Experience with this DIY DAC ?

[Kevin Wood]

Following up on Ronenash's query there is a circuit of a balanced output filter in the CS4398 evaluation board manual the link to which I posted earlier in this thread.

EDIT: Here's the link again
Eval Board

Kevin

[udovdh]

If i would get gust the board of the DAC, with the USB port, DAC chip, resampler, etc etc, what would I get for transformers?

230V -> 12
230V -> 9
?
What VA's?

Please advise.

[Franz Gysi]

I just attached this 1:0.62 transformers, completely bypassing the output filters:

[/url]

This is amazing, a very big step. I am surprized, give me some time for an opinion...

Even when I have to turn my amplifier now a little louder, the output level is still high enough. And I drive very short cables, 1ft.

Franz

/Edit
With this setup, I clearly prefer the upsampling version!

[legarem]

Originally posted by Franz Gysi


Your values are for input sampling rates between 96 and 192kHz.

Don't you play 44.1 and 48kHz?

Franz

I only use a standard CD transport (44.1) and changing the values gaves better sound. I didn't know that the new values were for 96 and 192 khz. I didn't saw that in the Cirrus Errata bulletin.

[Franz Gysi]

In the datasheet, you find chapter 5.2.2 "PLL External Components":

[legarem]

Originally posted by Franz Gysi
I just attached this 1:0.62 transformers, completely bypassing the output filters:

[/url]

This is amazing, a very big step. I am surprized, give me some time for an opinion...

Even when I have to turn my amplifier now a little louder, the output level is still high enough. And I drive very short cables, 1ft.

Franz

/Edit
With this setup, I clearly prefer the upsampling version!

Congratulation ! You have done what i considered the best for this dac. With this setup you forget op amps, fets, tubes and everything.

This is what i'v done and it ended all the circuits I tried to get better and better sound.

Here is mine:

[legarem]

Originally posted by Franz Gysi


/Edit
With this setup, I clearly prefer the upsampling version!

Since there is this new version on sale, I am hesitating to buy it or not. It seems i will have to buy it with your related experience.

It bogs me that this new model doesn't have any input pulse transformer.

[udovdh]

Originally posted by legarem
It bogs me that this new model doesn't have any input pulse transformer.

Maybe we can add it with some effort?
I also need similar for my Zhaolu D2.5C.
What part do I need for the transformer?
Ready made or make the windings ourselves?

[legarem]

Originally posted by udovdh

Maybe we can add it with some effort?
I also need similar for my Zhaolu D2.5C.
What part do I need for the transformer?
Ready made or make the windings ourselves?

Don't loose your time to wind such transformers

Look here. They are dirt cheap and are the same as used in previous dacs

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sumlink-ST-DV709...3286.m20.l1116

[johnm]

If buying from scratch what would be the best value of input transformers to use on the outputs? 1:1? I'm very keen also on by-passing op-amps altogether and having to forget having to desolder all those components with the hard to melt ROHS solder!

Cheers.

- John