DIY DAC: suggestions?

[sphere]

Does anyone have experience with the DAC in project 85 on Rod's Audio Pages?

http://sound.westhost.com/project85.htm

It looks like a nice and simple design, although he doesn't recommend it as a project for a beginner. I have a few questions:

Should I bother replacing the CS8414/CS4334 for 24bit/192kHz parts, like the CS8416 or the TI PCM1794?

Are there other DIY DACs out there that I should consider? Using Google I found some here and there (like I found project 85) but I like this one because it's relatively inexpensive.

[sphere]

I decided to just go ahead and try my luck with CS8416 en 2 TI PCM1798. The latter is a drop-in replacement according to the TI website.

Furthermore, I'm contemplating to add a a circuit to convert the 2.0 signal to 2.1 so I can add a subwoofer at some time. My fronts have an F3 of about 45Hz. But I suppose I should discuss that in Analog.

[ericallan]

Please let us know how it sounds - sounds very interesting!

[sphere]

I will if I can get it to work, the CS8416 is pretty different from the CS8414. According to the specsheet it can run in hardware mode, so I take it it doesn't require a microcontroller per se, so that's a relief

[DaKi][er]

i been working on a little implementation of the cs8416 and pcm/df1704

here's my work in progress, still need to make a psu for it but im running out of board space

schematic
board

most of it is just straight out of the datasheets
hope that helps

[lomtik]

Hi all,
I am planning to work on DAC soon as well and have to do a lot of
readings before that. I've heard about several implementations, one
of them being op-amps and resistor network. Another one has to do
something with delta-sigma. Which one is cheaper to build/implement. I
need something at least 6 bits and preferably over 50MHz actual
signal. Does that require 50MHz * 6bits * min.of.2samples/T = 600MHz
clock?

[sphere]

Originally posted by DaKi][er
i been working on a little implementation of the cs8416 and pcm/df1704

here's my work in progress, still need to make a psu for it but im running out of board space

schematic
board

most of it is just straight out of the datasheets
hope that helps

Well, your design is probably better than the one I'm trying to ruin

I just took Rod's design, and decided to alter some parts. That may not have been the smartest thing to do, but hey. I see you are using a DF and your parts have a nice SoundPlus(TM) stamp as well. Hopefully the stuff I ordered can be moulded into something useful too. Time to get busy and read those spec sheets.

[georgehifi]

Sphere, you might want to look at this, from all reports it sounds very good, and the price is good at around $180us.

http://www.diyfidelity.com.au/produc...products_id=41

Cheers George

[sphere]

Originally posted by georgehifi
Sphere, you might want to look at this, from all reports it sounds very good, and the price is good at around $180us.

http://www.diyfidelity.com.au/produc...products_id=41

Cheers George

George, thanks for the link.

It looks nice, but if I wanted to buy an easy solution I could just grab a Marantz SR4400. Also, I didn't see anything in their webform about shipping costs. My guess is that the resulting amount will be pretty close to that receiver, if you take import tax, VAT and what not into account.

I would prefer to waste some money on soldering something together that may not work over taking someone else's kit.

[tommak]

Originally posted by DaKi][er
i been working on a little implementation of the cs8416 and pcm/df1704

here's my work in progress, still need to make a psu for it but im running out of board space

schematic
board

most of it is just straight out of the datasheets
hope that helps

DaKi][er,

Your schematic looks interesting. Would you please post what IC part numbers's you are using that aren't shown on the schematic, such as the USB reciever, and op amps? I assume the isolators are ISO150's, correct?

Thanks!

Tommak