lingDAC - cost effective RBCD multibit DAC design

Banned - Sockpuppet
Joined 2006
Yet clearly a major part of your confusion is because you've not educated yourself with the information which is available here. Messy I would tend to agree - that's the nature of forums and also my nature (ask my wife :D).
The more I TRY to comprehend this thread, I more confused I seemed to become.
Earlier, I inquired about the diff between Ling and Phi. None was provided. Note that the word "Ling" is in title of this thread. Yet most contemporary references are about something called "Phi"?
Speaking of the thread title, " lingDAC - cost effective RBCD multibit DAC design" .... the "cost effective" is questionable given that Vendors Bazzar contains prices up to $91USD. See: PhiDAC hex kits with pre-built filters
Is that "cost effective"?
 
3rd and 7th order schematics

Here are the schematics for the two filter types. I don't have completed BOMs for these because the capacitors (and the inductor(s) for the 3rd order) are all select on test - so each completed filter is slightly different, depending on the precise values of each component.

@sajunky - that '574 is operating as an async reclocker. Its clock input is fed from the 50MHz osc.
 

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'NF' is short for 'no fit' - it means that capacitor isn't fitted. It is there for flexibility, so that the PCB can be used for other filter shapes with different cap values. For example narrower or wider filters can be built with the same board, or filters with different amounts of passband ripple.
 
With hand soldering I recommend building the PCB in two stages - the left one-third of the PCB has the power supply and DAC parts, the rest of the PCB has the CLC filter plus output stages. Build the left side first and test it before populating the right side.

For testing you need to have a current limited power supply set to 12V and a DMM. The PSU current limit should be set about 200mA so that if you get an error the AD815 acting as regulator won't overheat too quickly. The regulator runs with two LEDs as a reference voltage of 4.5V - this voltage (on R4) is the first thing to check on initial power up. If that's OK then check the output voltages at B4 (ferrite bead) and R57 are as shown on the schematic. Lastly check the supply to the 74HC86 is 2.5V from the 431 shunt.

Assuming all those measurements check out, then move on to assembling the right side of the board.
 
@sajunky - that '574 is operating as an async reclocker. Its clock input is fed from the 50MHz osc.
Non FS multiple frequency asynch reclocker is a bad idea, IHMO.
Not only in audio (I believe), but in the entire digital world. With increased sampling rates (like 192KHz) it would go even worse.

I didn't expect such things in the audio DIY industry, my bad. Thank you for enlightning me. I would rather pay for a version sans the expensive clock chip.
 
From datasheet

Fast settling time enables 2, 4 and 8 times oversampling (serial input) or double-speed operation at 4 times oversampling

According to TDA1387 datasheet, we can do 48KHz*8=384KHz right? With such high sampling rate, can we just go with simple RC filters to in order to get smooth waves?

What is this "double speed" operation anyway? Does it have any advantage on implementation?

Topology: the capacitor decoupling high-frequency supply interference from VDD to GND should be placed as close as is physically possible to the IC body, ensuring a low-inductance path to ground.

And this. I see some designs following this advice but some not (including yours). I see a 1uF ceramic cap in the middle of the row. Is this cap for this role? Can you share your opinion on independently decoupling each cap?

Attached photo is from another design.
 

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According to TDA1387 datasheet, we can do 48KHz*8=384KHz right? With such high sampling rate, can we just go with simple RC filters to in order to get smooth waves?

At 8*fs the images will begin at 364kHz. To get say -60dB attenuation in just under 20X ratio would call for a 2nd order filter. Passive RC can't achieve that but in conjunction with an opamp its easily achievable.

What is this "double speed" operation anyway? Does it have any advantage on implementation?

I can only guess it means with an 88k2/96k recorded stream.


And this. I see some designs following this advice but some not (including yours). I see a 1uF ceramic cap in the middle of the row. Is this cap for this role? Can you share your opinion on independently decoupling each cap?

You mean independently decoupling each chip with a cap? I haven't done that but I've nothing against it. Yes, I use two caps for decoupling six chips - the 1uF ceramic and a 2700uF 'lytic.
 
And this. I see some designs following this advice but some not (including yours). I see a 1uF ceramic cap in the middle of the row. Is this cap for this role?
On the photo there are two individdual caps per chip. One 1uF on a REF pin (7) and one 100nF on the Vdd pin (5). The same values as recommended on the datasheet. My portable Nobsound 8x TDA1387 DAC/HPA use exactly the same scheme. These bypassing caps are critical for SQ, some others use two large electrolythic caps per chip, but it requires mounting caps on the opposite PCB side of DAC chips.
 
actual owner of PhiDAC

I have to say I'm more of an audio enthusiast and audiophile than DYIer, but the thing you link is what most people here started with, realized all the problems it has and turned to phiDAC. What PhiDAC does is amazing and I guess true, not for everyone. I have one with 7th order filter, paired with analog Fisher CA-7700 amplifier, mains filter and what it produces is giving something to think about to DACs like Chord Mojo and more I listen to it, even to RME Adi2. Soundstage and separation is out of this world.
I guess linear power source would do another small step up.

As for the initial question regarding crystals and reclocking, I must add that it was answered correctly by both @diyiggy and @abraxalito.

Interesting things, I see a 50MHz oscilator, but don't see reclocking chip in the audiophonics design: AUDIOPHONICS I-TDA1387 TCXO DAC Raspberry Pi 3 / A+ B+ / Pi 2 / I2S - Audiophonics

It makes me thinking that when a DAC board is driven not by the RPI intefrace, but an external I2S source, this oscilator is not used at all.

@KHashmi316. In the board you have linked (4xTDA1387) you can expect working sampling rates 44.1kHz and 48kHz, as CM108 is oversampling x4 and you have to feed it with 16-bits, as 24-bits is not accepted. In the PhiDAC there is no USB/I2s interface, so you can plug anything you like and a sample rates accepted by TDA1387 chip are rated in a datasheet well above 192kHz/24bit. With a good USB/I2s converter it makes it a quite modern NOS DAC.

If you are still interested in a similar design, I suggest not DIY, but a ready product like a Nobsound 8xTDA1387 DAC/HPA: Nobsound Mini HiFi Sound Card DAC TDA1387 USB 8X Audio Decoding Headphone Amplifier DTS/AC3 Coaxial Optical Digital Output|Headphone Amplifier| - AliExpress
 
@KorbenCZ. In a quoted text I was invetstigating reclocking in the audiophonics design. This matter is sorted out. They do use reclocking, but a primitive one, sort of things I would avoid. It is a marketting trick, trying to catch people with TXCO oscilator that (IHMO) does more harm than good. It is noted however that there is a proper bypassing of each TDA1387 chip individually.

Each one of us has an individual upgrade path. Many years ago the first DAC I could accept was in a Rotel CD player RCD971 (Burr-Brown PCM63 R2R chip), subsequently tweaked very hard for perfection - and it was working. Today, many years passed, I also stand for R2R design, nothing has changed. My current research has stopped at the Audio GD R2R11. It is because of lack of founds. With more founds it could be R28, R27... :) As all DACs you mention are very capable, but not a R2R design, I think you are also R2R guy. This is a tip for a further development. Enjoy it. :)
 
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@KorbenCZ. In a quoted text I was invetstigating reclocking in the audiophonics design. This matter is sorted out. They do use reclocking, but a primitive one, sort of things I would avoid. It is a marketting trick, trying to catch people with TXCO oscilator that (IHMO) does more harm than good.


Hello! Which "audiophonics design" were you investingting about and what kind of "reclocking" where you referring to ?
Thanks B.