Been looking for SMSL devices:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/256190770448
and one board here:
https://orchardaudio.com/shop/pecanpi-dac-plus/
what are your thoughts?
mainly will use it for 16 bit PCM, if that matters anything.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/256190770448
and one board here:
https://orchardaudio.com/shop/pecanpi-dac-plus/
what are your thoughts?
mainly will use it for 16 bit PCM, if that matters anything.
I spent a lot of time with AK4499EQ and then later with AK4191 and AK4499EXEQ. I gave up on those things after doing some work with discrete resistor FIRDACs. There are some open source or mostly open source projects in the forum, and there are some diy boards available for building some great dacs that way. The discrete resistor FIRDAC approach seems to be the way high end dacs are going. Bruno Putzeys Mola dacs are a variation on that. High end companies like Luxman and Marantz are using FIRDAC designs in their high end products these days too.
Personally, I see no reason to stick with dac chips any more other than if low-cost is a dominant concern.
Regarding 16-bit PCM, IME people are usually astonished to find out how good CD audio can sound when reproduced through a really good dac and a really good system overall. Most people have never heard it though. Don't know what to do about that. There is expensive high end junk out there that can sound bad, so it can be hit or miss to find a place where you can hear 16-bit PCM reproduction done well. A Mola dac dealer may have a reliable showroom; maybe something like that.
If interested in the entry level of high end diy dacs, I would suggest to start reading: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/return-to-zero-shift-register-firdac.379406/
Personally, I see no reason to stick with dac chips any more other than if low-cost is a dominant concern.
Regarding 16-bit PCM, IME people are usually astonished to find out how good CD audio can sound when reproduced through a really good dac and a really good system overall. Most people have never heard it though. Don't know what to do about that. There is expensive high end junk out there that can sound bad, so it can be hit or miss to find a place where you can hear 16-bit PCM reproduction done well. A Mola dac dealer may have a reliable showroom; maybe something like that.
If interested in the entry level of high end diy dacs, I would suggest to start reading: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/return-to-zero-shift-register-firdac.379406/
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Ive heard before that they convert PCM to DSD and then somehow the outcome is very impressive.
So that basically this 150$ FirDAC micro(https://pinkfishmedia.net/forum/thr...ukrainian-audio-engineer-firdac-micro.283271/) should give better results than 500$ or 1000$ SMSL device?
So that basically this 150$ FirDAC micro(https://pinkfishmedia.net/forum/thr...ukrainian-audio-engineer-firdac-micro.283271/) should give better results than 500$ or 1000$ SMSL device?
If you have $500 - $1,000 to spend, and if you are interested a diy approach, you are almost able to get into the really good high end FIRDACs. And yes its not too hard to outdo a $1,000 commercial dac. Or ones costing more than twice that. It depends on what you want to do.
I bought the Ukrainian Firdac, it's great! But you need to be able to make the software for the CM he uses. But I prefer my own AD1862 DAC by far...
There are all kinds of FIRDACs. Not all of them are equally well designed. The Ukrainian dac looks like a very much entry level device.
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"High end companies like Luxman and Marantz are using FIRDAC designs in their high end products these days too."
Which Luxman do you mean?
The Luxman D-10X flagship from 2020 -uses the ROHM BD34301EKV.
Also the younger brother D-07X.
I have heard the D-10X, it did sound very nice. In a demonstration in one of the most classy italian hifishop, above the top horn setup.
Which Luxman do you mean?
The Luxman D-10X flagship from 2020 -uses the ROHM BD34301EKV.
Also the younger brother D-07X.
I have heard the D-10X, it did sound very nice. In a demonstration in one of the most classy italian hifishop, above the top horn setup.
Only so much I can tell you. Now and then I get some snippets via someone who is in an influential position in the Japanese high end audio world. From what I was told at the time, Luxman was busy working on it too. Was expecting them to release something before now. Don't know what the current status is.
Just curiously, would you say the D-10X sounded better than Andrea's latest?
Just curiously, would you say the D-10X sounded better than Andrea's latest?
Are there any good plug and play solutions, budget around 500$
should have balanced XLR outputs
1200$ for complete tube TDA1541 dac seems little bit overpriced
should have balanced XLR outputs
1200$ for complete tube TDA1541 dac seems little bit overpriced
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Something from Topping or SMSL that meets you budget is likely a good bet. Its not going to be super, but it will probably be decent for the money.