Crystal CS4398 *2 CS8416 Parallel DAC

[LucasAdamson]

Yup, it's another very cheap Chinese DAC kit....

Link

This time offering 2x CS4398 chips in parallel, fed from a CS8416 receiver chip.

I intend to populate about 1/4 of this board (omitting op-amp output stage and power supplies) with higher quality components than some of those supplied, feed independent power from Salas v1.1 BiB supplies and experiment with output options, starting with a 6n6p cathode follower.

Anyone else bought this one? Ideas? Opinions?

[gabanyayaya]

Originally Posted by LucasAdamson

Yup, it's another very cheap Chinese DAC kit....

Link

This time offering 2x CS4398 chips in parallel, fed from a CS8416 receiver chip.

I intend to populate about 1/4 of this board (omitting op-amp output stage and power supplies) with higher quality components than some of those supplied, feed independent power from Salas v1.1 BiB supplies and experiment with output options, starting with a 6n6p cathode follower.

Anyone else bought this one? Ideas? Opinions?

I would love to see the circuit

[LucasAdamson]

I have asked for a schematic, but no reply yet. It should be a good DAC, if implementation is improved (power supplies / output stage / caps).

I was looking for a CS4397 (the previous chip) as it came so highly recommended from DAC guru Lukasz Fikus (Lukasz Fikus Lampizator) who made his Lampucera from it. This one should be even better!

[free2dev]

Looks like the item in ebay is an incorrect posting. The item has been re-listed as single CS4398 with CS8416 and CM102. I sent a question to the seller but no response. He has another DAC using dual CS4398 with Display, etc for $165.00.

[gabanyayaya]

Another question about this dac is does dual chip means that this is a balance output dac just like what PCM1794 can do?

[LucasAdamson]

Well, as free2dev has correctly pointed out, it was listed incorrectly as 2* CS4398. It's just the one chip. I would complain, or cancel, but it really doesn't bother me. So long as I get a schematic, I will be happy. I like the fact that I can populate the board however I want with this circuit. The chips are said to be absolutely first rate by some.

[gabanyayaya]

Oh yeah. Got it now.

Just like I expected 2 chips works as a balance output for XLR and SE. Each 4398 handle each channel.

Now would it be possible for me to come out a smurf board for 2 4398 and attached it into the "My Experiance" dac....anyone see the potential....???

[LucasAdamson]

Originally Posted by gabanyayaya

Oh yeah. Got it now.

Just like I expected 2 chips works as a balance output for XLR and SE. Each 4398 handle each channel.

Now would it be possible for me to come out a smurf board for 2 4398 and attached it into the "My Experiance" dac....anyone see the potential....???

Do you really get it? There is only one CS4398 with this circuit. The eBay listing was a mistake.

[gabanyayaya]

Originally Posted by LucasAdamson

Do you really get it? There is only one CS4398 with this circuit. The eBay listing was a mistake.

No. I got the correct one. Mine has 2 4398 in parallel

[LucasAdamson]

I don't have any balanced stuff myself, so I don't need that, but that's good you got what you needed.

Anybody else buy this exact board though? It would be cool to share builds...