NOS DAC better than Nobsound TDA1387??

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techboy

Member
Joined 2020
#1
Hi there.

I currently have:

Nobsound TDA1387 - Nobsound Mini HiFi Sound Card DAC TDA1387 USB 8X Audio Decoding Headphone Amplifier DTS/AC3 Coaxial Optical Digital Output|Headphone Amplifier| - AliExpress

Ideally I’m looking for an upgrade with a similar type of sound, but better all around. So looking for something with coaxial and something that’s not USB powered. I’m assuming that will give better sound.

I have shortlisted 4 DACs.

Option 1 New Listing 16X Parallel TDA1543 HiFi Audio DAC Decoder PCM2706 USB DAC | eBay

Option 2 Finished L1387DAC 8Xse Eight Parallel TDA1387 HiFi DAC Decoder PCM2706 USB Audio | eBay

Option 3 - L1387Solo 8x TDA1387 Optical Coaxial USB DAC Decoder & HIFI Headphone Amplifier | eBay

Option 4 - Non-Oversampling NOS DAC TDA1543 DIR9001 SPDIF Coax Optical dual 9V NiMH w/charg | eBay

What do you recommend and why?

Happy with what I have now. But looking for something even sweeter, more musical, more lively, more 3D. And so on.

Setup:

HD 650
Project Ember Headphone Amp designed by solderdude

Aakshey Talwar
 
#2
You need to decide whether you want passive I/O or opamp based (it usually sound worse if not done well). Nobsound is passive out, OS (4x probaly). It is tweaker-friendly, why not try? There are threads in this section dedicated to these cheap Chineese TDA1387 designs, Nobsound is also covered.

You can expect the same level of quality from all these cheap offerings. Good to have one for tweaking, but only #4 is NOS, other not sure.

If you go for commercial products, adjust your limits and get Audio GD R2R11. This is a pure NOS, no digital pre-processing. I use both, Nobsound with HD 4.5 BTNC for travel and R2R11 with HD600 on my desktop, it is real sounding and exceptionally good value DAC for $350.

Alternatively speak to @Abraxalito regarding PhiDAc Hex kit. It is just NOS DAC board with I2S input, you need USB interface board, case, PSU. It should sound better than these cheap Chineese products, as I/V conversion and the output stage are well thought. There are some nx order filters options, I wouldn't go personally with a high order filter option, just get a basic one.
 
#6
techboy said:
Can’t tweak. Can’t do DIY. Can’t assemble. Can’t afford USD 350 yet.
Click to expand...

I'm fairly sure my PhiDAC hex design will easily sound more enjoyable than any of those Taobao/Ali/eBay DACs. Reason being I've played with a lot of them and modded them to learn how to get the most enjoyable sound. Then I distilled what I'd learned into my own designs - PhiDAC hex is the 3rd generation of my designs.

Seeing as you don't DIY I can build one for you, price is considerably lower than 350USD. But as @sajunky said you'll need to provide your own input board, PSU and maybe case.

PhiDAC hex kits with pre-built filters
 
#7
hi

Hi Abra,

I have no way to get this assembled in India.

Is it possible to give me a quotation for a complete built DAC with chassis, PSU and everything that is needed?

Also, do I need both 3rd order and 7th order filters? What is the difference in just using one of them?

Aakshey
 
#11
Ordered Phi.

Turned out defective.

Sending back to Richard. He has agreed to refund.

Can somebody tell me what’s the difference between the two DACs below?

Solo L1387Solo 8x TDA1387 Optical Coaxial USB DAC Decoder & HIFI Headphone Amplifier | eBay

This one

L1387A 8X Decode 1969 Pure

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/4001202155569.html?trace=wwwdetail2mobilesitedetail

2V

TDA1387Solo is 1.5V. TDA1387A is 2V. Can you check and compare both and tell me if one is better than the other?

Solo takes 24V DC. L1387A takes 15V DC.

L1387Solo vs L1387A both by Lee's Hifi

Do both use passive IV?

Can you compare Solo VS A? What’s the diff?
 
#14
Probably no one knows the exact answers to your questions. If you want the exact sound of Nobsound TDA1387, then that's probably the safest thing to buy. If you want more output amplification, maybe get an external headphone amp, preamp, etc. Otherwise, once you start changing the circuitry to give more power, the sound is likely to change some. Whether it will be enough for you to notice or care about is another question.
 
#18
Can't say for certain, haven't listened to both myself. However, 'probably similar' seems most likely. they are using the same dac chip, they are about the same physical size, and they are both low cost. Seems unlikely there would be a drastically different implementation inside.
 
#20
Markw4 said:
Can't say for certain, haven't listened to both myself. However, 'probably similar' seems most likely. they are using the same dac chip, they are about the same physical size, and they are both low cost. Seems unlikely there would be a drastically different implementation inside.
Click to expand...

Btw, the coaxial version is almost twice the size the usb only one, the coaxial one is also quite a bit heavier if seen as a ratio.

Both use passive IV right?

Can you look at the pics and tell me if all 3 should be fairly similar?
 
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