Non-Oversampling TDA's

[jean-paul]

Quite a scientific approach Bernhard. I wonder if it works the other way around when gear sounds metallic, flat and uninvolving.

[supra]

That's rather an over-simplification or is that non- simplification.
If both preamps are CR outputs, and most of the tube buffers for 1541's I've seen are, AND the next preamp is also CR output that's two sets of phase shifts you've got and that is not the way to get musical, transperant or holographic sound, but that is just my opinion and experience, all you experts might disagree.
Me, I dont use CR's anywhere .
Ok i had my two cents worth -I'm getting out of here.

[Bernhard]

Originally posted by jean-paul
I wonder if it works the other way around when gear sounds metallic, flat and uninvolving.

1541A nonos is very clearly sound enhancing by adding harmonics and has a very recognizable sonic signature.

So I wonder about the big difference between opa x and opa y ...

[jean-paul]

I am glad it has a very recognizable pleasant sonic signature compared with the sometimes unmusical newer DAC chips. However I am open for suggestions for better types ( regardless of whether they add even harmonics or not ).

Please explain the opa x and opa y thing as I thought tubes were involved here

[rfbrw]

There are many ways to describe the TDA1541, A or otherwise, and neutral is definitely not one of them.

[jean-paul]

Ahem, you're right about it being not the most neutral ( edited my post ) rfbrw. Slip of the tongue, sorry. It sure has its own character, one of the reasons why it is so popular. But then again, most chips I know have more or less their own character. It's a matter of taste which one likes most, regardless of measurements that may not come out too positive on that one. It is time for something else though, time goes on and so does technology.

May I ask which DAC chip you're working with now, rfbrw ?

[rfbrw]

Originally posted by jean-paul

May I ask which DAC chip you're working with now, rfbrw ?

A tricky question that. I tend to float between projects as my level of interest varies with weather. I have some PCM1738's still in the bag, a AN DAC3 with PCM63's in bits and as I write, balanced CS4390's . Oh and I once considered,worse still breadboarded, but in my defence never fired up, a staggered dac with 8 TDA1543's but I am much better now.

[jean-paul]

Like you I have some PCM1728/1738s in a bag but my aversion against SMD parts is the reason I never made a board for them. When I can avoid SMD I will avoid SMD. Although some time ago, UDA1351TS/UDA1350AH were the last "newer" SMD chips I tried ( which sound OK but not more than that ). It probably will surprise you but most of the time I listen to first generation Philips 1 bit systems now instead of multibit TDA machines. Nevertheless I am experimenting with more recent multibit chips but till now I haven't found what I am looking for. A serious lack of time adds up to it.

PCM63 and CS4390 are a bit old cake as well like TDA15xx, PCM63 being still one of the best IMHO. BTW what do you think of PCM69 ? I have some K types but I can't recall I ever heard them in a cdplayer.

Would not have thought you'd even consider using TDA1543, let alone 8 staggered

[rfbrw]

About 10 years ago I worked on a 4ch DAC that used the DF1700/PCM69 combination. I had wanted to go with the CS4329 or a SM5842/PCM63 combination but was overruled. I had the last laugh when it turned out that whenever the dac was in competition with one from Axon, it lost every time. I wasn't too pleased when I walked in to a machine room in London to see racks stuffed with Axon DACs.
Re the TDA1543s. I plead temporary insanity.

[tube-lover]

Dear all,

I was planning for the next PCB for the PCM63K.
It will common use the CS8414 for the digital receiver.
BTW, the tube buffer output stage will common use with the TDA1541A NON-oversampling DAC to less some money for the diyer. It means can upgrade in my DAC kit from remove the TDA1541a chips & added one more PCB with PCM63K's.

Any advise for choose PCM63K or PCM1407~~???

Any suggestions will be welcome because I had some CS8420 on hand.I can test more circuits.

Second is the DEM clock & the re-clock of TDA1541a DAC was funish right now.
The PCB will follow with two parts

1. Real 44.1K clock which use crystal to be the oscillator.
LT317/337 for the regulator. ( USER can exchange the lower PPM grade chips) will run with 9 pins DIP switch for tunning the accurancy of the clock to tunning the sound stage.

2.Re-clock will use japan made 11.2896M --TCXO--( Temperature
compensate Oscillator) with TL431 chips. Motrolola 8 pins TL431 will follow with the PCB. This chips will be the best that I test, more stable & low noise.

3.I got one match pair TDA1541A S1 grade chips from Philips repair parts dept already. The Netherland electronic parts company told that they had over 30pcs S1 on hand which was remove from old philips machines. I order two chips already.
Does anyone can help me that how to test this S1 chips was real one or fake one!!!!!!

thanks

thomas