Posted by Audial on November 5th, 2009 — Posted in AYA DACs
As announced earlier this year, the AYA DACs are now going to be discontinued. Thus, as of today, the AYA II is not regularly available anymore.
And, the question that’s been arriving so often these days here, shell the AYA II be replaced anyhow? The real answer is no, as Audial will not launch another TDA1541A converters for this price anymore.
However, within a couple of next days Audial will release the new, less expensive DAC. So, not based on TDA1541A, but in many ways it will in fact apply many solutions you learnt to associate to the Audial logo, as is non oversampling multibit conversion, zero feedback audio circuits, zero feedback low noise supplies, and high material value and build quality.
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Posted by Audial on July 15th, 2009 — Posted in AYA DACs
The first predecessor of AYA DACs was released as a DIY project via Pedja Rogic DIY site, back in 2003. The project documentation was relatively extensive, including complete circuit description, with advanced zero feedback I/V stage based on the integrated circuit AD844, and layout principles were explained too.
The second incarnation of this project (rev 1.1b, from 2004) was supported by the PCB offered to the DIYers.
Success of this project exceeded all the expectations, and it was followed by another one in 2006 (rev 2.0b), which was named the AYA DAC. This DAC had several changes regarding the layout around TDA1541A, and supplies used.
The AYA II (2007) came not only as a DIY project but also as a completed device, and the whole enterprise was then taken over by Audial brand. The AYA II abandoned asynchronous reclocking but brought improved S/PDIF input stage, and new output stage, now based on the Burr-Brown OPA861 transimpedance amplifier (“super-transistor”), instead of previously used AD844.
The AYA III (2009) came as an S/PDIF only version of AYA II.
Several output stages, all zero feedback, as well as several other articles associated to these converters, and a bunch of measurements, were published during all these years.
These DACs and projects didn’t only open new understanding of the DAC performance, and didn’t only increase the DAC standards, they’ve also changed the way the people understand the DIY scene in this domain, and changed the DIY scene itself.
The AYA II and AYA III DACs are the crowns of this development. Highly optimized in all the aspects, they are the benchmark regarding moderately priced DACs, and we are convinced that they will remain like that for quite some time.
It is still not decided when and which way the AYA DACs may be possibly replaced, but it is sure that the successors won’t be the TDA1541A based.
As for Audial and TDA1541A chip, once the AYA DACs are discontinued, the Model S will remain the only Audial DAC with TDA1541A chip.
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Posted by Audial on July 13th, 2009 — Posted in AYA DACs
Yes, they were great fun but availability and cost of the material used, and labor involved, simply started making impossible to plan such a D/A converter production in the longer terms anymore. And all those who had a chance to listen to these DACs any seriously know what this actually means: obviously no DAC at this price could get close to their performance, and more than that, they had no competition also among notably more expensive DACs.
So, everyone really interested in serious yet affordable TDA1541A DAC is advised to take this chance, and place an order on time. There won’t be another such quality TDA1541A product at this price.
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Posted by Audial on June 11th, 2009 — Posted in AYA DACs
Another very good AYA II DAC review has been published, now by Igor Zamberlan of VideoHiFi.
http://www.videohifi.com/32/audial.shtml
Highly recommended reading, so if you can not read Italian, Google Translate and Babel Fish are your friends.
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Posted by Audial on March 1st, 2009 — Posted in AYA DACs
AYA III has been just officially released.
More info is availalble at www.audialonline.com/html/ayaIII/.
.
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Posted by Audial on February 21st, 2009 — Posted in AYA DACs
So, new Audial AYA DAC is coming. Inside, the AYA III uses the most of the AYA II solutions, but it comprises an S/PDIF input only. Outside, it more resembles the Model S design. The AYA III will be available in aluminum/silver finish.
Release is scheduled for the upcoming week. So, watch this place and don’t miss the opportunity to get your own sample at introducing promotional price.
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Posted by Audial on December 1st, 2008 — Posted in AYA DACs
AYA II review has been published at Mono & Stereo online audio magazine. By Matej Isak.
http://www.monoandstereo.com/2008/11/audial-aya-ii.html
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Posted by Audial on April 12th, 2008 — Posted in AYA DACs
AYA II review now on TNT-Audio. By Nick Whetstone.
http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/aya2_e.html
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Posted by Audial on December 14th, 2007 — Posted in AYA DACs
AYA II User Manual has been uploaded. It also comprises a few graphs showing performance of this unit.
www.audialonline.com/ayaII/usermanual.pdf
And…
The promotional offer for AYA II is valid for another two days only. Be fast, the chance like this won’t happen again any time soon.
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Posted by Audial on November 3rd, 2007 — Posted in AYA DACs
We have the good news for all of you waiting for lower cost Audial DAC – such a unit comes soon.
It will be again non oversampling TDA1541A based design which shares the most of design solutions with most advanced The Model.
AYA II vs. The Model
AYA II shares the general topology of The Model, with a couple of differences that made possible some savings – mostly in supply section, and in the output stage where I/V part is made with integrated circuit (but it still doesn’t employ the feedback). Instead by transformer, the output is capacitively coupled. The case is also less expensive though it is still made of very solid anodized aluminum.
Figure 1: AYA II prototype on top of The Model prototype
Also, apparent definitive cease of production of Black Gate capacitors forced the move to the other solutions, but we found more than decent replacements: SMD packaged PPS (polyphenylene sulphide) capacitors for TDA1541A active divider decoupling, and Rubycon ZA for power supply local decoupling.
AYA II vs. previous AYA
With regard to the previous AYA DAC (released as DIY project only), the AYA II employs no additional reclocking of any kind, but other than the S/PDIF it comprises also the USB input. General topology of the output stage is not changed (IC based non-feedback transimpedance I/V stage followed by non-feedback voltage buffer) however the used part is new, and it is the OPA861 that is now employed instead of the AD844 used in these projects since 2003. Supply has been somewhat revised as well.
Sales
Estimated official start of sales is the 1st December.
Up to now the payments were possible only by classic bank transfer, but we work to make possible also online payments by credit/debit cards and if all goes well this should be set in a couple of days.
To stay up to date…
The next week you can expect the next issue of Audial Newsletter with more definitive info on AYA II.
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