dam1921/dam1941 Manual

Discrete R-2R Sign Magnitude DAC Module

The Soekris dam1921/dam1941 discrete R-2R Sign Magnitude DAC is a highly integrated OEM
module with absolute highest sound quality, designed to be used in a DAC using the OEMs own
power supplies and output buffers. Input is USB, I2S and Coax/Toslink SPDIF, with reclocking
FIFO. Clocking is with ultra low jitter digital programmable oscillator. The board has support for
different levels of user interfaces, from just a basic DAC to a DAC/HeadAmp with full volume
controls. Outputs are directly from the R-2R Sign Magnitude resistor networks, the dam1941 have
four resistor networks for full balanced outputs, the dam1921 have just two of them mounted, for
single ended outputs. The board is manufactured in Denmark using high reliability advanced
surface mount technology.

We also offer a set of bare PCBs as example implementation of a Power Supply Board, an Output
buffer Board and an User Interface / Display Board, they can be used for testing and as baseline for
you own designs.

The dam1941 is the fully mounted balanced version, the dam1921 is the same board with only half
the resistor networks mounted so it’s single ended, but otherwise the same.

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Quick Specifications

Product Name dam1941-12 dam1921-02

THD @ -1db < 0.005 % < 0.008%
THD @ -60dB < 0.02 % < 0.03%
Clock Jitter RMS 0.3 pS typical
Resistor Precision 27 bit, 0.01% / 0.02% Resistors 27 bit, 0.02% resistors
S/N ratio at 20 Khz Bandwith 132 dB unweighted 129 dB unweighted
Frequency Range +0.1dB -1.0dB 20hz - 20Khz
Input SPDIF Up to 24 bit / 192 Khz
Input USB / I2S PCM Up to 24 bit / 384 Khz
Input USB / I2S DSD Up to DoP128 and DSD256
Digital volume control -90 dB to +10 dB
Output Line SE 1.3V RMS, Bal 2.6V RMS, Zout 625R
Power Input +5V max 0.6A, -5V max 0.1A
Board Size 144 x 162 x 30 mm

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Interface

Pinout and mechanical drawing, component side view, all measurement are in inches, connector
position are to center of connectors.

Pin Description J7, Power Connection, 6 pins MTA156 Header.

Pin Name Type Description

1 GND Power Ground
2 VCC5D Power Input +5V Digital Power
3 GND Power Ground
4 VEE5A Power Input -5V Analog Power
5 GND Power Ground
6 VCC5A Power Input +5V Analog Power

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Pin Description J4, User Interface, 2x10 pins 0.1” Header, Right Angle.

Pin Name Type Description

1 GND Power Ground
2 uC_PA2 I/O Spare Signal, Connected to uC
3 uC_PA3 I/O Spare Signal, Connected to uC
4 +5D Power Output +5V Digital Power to Display Board
5 S_DAT Output Serial Data to Display Board
6 S_CLK Output Serial Clock to Display Board
7 +5D Power Output +5V Digital Power to Display Board
8 S_LTCH Output Serial Latch to Display Board
9 FPGA_T8 I/O Spare Signal, Connected to FPGA
10 GND Power Ground
11 ENC_B Input Connected to B Signal on Encoder
12 ENC_A Input Connected to A Signal on Encoder
13 GND Power Ground
14 uC_Switch3 Input Input Select Switch to uC
15 GND Power Ground
16 uC_Switch4 Input XFeed Select Switch to uC
17 GND Power Ground
18 uC_Switch1 Input Filter Select Switch to uC
19 GND Power Ground
20 uC_Switch2 Input Output Select Switch to uC

Pin Description J13, Output to Buffer Board, 2x8 pins 0.1” Header, Right Angle.

Pin Name Type Description

1 L_Gain Output Control Signal to Increase Output Buffer Gain 8 dB
2 R_Gain Output Control Signal to Increase Output Buffer Gain 8 dB
3 EN_LIN Output Control Signal to Enable Line Output
4 EN_PHO Output Control Signal to Enable Headphone Output
5 Right- Output Right Negative Output from R-2R Resistor Network
6 Right- Output Right Negative Output from R-2R Resistor Network
7 Right+ Output Right Positive Output from R-2R Resistor Network
8 Right+ Output Right Positive Output from R-2R Resistor Network
9 GND Power Ground
10 GND Power Ground
11 GND Power Ground
12 GND Power Ground
13 Left+ Output Left Positive Output from R-2R Resistor Network
14 Left+ Output Left Positive Output from R-2R Resistor Network
15 Left- Output Left Negative Output from R-2R Resistor Network
16 Left- Output Left Negative Output from R-2R Resistor Network

Note: Right- and Left- are no connects on the dam1921.

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Pin Description J7, Signal Output, Holes for soldering.

Pin Name Type Description

1 Left- Output Left Negative Output from R-2R Resistor Network
2 Left+ Output Left Positive Output from R-2R Resistor Network
3 GND Power Ground
4 GND Power Ground
5 Right+ Output Right Positive Output from R-2R Resistor Network
6 Right- Output Right Negative Output from R-2R Resistor Network

Pin Description J8, Serial Console, 1x3 pins 0.1” Header.

Pin Name Type Description

1 GND Power Ground
2 TXD Output RS-232 Serial Input for Management, TTL Level
3 RXD Input RS-232 Serial Output for Management, TTL Level

Pin Description J9, 2nd I2S input, 2x6 pins 0.1” Header

Pin Name Type Description

1 GND Power Ground
2 I2S BCLK Input 2nd I2S Bit Clock
3 GND Power Ground
4 I2S LRCLK Input 2nd I2S LR Clock
5 GND Power Ground
6 I2S DAT Input 2nd I2S Audio Data
7 GND Power Ground
8 GND Power Ground
9 RXD Input RS-232 Serial Output for Management, TTL Level
10 TXD Output RS-232 Serial Input for Management, TTL Level
11 +5D Power Output +5V Digital Power
12 +5D Power Output +5V Digital Power

Pin Description U58: Toslink Optical SPDIF Digital Audio Input.

Pin Description P4: RCA Coax SPDIF Digital Audio Input.

Pin Description P7: BNC Coax SPDIF Digital Audio Input.

Pin Description P1: AES/EBU SPDIF Digital Audio Input.

Pin Description J1: USB UAC2 Digital Audio Input.

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Electrical Characteristics

The dam19x1 is powered by VCC5D for the digital parts and VCC5A and VEE5A for the analog
parts. The USB Interface is powered from USB Power. There is no requirement for specific ramp
up/down, although to avoid DC voltage on the outputs all power pins should ramp up and down
within 0.5 sec of each other.

Operating Conditions

Pin Min Typ Max Units

VCC5D Digital Power 4.7 5.0 5.3 V
VCC5A Analog Positive Power 4.7 5.0 5.3 V
VEE5A Analog Negative Power -4.7 -5.0 -5.3 V
Ripple and Noise on all Power Pins 2 20 mV PP

Input Pins Input Voltage Low -0.5 0.8 V

Input Voltage High 2.0 3.9 V
Output Pins All Digital Outputs 0 3.3 V

Current Consumption

VCC5D Digital Power 250 350 mA

VCC5D Typical Display 80 150 mA
VCC5A dam1921 Analog Positive Power 25 45 mA
VEE5A dam1921 Analog Negative Power 25 45 mA
VCC5A dam1941 Analog Positive Power 45 85 mA
VEE5A dam1941 Analog Negative Power 45 85 mA
USB USB Power for USB Interface 100 200 mA

Analog Audio Output

The dam19x1 is a Sign Magnitude R-2R DAC, built with a high number of small very high
precision thin film resistors. The outputs are ideal voltage sources with an output impedance of 625
ohm per R-2R Resistor Network, so no I-V converter is needed and should be avoided. There is no
requirement for a specific load, but low impedance loads will reduce the output voltage.

The dam1941 can be set for “Parallel” mode, in that case it will be single ended outputs with an
output impedance of 313 ohms.

Digital Audio Inputs

The USB and I2S inputs can take up to 24 bit / 384 Khz PCM and up to 5.6 Mbit DoP and 11.2
Mbit DSD, the I2S format must be with 32 bits per audio word. The SPDIF inputs can take up 24
bit / 192 Khz PCM only. As default the dam1921/dam1941 will autoselect between the USB and
SPDIF inputs with active signals, with priority to the SPDIF so when there is no valid SPDIF signal
the USB input will be selected.

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Software Configuration and Control

The dam1921/dam1941 have a small 32 bit ARM based microcontroller with a small monitor for
configurations, the uManager, and control functions over the serial port. At power up in will be in
control mode, where short commands can be used to set the volume and filter type.

The uManager monitor can be entered by entering “+++” followed by a one second pause. It will
then write the signon message and a “#” prompt, then waiting for commands. The uManager is a
command line driven program for configuration and downloading new firmware. Typing “?” or
“Help” at the command prompt will show a short list of commands available.

uManager Commands

? or Help show this help

set par=value set paramter to value, set alone to show
conspeed = 9600 | 19200 | 38400 | 57600 | 115200
volume = fixed -80 - +10, line output startup volume
filter = linear | mixed | minimum | soft
mode = normal | parallel
download download and update system flash
update update uManager firmware
filters [all] show selected or all filters
df [adr] dump flash content
exit exit uManager

The default serial port is set for 115200, n,8,1, but the speed can be changed with “set conspeed=”
command, the default volume is “0 db”, the default filter is “mixed”.

Updating firmware

The dam19x1 firmware can be upgraded though the serial port, either in one step or you can
upgrade the uManager, FPGA or Filters seperately. When upgrading uManager you need to also
enter an “update” command, but not if only download new FPGA firmware or new filters.

To update the dam19x1 firmware you need to have the Serial Port connected and working with a
terminal emulator software package, t.ex. Hyperterminal on Windows. Enter the uManager by
typing "+++", following by a pause. You should then get the uManager promt, you then type:

# download

Start download session using 1K Xmodem CRC protocol, when all is downloaded you also need to
update the uC with new firmware, but only if you downloaded a new version.

# update

You then need to do a power cycle to restart everything, you can then enter uManager again to
verify the new revisions.

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Serial Port runtime Control

When in the normal runmode the controller will send short status messages and receive short
commands over the serial port using the COM_RXD and COM TXD signals.

Status Messages

Rx.xx uManager firmware version

Mx Configuration mode.
Ix Input select mode, 7 = Auto, 0 = USB, 1 = AES/EBU, 2 = BNC, 3 = RCA, 4 =
Toslink, 5 = I2S.
Fx Filter Type, 4 = linear, 5 = mixed, 6 = minimum, 7 = soft
Lxxx Link Speed, 000 = unlocked, 044-384 PCM speed, 02M, 05M & 11M DSD speed
Vxxx Volume, -90 to +10, default set to 0
Px Phase, N = Normal, I = Inverted, default is Normal
Xx Crossfeed Mode 0..3, 0 = off, 3 = max, only valid when headphones are selected

Command Messages

Ix Input select mode, 7 = Auto, 0 = USB, 1 = AES/EBU, 2 = BNC, 3 = RCA, 4 =

Toslink, 5 = I2S.
Fx Filter Type, 4 = linear, 5 = mixed, 6 = minimum, 7 = soft
Vxxx Volume, -90 to +10
Px Phase, N = Normal, I = Inverted
Xx Crossfeed Mode 0..3, 0 = off, 3 = max, only valid when headphones are selected

The dam19x1 will acknowledge all command messages as status messages.

Custom filters

The dam1921/dam1941 upsamples everything to the final 2.8/3.1 Mhz DAC sample rate in two
steps, there are three different filters in the dam19x1:

FIR1, when input is PCM it will upsample from incoming sample rate to 352/384 Khz in one step,
with different filter lenght based on incoming sample rate, when input is DSD it will be filtered and
decimated to 352 Khz . There can be four different set of filter types.

IIR, bank of 15 biquads operating at 352/384 Khz, with one used for the CD de-emphasis filter,
none otherwise used for the basic DAC.
Please note that biquad number 16 to 23 is reserved for the crossfeed function.

FIR2, upsampling from 352/384 Khz to 2.8/3.1 Mhz. There can be four different types, usually
matching those in FIR1

All filters are using 32 bit coefficients, with up to 67 bit MAC accumulator. The filter file format is
the same as used in the dam1021, the files are available at http://www.soekris.dk

Recommended Windows filter software package is rePhase, available at

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https://sourceforge.net/projects/rephase/

Power Supply psu1951

The psu1951 is an optional bare PCB and provided as an example, you’re free to provide your own
more advanced power supply, although the psu1951 is good by itself. As a minimum you need to
mount the +-5V sections, the +-12V sections are if you use a buffer solution that require higher
voltages. Please note that the buf1961 will work just fine at +-5V using the standard parts in the
BOM. The psu1951 has space for a 115/230V selector for worldwide use, if you don’t need it you
can mount wires instead. Please note that the text on the PCB is incorrect for J4, it should be
like J1. The regulator IC’s U1, U4 and U5 should be mounted on the small heatsinks using thermal
isolator pads.

Output Buffer buf1961

The buf1961 is an optional bare PCB and provided as an example, you’re free to provide your own
more advanced buffer, although the buf1961 is good by itself. It can be mounted in three versions,
as Single Ended In / Single Ended Out and Single Ended In / Balanced Out for the dam1921, and
Balanced In / Balanced Out for the dam1941. If the buffer opamps are with rail to rail outputs, like
the recommended parts, the buf1961 works fine with +-5V power, otherwise higher supply voltage
is needed, which a fully mounted psu1951 can supply. Please note the only the Power pins on J5
should be connected, it will get GND though J4 from the dam19x1. The buf1961 is for Line
Output, a headphones amplifier is something you need to find yourself if you want the
functionality. Any headphones amplifier should have a +8 dB gain control, using the pins from J13
to control the gain for each channel. There should also be enable circuit for line out and
headphones. There are footprints on the buf1961 for dual opamps in both so package and for dip
sockets in case you want to experiments with different opamps. Most dual opamps should work as
long as it’s unity gain stable. We can recommend three TI parts:
The opa1678, a new high performance low cost all CMOS part.
The opa1652, a high performance dual part with jfet input.
The opa1612, a well renowed high performance dual bipolar part.

User Interface dsp1941

The dsp1941 is an optional bare PCB and provided as an example, you’re free to provide your own
version. The dsp1941 is designed for the full user interface ala dac1541, if you don’t need the
headphones control section you can cut the PCB at the point where the ground layer ends.
It uses smd parts for the shift registers, those should be mounted first. The LED should be mounted
last to fit your case. Buttons:
S5: Input Select
S3: Filter Select
S8: CrossFeed Select
S4: Output Select
Please see the dac5141 manual for buttons usage and display information.

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