I want to build one or two fairly simple multi-bit DACs with cheap and available legacy chips, which right now looks like PCM56 or AD1865. All the TDA1541 and PCM63 type stuff has got rare and expensive now.
So point me towards some PCBs or built boards that can be used with PCM56 or AS1865. There seem to be quite a few on AliExpress and I'd welcome advice on which are good ones to buy. Input could be SPDIF or a I2S board.
I can build with tubes so could add a tube output stage and I can build power supplies. But useless with SMDs, that's not possible so a built board would be best.
Hopefully this thread could inspire others to build available, cheap and simple DIY multi-bit DACs.
So point me towards some PCBs or built boards that can be used with PCM56 or AS1865. There seem to be quite a few on AliExpress and I'd welcome advice on which are good ones to buy. Input could be SPDIF or a I2S board.
I can build with tubes so could add a tube output stage and I can build power supplies. But useless with SMDs, that's not possible so a built board would be best.
Hopefully this thread could inspire others to build available, cheap and simple DIY multi-bit DACs.
Yes - Rich. I'm in contact with him but he seems to have gone off the radar for the last week. Don't know why.
He uses Miro's boards but I don't know if these are still available or are sold out.
He uses Miro's boards but I don't know if these are still available or are sold out.
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Ok perhaps Rich is busy with something. Just in case he does not have any more boards left.. I have one with i2s inputs, using u.fl connectors. The i2s source ends are ready stripped u.fl wires for you to use with any USB-i2s interface boards eg.JLSounds or York . This board does not have any IV stage. Has Iout outputs for you to use with any tube stages or other preferred options. AD1865R J graded chip mounted. Designed by Miro, of course.
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My suggestion is ad1862, it sound better than ad1865. PCM63 is endgame. Tube output of course. Trafo IV.
Still looking for a simple PCB for PCM56. I don't see one in this thread. LordGwyn made some PCBs for the PCM56 a few years ago but I don't see him on this thread. I don't know if the right kind of veroboard/projectboard would work well enough for just the chip, no shift registers? The PCM56 is the same 16 pin DIP socket as the AD1862, I don't know if that helps at all. Connections are a bit different.
Andyjevans,
Look through Miro's thread that Zoom777 linked above, all the DAC chips you mention plus several others have builds and pcb's available contained in the monster thread. The first post has an external link with several dac project highlights and Gerber files that can be downloaded.
Many opinions of which DAC chips are favorites, but you can't go wrong with AD1856, 1862 or 1865. These are easy builds to get going relatively drama free.
Good luck on your journey! 🤩
Look through Miro's thread that Zoom777 linked above, all the DAC chips you mention plus several others have builds and pcb's available contained in the monster thread. The first post has an external link with several dac project highlights and Gerber files that can be downloaded.
Many opinions of which DAC chips are favorites, but you can't go wrong with AD1856, 1862 or 1865. These are easy builds to get going relatively drama free.
Good luck on your journey! 🤩
I read a lot of the monster thread and I can't see any PCM56 builds. I have no experience of gerbers and making PCBs - I just build with tubes. Did anyone make any PCBs? PCM56 seems a useful choice since chips are more available.
I have some of Miro's PCM56 boards I can send to you. There are SMD shift registers though. I could maybe help with that. I think I have a PCM56 partially built. Shall have a look.
@abraxalito did a PCM56 dac also I believe if you wanted less hands on
Edit....
Thread 'Marriner dual PCM56 NOS DAC' https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/marriner-dual-pcm56-nos-dac.397360/
@abraxalito did a PCM56 dac also I believe if you wanted less hands on
Edit....
Thread 'Marriner dual PCM56 NOS DAC' https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/marriner-dual-pcm56-nos-dac.397360/
shift registers are okay, in most of the confs you won't hear them VS a shift register logic made by a FPGA/CPLD.
The more I think of those difference of sounds pople, not all, testimonied, the more I think it may comes from the too long leads of the THT COG caps, smt caps would have been better here for the shooty CMOS registers as well as a not close enough ground plane cause the 2 layers design... perhaps. Or maybe the glus logic is sligthy different from the JLSOUNDS card.
Anyway, if Andy take the option of the sympathic Jimk04 option, he has the chance to buy a less expensive Amanero that has both SPIDF and USB input option. Plug it to miro1360 pcb and be happy.
Anyway all those boards need some care and good enough power suplies. Miro did good ones with modern reg chips. Making print a gerber from JLPPCB is not rocket science (it is drag & drop files on a website) and Mark J in the Electronic Design forum thread made a paint by number tutorial for it for the people really lost.
Of course the Miro PCB uses smd shift register, but there is no difficulty with flux to do it.
The more I think of those difference of sounds pople, not all, testimonied, the more I think it may comes from the too long leads of the THT COG caps, smt caps would have been better here for the shooty CMOS registers as well as a not close enough ground plane cause the 2 layers design... perhaps. Or maybe the glus logic is sligthy different from the JLSOUNDS card.
Anyway, if Andy take the option of the sympathic Jimk04 option, he has the chance to buy a less expensive Amanero that has both SPIDF and USB input option. Plug it to miro1360 pcb and be happy.
Anyway all those boards need some care and good enough power suplies. Miro did good ones with modern reg chips. Making print a gerber from JLPPCB is not rocket science (it is drag & drop files on a website) and Mark J in the Electronic Design forum thread made a paint by number tutorial for it for the people really lost.
Of course the Miro PCB uses smd shift register, but there is no difficulty with flux to do it.
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James, jimk04, has kindly replied to a message so that's a nice bonus. Thank you James!
My situation as of now is that my quest for a working AD1865 DAC is on hold - Rich has my Miro boards but has been off the radar for weeks. I hope he's OK - anyone know? I also have a chi-fi board, the one with the tube output, which I'll try and get working.
Meanwhile as a stop-gap I'm listening to my "mini PCM56" board, £13 off ebay, where the output is via the internal op-amp. Surprisingly nice but there must be better. I tried to connect that to my ECC40 tube stage from pin 13 and ground, but It didn't seem to work with a 100R I/V resistor to ground. Don't know why - could it be because pins 9 and 10 are joined? Any guesses?
I also bought a chi-fi "big PCM56" board with 4x NE5534s on the output. This looks as if it could be easily connected to a tube stage. It has a 4.7K + 1nF series connection to pin 6 of the first NE5534, so I could remove the op-amp and connect to the tube stage from pin 6 just to see if there's sound. If that works I could remove the 4.7K and 1nF and put a 100R resistor to ground. I'd like to hear it with the op-amps first. Not built into a case yet.
So that's where I am at present, plus I have an unused JL Sounds board. Still listening to my mini PCM56 board! I have some building ahead of me. Quite a challenge in my case since I'm a tube guy and this is all new technology. I'll also need some help with surface mount components - never soldered any. Anyway, I've attached all the relevant details with resistances of pins 9 to 13 for the output.
My situation as of now is that my quest for a working AD1865 DAC is on hold - Rich has my Miro boards but has been off the radar for weeks. I hope he's OK - anyone know? I also have a chi-fi board, the one with the tube output, which I'll try and get working.
Meanwhile as a stop-gap I'm listening to my "mini PCM56" board, £13 off ebay, where the output is via the internal op-amp. Surprisingly nice but there must be better. I tried to connect that to my ECC40 tube stage from pin 13 and ground, but It didn't seem to work with a 100R I/V resistor to ground. Don't know why - could it be because pins 9 and 10 are joined? Any guesses?
I also bought a chi-fi "big PCM56" board with 4x NE5534s on the output. This looks as if it could be easily connected to a tube stage. It has a 4.7K + 1nF series connection to pin 6 of the first NE5534, so I could remove the op-amp and connect to the tube stage from pin 6 just to see if there's sound. If that works I could remove the 4.7K and 1nF and put a 100R resistor to ground. I'd like to hear it with the op-amps first. Not built into a case yet.
So that's where I am at present, plus I have an unused JL Sounds board. Still listening to my mini PCM56 board! I have some building ahead of me. Quite a challenge in my case since I'm a tube guy and this is all new technology. I'll also need some help with surface mount components - never soldered any. Anyway, I've attached all the relevant details with resistances of pins 9 to 13 for the output.
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Well, at last I have PCM56 DAC with a tube output stage. Making slow progress but advancing gradually. I have been trying to get output from pin 13 of a cheap PCM56 board I have, but it wasn't working. I figured that since the board was very cheap I could experiment with it, so I cut pin 9 from the PCM56 chip, which is where the voltage output is taken from. And hey presto - I have sound from pin 13 and Gnd. I'm using a 220R I/V resistor which is about right for my system. I could reduce it a little I think. I'll experiment. So for anyone else wanting to experiment, pin 9 must not be connected if you want the current output from this PCB. Sound so far is nice, going into my ECC40 tube stage. Early days for these multi-bit chips, but it's a start.
Hello Iggy - for sure I'll be exploring op-amps as well as tube output. I haven't tried the AD811 yet. Happy New Year.