DIY PCM63 DAC Using The Kinergetics Research KCD-55 Ultra Chassis

If you have a chance to get the ancient Ultra Analog DAC module, you probably one of the luckiest audiophile. This is because the module it self is not for retail sale and the complete DAC unit using this Ultra Analog DAC module is also rare. The complete Ultra Analog DAC module can be found like in this Kinergetics Research KCD-55 Ultra. Few others like Sonic Frontier SFD-2 DAC also using this module as well but they are all hi-end DAC and high price.

Others than that, the Ultra Analog DAC module is said to be the weakest part. It is easily broken and cannot be repair just like a solid state IC. The closest sound quality is the PCM63.

Despite in this condition, I still like the appearance of this Kinergetics Research DAC chassis. I will using this casing to build a new DAC. This new DAC quality should be marvelous, at least the sound from the DAC in this box should be great, just like the Kinergetic Research DAC itself.

So here I am, start to build a DAC using the PCM63, known as the best vintage multi bit DAC IC.

Kinergetics Research KCD-55 Ultra DAC Components Review

No one talk about this great product from Kinergetics Research anymore. In fact this is one of best audio product in early 90's. The Kinergetics Research itself have full line up audio system from CD player, DAC, pre-amplifier and power amplifier but not so much variant from each products. It is a reputable company indeed, sadly their name vanished no where.

Especially in this post, I just bought used, not working condition Kinergetics Research KCD-55 Ultra DAC. The Ultra means this DAC using dual DAC module from Ultra Analog, a company that specialize in making one and the best DAC module use by many hi-end audio manufactures. This KCD-55 DAC only have 2 variant in the same casing. This is also the only DAC they have ever produced. The Kinergetics KCD-55 non-Ultra using quad AD1860 DAC. Because the input of both DAC section are the same, so they shared exactly the same chassis and PCB inside. So let's take a look.

Gainclone Integrated Amplifier With AD1865 DAC

This is my activity updates before the weekend comes.

Previously I talked so much about this Gainclone amplifier which is actually an integrated amplifier using the PCM56 DAC in one chassis. Then, I will replace the DAC module with this new AD1865 DAC module. This AD1865N simply a far better sounding DAC compare to PCM56P-K. So let's continue this project.

Single AC To Dual DC Rectifier Power Supply Ripple Rejection Improvement

I did many trial on this PCM56 DAC. This DAC is become my experimental tool for the next better DAC projects. If you not yet following my post before, so please visit the building process and the upgrades of my PCM56 DAC in here here here.

In this post, I will make another experiment. Previously, the power supply in this PCM56 DAC is intended to using batteries. This is before changed to single AC input power supply that I think will be more simple to use. This single AC is convert to half-wave dual DC power supply here. But the problem is this DAC unit still using small capacitors that calculated when using the batteries. The capacitors are only 100uF on each rail voltage and for sure not sufficient to reduce the ripple on rough half-wave rectifier conversion.

So in this post, I will replacing the small capacitors with the bigger one to improve the ripple rejection.

DIY AD1865 Non-oversampling DAC

I have built several top tier vintage multibit DAC with a great result and now I become addicted to experimenting the sound characteristic on other DAC IC. I will comparing them with what I have right now.

The fun fact about this vintage DAC are:

1. They are all great sounding and musical DAC compares to today delta sigma DAC.

2. The power supply need to have more attention and this direct result to the sound quality.

3. Who said that DAC IC will not give any difference?

Especially on point 3, that statement for sure comes from either a sales man of delta sigma DAC or un-experienced DAC builder, period.

I found that different type DAC IC have their own sound signature, even with exactly same analog stages and power supply. This fact makes me so curious and keep moving to another multibit DAC journey.

Today DAC project is using AD1865N which is very popular because Audio Note manufacture using the same DAC IC on their top tier DAC products. So let's build it!