computer audio USBchibi2 - USB.UFO.TD - USB.UFO.JF

s/pdifTD2 & Chibi

 TD2                                                                           USB.UFO.TD                 USB.UFO.JF                                      USBChibi2                

Update 10.15.2008  email:    dackit@triad.rr.com   for ordering information and questions

What's new?   USBTD is out of stock and has been discontinued, but UFO.TD is available for now, and New and improved dacs are almost ready to replace both of the usb-based tube buffered dacs.   These will have metal enclosures and many many circuit upgrades as well as optional volume control.   There will be a price increase, about 2x the old usbtd , but still a high value dac.  When stocks are low on the UFO.TD version.   New dac will be replacement for both.  If money is an issue get the UFO.TD soon, or the Jfet version while it's available.  The kits are now available in non-buffered versions only.  No more tube buffered kit's for a while as I'm out of silk-screened pcb for those. 

UFO versions are upscaled versions of the previous USBTD and USBChibi.  The JF version is a jfet-solid-state buffered version and is DC powered and can be SLA powered. 

Got a nice review on 6moons.com on the TubeDac+ and 3Xac  in February '04 http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/nixon/tubedac.html    It's a good read :)   Plus USBTD gets a nice little blurb on SonicFlare   http://www.sonicflare.com/archives/scott-nixon-usb-tube-dac.php   All the current offerings are greatly improved over those written about.  Also have had some less than stellar reports on a dud-dac (bad ones do happen) and other totally fraudulent  reports which are completely misleading.  Sites that have banner ads from competitors, find guys to butcher.  It's not nice out there :)    Do note that all assembled dacs are phase NORMAL, and have been for 4 years.

To place an order send an email to dackit@triad.rr.com and you will be sent contact and order information.  May take a day or so.

As a history.... I have been in full time business since 1984. Started modifying cd players with tubes! Then built digital processors with tubes in 1989  as 'anodyne', marketing the first tube analog  digital audio processor in the US and have been in full time, albeit small time audio manufacturing business 24 years.....     This filter-less design is built to be small, simple and affordable.  In most ways is better that most of the dacs I've built before now, at basically 1/10th the retail of the older models!    Thanks for looking !   Scott Nixon        

 Assembled Plug and Play Dacs

Chibi Dac & USBchibi2   USBChibi2

Pure Small Simple non-oversampled dac.  Now normal phase! done in the digital domain and can optionally be wired with a switch to manually change the phase (modest up-charge for that).  There is no better value in high end audio.  Total load of above 10k to work best.  Most preamps and integrated amps (particularly tubed) are fine.  Just have to be careful with passive pre/power amp combos as they can dip well below 10k total load.  Comes with a 12VDC wall mounted power supply. $275      price for usbchibi is $290 (on right)    Overseas orders will ship without standard power transformer.  

TD2

TD2 is a s/pdif input non-oversampled constant current sourced tube buffered dac using low ESR caps and premium components, Hexfreds,  normal phase !  all wrapped in beautiful exotic ABS black plastic.  Ships with a wall mounted transformer in US and Canada.    Only available assembled.  $495.00     Overseas orders will ship without standard power transformer      

USB.UFO.JF

USB input - direct to I2S - non-oversampled Jfet buffered dac.  No opamps. Dac directly connected to a constant current sourced JFet buffer.  Gives performance close to the USBTD of last year and runs on 12VDC.  Battery power is possible with this model.  While I don't provide SLA power supplies, use of a DC barrel connector makes hook up to battery easy.  Comes standard with a DC wall mounted transformer in US and Canada.   Available in black or gray space age ABS   $375.00    Overseas orders will ship without standard power transformer    

USB.UFO.TD

  USB input - direct to I2S non-oversampled - constant current sourced tube buffer stage.  A performance upgrade to the USBTD in a jet age gray or black package.  Uses a simple wall mounted 12VAC supply   $595.00   Overseas orders will ship without standard power transformer

4Xac power supply upgrade for  TD2      USB.UFO.TD

4Xac  12VAC 4A toroidal power supply for both TubeDac and USBTD wrapped in exotic matching ABS enclosure.  Offers better performance that the standard supplies, which are quite decent.  4Xac allows use of after-market power cables.   150.00   (there is a discount when ordered with TubeDac+ or USBTD  $100 for 115v or $125 of 230v)   Photo is of older 3Xac - new one has a power jack on rear instead of the captive cable.  4Xac supplies can be wired for 230V, but sent without power cords and extra overseas shipping with dac purchase is usually $35 for dac and supply. 

The Kit is Go! 

 DacKit and USBdk2  Non-oversampled KITs are in stock and better than ever !!  High quality solder masked silk screened pcb.  Every component is labeled on the board.   The boards are the same as used in the Chibi Dac or USBchibi2.   DacKit accepts DIP or SMD receiver chips and around 32 parts total to complete the dac.  Both can be purchased as a bare pcb, with schematic/parts list.... you buy all your own parts.  I recommend the full kit pcb/parts for a simple version, which is phase normal with all parts, but digital chips mounted.  This is not a rookie build, but it is simple.  You should be able to read parts values and orientations.   These are excellent platforms for experimenters too.  You can parallel dacs, run different output gain, DacKit and USBDK are easily battery powered with 12V SLA.  They are easy to use as I2S drivers or receiver everything BC,WC,Data are labeled on the pcb.  For now, until early '09 there are no tube buffered kits available and if they come back they will be double the previous costs .  Just order the non-buffered kits shown add add your own tube stage.

Dackit or usbdk  Bare PCB $45  includes schematic, stuffing guide, wiring tips sent via emailed PDF.

DacKit  Basic kit  $130 -  usbdk  Basic kit $150 - includes the above plus all parts that will mount to the pc board.  Digital chips are mounted and it is an non-inverting design. 

You will need enclosure, hardware, wire and connectors What you see above is what you get with the kit.  Instructions are emailed in a PDF.