Secret project (Svart AD/DA converters)

Welcome, oceres!

Ok, an update!

I got all the DAC boards in from the builder..

There are some issues with them, build errors and such, that need to be addressed.

Lets just say that I should have just built these myself. I didn't save any time, nor money, nor headaches having someone else build them, that's for sure. They took 3x longer than I was quoted, they lost parts, etc, and now I need to fix some of the boards.

Because of this, I'm taking back the ADC boards and doing them myself!

A couple more weeks though..

Working on them!

I took the ADC boards back from the builder, and have been building them myself.  Unforseen family issues have kept that work to a minimum though.  I've started working on building the chassis too.

Thought I'd make an update:


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I've got all the chassis cut and studded. I'm currently pressing the heatsink bumps and will cut the front panels at some point soon.

I'm going on a surprise business trip next week so it might be the week after when I get the chassis completed.

I've started programming the boards and so far, so good, all are working up to this point.

I also might have identified a company to build my next batch of boards. This last fiasco with getting boards built really killed my desire to continue. However, if I get a good quote from this next builder (who comes highly recommended by several people) then depending on how this next batch sells, I might do another batch with this new builder and hopefully it doesn't take 3 months of fucking around before doing it myself anyway..

+/-15V.  


The pad is absolutely used as intended by AD, connected to -V with the proper theta-JC and theta-JA and all that.

The AD4898-2's paddles are soldered to the PCB which has filled vias to the back of the board where the bottom of the chassis bumps up and contacts it with a little thermal gap pad for electrical isolation but good thermal transfer to the chassis.  The temp measurements taken on the bodies of the opamps vary depending on use, but the overall highest package temp is right about the middle of the operational temp specs.

Even with all that, the 6x DAC opamps can warm up the chassis to the touch.  They are power hungry beasts!

I have a couple piles of these currently being tested..

As some of you might already know, I've started shipping the next batch of converters.

I'll be contacting the last few on the list and then open up a few units for open sales in the next week or so.

4 units.. Come and get them!

800$usd plus shipping.  I no longer offer ADC or DAC only versions.  I only ever had one person purchase a single DAC, and they quickly upgraded to the whole unit with ADC.  It's just easier to manage whole units.

disclaimer:
I'm amateur. no credits.
all of the following is my opinion, and form what I have gleaned from reading and getting advice from people, including some of the fine members here on this really cool forum.
no use debating me about anything, because I am no expert on anything. lol
that said, I want to say something about my new Svartbox.
its awesome and I love it.
previously I had used a Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 or an RME Babyface.

most recently, I had been using the Babyface's ADC, and then a Schitt Audio external DA and headphone amp.
now I'm using the Svartbox with the Scarlett 6i6 for my interface.
and I am using the Svartbox's AD and DA (Schitt Audio external DA not being used now).
my experience of the Svartbox is this:
- quieter. there was a whoosh sound before. not now. it is much quieter.
- and couple that with this: I can turn my pre-amp gain up higher, AND my levels into my DAW are lower. which means I'm recording less hot. which means I have more headroom.
it also means that I can utilize more of my pre's mojo........ie get better into the sweet spot of the pre's range, as it was designed for use by the manufacturer.
this all adds up to one very happy customer.
super glad I got it.
much thank you to Svart.