Flagship DIY DAC by IanCanada. USB I2S Coax. No RPI

[@cameronrector178]

Where do we send our projects for you to feature/share?

[@Gabster1]

Email me a few pictures and a detailed description you can find my email on my main KZbin channel page. A bit lower beside Gabster you will see a arrow click it and you will see my email in the bottom. you can also send me a google drive link to a short video if you like.

[@LordShad0w.162]

Fantastic walkthough! FYI I did finally complete the Ian Canada Ultimate build with dual m.2 drives and powered by iFi power supply and it has exceeded expectations! No noise, pure beautiful sound and a MASSIVE library of my music. I never would have discovered how rewarding and fun this could be without your help and videos Gabby. Thank you as always, so much. :)

[@Gabster1]

You are very welcome makes me happy that I inspired you that is my main goal feel free to send me pics if you like me to share your creation.

[@dilbyjones]

I’m telling ya. This where it’s at.

[@nadeembrossard8687]

Thank you for making it easy for us to understand most videos are complicated or boring and leave you more confused not yours I built your D6 dac and wow I am so glad i did not only sounds good but the pride of building something even partially is so great.

[@Gabster1]

You are so welcome!

[@Marc_Wolfe]

WHAT!? He showed you how to assemble some legos. What was there to learn?

[@DAN1L0]

hi Gaby, finally the thing we've been asking for and you delivered, as always! great stuff!! can't wait for the second part. and please, very important, don't forget to post your comparisons of this against your other dac/streamer projects, your denafrips terminator and other commercial dacs you might know of. that's what will help us decide what to build.

[@Gabster1]

I will do some comparisons for sure

[@RLM-TV]

For $100 bucks fully assembled and tested feels like a no-brainer, but DIY guys enjoy the building process, I get it. Very cool.

[@Gabster1]

Providing power to it is the hard part it is where most things can go wrong but some projects are simple.

[@davidmaddon554]

The sound is 500X better also

[@supergwizzo]

Agree the 38 chip is nice 😊​@@davidmaddon554

[@ronnyskaar3737]

Waiting patiently for part two of this project about the power supply. ❤ I will build this if it's not too complicated or expencive. Otherwise I'd rather build on the purepi, which seems more practical.

[@Gabster1]

The pure pi is a lot easier and practical +5v 0 -5v will be out soon

[@miku17yt]

Hi Gaby - thank you for posting this video and the related ones. You do a great job of explaining the details. I was just about to buy a Denafrips Ares 15, but saw your video on the Ares clock upgrade. Then after watching more of your DAC ones, I decided to go with IanCanada’s 94D bundle instead. It’s only a little more expensive than the Enyo 15 and I hope it’ll sound much better. I’m going to start simple and look at clock, power supply and output stage upgrades in the future. Thanks!

[@Gabster1]

That is a excellent choice it will outperform the Ares by far and give you options later I love the purepi base simple easy and effective

[@marclemieux9387]

Thanks for this video Gabster! As a total novice, the detail you show in the video goes a long way to educating people like me. I’ve been waiting for this video. I purchased this flagship 92b set up wanting the best possible set up, without fully understanding the consequences like needing multiple ultra capacitor power supplies to power the various components. So far I have built 2 5v ultra capacitors power supplies. I think I still need more power supplies - another 5v and a 3.3v. And I have no clue on how to wire it up. Way over my head! Lol hopefully you will do a comprehensive, detailed video on wiring up this set up. That would be greatly appreciated!! I have learned the hard way that reading all the component manuals is very important to help you understand the scope of the project!

[@Gabster1]

Thank you Part 2 should be a good one for you I agree powering it up is where it gets tricky

[@waterskidude]

Hi Gabby, This is a great video. I'm looking forward to the power supply video. To me that is where the real complexity is in these projects. I'll send pictures of mine once I finish the power supply super capacitor upgrades.

[@Gabster1]

Totally agree power is tricky would love to see and share your final project 😊

[@rocko6746]

Great video. Wow, Ian is going to get busy now that the website looks like it does. Looking forward to future videos. Nice job.

[@Gabster1]

Yes I think the website will be a big boost so much less confusion.

[@AverageNiceGuy]

Thanks!

[@Gabster1]

Thank you again very kind of you :)

[@zack2147]

Another great video Gabby! More than helpful, keep up the fantastic work!! I will take up a project because of your videos just need to decide which one.

[@Gabster1]

Thank you, if you are new to DIY start simple build a confidence and understanding if you are a advanced you can not go wrong I would lean to building a Dac and not a Streamer as most commercial dacs reclock the signal and you loose all the benefits just my 5 cents as we no longer have a penny in our currency :)

[@zack2147]

@@Gabster1 Again great advice I appreciate. A DAC is what I wanted to build just need to decide which one 🙄. By the way I purchased a CD 3 based on your recomendation still needs to arrive I‘m very curious. Hifi friends strongly recomended the DAC used.

[@amirarsalannassiri3680]

I've been waiting for this!!! Thank you Gabby!!!

[@Gabster1]

Thank you

[@dilbyjones]

Woot, I really like the collaborative model.

[@PalaniAcoustic]

hello Gabby...I hadn't thought about sending you pictures of my streamers ..I'll write to you in the forum in a few days :)

[@Gabster1]

Hope your system is running well now Yes would love to have some photos of your system. I love your builds 😊

[@Roger-lz9ro]

Been waiting for this video for a while thank you for making it easy for a new diyer like me to understand all this and be part of this beautiful journey

[@Gabster1]

Glad it was helpful!

[@alevans51]

This is incredible. I love this stuff!

[@supergwizzo]

Is there a preamp kit balanced for these dac kits ?

[@supergwizzo]

That 38 chip i found i like better then the 39 even its quieter does not give the micro detail the 38 does .. like the build videos 😊

[@larsv6144]

Can this dac compete with a R2R ladder dac like Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE ?

[@Marc_Wolfe]

If you're going to add a massive whack of capacitors, use varying types, for frequency filtering (and gap of) overlap.

[@wokthetalk3079]

How does this flagship IanCanada DAC compare with the Gabster TD1?

[@Gabster1]

The Imaging Air and Musicality are far better on the TD1 Low and High frequencies detail is the same on both, Midrange Varies it depends on The TDA1541A Chip. On a very good Chip Vocals Mids are equal or better. On a average chip not as good but close. With a low grade TDA Chip everything suffers. 95% of the Chips selling out there are about average I am releasing a Video on Friday where I test 16 Chips.

[@carminedesanto6746]

Hi ☕️ Me again …listening 😊

[@adriantaylor1266]

I was already waiting for that video :) Thanks !

[@Gabster1]

Enjoy. Part 2 powering it up will be interesting

[@noliverslol387]

Thank you for these explanations! but when will you make the video about how to power this system? because that is the hard part for me.

[@Gabster1]

Already posted 1 video with the +\- 5v then will build the others and put it all together at the end with various options.

[@rickclink9196]

Thank you for doing this video.

[@bioscalar]

Would love to try this build and combine it with your pi streamer. However I sometimes can't make out the names of the boards and it would help yo highlight these in text . Also you don't dwell too much on what each board does and why, so I'm left a bit in the dark. I'm going to keep listening and hope to grasp it soon.😊

[@Gabster1]

Good idea I will try in my new videos to talk about each board very good point specially for people who are not very familiar with Ian’s products On Ian’s new site Iancanada.ca you can easily find the manuals and he does a great job at explaining them

[@jantye-l7h]

Hi Gabby, thanks for the great videos. You have inspired me to build this dac. I am running Roon with Holo Audio Red streamer. Do I need to install Roopiee on the dac?

[@Gabster1]

If you are using the Red streamer you do not as you will be streaming from it, if you stream from a raspberryPi and toss your streamer aside or sell it then you need to instal Ropieee on it

[@ayc3695]

Just curious, how good it can be? comparing world class Audio Note 4, Mojo DAC, Lampizator., Nagra tube, etc... go with ES9038 is a good move.

[@mrt6349]

Was looking for the power supply video to finish this build, will we see that?

[@Gabster1]

I did about 7 Videos since of different power supplies you can use you will need to decide which ones to use as each has financial cost to it. I may do one in the future as a summary but there are many options.

[@AverageNiceGuy]

Thank you very much! I am very happy to see this. 😎👍

[@Gabster1]

I'm glad you like it

[@chrisd1405]

Gabby, what are your thoughts on extending this same build to multi-channel? Two or three DAC boards, synchronized, for multi-channel.

[@Gabster1]

You would still get multiple stereo Channel’s as music is a 2 Channel system and digital music is 2 channel

[@caseysaliba8059]

Great Work!

[@robsandler1818]

Really enjoyed this DIY video. I think it’s one of your best. I would like to try building this, but can’t find the link to the Kit for this; can you share the direct link here?

[@Gabster1]

Just added the link In the description as well 😊 iancanada.ca

[@balsam1972]

Does this kit come with a cabinet?

[@Gabster1]

You will need to build your own 😊

[@ceylonmooney]

this is fantastic, gaby. i would LUV to build this, but i have no interest in a solid state analog section. can i swap in a tube analog section for the analog section in this? would i need a separate power supply for my tube analog stage? im not talking about a tube buffer. adding a tube buffer doesnt make a solid state dac into a tube dac. i mean a tube analog section.

[@Gabster1]

This system is completely modular and you can change any part you like Like a different Dac Instead of the Opa861 You can easily put Transformers did that in my D11 Or a tube analog section the dual mono Dac is geared for a balanced design but you can use a single Dac all depends on your tube design

[@ceylonmooney]

thats really cool, @@Gabster1! thank you for the excellent reply.

[@dcallender]

Thanks for all your efforts. I have built your "Build a audiophile DIY music Streamer for a Dac, using flagship HIFI parts" streamer. Works great, definitely increased the performance of my Gustard R26. I have Roon and would like to have this DAC work with Roon from a Raspberry Pi. What would be the best way to integrate a RPI into this DAC?

[@Gabster1]

2 ways you can output from a raspberry pi with roopieee/roon on it to this project via usb Or add the Pi to the stack Ian talks about the differences in his DDC board manual seems like for DSD external is better

[@dcallender]

@@Gabster1 Are you saying that using the the RPI feeding a USB signal to the DAC is best for DSD?

[@edmundzed9870]

I am very interested in this stuff but the fact that no one ever does show any measurements makes me suspicious. I would think it is pretty straightforward to compute a perfect output and compare that to the output of a DAC, that would be the end of the discussion which "sounds" better or worse.

[@kristofvadnai]

Maybe stop caring about measurements for dacs

[@edmundzed9870]

@@kristofvadnai Off course, who cares about sound quality.

[@kurt120032002]

So this thing at 500-700 dollars depending on where you are sound just as good as chord qtest, graham slee majestic or a soekris 2541for example? It should wipe the floor with an RME Adi-2 DAC since that is 1000€ and you pay for headphone amp and and all the options you get and that are factor in the price. I don’t say the kit is no good, I am just curious about the level of performance.

[@supergwizzo]

So total price 700 ?

[@rupertjuvave1631]

Amazing Gabby. Any project on the future on a headphone amp diy? Or what do you recommend for that? Thks !

[@Gabster1]

One of my subscribers built one I will be sharing it at the end of my next video in a few days or so :)

[@jaybrodnax]

If only it was easy to get chassis with such kits

[@deadline7610]

Nicely Done. Best of luck on your prototype. Quick question if you have a moment rolling opa's have become a "thing" does Ian allow on any of his boards ? thanks

[@Gabster1]

He only has one IV preamp board called OPA 861 uses 4 of them in balanced mode I love the OPA861 but you can not roll them

[@cameronrector178]

Gabby I’m having the same ess issue you were on your big dac. Can you link the delay you used. I’m at the finish line! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@Gabster1]

Not a big fan of the ess controller I would use the Monitor pi pro but I see you on DIY audio that you solved the issue glad you are enjoying the music :)

[@cameronrector178]

@@Gabster1thank you for all the expert videos and inspiration! This was very fun. Only using the ess controller because I’m just doing LAN input only. Thanks soooo much!!

[@ronfreeman4687]

Just saying hello and thank you for your wonderful videos. Should the best clock be installed in the Streamer, or the DAC? Thank you.

[@Gabster1]

Ideally should be 1 set of clocks so you try to bypass the Dac clocks not too many Dacs let you If not in the Dac if you are using Ian’s system there is only one set in the streamer.

[@BostonMike68]

Hey Gab, very good video. I'm very interested in diy and I was wondering if they have a site in the US for the diy DAC kits. Also I have designed and built some speakers I can send you pictures of. Thanks again 👍

[@Gabster1]

Would love t see your speakers and talk about them here my email in in my about section on the main Chanel page iancanada.ca Thread on DIY www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/asynchronous-i2s-fifo-project-an-ultimate-weapon-to-fight-the-jitter.192465/page-596#post-7610914

[@BostonMike68]

@@Gabster1 wow Thanks Gab ! I'm looking forward to it!

[@ronnyskaar3737]

Will a RPI deliver a good enough usb signal for this dac?

[@Gabster1]

The DDC and FIFO will clean any signal and reclock it so yes on its own the rpi usb is not good same with any computer You can also try Allo Signature usb bridge that runs on a rpi not sure if it will make a difference but will not hurt for sure

[@dtoe07toer29]

I am ordering Geshelli J2s that supports DSD512 via USB (per Volumnio, DSD is only possible via USB for now), what sytem do you suggest for me to build to feed good signal to that DAC? thanks in advance!

[@Gabster1]

I think it uses a 12v Without tapping inside you may want to try a 12v Battery or good 12v linear supply

[@dtoe07toer29]

@@Gabster1 thanks you, sorry for the confusing question, I meant what Pi system can I build to maximize UBS signal from the Pi to feed the DAC? I am thinking of just the purePi for the power for now since I wanna use USB, maybe later on when I learn more about this stuff, I can upgrade to a better type.

[@v1deo_vid]

Curious why you have double mic'd yourself?

[@Gabster1]

Got a new mic and can be configured in stereo But I think I will revert back to a single mic much easier to keep it at proper distance

[@v1deo_vid]

@@Gabster1 That's a neat feature, but yeah I thought the stereo was a bit distracting if anything. That's probably just because putting lav mics on people is my job.

[@Jason787]

I remember seeing this guy stuff so I emailed him some questions but never got any reply so I bought a different product instead. For me the lack of reply made me worried in case I bought a faulty product or issue what would I do. I had the same lack of reply from allo. I ended up with a volumio primo hifi edition.

[@Gabster1]

Ian is very busy he is a one man show and we love that if he was a big company the price will be 10x It is a diy thing so you need to do your research and know what you need but people that bought stuff of him with defective boards always got there issues solved Try posting on the main thread for any questions and email him only with a clear question about a problem with a board you bought here is the link for the forum www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/asynchronous-i2s-fifo-project-an-ultimate-weapon-to-fight-the-jitter.192465/page-596#post-7610914

[@michaelmityok1001]

Wonder if some other intrepid manufacturer would seize the opportunity to make enclosures for these DIY projects, would open up a larger market for DIYers to make a business for themsleves putting the Chinese DAC/streamer companies out of business.

[@Gabster1]

then the price will go x 10 it is crazy now what new high-end gear sells for

[@ronfreeman4687]

Yes, I figured that out Gabby. I said I was sorry in another thread. Does Iancanada ship from Canada and accept CND?

[@Gabster1]

No worries 😊 He Ships from Canada in US $ So no customs and duty

[@supernovaf1]

Great review but best to use one mic next time as the sound is not good on this one.

[@Gabster1]

Agree already did was trying something new :)

[@Silent-Lucidity]

What makes this so expensive? It seems like this would be made in China for pennies. I'm not saying it's not a good device, I just dont understand the high cost and then having to buy the power supply, remote, etc. What doe this compare to in the retail world?

[@ronfreeman4687]

Has anyone ever figured out how to purchase items from Iancanada. I've spent a few hours trying. Computer dude I'm sure, but marketing guru NOT. I'm not sure what to do. Hope Gabby helps out I suppose.

[@Gabster1]

Iancanada.ca All parts and info in the description also the video talks about it at the beginning

[@ronfreeman4687]

@@Gabster1 I've spent many hours studying your videos and on Ian's website. There is no place on the Iancanada website (that I can find) where one can create a Cart or purchase. I'll look again today. I'm in Thailand for another month or so so don't need to purchase yet. I'm from Kelowna BC and love your work and videos. Thank you.

[@Gabster1]

Just try again he has a new website now it is very easy with cart and everything also try the project section. Iancanada.ca

[@sc0or]

38Q2M? Meh.. I'd rather prefer 4490/4493/38PRO,etc A mobile chip is not worth a high price for a flagship implementation imho. A %% difference in prices is less than a difference in a sound.

[@mariuszblaha2742]

HAHAHA