Hi Lucian, I just received the board today and what a fantastic quality it is! Nevermind the sound quality since I’m still a long way from figuring out how to work this thing, but just looking at the board makes me feel something. Beauty? It is indeed a work of art. The most beautifully built board I have ever seen. Thank you!

Hi Lucian,

I just finished a simple diy DAC with USB input to S/PDIF converter last week. The DAC is based on AK4396 and the USB converter is based on TE7022. I’ve got both as fully assembled kit from eBay[…] When I heard the setup the first time, right away I noticed that everything was not right. In fact I dare to say it sounded bad. Very bad actually. High, mid (i.e. vocals) and low were just all over the place. No resolution, no soundstage, and I just had to switch it off and used the motherboard soundcard temporarily. Then I thought maybe it was just one of those days where I wasn’t really in the mood. Or perhaps the components were not burn in yet. But after a couple of days of listening, I came to the same conclusion. I wasn’t happy at all. I almost gave up and thought maybe it’s just better buy a complete DAC and be done with it. Then I received your WaveIO module a couple days ago. I didn’t have time to try it out right away until this afternoon. I replaced the TE7022 with your WaveIO and connect to the same DAC through isolated S/PDIF port. Wow…. I was very surprised. The difference is like day and night. Everything was sounded just right. Not the best sound that I want to achieve yet (i.e. refer to the DAC module), but it is definitely very promising now. The XMOS module cast away my doubt about going forward with this DIY journey. I don’t think I have to explain it further, but it is definitely a very good experience for me. Thanks Lucian for your fabulous module! I’m looking forward to your next creation. Cheers from the Great White North.

Hi Lorien,

the WaveIO arrived late yesterday (Friday) thanks but I did not have time until this morning to set it up – which took under an hour including adding an RCA socket & downloading/installing drivers for Win7. I am using its isolated S/PDIF output until DEQX sort out the firmware for I2S input – and your daughter board arrives! I am also using an AQVOX power supply which I bought some time ago for my Hiface that cuts the normal USB PS & inserts its own regulated analog +5V. It sounds excellent – very natural & unforced but very dynamic on my DEQX-active Tikandi loudspeakers – and significantly better than anything else I have tried: Hiface, Halide, Audiophillio etc. Even listened to Handel’s Messiah while watching the Aussie Rules Grand Final.

So many thanks for a great product!

Cheers, Rod

Hi all, I just got the WaveIO up and running… I had been using the QA550 SD card reader. Feeding Monica isolated I2S from WaveIO. Sound is terrific! Listening mostly to 44.1/16 bits and it is very good. Better than SD card reader, easier to use and plays Hi-Res files!

Cheers, Kevin!

Hi Lucian, the WaveIO board arrives on 9th April. It is a nice piece of art, congratulation for your clean work! Today I got the time to connect it and to listen to it. What I can say is: wow, as clean as your work is the sound coming from the board. I did some changes to the software values and find out, that it is very essential to set the right latency. Too much or too little latency let the good sound performance go down. Did you do the same experience? All in all I am very impressed and very happy! Thanks Lucian!

Hi Lucian, your WaveIO-Board has found a new home and plays music as delicious as I never expected. I constructed a low noise power supply with two regulator stages so the WaveIO board gets the best food available  I’m moderator of Germans finest forum for audiophiles (www.aktives-hoeren.de), where we discussing everything related to Hi-End Hifi. My nick name is Fujak. If you are interested in my new DDC based on your WaveIO board, please have a look here, where I posted my report yesterday (12-April-2014).

Kind regards and thank you very much for your great work! Fujak

After I got my WaveIO card more than a year ago I recently breadboarded my Subbu ES9023 DAC with a JG Filter Buffer and their respective power supplies. Before I switched it on I installed the latest drivers on the Thinkpad netbook I am using as transport… et voilà… music from the first second.

And what a sweet music it is!! Compared to my previous setup that used a Hiface EVO converter with a battery supply this is a huge improvement … in terms of detail, sweetness of treble and an almost holographic presentation!

Bravo Lorien!

Hi All,

I’ve been using Lucian’s WaveIO now for a number of years and whist I’ve tried other cards I still keep coming back to my trusty Wave board. Just love its rich ‘’analogue’’ sound.

Time flies when you are having fun and my DAC has changed to a Buffalo3/Legato. After reading the tweak of removing U11 I did get to the stage of lifting the lid with small screwdriver in hand but just could not butcher my old friend that way. So I decided that it may be time to buy another. I asked Lucian if he could supply the new board without U11 fitted which he did and also sent me a new pre-programmed EEPROM memory chip to allow the old board to be upgraded. One thing that truly impressed me was that he remembered who I was after all of the time that has passed. Mr Memory. The new board is up to the usual immaculate soldering and cleanliness. Ok, I’ve had the chance to compare the boards back to back with interesting results. The new board definitely sounds more open,spacious and 3D in its presentation. It sounds fresher and more real to my ears and in my set up. Quite a nice step forward IMHO and one hard not to notice. 

Thanks again for the nice board Lucian!