DAC -analoge sound

[kinku]

Hi,
I am trying to collect some consensus on which DAC chips (DIY only) implementation will reproduce sound in a less clinical way.
I have few old recordings that were recorded in less than optimal methods. But their vocals are precious. So some implementations with excellent midrange response will be a place to start with. The newer chips are so brutal with these recordings. By no means I am looking for muddy sound but may less forgiving is the word to use.
Please forgive me for using those objectionable subjective terms.
I have finally settled on Full range speakers for the same reason.
Please share your experiences pals....😛

 

[cogitech]

The smoothest, most "analog" sounding DAC chip I have heard is the Wolfson WM8524.

I purchased mine pre-built as the Hot Audio "DAC WOW".

However, you can DIY a "grubDAC" (which uses the same chip) for very little money. ! grubDAC Kit - miniUSB, Beezar Audio

Note: I have no affiliation with the linked site. Also, I have since moved on to more "clinical" DACs but my parents continue to enjoy the DAC WOW w/WM8524.

 

[kinku]

Thnks Cogitech.

 

[kinku]

No other suggestions?!!!!!!

 

[abraxalito]

TDA1543 does it, TDA1387 and TDA1545A are better when implemented in an optimized manner.

 

[kinku]

it is always nice to hear from you Abraxalito. do you know any well implimented DIY pcbs for those TDA chips?

 

[chip_mk]

In my modest experience, most analogue sounding DAC I've encountered by now is Wolfson WM8741. However, DAC chip is not the whole story. Many other things can make or brake the end result (receiving/clocking, power supply, analogue filter, layout/routing...)

 

[abraxalito]

The DAC I've fairly recently bought which is shown on my blog is the closest I could consider to be a 'DIY DAC' - it can be bought as a kit or fully assembled and its using TDA1387s. I've tweaked mine (lots of details on the blog and on Malefoda's thread) and its continuing to give me a huge amount of listening pleasure. Which is pretty amazing given its ultra-cheap price of under $100.

 

[kinku]

In my modest experience, most analogue sounding DAC I've encountered by now is Wolfson WM8741. However, DAC chip is not the whole story. Many other things can make or brake the end result (receiving/clocking, power supply, analogue filter, layout/routing...)

Chip which DAC implementation of WM8741 do you have?

 

[chip_mk]

Chip which DAC implementation of WM8741 do you have?

This board:

2014 New Hot Salewm8741 Dac Decoder Board Cs8421 Up Sampling Support Coaxial Optical Usb Inputfree Samples/650nm Laser Diode 10 - Buy Laser Diode,650nm Laser Diode,Laser Diode 10w Product on Alibaba.com

...three years ago from eBay. However it seems that new boards are not the same as explained in the note, I quote "The chip CS8421 is shortage and out of stock now.so we will replace it with CS8416. If you mind ,please don't buy the item.Thank you for your kind understanding and your support."

Chipset and the parts included looked promising when I ordered the board. Even there was not much to object in the implementation, I did few tweaks that changed sound to my liking (and would dare to say improved it). This is the list of changes:

- The board is designed to be powered by AC supplies for analog and digital section. I made separate rectificaton board with more generous filtering, so DAC board is now supplied with unregulated DC voltages.

- Analogue filter was apparently 2nd order Butherworth at about 30kHz. I rearranged it to pasive + active @55kHz.

- Unsoldered pin 4 on WM8741 to select minimal phase digital filtering

- WM8741 is quite sensitive to noise from +5V analogue supplies which was bypassed less than good on the board. I soldered additional bypass capacitors as close as possible to the corresponding pins.