Very interesting parallel CS4398 DIY DAC with 5 inputs and display

pietjers · 24th October 2011, 09:32 AM

I am going to build a digital line level preamp with tube output stage. After reading loads of posts about wonderful sounding Chinese DAC’s, again and again my attention is drawn to this good looking full featured DAC. On DIY audio there is not much written about this DAC. Has anyone already experience with it?

eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

It is available from several Hong Kong Ebay-ers, so this is only one example.

One of the features is a CS4398 DAC in parallel configuration. Am I correct this lowers distortion and noise, or are there more benefits?

Peter

abraxalito · 24th October 2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pietjers

Am I correct this lowers distortion and noise, or are there more benefits?

I'm not sure that you are correct. The datasheet for the CS4398 shows the dynamic range as typically 117dB (unweighted). The measured results displayed on the eBay page give a figure of 112dB. THD+N is claimed to be -107dB typical, the measurements on this board are giving -103dB.

Unless their layout is markedly suboptimal, it appears that adding an extra DAC has degraded both figures significantly.

pietjers · 24th October 2011, 05:23 PM

Thank you for your reply.
I am a tube man, so in my eyes these distortion and noise figures are pretty impressive.
Peter

pietjers · 26th October 2011, 09:07 AM

Ebayer Hiamplifier made a youtube movie about this DAC.

Here is the shortcut:
DAC Demo.flv - YouTube

He told me also that he has direct contact with the developer of this board and can give first hand information and technical support.

Peter

jean-paul · 26th October 2011, 03:50 PM

It uses CS8416, I would go for a solution with WM8804 or WM8805.

pietjers · 26th October 2011, 07:38 PM

Jean-Paul,
After many years of designing and building amplifiers this is my first step in digital audio. With prebuild boards I think there will always be things left to desire. I mainly focused on the high performance voltage out DAC (in parallel configuration). Because I want to use it as digital preamp, build in features as remote controlled input choice, volume control and display etc. are interesting features.
I ordered my board today and will explore to what level it can be pushed.
Peter

jean-paul · 08:27 PM

"There is always something to desire". That is absolutely right but when you know beforehand that it has a mediocre receiver why make all the effort ? A chain is as strong as the weakest link. Even if it has high performance parallel DAC chips: when fed with jittery data they won't perform as they can. HifimeDIY offers a CS4398 DAC with one of the best receivers and low jitter clocks on board...

Features might be nice but I would prefer low jitter and thus better quality. Matter of taste I guess.

pietjers · 26th October 2011, 09:14 PM

Jean-Paul,
Which one exactly?

Archie1979 · 27th October 2011, 10:16 PM

I would also be very interested in which DAC HifimeDIY you would recommend, I have also just entered the world of digital DAC etc.

24th October 2011, 09:32 AM	#1
pietjers diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	Very interesting parallel CS4398 DIY DAC with 5 inputs and display I am going to build a digital line level preamp with tube output stage. After reading loads of posts about wonderful sounding Chinese DAC’s, again and again my attention is drawn to this good looking full featured DAC. On DIY audio there is not much written about this DAC. Has anyone already experience with it? eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices It is available from several Hong Kong Ebay-ers, so this is only one example. One of the features is a CS4398 DAC in parallel configuration. Am I correct this lowers distortion and noise, or are there more benefits? Peter

26th October 2011, 03:50 PM	#5
jean-paul diyAudio Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Germany	It uses CS8416, I would go for a solution with WM8804 or WM8805. __________________ It's only audio

26th October 2011, 08:24 PM	#7
jean-paul diyAudio Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Germany	"There is always something to desire". That is absolutely right but when you know beforehand that it has a mediocre receiver why make all the effort ? A chain is as strong as the weakest link. Even if it has high performance parallel DAC chips: when fed with jittery data they won't perform as they can. HifimeDIY offers a CS4398 DAC with one of the best receivers and low jitter clocks on board... Features might be nice but I would prefer low jitter and thus better quality. Matter of taste I guess. __________________ It's only audio Last edited by jean-paul; 26th October 2011 at 08:27 PM.

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24th October 2011, 05:23 PM	#3
pietjers diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	Thank you for your reply. I am a tube man, so in my eyes these distortion and noise figures are pretty impressive. Peter

26th October 2011, 09:07 AM	#4
pietjers diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	Ebayer Hiamplifier made a youtube movie about this DAC. Here is the shortcut: DAC Demo.flv - YouTube He told me also that he has direct contact with the developer of this board and can give first hand information and technical support. Peter

26th October 2011, 07:38 PM	#6
pietjers diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	Jean-Paul, After many years of designing and building amplifiers this is my first step in digital audio. With prebuild boards I think there will always be things left to desire. I mainly focused on the high performance voltage out DAC (in parallel configuration). Because I want to use it as digital preamp, build in features as remote controlled input choice, volume control and display etc. are interesting features. I ordered my board today and will explore to what level it can be pushed. Peter

26th October 2011, 09:14 PM	#8
pietjers diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	Jean-Paul, Which one exactly?

27th October 2011, 10:16 PM	#9
Archie1979 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sydney	I would also be very interested in which DAC HifimeDIY you would recommend, I have also just entered the world of digital DAC etc.

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