Considerations for a DAC circuit?

[matt_uk]

I am about to start a CD player project (CD-Rom based) and am currently looking at various DAC circuits. The NoNoz III is a name that i've heard good comments about but the circuit just looks a bit 'too simple'.

I am unable at the moment to produce PCBs so am limited to matrix and strip board, which is not great for complex circuitry and will also affect the quality.

Can someone whose built various DACs including the NoNoz please give me some quality comparisons, and tips for producing the best quality NoNoz possible. I assume from the website that the power supply as always is important and may need to splash out on Black Gate caps.

Does anyone else have any good circuits that are feasible without the need for a PCB?

Cheers

Matt

 

[rfbrw]

wrote matt_uk
<snip>
Does anyone else have any good circuits that are feasible without the need for a PCB?

There is a schematic for the Audionote DAC 1.1x floating around the forum somewhere. CS8414 and AD1865. No digital filter. If thats too simple swop the AD1865 for a pair of PCM63's and add the glue logic.

If thats too easy try the Pass D1. http://www.passlabs.com/pdf/d1-srv-man.pdf

Still not enough. http://httpd.chello.nl/7em.heijligers/DAChtml/dactop.htm

All the above use DIL packaged IC's.

If after all the above you still want more I have somewhere a photocopy in Japanese of a twin vcxo dac with what appears to be some kind of optical sync link that uses lots of 74 series logic and a CPLD. By the time you finish the above I should have my scanner working.

 

[matt_uk]

Thanks for the links, think I will stick to a simple circuit, having looked inside my Cambridge Audio DacMagic 2i which looks quite simple, and found Peter Daniels circuit and know that his work is very well respected.

If anyone does have a high-res Audionote 1.1 circuit I would appreciate a copy by email ( Pedley@talk21.com ) as I could only find low-res images, I did find the other Audionote schematics though.

I've just read the first 13 pages of the 'Ive modded my CD723...' thread with great interest. This afternoon on ebay I bought a Philips CD720 for £20 for modding. As it would cost the same for a PIC and LCD display to start a CD-Rom based project.

I was interested to read comments about the Cambridge Audio CD4SE. I have the standard CD4, and use it with the DacMagic 2i. I am now a bit concerned that a fairly tight budget modding of the CD720 will still not come close to the CD4?

My first project will be to develop a DAC, that I can hopefully use with both, and compare to my Cambridge Audio DAC.

My main objective is to build/mod something that I will enjoy listening to as much as my bought player, my project will be fairly pointless if I prefer listening to CD on the CD4 rather than my DIY attempt.

Matt

 

[5th element]

Although most DACs do require a PCB, most people dont realise how simple they actually are.