Discrete R2R DAC hat

bigbulb · September 19, 2020, 3:25pm

Just finished my discrete R2R DAC hat. …

andrewnorth · September 19, 2020, 4:30pm

If you’d use 1970’s sized components, I’d stand a chance

Nice work

bigbulb · September 20, 2020, 2:04am

My Prototypes are almost all thru hole parts.

judydudi · February 14, 2024, 7:59pm

Hi bigbulb,

unfortunately i had overlooked your message.
I really would like to test your R2R DAC HAT at my soundcheck event.
VOLUMIO soundcheck invitation for Hamburg, Germany
Do you still have any for sale?
kind regards

bigbulb · February 15, 2024, 2:10am

Hi, please check PM , thank you.

judydudi · April 22, 2024, 5:17pm

I am very enthusiastic about your discrete R2R DAC HAT board.
It is a pleasure to listen to it.
Please let us know here, if there are any improvements or new versions done to your board.
Thanks!

bigbulb · April 24, 2024, 7:40am

Hi Judydudi,

Thank you for getting back to me.
I’m currently building a small batch of new design , version V2.4, with individual switch on each bit , and it has much lower internal resistance .
For sound quality, it has more decent bass and more detail . The PCB is a little bit larger than previous one.
Here’s the photo of the DAC. Sorry for the low quality camera at low light.

judydudi · April 28, 2024, 8:32am

That sounds good. It’s great that you’re continuing to work on it.
And with even more detail, it will be fun to examine the songs closely. Looking forward to receiving the DAC in the next few weeks!

sjaaklaan · October 17, 2024, 8:12pm

This looks very promising. Is this a product that you will sell on your site https://audiophilediyer.com?

Romanescugxg · May 8, 2025, 12:30pm

Hi guys,
My toy has arrived - it is a discrete R-2R DAC Hat for Raspberry Pi ( Version V2.42 )

Up to 24bit 384K, non over sampling .
Support Pi 2,3,4, and 5
Distortion 0.004% ~0.005% ,…,…
And it is unbelievable good. What op-amps mods and other things, this is truly awesome: more detailed, more cold aka real, bass is very controlled and the soundstage is huge.
But be careful if you play low resolution music it will sound bad because it plays exactly what you fed it.
I play it via a modest sistem: volumio -raspberry 4 - Nvarcher super capacitor power filter - Nvarcher grounded grid tube pre moded - 2 Rotels 850 mono or Nelson Pass ACA paralel mono RCA - Chario Constellation Cygnus speakers.

So in my case R2R NOS is truly the one type of DAC that my ears love - analog and pure, no timber.

PS: DAC’s that I had till now:
SMSL 1955+ / SA9027+WM8805+PCM1796+OP275+JRC5532DD but I’ve played also with OPA1656
AUDIOLAB 8200CDQ - ESS Sabre 9018K2M
Hifiberry Digi+ & Digi+ Pro
Linn Unidisk SC
China ES 9028

Thank you Audiophile Diyer , wow !