Popular Post franz159 Posted April 6, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted April 6, 2019 I just posted the same info in response to the thread Suggestions for a low-cost DAC. After doing some search on the forum I realized that, despite having been mentioned here and there since Dember 2018, this un-assuming small card/DAC does not have a thread of its own, which I'm now starting. In fact, I think that my recommendation stands even when you remove the "low cost" terms and it becomes a strong recommendation for a low-cost DAC but with very high quality for the cost. The Khadas Tone Board (99$) measures as DACs costing multiple time its cost, as you can read here. I have had it for about a month and I'm very happy about the sound I'm getting. The sound is clear, detailed and airy, with an unbelievable sense of rhythm. It decodes all PCM resolutions up to 384 kHz and DSD up to DSD256, no MQA More info here: https://www.khadas.com/tone https://www.khadas.com/tone-specs DuckToller and alecm 1 1 Link to comment
matthias Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 On 4/6/2019 at 6:33 PM, franz159 said: I just posted the same info in response to the thread Suggestions for a low-cost DAC. After doing some search on the forum I realized that, despite having been mentioned here and there since Dember 2018, this un-assuming small card/DAC does not have a thread of its own, which I'm now starting. In fact, I think that my recommendation stands even when you remove the "low cost" terms and it becomes a strong recommendation for a low-cost DAC but with very high quality for the cost. The Khadas Tone Board (99$) measures as DACs costing multiple time its cost, as you can read here. I have had it for about a month and I'm very happy about the sound I'm getting. The sound is clear, detailed and airy, with an unbelievable sense of rhythm. It decodes all PCM resolutions up to 384 kHz and DSD up to DSD256, no MQA More info here: https://www.khadas.com/tone https://www.khadas.com/tone-specs Thank you for this recommendation. Do you have experiences with the Tone Board with upsampling to DSD256 from Mac? Thanks Matt "I want to know why the musicians are on stage, not where". (John Farlowe) Link to comment
jamc Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Looks interesting- Digikey has it in stock. Can it plug directly in to the rpi 3b+ 40 pin header? Compatible with picoreplayer/LMS? Link to comment
franz159 Posted April 9, 2019 Author Share Posted April 9, 2019 4 hours ago, jamc said: Looks interesting- Digikey has it in stock. Can it plug directly in to the rpi 3b+ 40 pin header? Compatible with picoreplayer/LMS? plug: NO, the 40 pin header is for Khadas own SBS, NOT for the raspberry. I use the Khadas with the raspberry on USB port. I confirmed this works with AudiooLinux and Moode. I expect it will work with PicorePlayer too. jamc 1 Link to comment
Dev Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 Is this the same board Sonore is using in their Tone DAC ? Link to comment
matthias Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Dev said: Is this the same board Sonore is using in their Tone DAC ? JR said somewhere on AS that the DAC is not a development by Sonore. Looking at the specs, layout of inputs and outputs and considering the name of the DAC I would say YES. Matt "I want to know why the musicians are on stage, not where". (John Farlowe) Link to comment
matthias Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 @Dev Matt "I want to know why the musicians are on stage, not where". (John Farlowe) Link to comment
matthias Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 Some measurements and listening impressions as well: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-wesiontek-khadas-tone-board-dac.4823/ Matt "I want to know why the musicians are on stage, not where". (John Farlowe) Link to comment
franz159 Posted April 16, 2019 Author Share Posted April 16, 2019 3 hours ago, matthias said: Some measurements and listening impressions as well: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-wesiontek-khadas-tone-board-dac.4823/ Matt It was linked in post 1 but maybe not that visible, therefore thanks! matthias 1 Link to comment
matthias Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 Aluminium case: https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/aluminium-boxes-cases/aluminum-case-for-khadas-tone-board-p-13626.html Matt "I want to know why the musicians are on stage, not where". (John Farlowe) Link to comment
matthias Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 Some info from another forum: https://forum.volumio.org/khadas-tone-board-t11021.html Matt "I want to know why the musicians are on stage, not where". (John Farlowe) Link to comment
matthias Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 On 4/18/2019 at 12:33 AM, matthias said: Aluminium case: https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/aluminium-boxes-cases/aluminum-case-for-khadas-tone-board-p-13626.html Matt I ordered a KTB with the matching case and will report back. Matt soares 1 "I want to know why the musicians are on stage, not where". (John Farlowe) Link to comment
jaaptina Posted June 18, 2019 Share Posted June 18, 2019 On 5/7/2019 at 9:49 PM, matthias said: I ordered a KTB with the matching case and will report back. Matt Hi Matt, any new on the Khadas Tone Board? I'm considering to buy one. Link to comment
DuckToller Posted June 18, 2019 Share Posted June 18, 2019 @jaaptina Hi, I talked with Khadas last week, and they informed me, that they will issue an upgraded version of the KTB end of Juli 2019. It should fix an issue with the ESS dac chip, which came to light in April, afaik. You'll find more information about the issue on their web forum. https://forum.khadas.com/c/khadas-toneboard I have nonetheless bought an old board for an upcoming review with an JDS Atom HP amp, using a RPIi 3b as music/network server. At the moment it's running night and day for a decent break in. But first impression are good! 😉 Best , Tom Link to comment
DuckToller Posted June 18, 2019 Share Posted June 18, 2019 Uups, I forgot an information: They will issue a new case design for the new board as well. Link to comment
esldude Posted June 18, 2019 Share Posted June 18, 2019 If anyone wanted one of these without building the case and such you can get them from March Audio. The Tone board is the basis for the DAC 1. https://www.marchaudio.net.au/ https://www.marchaudio.net.au/dac-1 And always keep in mind: Cognitive biases, like seeing optical illusions are a sign of a normally functioning brain. We all have them, it’s nothing to be ashamed about, but it is something that affects our objective evaluation of reality. Link to comment
Superdad Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 Or from Sonore for $46 less 3 hours ago, esldude said: If anyone wanted one of these without building the case and such you can get them from March Audio. Or from Sonore for $85 less ($46 lower price for unit, and $39 lower shipping charge) at https://sonore.us/toneDAC.html UpTone Audio LLC Link to comment
matthias Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 On 6/18/2019 at 11:41 PM, jaaptina said: Hi Matt, any new on the Khadas Tone Board? I'm considering to buy one. I will write a short review next week. Another very interesting DAC is the upcoming Allo Revolution USB-DAC. Matt "I want to know why the musicians are on stage, not where". (John Farlowe) Link to comment
matthias Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 On 6/19/2019 at 12:09 AM, esldude said: If anyone wanted one of these without building the case and such you can get them from March Audio. The Tone board is the basis for the DAC 1. https://www.marchaudio.net.au/ https://www.marchaudio.net.au/dac-1 The March Audio DAC has no SPDIF input. Matt "I want to know why the musicians are on stage, not where". (John Farlowe) Link to comment
matthias Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 On 6/18/2019 at 11:58 PM, DuckToller said: Hi, I talked with Khadas last week, and they informed me, that they will issue an upgraded version of the KTB end of Juli 2019. Tom, is this the version with balanced outputs and volume control? Thanks Matt "I want to know why the musicians are on stage, not where". (John Farlowe) Link to comment
DuckToller Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 25 minutes ago, matthias said: Tom, is this the version with balanced outputs and volume control? Thanks Matt As far as I understood, yes, therefore they need a new case .. Best, Tom Link to comment
jaaptina Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 Power mod with Audiophonics case 😀 Link to comment
matthias Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 @jaaptina Very nice! What about performance vs. stock KTB? Thanks Matt "I want to know why the musicians are on stage, not where". (John Farlowe) Link to comment
franz159 Posted October 6, 2019 Author Share Posted October 6, 2019 Another option to buy the Khadas already assembled in a case is from NordAcoustics https://www.nordacoustics.co.uk/product-page/nord-easy-dac-usb Price is 165 GBP or about 200 US$ at today exchange rates (shipping varies based on destination) Link to comment
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