DAC question from a novice

fishwinker · 13th June 2006, 06:31 PM

I'm trying to put together a system for my Dad, with the only instructions being that it has to be so small that my Mum won't even notice it's there - definitely no full-width components, and if it can be in a wooden box, so much the better...

So. I'm going for a T-Amp which I'll probably mod whilst putting it in a nice case, powering some simple full-rangers. For the CD though, I was wondering whether it might be worth using a CD walkman with a digital out, feeding into a DAC? I have absolutely no experience with DACs, or knowledge of the quality of the digital output of CD walkmen, so any thoughts would be welcome.

Many thanks, Philip

phn · 13th June 2006, 07:12 PM

I had an original Walkman, but never anything that takes CDs. So somebody else will have to fill in the details.

IF you can take a digital signal from a Discman, or whatever it's called, it will make an as good a transport as any. Everything else is just hype and marketing.

fishwinker · 16th June 2006, 05:21 PM

Thank you phn - that's what I was hoping.

Does anyone have any other suggestions though? If my father had even a single computer-friendly bone in his body, I'd probably have tried to get him to use an iPod with lossless recording, but seeing as he doesn't, I'm stuck with trying to find a way of letting him play CDs in the smallest way possible.

Does anyone know of a DIY DAC which accepts an optical digital input?

Many thanks.

leadbelly · 16th June 2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishwinker
Does anyone know of a DIY DAC which accepts an optical digital input?

They sort of ALL do that

Maybe you should be more specific, are you asking this because you want to buy a PCB or a kit, or because you don't know enough to add the optical input yourself and need it detailed in a schematic and parts list?

fishwinker · 16th June 2006, 06:02 PM

Hi Leadbelly,

Ah yes... I seem to be showing my (complete!!!) lack of experience there. A kit would definitely be my favourite route. If I got something like the Monica from DIYParadise, would it be relatively simple to make it work with an optical input? Could you recommend a well-written book or something which covers this?

I'm not overly concerned about the level of fiddlyness/difficulty - I'm patient, and pretty good with detailed manual work.

phn · 16th June 2006, 08:48 PM

This might not be exactly what you look for, but covers the actual DAC.

Doede Douma sells a DAC. Maybe there's the info you need.

Puffin · 17th June 2006, 07:41 AM

If you buy the Monica kit, you will have to provide a case for it. I bought a LiTe Dac ah TDA 1543 non o.s dac for just over £100 delivered from Hong Kong. Optical/Coaxial input and in a case as well ! Look at diyclub.biz. Most people modified these before they were even properly run-in. Why ? sounds great to me for the money. I have 3 other dac's so I should know a good one when I hear it.

13th June 2006, 06:31 PM	#1
fishwinker diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005	DAC question from a novice I'm trying to put together a system for my Dad, with the only instructions being that it has to be so small that my Mum won't even notice it's there - definitely no full-width components, and if it can be in a wooden box, so much the better... So. I'm going for a T-Amp which I'll probably mod whilst putting it in a nice case, powering some simple full-rangers. For the CD though, I was wondering whether it might be worth using a CD walkman with a digital out, feeding into a DAC? I have absolutely no experience with DACs, or knowledge of the quality of the digital output of CD walkmen, so any thoughts would be welcome. Many thanks, Philip

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13th June 2006, 07:12 PM	#2
phn diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	I had an original Walkman, but never anything that takes CDs. So somebody else will have to fill in the details. IF you can take a digital signal from a Discman, or whatever it's called, it will make an as good a transport as any. Everything else is just hype and marketing.

16th June 2006, 05:21 PM	#3
fishwinker diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005	Thank you phn - that's what I was hoping. Does anyone have any other suggestions though? If my father had even a single computer-friendly bone in his body, I'd probably have tried to get him to use an iPod with lossless recording, but seeing as he doesn't, I'm stuck with trying to find a way of letting him play CDs in the smallest way possible. Does anyone know of a DIY DAC which accepts an optical digital input? Many thanks.

16th June 2006, 06:02 PM	#5
fishwinker diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2005	Hi Leadbelly, Ah yes... I seem to be showing my (complete!!!) lack of experience there. A kit would definitely be my favourite route. If I got something like the Monica from DIYParadise, would it be relatively simple to make it work with an optical input? Could you recommend a well-written book or something which covers this? I'm not overly concerned about the level of fiddlyness/difficulty - I'm patient, and pretty good with detailed manual work.

16th June 2006, 08:48 PM	#6
phn diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	This might not be exactly what you look for, but covers the actual DAC. Doede Douma sells a DAC. Maybe there's the info you need.

17th June 2006, 07:41 AM	#7
Puffin diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: U.K	If you buy the Monica kit, you will have to provide a case for it. I bought a LiTe Dac ah TDA 1543 non o.s dac for just over £100 delivered from Hong Kong. Optical/Coaxial input and in a case as well ! Look at diyclub.biz. Most people modified these before they were even properly run-in. Why ? sounds great to me for the money. I have 3 other dac's so I should know a good one when I hear it.