. Probably because of the LPF cut-off should be setting up again. I also want to have cleaner digital supply to each PCM1704 DAC IC by adding the inductors, as per original Nakamichi Dragon DAC schematic.

So here are the updates.


January 29, 2024

My Listening Room & Audio Setup

I haven't publish any post in this new year yet because I think there are nothing worth enough to share. My last post about building a DAC that based on the Nakamichi Dragon DAC schematic is now become my currently best DAC I've ever build. It is sound so good, yet the most expensive DAC I've ever built. I think this is my full stop to make any DAC again.

So in this post is just about myself, lying on my sofa while listening the music with my DIY stereo system in one fine evening, probably few days before the new year. With the borrowed camera on my hands, I try to take few picture about all of my audio system.

I think the picture are worth to share.


December 29, 2023

The Nakamichi Dragon DAC Clone Updates

This is the post I made for closing this year.

Such a beautiful years with lot of new experienced especially when I made a DAC with the vintage multibit DAC IC.

The latest DAC I made is a clone from Nakamichi Dragon DAC and I named it "the Dragon DAC". The overall result is surprisingly good and I can now stop thinking about building another new DAC with new concept using the vintage multibit DAC since all of them are already done.

This post is just an update from my previously built, the Dragon DAC, with some components added and changes for the sake of an improvement.


December 22, 2023

Building Process Nakamichi Dragon DAC Clone

If someone asking me about what is my dream for the vintage multibit DAC to own is for sure the Nakamichi Dragon DAC.

Anyone who doesn't know the original Nakamichi brand is a company that specialized in the high fidelity audio product and they are all made in Japan. Unlike today Nakamichi which already bought by the Asian company and they missing it's original culture.

The Nakamichi Dragon is the highest level of audio product and the DAC in this Dragon line-up is the limited edition product with ultimate price tag to own.

Don't expect me to buy it, I guess I better make it by my own:)


December 15, 2023

DAC2000 Build With AD1865 DAC

The curiosity I got from studying the DAC2000 schematic that I previously post are on the analog stages.

Although this analog stage is quite common for the third pole LPF, but the specific resistors value become the key factor for the overall LPF slope result. The goal for a better LPF calculator is we want the slope of the LPF as linear as possible because it reflect to the sound quality.

That is why I want to make the same DAC2000 but with some changes, especially on the DAC section that will be using AD1865.

So let's continue.


December 8, 2023

Elektor Electronics Magazine DAC2000 Article Review

In November 1999, Elektor Electronics magazine released a series articles about the building process of their state of the art multibit DAC using PCM1704.

They named it DAC2000.

This is quite spectacular because at that time, almost everything named with 2000. It is the new millennium and if you lived at that era you can feel the hype that everyone are excited to welcoming the year 2000.

But how good is the DAC2000?

We are two decades ahead but why I still digging out this ancient vintage multibit DAC article?

Seriously?!


December 1, 2023

Non-oversampling PCM63 DAC

When I was build a DAC using PCM63, it always in the oversampling method using SM5813 IC. The reason is simply I was comfortable with this design and it is guarantee to work very well.

But I often think if I can try in the non-oversampling method with this specific DAC. Probably because in my experience with the good non-oversampling DAC build, the sound characteristic are more natural. This issue is always keep rolling in my head if this non-oversampling PCM63 can outperform the previous oversampling DAC build or not?

So here it is, the non-oversampling PCM63 DAC building process.


November 24, 2023

Schiit Bifrost 1 DAC Tear Down

In this post, I will going to disassembly the original Schiit Bifrost to see what components inside. The unit that I got here is a broken unit. I was told from the seller that the unit is broken during courier delivery which the power transformer is pulled out from the main board. So I bought it for cheap then I repair it while checking the components inside.

Previously I was disassembly the Schiit Bifrost 2 which are promoted as a multibit DAC. It use dual 18 bit AD5781 DAC from Analog Device which is so much different with the first original Bifrost here using 32 bit AKM AK4399EQ Delta Sigma DAC.

The similarity between the original Bifrost and the Bifrost 2 DAC is both utilized the modular design, separate between the main board and the daughter boards on top of it.

Let's get started.