What to choose - tweaked CD vs. DIY DAC vs. soundcard?

[mr_push_pull]

Hi all


In the last few weeks I studied a lot the idea of a DIY DAC (AD1865 or TDA1541). Well, I was a lot more confident in my opinions back when I started being interested in this. Now I just don't know. There are so many possibilities: Analog Devices, Philips, BB, AKM, OS. vs NOS, etc. Everyone has a firm opinion on everything, but you can find two people that agree.

Initially I was pretty sure that external (S/PDIF) DIY DAC is the best option but now I realize that everything is more complicated than it looks initially and I'm not sure if that's such a good idea. More precisely, I don't think I'm ready to take up all the challenges involved into a DIY DAC, and I'm not sure if ready-made designs go all the way. Put short, I'm not ready to pay a few hundred bucks on parts that end up in a DAC that has noise way above LSB because of bad PCB design, to give an example.

Two options remain: tweak a CD player (which one?) or a decent soundcard (EMU?). This has to be thought in the context of a given budget.

Don't get me wrong, I haven't excluded the alternative of a DIY DAC completely, but from the theory I read (and understand to an extent), S/PDIF is unacceptable in terms of jitter, and reclocking done the proper way is not an easy task. To be frank, I spoke with someone that's a studio recording professional and he said that as far as he's concerned reclocking has been done properly only by a few manufacturers, and those products cost thousands (he quoted Lavry for one). He didn't explain much but I rather trust him. He advized to take the "tweak a CD player" route rather than use an external S/PDIF DAC, be it DIY or commercial.

Well, what do you think? Some personal experiences about tweaked CD players vs. external DACs vs. PC soundcards would help me make my mind.


Best Regards,
Calin

[buddha]

If you're considering a DAC, you must already have a front end - what would that be?

In terms of budget, it would probably be cheapest to get a good soundcard - you could mod it later. A new/used CDP or DAC kit would likely be more expensive. Then again, the sound quality threshold for a fully tweaked up CDP/DAC would be higher than that of the analogue output of the soundcard.

But a soundcard offers lots of flexibility in playback, and you could also use it as a transport to a DAC in future as well. In that case, try and get one with USB output.

So ultimately, which route is best for you depends on your usage needs and budget.

[mr_push_pull]

Hi Buddha

Sorry for being so late to reply.

The rest of my system is DIY too. Actually will be. Amp: UCD180 (AD8260 version), I own the modules for two months already, the rest of the parts are on their way, and speakers will be two way bookshelves with Morel drivers (MW144 + MDT32S, I own the drivers too).

Of course a soundcard will be the cheapest option but let's think of it this way: you have budget x, and want to get the best possible. I see that the EMU soundcards are very hyped but I'm kind of skeptical, after all since when are PC accesories high-end? On the other hand, the rest of my system won't be high end either, but not high-end doesn't mean bad.

The tweaked CD looks like the best option until now, I hear that some Marantz ones are very tweak-friendly, and one other plus is that it's way easier to mod a CD than a soundcard. Low pitch SMD's are not for me.

Of course things look a lot clearer when your budget is $5000 but when it's a few hundred bucks like in my case it's hard too choose.

[Luke]

Hi mr Pushpull,

I know what you mean about budget. I was looking at a naim cd player which i have heard and know is good selling for around 750 dollars. Instead I bought a second hand cd650 for 50 and could easily spend half the cost of the naim in tweaks, but which will be the better player, which has resale value, which will outlive the other etc. Kinda makes we wonder. But hey, its fun upgrading these things:-)

[mr_push_pull]

Originally posted by Luke
But hey, its fun upgrading these things:-)

Having that CDP die on you two months after spending a few hundred bucks on black gates and oscons is fun too

[foo]

Your studio friend is right !
The biggest problem of DIY DAC is jitter performance .
I can't see any existing kit done this well .
(though we are working on a good one , it will take a lot of time to become available )
As a consequence,I would recommand you use a soundcard as the digital source and a good DAC that have good jitter performance and isolated digital input .
(Exp: Emu1212m+Lavry Blue )

Don't expect the analog output of a soundcard !( high noise )

There are still some soundcard with external I/O boxs where you can mod the PSU .(exp : Emu1616M ... etc )

As to good player to mod, I'm afraid they are expensive and hard to find good quality parts that fit the size .
(I wouldn't go for it once i can imagine how many works must be done. )

[mr_push_pull]

Now I reread my initial post and see that I wrote "but you can find two people that agree." instead of "can't find...". Not that it's that important.

Originally posted by foo
(Exp: Emu1212m+Lavry Blue )

Ouch. Is this supposed tobe a "poorman's DAC"? I thought I excluded options that would require to sell a kidney in order to afford them.

Just to make things clear, I'm not out for the best DAC in the world, but for the best option given certain budget.

[Luke]

Having that CDP die on you two months after spending a few hundred bucks on black gates and oscons is fun too

I know, I am very careful about this work. I dont want a dead player. Analog stuff is easy to fix. Digital is a mystery to me:-(