Tested DF1704 and PCM1704U with WM8804 using 24 bit left justified mode. This combination sound very different from SM5842 and PCM63.
1. PCM63 sound very massive bass, sound thicker/more body, smooth and best vocal analogy sound.
2. PCM1704 sound more refine and a bit wider sound stage, very balance sound from high to low frequency and instrument position is more well define. Bass not as massive but ratio just right. It still carry the R 2R smooth sound from high end classic DAC.
Note that the IV I use now is KK jfets IV plus KK jfets buffer, it is simple, cheaper, higher output level and at rails no more than 22V. Jfets are using K363GR/BL 8 pairs at IV section. IV jfets Idss preferred to be 8.5 to 9mA.
1. PCM63 sound very massive bass, sound thicker/more body, smooth and best vocal analogy sound.
2. PCM1704 sound more refine and a bit wider sound stage, very balance sound from high to low frequency and instrument position is more well define. Bass not as massive but ratio just right. It still carry the R 2R smooth sound from high end classic DAC.
Note that the IV I use now is KK jfets IV plus KK jfets buffer, it is simple, cheaper, higher output level and at rails no more than 22V. Jfets are using K363GR/BL 8 pairs at IV section. IV jfets Idss preferred to be 8.5 to 9mA.
I finally have a running D1V2 DAC with the default SM5842/PCM63 combination.
After a day of listening, this DAC is super smooth and very easy on the ears. Vocals are luscious and full bodied and soundstage is wider and perhaps more layered. Bonnie Raitt and Eva Cassidy are dead on centre and feel so warm and scarily real. Ha ha. More lifelike than on my other PCM1794 DAC or the PCM63 6922 push/pull DACs.
On certain tracks, bass can be a little over powering but still punchy.
Next, I will try the DF1704(6?)/PCM1704 combo to hear what differences there are from this 24bit combo. I came across some adaptor boards which I hope will be plug and play.
Overall, this new DAC with the ZenIV with K170/K363 jfets is impressive. It’s remarkable that a vintage digital filter and DAC chip from 90’s can still stand out and bring back ‘analog’ musicality vs the more modern ‘hifi digital’ sound. I like it.
After a day of listening, this DAC is super smooth and very easy on the ears. Vocals are luscious and full bodied and soundstage is wider and perhaps more layered. Bonnie Raitt and Eva Cassidy are dead on centre and feel so warm and scarily real. Ha ha. More lifelike than on my other PCM1794 DAC or the PCM63 6922 push/pull DACs.
On certain tracks, bass can be a little over powering but still punchy.
Next, I will try the DF1704(6?)/PCM1704 combo to hear what differences there are from this 24bit combo. I came across some adaptor boards which I hope will be plug and play.
Overall, this new DAC with the ZenIV with K170/K363 jfets is impressive. It’s remarkable that a vintage digital filter and DAC chip from 90’s can still stand out and bring back ‘analog’ musicality vs the more modern ‘hifi digital’ sound. I like it.
I went back to Spencer's PCM1794 DAC, remembering it from some time ago, and yes, its still there. But this D1 clone got me wondering.
The FDA-1B with its PCM1794 chip would be much simpler to build or get parts for and the PCM1794 is loved by many, just look at the DDDAC community
. But ofc, Nelson P still loves his D1 and people are raving about the PCM63P chip. Only issue is availability. Sierra IC Inc claim to have PCM63P family in stock, but I've never dealt with Sierra.
So, two questions.
Is the FDA-1B really that inferior to D1 ??
And besides, maybe, Sierra, what is a reliable source for PCM63 ?
The FDA-1B with its PCM1794 chip would be much simpler to build or get parts for and the PCM1794 is loved by many, just look at the DDDAC community
. But ofc, Nelson P still loves his D1 and people are raving about the PCM63P chip. Only issue is availability. Sierra IC Inc claim to have PCM63P family in stock, but I've never dealt with Sierra.So, two questions.
Is the FDA-1B really that inferior to D1 ??
And besides, maybe, Sierra, what is a reliable source for PCM63 ?
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I have playing quite a bit (probably 12years) with Spencers DAC's. He is a greta guy! We are lucky to have him i Diyaudio community. my findings-
D1v3 slightly better than d1v33
FDA-1B in 2012 completely smashed both versions with more dynamycs, more transparency and more impressive sound (but less organics)
2022version pcm63/5842 /KK output +KK bufer . at first it was a bit dissapointment, as midrange was screamy, hight srolled of and no 3D sound layering. I changed output caps,powersuply caps and replaced 5842 with df1704. a noticeable improovement. still nowhere to modified WADIA, Mark Levinson and Spectral DAC sonics.
I have very heavily modified d1v3 all grounds planes are cut(~40) and all grounds made with wiring (arond 80 wires to one point) 9 transformers with 18 secondaries, even cs8414 feed with dual suplies- one for di 180 000uf, 29 regulators, original pass labs D1 output schematics with same volume pot) which runs i2s>df1704 (sharp )>pcm63.
(up to the dac chips) system runing in 24 bit I2s, not RJ. it have cs8414 in front and i can switch between spdif and i2s via swith(which deatach two transformers secondaries feeding cs8414, so chip can be in place) I have never heard pcm63 so transparent , dynamics and neutral (in good meaning) and I heard around 8 diferent dac with pcm63 both diy and comercial. there is lot of in this chip.
another suprise was direct comaprission pcm1704 vs pcm63. i always heard that pcm1704 as more transparent ,more airy and "more modern" sound than pcm63. in this dac with i2s setup and df1704 pcm63 had better resolution and hights than pcm1704 (not speaking about midrange texture)
I do not understand fuss about sm5842apt. its veiled, smoothed, washed out ,blurred and slow. pmd100 is better, but df1704 is significantly better( jsut need heavy decoupling- a 100uf cerafine cap+0.022 wima FKP directly soldered on power suply pin)
I also do not understand fuss about modifications on D1 output section over those years. why fix whats not broken. sure it have slight more noise than jfets, but sound is.. better than with jfets. happy diying for all pcm63 lovers!
D1v3 slightly better than d1v33
FDA-1B in 2012 completely smashed both versions with more dynamycs, more transparency and more impressive sound (but less organics)
2022version pcm63/5842 /KK output +KK bufer . at first it was a bit dissapointment, as midrange was screamy, hight srolled of and no 3D sound layering. I changed output caps,powersuply caps and replaced 5842 with df1704. a noticeable improovement. still nowhere to modified WADIA, Mark Levinson and Spectral DAC sonics.
I have very heavily modified d1v3 all grounds planes are cut(~40) and all grounds made with wiring (arond 80 wires to one point) 9 transformers with 18 secondaries, even cs8414 feed with dual suplies- one for di 180 000uf, 29 regulators, original pass labs D1 output schematics with same volume pot) which runs i2s>df1704 (sharp )>pcm63.
(up to the dac chips) system runing in 24 bit I2s, not RJ. it have cs8414 in front and i can switch between spdif and i2s via swith(which deatach two transformers secondaries feeding cs8414, so chip can be in place) I have never heard pcm63 so transparent , dynamics and neutral (in good meaning) and I heard around 8 diferent dac with pcm63 both diy and comercial. there is lot of in this chip.
another suprise was direct comaprission pcm1704 vs pcm63. i always heard that pcm1704 as more transparent ,more airy and "more modern" sound than pcm63. in this dac with i2s setup and df1704 pcm63 had better resolution and hights than pcm1704 (not speaking about midrange texture)
I do not understand fuss about sm5842apt. its veiled, smoothed, washed out ,blurred and slow. pmd100 is better, but df1704 is significantly better( jsut need heavy decoupling- a 100uf cerafine cap+0.022 wima FKP directly soldered on power suply pin)
I also do not understand fuss about modifications on D1 output section over those years. why fix whats not broken. sure it have slight more noise than jfets, but sound is.. better than with jfets. happy diying for all pcm63 lovers!
Not for the current version , but i have found some from the past. anyway this is not the pretiest dac on the planet. on the other hand its easy to copy it. just a bit p2 point job.
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