~Spyne~ Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Having already had a sneak peak at some higher res photos, I can only repeat - great job @Gieseler Audio (and son). Looking forward to info on the single screen...hint, hint, nudge, nudge 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted to music Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Superb..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cafad Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 (edited) Looks gorgeous Clay. I'm a bit of a fan of the split screen actually, reminds you of the fact that you have two separate components within one chassis. Edited September 15, 2016 by Cafad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woadl Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 (edited) Looking fantastic, I'm sure it will sound as good as it looks what a professional job and its Australian made well done Clay & to your son Edited September 15, 2016 by woadl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gieseler Audio Posted September 16, 2016 Author Share Posted September 16, 2016 This is the 2.4 inch OLED display we have been playing with. It is much more readable from a distance. Also it is a graphic display (not character) so we can use the whole screen size to display say volume level 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suopermanni Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 Just looked at the images of the prototype! Holy smokes, that looks so pro! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gieseler Audio Posted September 28, 2016 Author Share Posted September 28, 2016 Well some serious progress today! Fletcher who handles the programming side of things has finalised the code for the new single larger OLED display. We are now using one much higher capacity micro controller rather than the previous individual micros on the DAC & Preamp boards. The new micro is on a separate PCB (separate PSU as well) so has much better isolation in respect to the audio circuits. Also system integration is far better with one micro in total control of the whole unit. The only down side is the senior solderer (ME) has the daunting task of mounting a hundred pin micro controller chip - 0.5 mm pin pitch so not too bad. The OLED display works brilliantly, each function uses the entire character display so even I can read it from across the room without binoculars. All that is left now is to cad up & order the new micro controller PCB. Bottom line - should have a totally finished (one anyway) product in about two weeks. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gieseler Audio Posted September 28, 2016 Author Share Posted September 28, 2016 Hey guys I have just come up with a rather radical idea that may interest the Multibit R2R fans. I still have a stash of PCM1704U-K chips left from my PDX manufacturing days so I was thinking of a very limited run of digital front end boards using that chip. The DAC/Pre uses a seperate (relatively small) digital front end PCB with a socketed Amanero USB module so easy to swap over. It will be pricey though as genuine PCM1704U-K's from a reliable source are at least a couple a hundred a pop. From memory Element14's last remaining few listed arround $380!!! Anyway I have ten PCM1704U-K's left, they are mono so I could only do five boards. Just a thought - feedback appreciated! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerav Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 This just looks like the perfect product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suopermanni Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 @Gieseler Audio Everything okay with the DAC/Pre? I might be interested in giving a PCM 1704U-K chips a try? Let me know the cost relative to regular DAC/Pre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gieseler Audio Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 Hi Guys, sorry for the delay with this. I'm in the process of changing houses so I have taken a bit of time off to get my house ready for sale. ETA on the finished DAC pre is about mid November. It is just waiting on a new controller board. The PCM1704U-K digital option would be about $500 extra as that would be the extra cost to use those chips vs the AK4490EQ version. I could also offer a AK4497EQ version at about $350 extra which is the one buy price for one of those chips at the moment. It is a lot less from AKM but they are only doing small runs at the moment & their minimum buy is 160 units! I have built up a AK4497EQ prototype which sounds very good but it is hard to tell is it is actually better than the AK4490EQ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerav Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 55 minutes ago, Gieseler Audio said: I'm in the process of changing houses so I have taken a bit of time off to get my house ready for sale Understand that, going thru the same thing here. Very stressful. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suopermanni Posted October 19, 2016 Share Posted October 19, 2016 2 hours ago, Gieseler Audio said: Hi Guys, sorry for the delay with this. I'm in the process of changing houses so I have taken a bit of time off to get my house ready for sale. ETA on the finished DAC pre is about mid November. It is just waiting on a new controller board. The PCM1704U-K digital option would be about $500 extra as that would be the extra cost to use those chips vs the AK4490EQ version. I could also offer a AK4497EQ version at about $350 extra which is the one buy price for one of those chips at the moment. It is a lot less from AKM but they are only doing small runs at the moment & their minimum buy is 160 units! I have built up a AK4497EQ prototype which sounds very good but it is hard to tell is it is actually better than the AK4490EQ. Oh my! That's quite a big change! My family is only just starting to go through that process, still early days yet. Can't imagine the stress level of that so stay well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Spyne~ Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 On 19/10/2016 at 5:15 PM, Gieseler Audio said: Hi Guys, sorry for the delay with this. I'm in the process of changing houses so I have taken a bit of time off to get my house ready for sale. ETA on the finished DAC pre is about mid November. It is just waiting on a new controller board. The PCM1704U-K digital option would be about $500 extra as that would be the extra cost to use those chips vs the AK4490EQ version. I could also offer a AK4497EQ version at about $350 extra which is the one buy price for one of those chips at the moment. It is a lot less from AKM but they are only doing small runs at the moment & their minimum buy is 160 units! I have built up a AK4497EQ prototype which sounds very good but it is hard to tell is it is actually better than the AK4490EQ. Hi Clay, How has the house moving gone - hopefully smooth sailing, it's certainly not the least stressful activity one can undertake! Any progress on the DAC-Pre? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gieseler Audio Posted November 23, 2016 Author Share Posted November 23, 2016 Hi Adam, my factory is jammed packed with stuff from home - trying to de-clutter a bit & make the house look good for potential buyers. DAC/Pre - we have actually been working on it today & making steady progress. RE mico controller The TQFP-100 Atmega2560 chip was proving a bit of a challenge so we have gone back to the DIP Atmega 328P as it is much easier to work with. The 328P has limited digital & analog outputs but it looks as if we will just make it. Preamp section now working nicely with the new OLED display so just need to add in the DAC code. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BioBrian Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 (edited) Hello Clay, My sympathies with the stress of moving home. Just a question about using your DAC/Pre (or Klein ll - I need to decide) using USB-2 input: will it run as an ALSA device from an 'Idealish Server" running Snakeoil software without needing Linux drivers? Do you, or any of your clients, do this already? Edited December 15, 2016 by BioBrian got me terms in a twist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gieseler Audio Posted November 23, 2016 Author Share Posted November 23, 2016 Hi Brian, correct - no need for Linux drivers as the Amanero USB board does not need them with a Linux (or Mac) based server. The Amanero only needs drivers for Windows which are available from his website. I have tried Snakeoil with the Klein II using a mini-itx based server & it works fine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gieseler Audio Posted November 24, 2016 Author Share Posted November 24, 2016 (edited) Hey exciting news! Digikey finally have stock of the new AK4497EQ DAC chip. $71 US a pop tho. Ouch! Actually just noticed that was in Aus $ so not too bad. I have already developed a prototype using this chip so will be offering it as an option with the DAC/Pre for sure. Edited November 25, 2016 by Gieseler Audio 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woadl Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Yes please ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matth Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 20 hours ago, Gieseler Audio said: Hey exciting news! Digikey finally have stock of the new AK4497EQ DAC chip. $71 US a pop tho. Ouch! I have already developed a prototype using this chip so will be offering it as an option with the DAC/Pre for sure. Hi Clay, that is good news. Please offer the AK4497 as an option for your DACs without preamp as well. Matt 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gieseler Audio Posted December 15, 2016 Author Share Posted December 15, 2016 Hi Guys, well finally we have it all sorted. The whole unit is controlled with one 28 pin DIL micro controller. It is in a socket so very handy for future firmware upgrades if required. The big OLED display has a home menu showing all info as well as sub menus in a large font which is readable from across the room. The AK4497EQ will be a upgrade option or I may even make it standard issue. Over the next couple of weeks I will machine out a new front panel & build up a fully finished final model. When that is done I will start a new product release thread with lots of info & photos. Have a great Christmas Cheers Clay 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woadl Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 Fantastic new Clay so looking forward to this, thanks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_mac Posted December 16, 2016 Share Posted December 16, 2016 Nice work Clay! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Spyne~ Posted December 16, 2016 Share Posted December 16, 2016 mustard! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerav Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 Hopefully just in time for when I get my tax check back this is my audio funds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.JPG.3f8109330da93320c3dfc805e02286be.JPG)
Recommended Posts