The Mamboberry DAC+

[The Black Adder]

Hi all.

Reading Tim's Tweets, (Moode Audio) he's been giving the MamboBerry DAC+ a spin with good results.

Has anyone tried this yet? Looks interesting as it has a second PSU for the DAC board.

I'm sure Tim might pop in to give the lowdown.

http://www.collybia.com/dac/

Ta.
Jo:)

[mikmas]

Hi all.

Reading Tim's Tweets, (Moode Audio) he's been giving the MamboBerry DAC+ a spin with good results.

Has anyone tried this yet? Looks interesting as it has a second PSU for the DAC board.

I'm sure Tim might pop in to give the lowdown.

http://www.collybia.com/dac/

Ta.
Jo:)

Interesting ... if a little pricey compared to the competition. Curious what advantages it might bring over the existing Sabre DAC boards apart from the option of powering via a transformer.

[TimCurtis]

Interesting ... if a little pricey compared to the competition. Curious what advantages it might bring over the existing Sabre DAC boards apart from the option of powering via a transformer.

Hi,

I ordered these parts from Jameco electronics to test out Mamboberry using PS connected to green terminal block on DAC board. According to the Mamboberry guys this method provides best SQ as a result of feeding the Pi and thus its i2s signals, cleaned up power from circuit on Mamboberry board.

TRANS,WALL,9VDC/1A,F2 (linear topology)
2.1mm x 5.5mm,UL/CUL 364576
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=364576&

JACK,2.1MX5.5X12MM,6FT PIGTAIL
24 AWG POWER CORD 2114600
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?search_type=jamecoall&catalogId=10001&freeText=2114600&langId=-1&productId=2114600&storeId=10001&ddkey=http:StoreCatalogDrillDownView

Btw, there are actually three ways to power the Mamboberry. Method 1a is best.

(1) Red jumper connected
(a) Special power supply connected to green terminal block on DAC board
-- OR --
(b) Standard 5V DC power supply connected to Raspberry Pi

(2) Red jumper removed
Special power supply connected to green terminal block on DAC board
-- AND --
Standard 5V DC power supply connected to Raspberry Pi

Regards,
Tim

[Kit1cat]

Would be interesting to compare using a 5v battery pack connected to the Raspberry Pi or 5v linear psu.

[TimCurtis]

Would be interesting to compare using a 5v battery pack connected to the Raspberry Pi or 5v linear psu.

Hi,

From an EE perspective, probably will be very similar to Mamboberry powering the Pi through its onboard circuit. Both approaches provide better quality power feeding the Pi and the DAC board than if using a commodity Raspberry Pi PS.

Regards,
Tim

[The Black Adder]

Hmm.. I'm a little confoozled.

Does the Mamboberry require 2 power supplies? One for the Pi and one for the dac?

[struth]

Hmm.. I'm a little confoozled.

Does the Mamboberry require 2 power supplies? One for the Pi and one for the dac?

not sure but I think so. I'm pretty happy with the 2 I have tbh so for now anyways I'm gonna stick and see where this rapidly evolving little gizmo goes.

[TimCurtis]

Hmm.. I'm a little confoozled.

Does the Mamboberry require 2 power supplies? One for the Pi and one for the dac?

Hi,

I was also confused about the configuration so I asked the Mamboberry guys and they said:

(1) Red jumper connected
(a) Special power supply connected to green terminal block on DAC board
-- OR --
(b) Standard 5V DC power supply connected to Raspberry Pi

(2) Red jumper removed
Special power supply connected to green terminal block on DAC board
-- AND --
Standard 5V DC power supply connected to Raspberry Pi

They indicated that while option (2) is technically possible, it is not recommended, They recommend using a single high quality linear PS in the (1a) configuration. But as Kit1cat points out, configuration (1b) using a single high quality linear PS or battery pack instead of a basic PS may be equal to (1a).

I agree the M/B is a bit odd, but it's fitted with premium electronics, I assume well engineered circuits, and a well regarded DAC chip (ES9023), and they have a unique option to provide power.

Variety is the spice of life, as it is said :-)

Regards,
Tim

[The Black Adder]

Thanks, Tim.

Ahh, now I get it. The illustration on their website is what threw me. They need to sort that out. It would however make sense to use two PSU's though, this is what caught my interest.

How would you rate it over the IQAudio DAC?

[TimCurtis]

Thanks, Tim.

Ahh, now I get it. The illustration on their website is what threw me. They need to sort that out. It would however make sense to use two PSU's though, this is what caught my interest.

How would you rate it over the IQAudio DAC?

Hi Josie,

I like all the DAC's that I currently run including IQaudIO Pi-DAC+ and DigiAMP+, JDS Labs ODAC, Mamboberry HiFi DAC+ and G2 Labs BerryNOS Red. They all work perfectly with Moode.

I'll leave the rating part to pro audio reviewers, I'm just a software guy.

Btw, my favorite DAC is BerryNOS Red with its custom power supply, swappable DAC chips (TDA1543, TDA1387) and balanced outputs. I can't tell whether it sounds better or worse than the others but the NOS design, discrete I/V stage and storied DAC chips calm my mind :-)

Regards,
Tim

[TimCurtis]

Hi,

The 9V DC linear PS arrived today but after powering up the Mamboberry with it, the board became hot after few minutes, especially the circuit near the green terminal block.

This PS below was what they recommended to me but obviously 9V is too much.

TRANS,WALL,9VDC/1A,F2 (linear topology)
2.1mm x 5.5mm,UL/CUL 364576
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/sto...ductId=364576&

Regards,
Tim

[TimCurtis]

Hi,

The 9V DC linear PS arrived today but after powering up the Mamboberry with it, the board became hot after few minutes, especially the circuit near the green terminal block.

This PS below was what they recommended to me but obviously 9V is too much.

TRANS,WALL,9VDC/1A,F2 (linear topology)
2.1mm x 5.5mm,UL/CUL 364576
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/sto...ductId=364576&

Regards,
Tim

Hi,

Just an update. The PS was defective and outputting 13.5 volts instead of 9V.

Will try again when replacement arrives :-)

Regards,
Tim

[The Black Adder]

oh dear... hope it's not fried it's iccul brain.. :(

[TimCurtis]

oh dear... hope it's not fried it's iccul brain.. :(

Board is ok. Kept my coffee warm :-)

[TimCurtis]

Hi,

Just a brief update to close the loop on my tests.

I've been running the Mamboberry DAC+ all day using perfect 9V DC from Anker 2nd gen Astro Pro2 PS and its working very nicely. There is some warmth generated by the power circuit on the board but it seems to be what one would expect. SQ is excellent :-)

Anker 2nd gen Astro Pro2
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NGLTZQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

2.5mm x 5.5mm jack (snip the wire to make pigtail)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M69JJK0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Regards,
Tim

[The Black Adder]

Cool, thanks for the update, Tim. It's certainly an interesting one.

[danilo]

Interesting..
Trying to sort out 'which' Pi dac to buy. A Genuine can 'o worms, A seemingly endless variation on the same theme.
Distracting and confusing
The above one seems as curious:
Onboard PS gubbins (except the Trans) PS rectifications and filterings, milimeters from a Very sensitive DAC chip.. Really?
This is deemed as Better? More than few seasoned designers might argue.
Yet it's claimed to work well.. Hmmm.
Guess I'm just too old /jaded :D

[museguy]

Btw, my favorite DAC is BerryNOS Red with its custom power supply, swappable DAC chips (TDA1543, TDA1387) and balanced outputs. I can't tell whether it sounds better or worse than the others but the NOS design, discrete I/V stage and storied DAC chips calm my mind :-)

Regards,
Tim

Dear Tim,
How are you? Do you know if the BerryNOS 1543 Red is still being made ? All of the products on the G2 Labs website (http://shop.g2labs.org/index.php?id_product=9&controller=product) are marked out of stock.

Thank you!
- Mark

[StanleyB]

Onboard PS gubbins (except the Trans) PS rectifications and filterings, milimeters from a Very sensitive DAC chip.. Really?
This is deemed as Better? More than few seasoned designers might argue.
Yet it's claimed to work well.. Hmmm.
Guess I'm just too old /jaded :D
You are not too old. I design my own products based on the same kind of concerns that you have with regards to what kind of signals run close to the DAC chip, or the digital audio signal path for that matter. I got some PCBs that I kept instead of binning them, because they are good examples to demonstrate to people how critical the distance between tracks can be. On one of them a mere 15mil clearance difference between a copper track and a pin on an IC turned that PCB into a very good radio :D.