Different Dac chips sound characteristics - consensus?

[jeffjazz]

I have a dac based on*CS4398 and CS8416 better know as the Gigaworks dac. *It is modified with*600 ohm transformers on the output
Based on this thread very long thread.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/137976-experience-diy-dac.html
*1K/.001uf is used for the filter.

Also have a Sqeezebox Duet with Wolfson wm8501 dac .
Has some lampizator mods with output caps bypassed with lower ESR caps
And digital out mod.
*The Squeezebox Wolfson dac images better is more forward. Other than a *midbass bump, it's *more even across the frequencies. This gels much better with my Planar Speakers (Eminent Technology 8a)

The modified cs4398 dac sounds much cleaner, more detailed, more dynamic and better oomph. *But it doesnt engage me in the music the way the Wolfson Dac does.

Big question, is this the general sound characteristics of these dac chips?
I know there is much more going on other than just the chip, but I was wondering if it would be better for me to mod a Wolfson Dac, or go with another dac chip entirely.*PCM1794?*ES9018?

What are the general sounds characteristics of different dac chips?
Which dacs can be used with transformed on the outputs? *Would like to reuse them in a different project if possible.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Pano]

Of the various voltage out DAC chips I've used with transformers (CS, Wolfson, ESS, AKM, TI) I'd say that each had a slightly different flavor. The CS chips do seem to have plenty of dynamics and oomph. A large number of people who heard it would agree with you. Maybe the output buffer?

 

[abraxalito]

DACs with voltage outs have on-chip CMOS opamps. In general I find opamps' sound varies quite a lot with the quality of their power supply. I'd suggest using an external buffer (wide bandwidth) to lighten the PSU and opamp loading - AD8107 works very well for me driving a trafo.