Hello All,
I’m embarking on building my first DAC.
Here are some details:
1) I want to take input primarily from a CD transport. I also want to be able to play .wav files (via a MacMini).
2) Having built a tube phono amp, and a tube preamp, I’m handy with tools and a soldering iron.
3) I’d like this DAC to be fairly high-end as I’d like it to provide the spaciousness, depth, smoothness and definition of vinyl.
4) I’ve been looking at the Gabster YouTube videos and I think that his Flagship DAC is the one that I’d like to build, although the TDA1541A DAC looks good too.
Any suggestions, thoughts and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Also, does anyone have Gabster’s email address?
Thanks,
MoodyhhDAC
I’m embarking on building my first DAC.
Here are some details:
1) I want to take input primarily from a CD transport. I also want to be able to play .wav files (via a MacMini).
2) Having built a tube phono amp, and a tube preamp, I’m handy with tools and a soldering iron.
3) I’d like this DAC to be fairly high-end as I’d like it to provide the spaciousness, depth, smoothness and definition of vinyl.
4) I’ve been looking at the Gabster YouTube videos and I think that his Flagship DAC is the one that I’d like to build, although the TDA1541A DAC looks good too.
Any suggestions, thoughts and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Also, does anyone have Gabster’s email address?
Thanks,
MoodyhhDAC
Do you have a link to the "Flagship DAC" ? I would rather not have to watch some guy's video. A schematic and some pics of the boards should suffice.
Also, turns out it isn't so easy build a good dac, particularly not a good high end dac. Its a whole different world from linear audio band amplifiers.
Also, turns out it isn't so easy build a good dac, particularly not a good high end dac. Its a whole different world from linear audio band amplifiers.
It is basically an Iancanada build. Not quite the Tambaqui end of the pool you like to swim in.
I probably wouldn't recommend such a project exactly, although parts of it might be useful here or there. I'm liking the Iancanada clock I have, given it's price point (sure a lot better than the off-the-shelf stuff). Also FIFO_Pi is pretty mature by now. OTOH, all the battery and ultra-cap stuff seems a bit overboard, when it seems like as a practical matter its mostly its to fix ground loop problems, at least IMHO. The dual ES9038Q2M dac, again IMHO, is not one of the more likely things I would use or recommend. IOW, to my way of thinking its a mixed bag of stuff some of which I would use and other things where I would probably take a pass.
Don't known if the OP wants to get into it that deep, and or hear other people opinions.
Don't known if the OP wants to get into it that deep, and or hear other people opinions.
If you are really into tubes, there is this:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/valve-dac-from-linear-audio-volume-13.308860/post-5104207
https://linearaudio.net/sites/linearaudio.net/files/03 Didden LA V13 mvdg.pdf
Mind you, it requires soldering 0.5 mm pitch components and the SINAD is not nearly as high as that of many solid-state DACs. So far everyone who has listened to it seems to like it, though.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/valve-dac-from-linear-audio-volume-13.308860/post-5104207
https://linearaudio.net/sites/linearaudio.net/files/03 Didden LA V13 mvdg.pdf
Mind you, it requires soldering 0.5 mm pitch components and the SINAD is not nearly as high as that of many solid-state DACs. So far everyone who has listened to it seems to like it, though.
Marcel, indications are so that more people will like your RTZ FIRDAC once clocking and output stage issues are resolved. The dac here is getting to sounding pretty darn good. Very good imaging too.