chinese dac

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antos71

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Joined 2011
#1
Hello!
I'm only jut registered in Diy forum! 🙂
I'm writing you from Italy.
I have a cd player : Marantz 72 SE (1993) and i would buy a chinese dac from ebay like these:

DAC CS8416+CS4398 + CS8421 up-sampling, 24 bit/192 KHz su eBay.it Amplifiers, Home Audio, Electronics

and

DAC PCM58 2.0 parallel output NOS su eBay.it Amplifiers, Home Audio, Electronics

The first have a CS8416 (or Dir 9001) and CS4398 and the second have the PCM58.
But i have a doubt about their quality.Have someone to experience with these dacs? My cd player many times have a metallic sound so i want to couple a dac.

Thank you.
Antonio.

P.S. Excuseme for my English!
 
#2
Both the DAC kits you mention have a good reputation for sound quaility. I personally never heard these exact kits, but I have purchased many DAC kits from ebay.
the latest kit I have bought is this one DAC 2496 (AK4393) DAC KIT With CS8416+AK4393+5532 su eBay.it Other, Home Audio, Electronics
But it has not arrived yet. but I have heard the AK4393 chip before many times in M-audio Superdac and in other equipment.
My personal opinion is that the AK4393 sounds better than CS4398, but everyone has a different opinion. If its your first kit, I would advise to get the cheap AK4393 kit as it is more simple and smaller, and perhaps you will be very happy with it.
Otherwise, for very smooth sound try a TDA1541 Non oversampling DAC, but these are more difficult to assemble and have bigger PCB. But sound quality is very personal, I think either TDA1541 or AK4396 will have smooth non- metallic sound.

But to answer your question again, there is no problem with the build quality or sound quality of the ebay DACs, they will surpass the sound quality of most commercial off the shelf DACs costing much more than these kits.
 
#4
I also own the CS4398 DAC, but this is a better deal and easier to work with.
The older version used the 1793. I like it better than my CS4398.

NEW VERSION DIR9001+WM8740DAC DAC DIY KITS [341] - US$50.00 : Hifi Diy--Amplifier,dac kits,hifi audio products and parts online shop, shipping to worldwide

The new version $50 DAC uses a WM8740, meaning it still has voltage outputs. You can hook up output transformers easily. The stock opamp is the OP275, which I love. I don't think it uses coupling capacitors. I liked the 1793 version DAC, (complete with opamp), so much that I haven't bothered to modify it yet and I own 4 pairs of UTC-A20 waiting to be used.
 
#5
erin said:
Both the DAC kits you mention have a good reputation for sound quaility. I personally never heard these exact kits, but I have purchased many DAC kits from ebay.
the latest kit I have bought is this one DAC 2496 (AK4393) DAC KIT With CS8416+AK4393+5532 su eBay.it Other, Home Audio, Electronics
But it has not arrived yet. but I have heard the AK4393 chip before many times in M-audio Superdac and in other equipment.
My personal opinion is that the AK4393 sounds better than CS4398, but everyone has a different opinion. If its your first kit, I would advise to get the cheap AK4393 kit as it is more simple and smaller, and perhaps you will be very happy with it.
Otherwise, for very smooth sound try a TDA1541 Non oversampling DAC, but these are more difficult to assemble and have bigger PCB. But sound quality is very personal, I think either TDA1541 or AK4396 will have smooth non- metallic sound.

But to answer your question again, there is no problem with the build quality or sound quality of the ebay DACs, they will surpass the sound quality of most commercial off the shelf DACs costing much more than these kits.
Click to expand...

Hello Erin!
Thank you for your interest!
I didn't know this dac...it's very interesting! Because i can solder the components and for the coming I will change the op amp or will set a transformer!
Thank you for your assurance...i was afraid for their quality.

Regards.
Antonio.
 
#7
Mush said:
I also own the CS4398 DAC, but this is a better deal and easier to work with.
The older version used the 1793. I like it better than my CS4398.

NEW VERSION DIR9001+WM8740DAC DAC DIY KITS [341] - US$50.00 : Hifi Diy--Amplifier,dac kits,hifi audio products and parts online shop, shipping to worldwide

The new version $50 DAC uses a WM8740, meaning it still has voltage outputs. You can hook up output transformers easily. The stock opamp is the OP275, which I love. I don't think it uses coupling capacitors. I liked the 1793 version DAC, (complete with opamp), so much that I haven't bothered to modify it yet and I own 4 pairs of UTC-A20 waiting to be used.
Click to expand...

Hello Mush!
I didn't know the WM8740. But if i don't make a mistake i believe that is still possible to have the dac with pcm 1793 at request.
The voltage output in fact is important because i will hook output transformers...or a discrete output transistor's circuit.
Is it possible to hook up the UTC-A20 with any dac that has a voltage output?

Thank you!
Antonio.
 
#10
Ciao Antonio!

You can hook up transformer to a DAC that has voltage output. I recommend 600:600. Other people know much more about filtering, etc. It's a good mod.

I have never heard the WM8740. I know that it is highly rated and Twisted Pear used it in their Opus (http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/docs/digital/opus_2.0_manual.pdf).

I have the 1793 version of the $50 DAC with the OP275 op amp. To me it is completely superior to the unmodified CS4398 DAC. Don't underestimate the OP275. It utterly destroys the LM4562 for musicality. I like the $50 DAC better than the CS4398 and UTC-A20. It's not as transparent, but I prefer it since it is so musical.

I am going to buy the WM8740 version and experiment with the UTC transformers. For $50 (includes shipping) and a 12vac 1amp transformer, you have a very good sounding DAC, even without output transformers.

Also, my CS4398 DAC died in one channel, so it's not the most reliable product. In comparison, the $50 DAC has held up well through bread-boarding abuse.
 
#11
None of the Chinese dac boards will stand up to a lot of hacking, they are pretty delicate so be very careful. I've repaired quite a few for members.

The A-20s are nowhere close to being great trafos these days but they are pleasant sounding.

Send me your old broken 4398 dac board so I can dispose of it for you. 🙂
 
#12
Mush said:
Ciao Antonio!

You can hook up transformer to a DAC that has voltage output. I recommend 600:600. Other people know much more about filtering, etc. It's a good mod.

I have never heard the WM8740. I know that it is highly rated and Twisted Pear used it in their Opus (http://www.twistedpearaudio.com/docs/digital/opus_2.0_manual.pdf).

I have the 1793 version of the $50 DAC with the OP275 op amp. To me it is completely superior to the unmodified CS4398 DAC. Don't underestimate the OP275. It utterly destroys the LM4562 for musicality. I like the $50 DAC better than the CS4398 and UTC-A20. It's not as transparent, but I prefer it since it is so musical.

I am going to buy the WM8740 version and experiment with the UTC transformers. For $50 (includes shipping) and a 12vac 1amp transformer, you have a very good sounding DAC, even without output transformers.

Also, my CS4398 DAC died in one channel, so it's not the most reliable product. In comparison, the $50 DAC has held up well through bread-boarding abuse.
Click to expand...

Hi Mush!
Thank you for your explanations! I have understand. 🙂
Is the old version that mounts the PCM1793 similar to this?

Mini SPDIF+OPTICAL DAC Board -- PCM1793+DIR9001+OPA2134 su eBay.it Other, Home Audio, Electronics

Then the 1793 is more musical and the CS4398+ UTC 20 is more trasparent, isn't it?

Antonio.
 
#14
wakibaki said:
Thanks for pointing that out erin. I don't have a standalone DAC, but at that price I will definitely have one. 🙂

w
Click to expand...

Woohoo, Waki buys himself a DAC 🙂 When you get it , do please give us your analysis of it's digital design. Like , for instance how well you find the screw-down chocolate block connectors work for SPDIF signalling, etc. I look forward to your analysis - should be very educational
 
#15
I bought this DAC recently.It has excellent value for money.I connected this DAC to SPDF output of Audio Analogue's Maestro CD player,and it"' sound was a peasant surprise.Further improvements can be replacing the NE5532 with LME49720[metal package is better].You can order these items on ebay.
 
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