AMB Gamma 3 DAC

The Gamma is said to be out by the end of November. With dual Wolfson WM8741's it looks like one of the better sounding DIY DAC's that will be out there.

Interested to see if anyone else is eagerly waiting on the release.

 

If it's anything like it's brethren the Gamma-2 then it's gonna be good! Isn't it limited to 24/96 though? I might be interested in using parts of the Gamma-3 in a network renderer type device -- that is if re-clocking is possible.

 

According to the placeholder page, it is 24/192 on all inputs. (With the potential implementation of DSD over PCM in the future.)

When amb releases the boards in November, I'll probably jump on this build.

 

Where would you put it on the dac chart of awesomeness?

 

I am going to look at the build and try to guess if I can get one to work. Heard it at a meet and before anyone else had told me anything, I thought it was very resolving with lots of information connecting the space with low-level detail.
Price and my ability to pull the build off will be factors vs. simply picking a Schiit multi-bit DAC off the shelf...
particleman14 here in the Bay Area is one of Ti's prototypers. I'll probably reach out to him to ask "difficulty level" and if I can have access to his nifty desoldering gun.

 

Or I guess... I may have some free time to build one for you, too, CT.

I'm super interested in this as well... now that I'm in the DAC world and all. And I think I'd like something more compact than Gungnir Multibit when I travel next year.

End of November sounds like an awesome time. Maybe I can finish one up before the December Bay Area meet. Really really really looking forward to this!

 

Ah, well. Then never mind. I thought it was more compact from the photos I saw of finished builds.

I hoped AMB would have been able to come out with something slightly bigger than Gamma 2 but better-sounding.

 

I'd like to hear impressions from anyone that got a chance to hear it. Approximate level on dac chart of awesomeness would be great, too. Bifrost Multibit level? Higher/lower?

 

Yeah, I imagine. Intriguing.

 

Maybe pushing it, but...Gungnir Multibit? Or too close to call without proper audition?

I'm going to build a gamma 1.5 (bypassing the ad8397 and pot straight out to RCAs) then move the zeta1 to the I3 if it gets good reviews.

 

y3 is released. Hope to have one built by end of year.

 

Dear fierce_freak,

I'm looking forward to the success of your project!

I spoke with Mr. Ti Kan in e-mail regarding the dual-mono Beta 22 project that I'm working on and he is a supreme gentleman.

I think his works are a bit underrated but I guess it's also an after effect of the DIY scene slowing down.

Regards,
Jeremiah

 

Anyone have a rough idea on the parts cost of this DAC minus the enclosure?

 

Thanks JeremiahS.

Depends a lot on various options (choice of digital inputs/outputs, parts choice, power supply choices). It's fairly spendy, actually. Probably in the $1,000 - $1,100 range without casing. I already had the o11's and o22 with most of the parts, so I got to save a bit there.

I could be off a bit, quick mental maths.

 

$1000 in parts is a lot of DAC!

 

That's what I thought. This one is going to have to wait for me

 

You could get away with a bit less using fewer inputs/outputs and choosing some less spendy parts. I'm trying to mirror amb's build but in black rather than silver.