computer audio USBtd & USBchibi 

USB.UFO.TD  & USB.UFO.JF

s/pdifTD2 & Chibi

USBTD   &   TD2                                                           USB.UFO.TD                                                       USBChibi                

Update 04.25.07  email:    dackit@triad.rr.com   for ordering information and questions

What's new?  Plenty....   USBUFOs have landed with tube buffer or JFET buffer !!! NEW !!! USB TubeDac Kits !!! USBTDkit is ready !!!.  It's a simpler version of the USBTD.  Still runs on a single simple12VAC source.   

UFO versions are newer upscaled versions.  The JF version is a solid-state buffered version and is DC powered.  Some of what learned doing these has trickled down to the other models too.

My site was hi-jacked for a while, got it back and I'll do more to keep it up.  Also about email.....  I get a lot and sometimes it takes several days to get to everyone.  Patience will reward :)

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 :) 

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 23 years.....     This new 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 & USBchibi  

Pure Small Simple non-oversampled dac.  normal phase! It is not inverting.  This is 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.  Requires a total load of above 20k 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. 250.00     Same price for usbchibi (on right)    Overseas orders will ship without standard power transformer.  

USBTD

"usb-direct-I2S" - non-oversampled - tube buffered buddy for your computer.  Essentially a usb version of the TD2 as you can see in the photos below.  Offered in the terribly exotic and rare ABS plastic enclosure for about the same price  $475.00   Overseas orders will ship without standard power transformer.   This runs on 12VAC only.  USB is self powered, not buss powered.  The usb buss is only used to identify-introduce the dac to the computer, host signal and power an LED.

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.    Only available assembled.  $475.00     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   $350.00    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   $575.00   Overseas orders will ship without standard power transformer

4Xac for TubeDac+  TD2   USBTD   USB.UFO.TD power supply upgrades

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)   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 $30

The Kit is Go! 

 DacKit USBdk TDkit and USBTDkit  Non-oversampled KITs are back in stock and better than ever !!  New this year is solder masked silk screened pcb.  Every component is labeled on the board.   The boards are the same as used in the Chibi Dac or USBchibi  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.  A full kit pcb/parts for a simple version, which is phase inverting.  Or, opt to have all parts, but digital chips mounted and the teeny tiny part to make it phase normal.  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, easy to use as I2S drivers everything is labeled on the pcb.  USBTDkit and TDkit require simple single 12VAC only power source. The tube buffered versions of the kits use a simple resistive loaded cathode follower.  The assembled products use current sourced tubes.

Dackit or usbdk  Bare PCB $35 - TDkit Bare PCB $35 - USBTDkit bare pcb $45  includes schematic, stuffing guide, wiring tips sent via email.

DacKit  Basic kit  $95 -  usbdk  Basic kit $100 - TDkit Basic Kit $190  USBTDkit $210 includes the above plus all parts that will mount to the pc board.  Digital chips not mounted and it's an inverting design.  Dackit usbdk TDkit and UDBTDkit  with Optional Chips are mounted and normal phase service  add $20