I will be writing a review of the powerDAC-SX, to summarize my "experience", and have asked ECDesigns for pictures of the internals, which they provided (it avoids having to open it up myself):
This version actually has an XLR output for headphones (front right).
From rear to front:
- Left and right programmable linear power supplies for the left and right Power D/A converters.
- Left and right black transformers for phantom power supplies for the left and right power D/A converters.
- Center transformer = Linear DAPI power supply.
- Center front board = DAPI board (Digital Audio Parallel Interface)
- Front center = Display keys and IR module
- Left and right front = Power D/A converters for left and right channel
- Power D/A converter board power resistors are cooled through heat pads to the chassis.
The DAPI is the "module" that buffers the incoming Toslink signal, determines the incoming sampling rate (44kHz, 48kHz...), and outputs the data to parallel low-bandwidth signals feeding the resistor array. The clock on the DAPI board operates separately from the data signal (the incoming clock signal is not recovered) to time the data send to the resistors (in my own words). Here is the summary that they write on their website:
Incoming Toslink signal (low bandwidth) is sampled by a discrete custom DAPI (Digital Audio Parallel Interface) receiver. It scrapes only data from Toslink and -does not recover any clocks- for sample timing.
Audio data is first stored in a buffer memory. Next it is output in -parallel- (up to 48 separate I/O lines). The single timing sample signal is divided down from a completely independent, local low jitter masterclock.
So we have parallel data (up to 48 I/O lines) and a latch pulse signal that is divided down from the masterclock and has minimal energy (minimal energy = minimal power = minimal unwanted crosstalk).
We do not generate nor use any conventional I2S or similar serial interface signals in our PowerDACs, so related crosstalk issues are completely eliminated.
ecdesigns.nl
There is no "amplification"! The output level is only determined by the programmable power supply (and some bit-shifting). I'll add some explanations about that.
This version actually has an XLR output for headphones (front right).
From rear to front:
- Left and right programmable linear power supplies for the left and right Power D/A converters.
- Left and right black transformers for phantom power supplies for the left and right power D/A converters.
- Center transformer = Linear DAPI power supply.
- Center front board = DAPI board (Digital Audio Parallel Interface)
- Front center = Display keys and IR module
- Left and right front = Power D/A converters for left and right channel
- Power D/A converter board power resistors are cooled through heat pads to the chassis.
The DAPI is the "module" that buffers the incoming Toslink signal, determines the incoming sampling rate (44kHz, 48kHz...), and outputs the data to parallel low-bandwidth signals feeding the resistor array. The clock on the DAPI board operates separately from the data signal (the incoming clock signal is not recovered) to time the data send to the resistors (in my own words). Here is the summary that they write on their website:
Incoming Toslink signal (low bandwidth) is sampled by a discrete custom DAPI (Digital Audio Parallel Interface) receiver. It scrapes only data from Toslink and -does not recover any clocks- for sample timing.
Audio data is first stored in a buffer memory. Next it is output in -parallel- (up to 48 separate I/O lines). The single timing sample signal is divided down from a completely independent, local low jitter masterclock.
So we have parallel data (up to 48 I/O lines) and a latch pulse signal that is divided down from the masterclock and has minimal energy (minimal energy = minimal power = minimal unwanted crosstalk).
We do not generate nor use any conventional I2S or similar serial interface signals in our PowerDACs, so related crosstalk issues are completely eliminated.
Audio interfaces and sound quality – ECdesigns
ecdesigns.nl
There is no "amplification"! The output level is only determined by the programmable power supply (and some bit-shifting). I'll add some explanations about that.
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