Buffalo Dac

[Welder]

I’ve got the Buffalo Dac up and running with the ivy output atm; surprisingly easy to put together.

I’ve more or less finished deciding on in box component placement finally settling for a two box solution; PSU’s in one, Dac in another.
Firstly if anyone else has built one of these, is boxing the power supply and Dac separately overkill?

Next, I am considering hard wiring where the kit supplies the green terminal blocks.

http://www.lampizator.eu/lampizator/REFERENCES/Buffalo%20DAC/BuffaloDAC.html

on all the boards and I was wondering if this is the most sensible approach.

@ Marco.
You gave a link to some decent equipment wire somewhere on this forum. You wouldn’t happen to remember where it is would you?

[Reid Malenfant]

I'm pretty sure Leo has built & possibly modded one John, i think there is a thread about on here somewhere? :scratch:

[Welder]

Cheers Mark :)
I have had a bit of a forum search and yes Leo did build one but seems to have got distracted by a which is best debate 1541 chip or ESS 9018 chip :doh:

I think Nick (Lurcher) has built one as well but I cant find anything about the final layout pros and cons.

While the terminal blocks are no worse than many others types I’ve seen and do offer the option of a bit of wire swapping, I’m not sure I see the point in having them once the final layout is sorted. The screws aren’t that clever, sloppy threads, giving partial contact. I think I’ll go for a decent high silver content solder and hard wire unless someone shouts stop.

The hardest part is getting hold of the Dac. I started trying to order one in September :rolleyes:

[Reid Malenfant]

Aye i'd hardwire to unless the holes that the terminal blocks sit in are small & through hole plated, i'd imagine they'd be a reasonable size though so see no problems if you ever wanted to change the wire or fit the terminal blocks at a later date.

Less connections the better at the end of the day ;)

[leo]

Sorry not had much time to post on the forum lately, been a little busy.
Anyway I've tried Buffalo, Buffalo32 and BuffaloII, its a long thread but theres various things mainly psu related I tried here, I'll be updating the thread soon as I get time. http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1152&highlight=es9018

No such word as overkill with the ES9018 supplies :eyebrows: its one of the most sensitive chips I've come across where supply quality is concerned.

Theres pro's and cons with having a separate boxed psu, obviously good to have a noisy tranformer isolated away from your sensitive circuitry but can cause problems if using multiple supplies . Go with what best suits your own implementation of this kit, I currently use a single case but will look into a double case when I can figure out the best way to wire it all up.


Hardwiring over the terminal blocks when your ready for the fit and forget build is a good idea, for me the blocks was convenient when dismantling the thing and trying stuff out but as already mentioned their not the best quality.

[Ali Tait]

John, I'd recommend Nick's valve output stage for this dac. It's superb. Best digital I've heard so far.

[lurcher]

I was just reading the Lampizator test on the Buffalo board. Whats very interesting is the final update about the new buffalo board compared to the older one. The reason I find it interesting is its exactly what I heard when I build a DAC using first the original board and then replaced it with the newer board. I don't want to put people off, but I found the original board was far better than the new updated one IMHO.

[Welder]

Cheers Leo.

That’s the thing; I do have two Power Supplies already, both came with the kit but I’ve supplied what I hope are better quality transformers.
I’ve assumed these power supplies are up to the job (?)
They seem pretty well designed with decent components. I was kinda hoping someone had done a split box built already and worked out the best wiring config. Oh well, I’ll see what I can do :scratch:

Hey Ali.

Yep, you’ve mentioned Nicks output stage and I have had a look at it. It’s kinda expensive with the Sowters and tbh atm I’m pretty impressed with the Ivy output stage. If and when TP get the asynchronous USB board sorted that will be the priority.
Maybe something to look at when I’ve got more money to spend. The idea was to get a good Dac at a sensible price and while the kit is very reasonable when you factor in the boxes, wiring and connectors the cost mounts up fast.


Oh go on Nick, cheer me up.

I was hoping to do the music server and Dac for under a grand but I've spent more on the server than I intended.
It looks as if what I get for the HRT will go on the project as well :(

[lurcher]

I can only say as I heard :-).

At the time I suspected it may be improving with use. I think the lamp page sightly overeggs the difference a little, both are as good as anything else I have heard. Though that is with the valve + TX output stage. I have to further upset you and say I was underwhelmed by the Ivy I/V stage. With the valve output stage it was as good (possibly slightly better, but that was down to preference) to a fully tweeked Modwright Transporter with flashy output valves.

[leo]

I was just reading the Lampizator test on the Buffalo board. Whats very interesting is the final update about the new buffalo board compared to the older one. The reason I find it interesting is its exactly what I heard when I build a DAC using first the original board and then replaced it with the newer board. I don't want to put people off, but I found the original board was far better than the new updated one IMHO.

You like the ES9008 better than the ES9018 then Nick? tested with the same separate output stage I noticed the original Buffalo sounds quite different to the BuffaloII . They measured different too.
Don't know if you ever tried the latest IVYIII, must admit I really didn't like it, I found it a little forward and bright compared to Legato.

Still must try that valve output stage :eyebrows:

Edit sorry Nick, I just realised you was talking about Buffalo32, not BuffII? TP still never posted online the circuit details for the output stage of B32.

[leo]

Theres so many versions of this dac it gets quite confusing :lol:

[Welder]

Cheers Nick :)

The fact is I can’t afford to build a valve output stage atm so that’s that.
I’m leaving plenty of room in the boxes just in case :eyebrows:

The Dac with the Ivy stage sounds considerably better than the Wired4Sound Dac I heard and better than anything else that was anywhere close to the kind of money I could spend.
I had all the bits at my mates and compared it to his ULN8 and while I cant say it was as good bearing in mind he has it all set up properly, it didn’t disgrace itself by any means and we both thought you would be very hard pressed to do better from any pre built domestic product.

[leo]

Cheers Leo.

That’s the thing; I do have two Power Supplies already, both came with the kit but I’ve supplied what I hope are better quality transformers.
I’ve assumed these power supplies are up to the job (?)
They seem pretty well designed with decent components. I was kinda hoping someone had done a split box built already and worked out the best wiring config. Oh well, I’ll see what I can do :scratch:



Hi John,

The kit PSU's are ok and will give good performance, it does get a fair bit better though when you improve on those, unfortunately it can get expensive when wanting to get the most out of them.
If you run into problems just post on here, when available one of us will be along to try and help:)

[Welder]

Just out of interest Leo what power supply mods did you have in mind…………….while I’ve still got it in bits. :doh:

[Welder]

With regard to the Dac having a forward sound.
I think I would agree with that but I rather like it. The HRT Pro has also been described as bright sounding in some systems; can’t say I’ve noticed it with my kit. The soft domes tend to take the splash out of other wise bright sounding equipment and the Exposure isn’t really a good enough amp to make a big deal of source faults; just sort of blast through them in a musical manner, one of the reasons I bought it.

Depends a lot on how you like your sound served i suppose. I'm not overly concerned about detail and I'm not a fan of what most would associate with the sound of affordable valve amps

[Ali Tait]

I can only say as I heard :-).

At the time I suspected it may be improving with use. I think the lamp page sightly overeggs the difference a little, both are as good as anything else I have heard. Though that is with the valve + TX output stage. I have to further upset you and say I was underwhelmed by the Ivy I/V stage. With the valve output stage it was as good (possibly slightly better, but that was down to preference) to a fully tweeked Modwright Transporter with flashy output valves.

Sorry John, have to agree with Nick here. The Ivy sounded broken next to the valve output stage.

[Welder]

Hey Ali.

Sure, I have no doubt that a valve output stage would improve considerably the Dac’s performance but nobody seems to be reading the important bit and that is I cant afford it. :doh:

Not an awful lot of point in telling me how much better say a Weiss Dac is compared to a Rega if i can only afford a Rega is there (?)

Add to that the capability of my amp which isn’t some 5 grands worth of copper and glass and my listening habits, musical tastes etc and the Ivy, broken or not still outperforms anything I could afford.

Perhaps someone may have an alternative or a cheaper suggestion. Now that might be helpful ;)

[Ali Tait]

I didn't miss that, just wanted to tell you so you can consider it at a later date as it's really worth doing. The Ivy sounded fine, it's just the valve stage was so much better.

[lurcher]

Not an awful lot of point in telling me how much better say a Weiss Dac is compared to a Rega if i can only afford a Rega is there (?)

Well, there may be a point. All in all, what we/I are saying is that it looks like the weakest point of the dac you have is the I/V converter. Armed with that information, you may find a better solution that is as good or better and cheaper that the transformer coupled output stage I built.

[Jonboy]

:worthless:

[Welder]

I’m going to do what I was going to do in the first place and just finish building it :doh:
Nicks output stage adds another £250 to £300 to the build including yet another power supply and while I accept those who have heard it say it’s an improvement on the Ivy 111 stage there are also an awful lot of this Dacs builders who are more than happy with the standard configuration.

Yer man over at Lampizator seems to have got a bit pissy over the fact that he can’t add his tubes in a bolt on fashion any more. Reading through the pages there it seems there isn’t anything that in his opinion doesn’t sound better with his tube add ons…………:scratch:

I’m going for a single box build after all with screened compartments for the power supplies given I’m not short of 1/8 ally plate which I can drill and tap to make vertical dividers. The transformers are cased for magnetic shielding.

Once the Dac has settled in and I’ve had a chance to get to know how it sounds in my system and funds permitting I may consider Nicks valve stage which should be fairly easy to add in providing I leave box room.

Atm I’m far more interested in getting the server build finished which for me, is a much more interesting project and doesn’t require handfuls of £70 transformers and a load of glass :lol: