Hifimediy Sabre USB DAC

[Covenant]

I think this little dac has been mentioned before but it deserves a thread of its own. Why? Because it's absurdly cheap but sounds excellent. My only complaint is the short cable which reults in the dac ending up at the back of the computer somewhere.
If your after a dac for a second system or a tight arse like me then grab one of these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=Hifimediy+Sabre+USB+DAC&_sacat=0&_from=R40

[pete_mac]

Indeed, these little USB DACs are an outright bargain.

I've tried mine connected to a Squeezebox Touch via USB with the EDO applet and consider it to be an improvement over the onboard Squeezebox Touch DAC too.

I've got one of the larger Hifimediy Sabre DACs on the way which features an onboard mains transfomer but no USB input. I'll whack it inside an enclosure and connect it to the Touch via SPDIF and see how it sounds. If it sounds better than the USB Sabre DAC then I'll be very impressed indeed. Good buying for around $USD66 plus shipping.


The original USB Sabre DAC:

http://hifimediy.com/image/cache/data/P9190109-500x500.JPG


The newer USB Sabre DAC with enclosure, galvanic isolation on the USB input line and powered by an external power supply:

http://hifimediy.com/image/cache/data/1-500x500.JPG

http://hifimediy.com/image/cache/data/UAE23+2-500x500.JPG


The larger Sabre DAC with no USB input but multiple coax/optical SPDIF inputs:

http://hifimediy.com/image/cache/data/IMG_3357-500x500.jpeg

http://hifimediy.com/image/cache/data/IMG_3365-500x500.jpeg

[Covenant]

When it arrives, please post your thoughts on the larger one Pete.:)

[WAD62]

When it arrives, please post your thoughts on the larger one Pete.:)

I'd be very interested too Pete, particularly using it in conjunction with an SBTouch (EDO) as the source...does it need a hub? What about drivers etc.?

My other concern is the volume control, if I were to get one it would go into my kitchen setup between an SBTouch and a Mini-T, so ideally I'd want to bypass the volume control I suppose :)

[pete_mac]

Ok, the DAC arrived yesterday!

It has four digital inputs (two coax and two optical) and a volume control. There are two sets of outputs - one which uses the volume control, and one which bypasses the volume control. I didn't worry about making the opening on the rear panel large enough for the optical inputs as I never intend using them.

The overall quality is pretty decent for the price, with good quality capacitors and components. I wish they had used a DIR9001 or WM8805 SPDIF receiver rather than the CS8416 because of the lower 50ps jitter vs 200ps for the CS receiver chip.

I also grabbed some nice RCA sockets for $6.50 delivered from A&B Systems in Hong Kong, along with an anodised aluminium knob (note to self... don't buy one knob when your DAC has provision for two knobs ;) ) and a gloss black ABS plastic enclosure. I already had a fuse holder, fuse, power cord and cord grip in the spare parts bin. All up the total outlay is about $100.

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre1_zps8f24adcc.jpghttp://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre2_zps6aecdc47.jpg
http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre3_zpsb9789cfe.jpg
http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre4_zps945a574f.jpg
http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre5_zps42ddaf5c.jpg
http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre6_zps4807c779.jpg
http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre8_zps9667e8b2.jpg
http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre9_zps4e726671.jpg
http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre10_zps84c1ba5c.jpg
http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre11_zps6de20dbf.jpg
http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre12_zps92bf7edb.jpg
http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre13_zps8698c7ae.jpg

Best of all, SHE WORKS! The green and yellow LEDs are a good sign. I will relocate the power, play and error LEDs to the front panel at some stage in future. I'll have a listen soon. I'm confident that it will surpass the onboard Squeezebox Touch DAC as the USB version sounds better when used with the EDO applet and the USB connection.

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre14_zpsc6e3b9f6.jpg
http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/hifimediysabre15_zpsf60c7dbf.jpg

[pete_mac]

Ok, I'm slowly settling-down after my recent house move (oh how I hate moving house) and I've been doing some digging around regarding this DAC.

Thorsten L has bought one of these DACs to test, advising the there are are several aspects of this DAC which can be improved.

Firstly, a 200kohm resistor need to be added to the vacant R28 position on the PCB to ensure the DAC doesn't clip. Easily done! Hifimediy will most likely fit this resistor in future batches from what they've told me.

Secondly, the XO can be re-wired such that it interfaces with the ES9023 chip and reduces jitter, rather than being associated with the CS8416 receiver chip. A small SMD resistor (marked as R10 on the underside of the PCB) is removed between the clock output of the CS8416 chip and the MCLK input ES9023 DAC chip, breaking the link between the two. A small length of Cat5 cable is soldered into place between the output from the 24.576mhz XO and the MCLK input for the ES9023.

Thorsten L said that the DAC measured better after these tweaks, and my ears are inclined to believe him. The sound is cleaner, more detailed, and more relaxed.

For about $100 all-up, this is a pretty decent little DAC! I'm looking forward to undertaking some comparisons with other sub-$500 DACs in the coming week or two.


http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/image_zpse5bfe68b.jpg

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s587/petemacsna/image_zps875bccb0.jpg

[Andrei]

Of course the DAC chip(s) used are not the only thing that makes for a quality DAC but - really now - who would buy a CD / SACD / BluRay player, or DAC that had a Wolfson or Burr Brown (or whatever) chip when they can have the real deal.

[pete_mac]

The best DAC that I personally have owned (audio-gd Ref 5) had four TI/BB pcm1704uk chips, and this little Sabre DAC (which admittedly is only an entry level DAC) simply doesn't have the timbre and tone of the audio-gd. Likewise, I haven't been all that impressed with several ES9018-equipped DACs that I've heard. Bags of detail and resolution, but lacking something in the timbre/tone/realism department.

Still, my opinion may start to sway now that I'll be listening to a Sabre DAC for the immediate future. Time will tell! ;)

[StanleyB]

Of course the DAC chip(s) used are not the only thing that makes for a quality DAC but - really now - who would buy a CD / SACD / BluRay player, or DAC that had a Wolfson or Burr Brown (or whatever) chip when they can have the real deal.
What real deal are you on about?

[Andrei]

What real deal are you on about?

Dacs or players with chips from ESS Technology. See http://www.esstech.com/?p=products_DAC

[leo]

You need a more complex output stage and regulation to get the most out of the ES9018, anything less and it can sound fatiquing. Its not just the chip which is expensive but implementation too.
BTW nothing wrong with Wolfson or BB/TI chips, a lot of units sanely priced using these chips sound really good.

[Covenant]

We don't see much of you these days Leo, what are you up to and how is the cat?
I must admit, I don't find the Hifimediy tiring. Lively, energetic, fast are the adjectives I would use but I still prefer my modified Caiman for it's spacious soundstage.

[leo]

Hi Jerry, I've been quite busy so not had much time to get on the forums. Soon as things settle down a bit I'll be posting more .
The cats fine thanks, we got another one to keep her company :)

[Andrei]

Its not just the chip which is expensive but implementation too.

Audioquest Dragonfly and Ifi iDac ( http://ifi-audio.com/en/iDAC.html ) are both inexpensive impementations of the Sabre Chips. I have not heard either but the Dragonfly has been well reviewed.

[Covenant]

One of the best reviews is on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/HiFiMeDIY-Digital-Analog-Converter-Optical/product-reviews/B00AOH5JTQ

[DSJR]

Not sure if the DAC chip itself is overly important these days, but it's the power supply and correct choice of bits around it that is the really important bit methinks.....

[leo]

Audioquest Dragonfly and Ifi iDac ( http://ifi-audio.com/en/iDAC.html ) are both inexpensive impementations of the Sabre Chips. I have not heard either but the Dragonfly has been well reviewed.

Regarding price theres a wide gap between the ES9023 and ES9018 Sabres.
The ES9023 can give pretty good results cheaply in a compact design , the ES9018 has a lot more potential but requires a much more complex circuit.

[leo]

Not sure if the DAC chip itself is overly important these days, but it's the power supply and correct choice of bits around it that is the really important bit methinks.....

Hmm, some (not all) voltage out dac chips are not that great. The psu's and filter stages won't help a chip with a compromised internal I/V. Luckily there is a lot of decent chips available now but there is a few stinkers out there too :)

[Covenant]

How about publishing your own design Leo? (Cheeky bugger aren't I?) :)