DIY battery powered music server and DAC

[HAL]

Well my Audio Mad Scientist creation is a battery powered music server and DAC. The DAC is driven by the M2Tech Evo via I2S Bus. The music server is a Netbook with an external USB 2 drive for the music library. In the picture is a battery powered single ended Class A headphone amp running my Sennheiser HD-650 headphones. Took it to RMAF 2010 to demo for friends. I think they liked it! :)

Taking the music server and DAC setup to my friends place Saturday for a listening session against his Oppo BD-83SE Blu-Ray setup. This should be interesting.

[InfernoSTi]

Looks outstanding!!! :applause::applause::applause:

Any additional info/photos would be welcome!!!

John

[Hugh]

Let us know it goes after your session. :)

Well my Audio Mad Scientist creation is a battery powered music server and DAC. The DAC is driven by the M2Tech Evo via I2S Bus. The music server is a Netbook with an external USB 2 drive for the music library. In the picture is a battery powered single ended Class A headphone amp running my Sennheiser HD-650 headphones. Took it to RMAF 2010 to demo for friends. I think they liked it! :)

Taking the music server and DAC setup to my friends place Saturday for a listening session against his Oppo BD-83SE Blu-Ray setup. This should be interesting.

[ATTACH]2118[/ATTACH]

[HAL]

I am probably bringing the setup to LSAF next year in Dallas.

The DAC is a Wolfson Evaluation board. Same DAC chip used in the NAD 565BEE CD player and PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC. Sounds really good to me and a bargain in this form. The battery supplies use the A123 LiFePO4 cells.

The fun box is the M2Tech Evo. It is a USB 2 to just about any digital interface converter. I really like the Evo's I2S Bus interface that is compatible with the old Audio Alchemy style bus (no deemphasis bit however, but the DAC board has the function which can be set if needed via software).

The Netbook runs Windows 7 and sounds really good with the Evo using the M2Tech driver.

[HAL]

Let us know it goes after your session.

Hugh,
Will do. The I2S Bus problem was easily solved that I was having at RMAF. It was a jumper in the wrong position!

[Hugh]

Ah.

I'd never thought of that.

By the way, I just found out that YOU & I got more than one thing in common. :)

Remember P3?

Hugh,
Will do. The I2S Bus problem was easily solved that I was having at RMAF. It was a jumper in the wrong position!

[HAL]

Hugh,
I know them quite well! :)

[Hugh]

Then you should know about P7 too. :)

I was in it. :(

Hugh,
I know them quite well! :)

[HAL]

Hugh,
I remember that one as well. :(

Oh well, I think about music and audio gear instead!

[InfernoSTi]

All this code talk! You two speak in wind whispers....I just hope you aren't talking about folding bicycles!!!

[InfernoSTi]

I am probably bringing the setup to LSAF next year in Dallas.

The DAC is a Wolfson Evaluation board. Same DAC chip used in the NAD 565BEE CD player and PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC. Sounds really good to me and a bargain in this form. The battery supplies use the A123 LiFePO4 cells.

The fun box is the M2Tech Evo. It is a USB 2 to just about any digital interface converter. I really like the Evo's I2S Bus interface that is compatible with the old Audio Alchemy style bus (no deemphasis bit however, but the DAC board has the function which can be set if needed via software).

The Netbook runs Windows 7 and sounds really good with the Evo using the M2Tech driver.

This is a little over my head but I will google away for a while and try to learn a bit....sounds really cool. I love to see the DIY spirit alive and well!!!

John

[HAL]

John,

Well if you are really interested, here is the LSAF website with the info.

http://www.lonestaraudiofest.com/

I have been told it is a lot of fun, so time to find out! A weekend with DIY audio folks sounds good to me.

[Sandbagger]

Took it to RMAF 2010 to demo for friends. I think they liked it! :)

Taking the music server and DAC setup to my friends place Saturday for a listening session against his Oppo BD-83SE Blu-Ray setup. This should be interesting.

[ATTACH]2118[/ATTACH]

As one of the few that got to hear that rig "thumbsup::clapper::saywhat:

Others could have listened to it had they checked their phones :assshake:

Rich I have a feeling that sat is going to FUN for you.....

Now if I could just sell some equipment around here ( onix sp3,H34,subs anything)

[HAL]

Kevin,
Thanks!

Yours in on hold for when you are ready. :huge:

[HAL]

Had fun on Saturday being music DJ at my friend Bob's place with the local audio group gathering. Played everything from Heavy Metal to Jazz to Classical to match the attendees wants in musical selections. :rock:

Everybody seemed to enjoy the listening session as they just called out selections and if I had them they were played.

For this listening session the Evo was running the DAC via I2S Bus and it really sounded really good. We compared it to his Oppo BD-83SE, but the signal level out of the SE was higher, so not a good comparison since we could not easily level match the two. I would say they are both on similar levels of quailty, but I prefer the Wolfson filters to the ESS Sabre DAC.

The fun part was the entire system was DC coupled! It would go really low! :)