I tested TDA1387 and it did not sound as good as AD1862, no way (pity that AD1862 in NOS is mostly DIY).
Few people prefer WM8740 over CS4398 (both voltage outputs), some prefer WM8741/2 over WM8740 which can be caused by a better digital filter, they have selectable filters.
I prefer AD1862 over WM8740 & WM8741 significantly (in my setup). I tested everything with the same opamps to be sure. WM8740/1 power sources are LM317/337 based.
Anyway, perhaps you found your next DAC and it is good for you. I hope you will be satisfied enough and you do not throw another money for just testing DACs 🙂
Few people prefer WM8740 over CS4398 (both voltage outputs), some prefer WM8741/2 over WM8740 which can be caused by a better digital filter, they have selectable filters.
I prefer AD1862 over WM8740 & WM8741 significantly (in my setup). I tested everything with the same opamps to be sure. WM8740/1 power sources are LM317/337 based.
Anyway, perhaps you found your next DAC and it is good for you. I hope you will be satisfied enough and you do not throw another money for just testing DACs 🙂
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Can you please tell when it happened?
Makes me want to try AD1862..
No ready-made product that you can recommend with it?
Maybe you have one that you created and want to sell?
mmm..
So is this a rank?
AD1862 > WM8741/2 > WM8740 > CS4398?
It means I am on the start..
I am really satisfied, but curious to try some more..
I don't see this as throwing money,
the same way that someone who goes to a different restaurant once a week, doesn't see it as throwing money..
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I've been happy with many things that the audiophools don't like so I take such comments with a grain of salt.
It was a few months ago.
I don't know a good ready-made product with AD1862.
Sadly, I have nothing to sell. In the future perhaps I route some PCB based on all THT components, but I haven't got any motivation yet 😎
The best DAC (most neutral, as the reference) I have ever built is with PCM1704. This SMD chip is problem to get cheap. It cost >70 dollars/piece without shipping and tax. Trusted sources are farnell (sold out) or rochester electronics (stocked). Avoid ebay for PCM1704.
It could be as: PCM1704 > AD1862 > WM8741/2 > WM8740 > CS4398.
Difference between AD1862 and PCM1704 is not significant. AD1862 has a bit warmer sound, PCM1704 is neutral.
On my todo list is testing PCM56, PCM63, TDA1541A S1, PCM1701, between PCM1704 and AD1862. It will be done, but don't know when.
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Polished turds
Of course, some DIYers live by the polished-turd philosophy, as in the case of Doctor Capacitor here ...
.... so, sure, if ya sink 'nough time/energy into the turd ...
... ya might get it to sparkle a wee bit ...
Gotta LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUV them caps 😉
No surprise ... the 1387 was intended as a budget, low-end DAC.
Of course, some DIYers live by the polished-turd philosophy, as in the case of Doctor Capacitor here ...
.... so, sure, if ya sink 'nough time/energy into the turd ...
... ya might get it to sparkle a wee bit ...
Gotta LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUV them caps 😉
I had the CS4398, very good, and I know a little from the WM but not in a hifi setup if you know what i mean...
No experience with PCM1704 or AD1862 or PCM1701 Or PCM63.
However the PCM56K is not as good as the others here, so you can remove it from your list. but the TDA1541 is one of the best... it greatly benefit from a discrete super good discrete transistor output stage. I tried it with opamps and it is stellar with discrete transistors...
One's acting as a low-noise regulator, the other two are I/V and filter for each of left and right channels. They're EOL at ADI now I believe but the secondary market has oodles of them at a bargain price 🙂
When xDSL went commodity there were a LOT in the food chain. I still have a couple of tubes of the big package and gave away a bunch at Burning Amp.
TH sounds terrific..
BTW If the DAC chip itself is not TH, then it's possible to use a PCB Assembly service for it, and leave the rest of the parts TH, unsoldered (by the PCBA service), and solder them later, ourself..
Great.. then I am on the right track..
Can anyone maybe recommend a nice WM8741/2 based or an AD1862 based DAC product that is USB Powered?
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AD1862 R2R Isolated nonoversampling NOS Audio DAC with FIFO reclock - DIYINHK
But not sure the dac chips are not second choice sorting out. Sure the layout and parts are not so sota. But the price explain this...
AD1862 like TDA1541 deserve the best layout (so diy dive and some monney) and then sound sota.
But not sure the dac chips are not second choice sorting out. Sure the layout and parts are not so sota. But the price explain this...
AD1862 like TDA1541 deserve the best layout (so diy dive and some monney) and then sound sota.
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Thank you diyiggy.
Any chance a ready-made product exists, instead of a kit?
If to be honest with myself, I prefer something ready that works well..
Any chance a ready-made product exists, instead of a kit?
If to be honest with myself, I prefer something ready that works well..
I do not expect miracles from the PCM56, but I want to be sure.
I like to test it my way:
- the same power supply
- the same I/V !!!
- the same headphone amp
- the same routing technique - solid GND
- the same digital source
- no fancy opamp filters
- no capacitor in the signal path
I can't test DAC1 with a passive I/V transformer and compare it to DAC2 with active I/V and conclude that DAC2 beated everything.
So many people tested DAC chips on different I/V, different built in headphone amps (for example, as ready-made devices) and created a list of conclusions for the DAC chip itself.
I've got several 1862s in my parts bin. Too lazy to do anything with 'em 'cause of the "mandatory" resistor trimmer.
It seems that Lee (who created the TDA1387 based DAC),
created a DAC based on AD1852:
New AD1852 24bit 192k Soft Control HiFiDAC Decoder Coaxial optical fiber decoder | eBay
How is the 1852 compared to the 1862?
(it is not USB Powered tho.. requires an AC power)
created a DAC based on AD1852:
New AD1852 24bit 192k Soft Control HiFiDAC Decoder Coaxial optical fiber decoder | eBay
How is the 1852 compared to the 1862?
(it is not USB Powered tho.. requires an AC power)
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The numbers are not chronological the 1862 is old school multi-bit and the 1852 came many years later (SD).
I see..
Thanks for the info.
I also found an option for a WM8742 DAC:
Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100
Amazon.com: Cambridge Audio Digital DacMagic 100 Silver Universal UK/EU/CU: Home Audio & Theater
Again it is not USB Powered. Requires an AC Adapter.
And quite expensive also.
(like most Cambridge Audio products)
200$
Thanks for the info.
I also found an option for a WM8742 DAC:
Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100
Amazon.com: Cambridge Audio Digital DacMagic 100 Silver Universal UK/EU/CU: Home Audio & Theater
Again it is not USB Powered. Requires an AC Adapter.
And quite expensive also.
(like most Cambridge Audio products)
200$
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