Best DIY DAC.... OPT in RCA out

[quantran]

Thank quantran:

the question I have is: if I get a 'higher spec' DAC board, will this obviate the need for a CS8421 upsampling board?

I use the cs8421 mainly for its reclocking feature. You may consider a DAC that uses the wm8805 receiver chip. The wm8805 has good jitter rejection. Someone already mentioned Weiliang DAC 7 which includes thin reciever chip.

 

[whinge]

Ahh I see - thanks for explaining quantran.

Assembled DAC7 parallel dual WM8741 + WM8805 + CM6631A +AD627 board

Originally I was looking at this board - what do you think quantran?

 

[quantran]

Ahh I see - thanks for explaining quantran.

Assembled DAC7 parallel dual WM8741 + WM8805 + CM6631A +AD627 board

Originally I was looking at this board - what do you think quantran?

It's a good one in term of feature. cm6631a allows for asychronous usb connection which is desirable if you want to connect to a computer.

The power supply is average.

I can't comment on the board layout because it's hard to see from a photo. I believe there amay be some threads on this one in this forum.

 

[whinge]

Would you suggest that, having tried replacing the opamps, it would be a good DAC chip to add to a transformer output?

 

[quantran]

Yes, I think so. RajkoM already mentioned his experience.

 

[whinge]

Yes - good to hear your opinion as well - thank you 🙂

A bit too much reading in a short period of time - starting to get a bit blurred....

 

[RajkoM]

Ahh I see - thanks for explaining quantran.

Assembled DAC7 parallel dual WM8741 + WM8805 + CM6631A +AD627 board

Originally I was looking at this board - what do you think quantran?

If you want to make the DAC-7 with OPT, do this.
Other's like on my scheme for single WM8741.

 

[whinge]

OK - so, a bit 'left field', but, please could anyone comment on the pros and cons (and whether it is even compatible) of feeding the DAC output either directly into this buffer/pre-amp or DAC output via transformers to this pre-amp/buffer please?

If I'm being 'moronic', please explain 🙂

WZ X10DB 6N11 Tube Buffer Pre Amplifier Board Base on x 10D Musical Fidelity | eBay

Thanks once again Forum - as I have said in the past, you are so very helpful and I am extremely appreciative of your knowledge, advice and time spent reading/commenting 🙂

 

[whinge]

I'd like to possibly incorporate a switch within the case to switch the output between the DAC -> transformer output and the DAC -> transformer -> buffer/pre-amp output, or, would I loose too much signal integrity?

 

[whinge]

I use this for several years. It sounds very good.

Hi RajkoM,

Just a note to say thanks for your posts - I am starting to make sense of your design elements better now as I am learning 🙂

 

[whinge]

Hi Forum!

Only three boards to choose from in my mind now - please may I have everyone's thoughts/opinions!! 😉

DAC Decoder AK4399 WM8805 Coaxial Optical Input Assembled Board DAC9 by Weiliang | eBay

Great Parallel AK4399 DAC Software 192K Assembled Board Use Low Jitter AK4118 | eBay

Assembled DAC7 parallel dual WM8741 + WM8805 + CM6631A +AD627 board | eBay

 

[whinge]

Biggest problem in my mind is whether I want a microcontroller..... Otherwise I love that board!

Great Parallel AK4399 DAC Software 192K Assembled Board Use Low Jitter AK4118 | eBay

 

[whinge]

Hi Forum!

Only three boards to choose from in my mind now - please may I have everyone's thoughts/opinions!! 😉

DAC Decoder AK4399 WM8805 Coaxial Optical Input Assembled Board DAC9 by Weiliang | eBay

Great Parallel AK4399 DAC Software 192K Assembled Board Use Low Jitter AK4118 | eBay

Assembled DAC7 parallel dual WM8741 + WM8805 + CM6631A +AD627 board | eBay

quantran - RajkoM - T129 - Spartacas - abraxalito : please may I have your thoughts on the pros and cons of the three boards in terms of sound quality and modification advice before I choose and order?

Thank you everyone 🙂

 

[RajkoM]

The newer chips have better specs but I think the specs of the chips are not really that important. They are beyond the resolution available from CD...
You can find several topics on the forum discussing different DACs. Everyone has an opinion...

+1

 

[abraxalito]

My own choice would be the middle one, primarily because I'm a modder and both black and white PCBs are a nightmare to hack because the solder mask material is opaque. Meaning you can't see where tracks are going.

 

[quantran]

I think there is no big difference in sound quality between these boards. I also like the second one. It has some low noise regulator and the part quality looks quite good assuming that what you get is the same as shown in photos. I have no experience with ak4118 receiver which is advertised as low jitter. I got good result with wm8804/5 receiver chip.

 

[quantran]

I came across this thread on the forum. This kit seems to be well designed. You may consider this one

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digi...ono-ak4495s-ak4137-mcu-lcd-dac-kit-160-a.html

 

[whinge]

A big thank you everyone.

I've been reading everyone's suggestions, links / posts and attempting to digest all the information....

I really appreciate all the advice and pointers / links.

Out of the three boards I suggested, I think that the majority vote is for:

Great Parallel AK4399 DAC Software 192K Assembled Board Use Low Jitter AK4118 | eBay

which I must say I prefer also (not that I have any suitable experience to judge these things 🙂 ).

However: out of 'left field' comes a new tantalising contender which I am reading up more about very kindly thanks to abraxalito 🙂

Thank you everyone - I will be sure to keep the post updated as soon as I have some parts and results 🙂

I will also attempt to learn some other form of smiley...

 

[dotneck335]

I like this one:
NEW LJM CS8416 + AK4396 + NE5532 2496 DAC Kit 24BIT 192K J163 | eBay
About ~$26 US, shipped! You see anything wrong with that one?

 

[whinge]

I like this one:
NEW LJM CS8416 + AK4396 + NE5532 2496 DAC Kit 24BIT 192K J163 | eBay
About ~$26 US, shipped! You see anything wrong with that one?

Thanks dotneck335

Superb - at least it seems so to a novice like me...

Any thoughts on this board anyone?

Do you have any experience with this board dotneck335?