Hi,
I'm a newbie to diyaudio and I was considering getting my first DIY DAC kit but before doing that I thought I might just see if I can modify this Muse DAC with a PCM2704 chip I got a little while back (pics below).
Is anyone able to tell from the pictures if:
A.) it's possible to modify this DAC, without spending a huge amount of time to do so?
B.) if it's worth modifying it? i.e. if the only thing that I could modify without too much trouble wouldn't improve the sound quality, then I would just get a new DIY DAC kit
I hope the photos show enough to give you an idea of what's possible. Fire back with any questions that might help.
Thanks in advance.
I'm a newbie to diyaudio and I was considering getting my first DIY DAC kit but before doing that I thought I might just see if I can modify this Muse DAC with a PCM2704 chip I got a little while back (pics below).
Is anyone able to tell from the pictures if:
A.) it's possible to modify this DAC, without spending a huge amount of time to do so?
B.) if it's worth modifying it? i.e. if the only thing that I could modify without too much trouble wouldn't improve the sound quality, then I would just get a new DIY DAC kit
I hope the photos show enough to give you an idea of what's possible. Fire back with any questions that might help.
Thanks in advance.
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PTH decoupling caps!!!!! PTH resistors on the USB!!!
I wouldn't bother, just use it as a cheap basic DAC...
If it has been factory assembled then they need to revue their quality levels, in my book that is a reject assembly (IPC-A-610).
I wouldn't bother, just use it as a cheap basic DAC...
If it has been factory assembled then they need to revue their quality levels, in my book that is a reject assembly (IPC-A-610).
OK thanks. I might just leave this as it is and get myself another DIY DAC kit to play with and learn from.
Thanks again.
I got a cheapo USB DAC off ebay and was delighted with it.
I even run it in to a 600 watt folded horn speaker !
I even run it in to a 600 watt folded horn speaker !
They don't look too bad to me.
OK some through hole stuff is a little off centre but that wont stop it working.
Solder looks fine on the SMD.
Do you happen to have a link to the DAC or remember who the ebay seller was?
Something like this - AR USB PCM2706/2707 I2S TDA1543 DAC audio decoder assembled board-in Amplifier from Consumer Electronics on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group has more modding potential as there's an external DAC chip (TDA1543).
I think you will find with nearly all of the dacs that have the pcm270X that in most cases, the headphone out on an average laptop will be about the same quality.
That to me, anyways, makes them not worth the effort.
There are some better units out there that have the Xmos receiver chips now.
That to me, anyways, makes them not worth the effort.
There are some better units out there that have the Xmos receiver chips now.
That is exactly what I found. I compared the Muse DAC to my 1 year old Acer laptop headphone out with mp3 (320kbps), FLAC and WAV files and there wasn't any significant difference whatsoever. Maybe with the FLAC files the soundstage was slightly better, butbit couldnjave been me wishing for a difference..
Oh well for $40 its never going to be very good
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