Newbie D to A question

JonLawes · 1st September 2008, 09:04 PM

Me again... sorry.

My Marantz CD 273 SE has a digital out; would making my own D to A converter mean I could improve the quality of the signal I send to my preamp? I would be able to pick and choose the components I use, so I could manufacture something which gives me better signal output than the built in unit?

PigletsDad · 2nd September 2008, 09:53 AM

Yes, in principle, a good external D/A unit could give better sound than the built in one in the player.

You could either design it completely yourself, or build a kit as a starting point.

Mooly · 2nd September 2008, 11:08 AM

You again.

The "neighbours cast off" I take it ? Depends what you had in mind as to whether it's better or not.
Why not just tweak this one for starters. A separate DAC may be an upgrade, but a lot depends on the unit in question and if you are building your own theres a lot to "get right" PSU, layout, grounding etc.
Don't let that put you off though.

Iain McNeill · 3rd September 2008, 12:22 AM

a good starting point can be an evaluation board from Wolfson or Analog Devices, TI etc, especially if you can finagle one for free. They usually do a good job on the evaluation boards to show off the best of the device.

bubbamc119 · 11th September 2008, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iain McNeill
a good starting point can be an evaluation board from Wolfson or Analog Devices, TI etc, especially if you can finagle one for free. They usually do a good job on the evaluation boards to show off the best of the device.

How would one go about finagling a board for free?

Iain McNeill · 11th September 2008, 05:01 AM

I think the sales reps give out free stuff to people they think could buy a lot of something later. When I was an engineer in a big corporation all the sales reps would give me evaluation kits. I had a cabinet full of them.

If you're not going to buy lots of something from them later then you need to finagle. I find the pub is a very good place to finagle.

Iain McNeill · 11th September 2008, 05:06 AM

finagle (fin-ay-gull) v, the art of helping another person realise that it is very smart for them to do what you want.

1st September 2008, 09:04 PM	#1
JonLawes diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2008	Newbie D to A question Me again... sorry. My Marantz CD 273 SE has a digital out; would making my own D to A converter mean I could improve the quality of the signal I send to my preamp? I would be able to pick and choose the components I use, so I could manufacture something which gives me better signal output than the built in unit?

11th September 2008, 05:06 AM	#7
Iain McNeill diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Santa Cruz, California	sorry - oxford english dictionary (expanded version) finagle (fin-ay-gull) v, the art of helping another person realise that it is very smart for them to do what you want.

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2nd September 2008, 09:53 AM	#2
PigletsDad diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: South Worcestershire	Yes, in principle, a good external D/A unit could give better sound than the built in one in the player. You could either design it completely yourself, or build a kit as a starting point.

2nd September 2008, 11:08 AM	#3
Mooly diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2007	You again. The "neighbours cast off" I take it ? Depends what you had in mind as to whether it's better or not. Why not just tweak this one for starters. A separate DAC may be an upgrade, but a lot depends on the unit in question and if you are building your own theres a lot to "get right" PSU, layout, grounding etc. Don't let that put you off though.

3rd September 2008, 12:22 AM	#4
Iain McNeill diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Santa Cruz, California	a good starting point can be an evaluation board from Wolfson or Analog Devices, TI etc, especially if you can finagle one for free. They usually do a good job on the evaluation boards to show off the best of the device.

11th September 2008, 05:01 AM	#6
Iain McNeill diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Santa Cruz, California	I think the sales reps give out free stuff to people they think could buy a lot of something later. When I was an engineer in a big corporation all the sales reps would give me evaluation kits. I had a cabinet full of them. If you're not going to buy lots of something from them later then you need to finagle. I find the pub is a very good place to finagle.

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