Opinions on this DAC

[ak_47_boy]

http://www.dddac.de/ma_dac31.htm

Is this DAC good? I am looking for the highest quality DIY dac. I am looking to build the 60 dac version.

[ak_47_boy]

Whoa 132 views and no posts. I know this is a popular dac, is there anything better for the money?

[FastEddy]

alternates = possibly a better DAC: http://www.wavelengthaudio.com/usbdac.html

Worth of careful comparisons for sure, for sure ... (I don't appreciate USB connected DACs in any case, being spoiled by FireWire connected DACs = what the pro recording studios use.)

... and this DAC / ADC is as good as any, period: http://www.digitalaudio.dk/ax24.htm ... it is used to make SACD & DVD-A masters ....

[DcibeL]

132 views and no posts may be due to the fact that the DDDac has been extensively discussed on this forum previously. Of course you would know that because you searched before posting, right?

Merry Xmas and a happy Festivus for the rest of us!

[hifimaker]

Personally, I'm no fan of the TDA-1543 DAC. Comparing this chip to the far superior CS4398 and TI 179x designs, the TDA1543 lacks sound stage and detail and punch. The 1543 is a DIY favorate since it is dirt cheap and easy to design with.

It's tough to take a low end DAC chip and add enough highend parts to it to sounds decent. To compansate for this chips short comings some designers are ganging together multiple 1543's to gether just like this design. I'm seen some designs with as many as 64 of the cheap chips stacked together!

-David

[FastEddy]

dw8083: " ... Comparing this chip to the far superior CS4398 and TI 179x designs, the TDA1543 lacks sound stage and detail and punch. ..."

http://www.docethifi.com/TDA1543_.PDF ... dual, two channel 16-bit

http://www.cirrus.com/en/products/pro/detail/P1023.html ... dual, two channel 24-bit

Duhhh ... you don't suppose there could be a connection here?

Come on guys, anyone trying to design a modern Digital to Analog converter should concentrate on 24-bit devices, exclusively ... even when playing 16-bit sources into a 24-bit DAC the results will always be superior ... and what are you going to have, quality wise, when you try to play 24-bit sources through a 16-bit converter (DVD-Audio, SACD and movie sound tracks from DVD's) ... except "lacks sound stage and detail and punch ..." ??

24-bit rules, dude ... its what the pros use for studio masters and anything less than 24-bit conversion just ain't ever gonna make it ... ( http://www.oxsemi.com/products/audio/OXFW970.html ... British made by Canadian engineers: check it out.)

BTW: Happy New Year

[ssmith]

Originally posted by ak_47_boy
http://www.dddac.de/ma_dac31.htm

Is this DAC good? I am looking for the highest quality DIY dac. I am looking to build the 60 dac version.

I have 24 chips + the USB board. I'm very, very happy with it, it has replaced my Benchmark Dac1.
a 60 chip DDDac seems a big step -- how about going for 12 or 24, use upgraded components and expand from there?

Some info on mods are here

Is it the best DIY DAC at the price? No idea - it's the first diy dac I've had.

[ssmith]

Originally posted by FastEddy

... even when playing 16-bit sources into a 24-bit DAC the results will always be superior ...

I prefer my 24-chip DDDac to my 24bit Benchmark Dac1. Matches it on detail, soundstage, but beats it on the fatigue stakes.
The DAC1 has better specs and features, though the DDDac, in my not-terribly expensive DIY system, is more enjoyable to listen to. I only like the DAC1 into some kind of tube pre/buffer, which "warms" it up at the cost of detail. I haven't tried modding it.
(As i've mentioned before, I was feeding my Dac1 with spdif (both glass toslink and coax) through a modded M-audio USB Transit board, whereas the DDDac is being fed USB> i2s directy -- which could explain differences).

Originally posted by FastEddy

and what are you going to have, quality wise, when you try to play 24-bit sources through a 16-bit converter (DVD-Audio, SACD and movie sound tracks from DVD's) ... except "lacks sound stage and detail and punch ..." ??

I don't have any 24 bit recordings, though understand a 16 bit DAC is not a very logical choice for 'future proofing'.

[FastEddy]

ssmith: Your Benchmark DAC1 = http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/dac1/

... This has fatigue questions? ... Do you have the version with XLR connects? ... connected to an XLR balanced input pre-amp/amp ??

I am amazed that the DDDac would appear to have less fatague than the (24 bit, single chip) Benchmark ... One would have thought that the daisey chain of D to A chips would have a jitter buildup problem (error accumulations) and be power hungry (reducing the gut factor, increasing fatigue) ...

[rfbrw]

Originally posted by FastEddy

I am amazed that the DDDac would appear to have less fatague than the (24 bit, single chip) Benchmark ... One would have thought that the daisey chain of D to A chips would have a jitter buildup problem (error accumulations) and be power hungry (reducing the gut factor, increasing fatigue) ... [/B]

If they the dacs were daisy chained, the whole thing wouldn't work.