Non-oversampling DAC (TDA1543/CS8412)

[reMC]

Here's my attempt on building a simple non-oversampling dac. I'd like comments on the lay-out.

Filtercomponents and the dac are placed on the downside. There are two smoothing regulators in the picture but I will only use one. Green is earth.

[reMC]

You can't tell me this dac is perfect

[Francis_Vaughan]

Originally posted by reMC
You can't tell me this dac is perfect

Groundplane? Control of RF?

[sparkle]

my friend - TDA1543 is VERY sensitive on the quality of the power supply.... no good quality power - no good sound.... i am affraid that using only one three terminal power supply regulator without anything that is better quality than that would not be enough to achive very good sounding dac.... well - it will be easier to make - but i am affraid that it would not be good quality...... than again - it is only my insignificant opinion about that.....
hope this helps
best regards

[reMC]

Originally posted by Francis_Vaughan



Groundplane? Control of RF?

The green wire is ground. I decided not to use a groundPLANE since I heared another TDA1543 dac that sounded extremly good...without using a groundPLANE...so it is possible I guess?

What else can I do to control RF?

Originally posted by sparkle
my friend - TDA1543 is VERY sensitive on the quality of the power supply.... no good quality power - no good sound.... i am affraid that using only one three terminal power supply regulator without anything that is better quality than that would not be enough to achive very good sounding dac.... well - it will be easier to make - but i am affraid that it would not be good quality...... than again - it is only my insignificant opinion about that.....
hope this helps
best regards

Thanks! I didn't include the power supply in the picture. Again, this choice was made after I heared several dac's using only one regulator for the dac. My power supply is based on a transformer and a few rectifiers, like 47labs builts it.

[Francis_Vaughan]

So how do you know that the lack of groundplane contributes to the good sound? More to the point, how do you know that it would not sound even better with a groundplane?

Your design regime seems to be one of picking odd ideas from other designs without really understanding why they were used. (Something sometimes called a cargo cult design.) If you do this fine, but then why ask for advice about the design? You have clearly already decided what to use.

Same goes for power supply, and layout. There are very good reasons for great care being taken.

[reMC]

Originally posted by Francis_Vaughan
So how do you know that the lack of groundplane contributes to the good sound? More to the point, how do you know that it would not sound even better with a groundplane?

I do know a lay-out without groundplane CAN sound awesome. Off course it's possible it sounds even better with groundplane. I guess I'll have an answer when I start experimenting, but I should begin with SOMETHING.

PS. I'm making a version WITH groundplane right know, so I can built that and simply compare with my ears

[dsavitsk]

Listen to Francis. He knows of what he speaks. For evidence, here is a thread where he walked me through a 1543 based design, the results of which are excellent. http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=149056