I have this ubiquitous tiny DAC box. Just out of interest I would like to know what the DAC chip is. So I can look up specifications and such.
The large chip at the bottom side of the picture is a MS8416. This is the SP/DIF to serial audio decoder. The small chip at the upper half of the picture must be the DAC. The number 344C4042 does not hit anything.
The large chip at the bottom side of the picture is a MS8416. This is the SP/DIF to serial audio decoder. The small chip at the upper half of the picture must be the DAC. The number 344C4042 does not hit anything.
Attachments
That's this chip : https://www.relmon.com/en/mobile/index.php/plan/detail/22.html
which is very likely a copy of a CS8416 : https://www.cirrus.com/products/cs8416/
and the '344' is a CS4344 copy : https://www.cirrus.com/products/cs4344-45-48/
which is very likely a copy of a CS8416 : https://www.cirrus.com/products/cs8416/
and the '344' is a CS4344 copy : https://www.cirrus.com/products/cs4344-45-48/
I don't think the man from California would approve of a 50 pence dac. Still it is worth more than at least one of our MPs.
I don't know yet how it sounds. It is for a setup which uses my PC as audio source. The PC is noisy or the cables to the sound system are too long or they form a ground loop. Whether I use the internal sound or a USB-to-analog adapter. There is always noise in the sound system. I can actually hear if the PC is executing different applications.
So I have purchased a USB-to-SP/DIF adapter for the PC, so it stays all digital at the PC end. And this DAC to be installed next to the sound system, so nothing digital close. Except for the DAC itself. And connect the two through fiber optic.
Now that tiny box is powered from 5 VDC, and for the life of it I cannot find any linear 5V power supply around. About a hundred (literally) SMPS ranging from 3.5 to 48V, and linear in 6, 7.5, 9, 12, 18, 24V and maybe some more but no 5V.
I have to make a small voltage down regulator to use 12V from within my sound system to power the DAC. And then I'll let you know how it sounds.
So I have purchased a USB-to-SP/DIF adapter for the PC, so it stays all digital at the PC end. And this DAC to be installed next to the sound system, so nothing digital close. Except for the DAC itself. And connect the two through fiber optic.
Now that tiny box is powered from 5 VDC, and for the life of it I cannot find any linear 5V power supply around. About a hundred (literally) SMPS ranging from 3.5 to 48V, and linear in 6, 7.5, 9, 12, 18, 24V and maybe some more but no 5V.
I have to make a small voltage down regulator to use 12V from within my sound system to power the DAC. And then I'll let you know how it sounds.