DAC AD1862: Almost THT, I2S input, NOS, R-2R

Here is CLK 2, 3, 4 and GND ... External oscillators can be connected here and configured in Quartus - Pin Configuration for relevant pins from schematic ... and reconfigure all pins ... easy - regulator and capacitor can be THT == almost THT solution 🤣
 

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After playing for a month with only small bits - different regulators, i/v stages, separate transformers for everything, etc, I still find the high end extension and the soundstage precision lacking. NOS not the main culprit as there is surprisingly little difference between red book and 176kHz.

Passive parts clearly help with the highs, at least to some extent, but i don't believe the soundstage can easily be fixed.

It is perhaps the basic 1862 character. A few decades ago i had a commercial dac with this chip and it was dull as hell. This is so much better.
Would you please tell us which I/V stage you tried
 
AD811 at present, original SEN previously.

A couple caveats: AD1862 not on official board but on my 2 layer interpretation. SEN on a proto board.

It is by far the best sounding NOS dac i've had in my system. Previous attempts around Ryan's 1541 D3 topology have not impressed me much (again non official board).
 
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AD811 at present, original SEN previously.

A couple caveats: AD1862 not on official board but on my 2 layer interpretation. SEN on a proto board.

It is by far the best sounding NOS dac i've had in my system. Previous attempts around Ryan's 1541 D3 topology have not impressed me much (again non official board).

Curious if you tried opa861, cascoded CEN and also Segios 's Bjt I/V ?

DC coupled or AC coupled ? What, briefly, do you liked more VS the SEN ? I don't want measurements, your words will suffice 😊