Possible poor mans DAC?

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SonyFan

SonyFan

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Joined 2014
#1
A good D/A converter is extremely hard to come by at a good price. I have toyed with the idea of buying an engineering board or something else like that to get some performance on a budget but then I would be stuck building a power supply and housing it. I am a college student on an extremely tight budget and was considering picking up an old DAT (Digital Audio TAPE, that's right) recorder to use as a standalone D/A converter. Are there any real problems with this idea?

I know we don't usually talk about vintage bargains when we find them, so sorry if I am being ignorant and attracting attention to a potential gem.
 
#2
What inclines you to think that DAT machines (I had a few, Sony) contain good D/A circuits? Even if they did it would be a bit of a nightmare to make the necessary mods to get it working as a stand-alone DAC.

You're far better off going for a fairly simple DAC from eBay or Aliexpress. This one looks fairly decent (needs a power trafo and a case) - Tekdevice Philips TDA1545A WM8804 SPDIF Coaxial DAC Board Passive Resistor I V | eBay
and then can be modded to improve it further.

Or if you really don't have time for sourcing a trafo and case then High Performance Muse Hi Fi DAC TDA1543 DIR9002 Decoder Digital Coaxial Optical | eBay
might fit the bill.
 
#3
I don't think any mods would be necessary to make them function as standalone DACs. Most recorders have analog outs for this functionality, I want to avoid casework and mods etc. because that all means more hardware, more shipping from different places, and more money that I don't have.
 
#4
DAT recorders do have analog outputs, but some may not allow you to use the digital input to record or even play CDs. Sample rates are limited by today's standards.

Would you use this with a computer or CD player or both?

I bought one of these out of curiosity about 18 months ago and have recommended them to friends. Item # 121298992277 (Leaf Audio originated this design apparently, now there seem to be a lot of knockoffs.) Under $75 shipped. (No spdif input)
XMOS 384K/32bit PCM5102 DAC USB to Fiber Coax RCA Jack LCM Stereo Audio + Case
 
#5
Almost every dat machine ever made, maybe every, had a source monitor function that allows it to be used as a dac, either via a literal source monitor button or by pressing record button with no tape installed. And every dat can do redbook 16/44, as well as 16/32 & 16/48. About the best sounding stock dat unit, that also used generally very reliable parts(tape mech not being of concern here), IMO, is the Sony DTC-75ES, which had very good ladder dac chips & very nice parts supporting them.
 
#6
SonyFan said:
I don't think any mods would be necessary to make them function as standalone DACs.
Click to expand...

My memory of my DAT machines is somewhat shaky, apologies. I had a portable (TCD-D3) which I don't recall had this functionality (it may be that it did but only with optical in), but my full size machine did indeed have a coaxial (S/PDIF) input and could be used in this manner with its analog outs. However its DAC section was nothing special.
 
#8
SonyFan said:
A good D/A converter is extremely hard to come by at a good price. I have toyed with the idea of buying an engineering board or something else like that to get some performance on a budget but then I would be stuck building a power supply and housing it. I am a college student on an extremely tight budget and was considering picking up an old DAT (Digital Audio TAPE, that's right) recorder to use as a standalone D/A converter. Are there any real problems with this idea?

I know we don't usually talk about vintage bargains when we find them, so sorry if I am being ignorant and attracting attention to a potential gem.
Click to expand...


DAC for what purpose? - you have quite adequate ones compared to decades old DAT built into most every digital device with audio/music output you own from DAP/MP3 player to Smart Phone to Desktop PC...

sub $100 new DVD players, HT receivers - cheap at thrifts, free curbside
 
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#10
jcx said:
DAC for what purpose? - you have quite adequate ones compared to decades old DAT built into most every digital device with audio/music output you own from DAP/MP3 player to Smart Phone to Desktop PC...

sub $100 new DVD players, HT receivers - cheap at thrifts, free curbside
Click to expand...

I have tried the new cheap route. The best sounding "cheap" DAC I have heard is whatever is in my friends Nigerian laptop, which bests a Schiit Modi. My CDP X33ES still sounds way better than anything I have heard except a Classe DAC-1. Not cheap.
 
#11
sorry but I heavily discount sighted, un controlled for any of level, speakers, source material... from long term memory, "best sounding" comparison stories

as a EE I could help with DAC objective performance specs, as a long time hobby reader psychoacoustics literature, having attended demos, lectures by actual industry professionals I think I have a useful level of knowledge of some of the bigger "audible" issues in home music playback

but the "just listen" audiophoolishness doesn't get much respect by people I respect, that have spent their professional lives exploring sound perception


apologies if in fact your conclusions are the result of psychoacoustic controlled, 0.1 dB level matched, Double Blind comparisons of all of these DAC in the same room at the same time...

http://www.linearaudio.net/images/LA Vol 2 Yaniger(1).pdf is a start
 
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#15
That looks like a painful experience to me trying to work with an old DAT recorder, maybe if it were to be free and you had no use for it, but...

How about something like this;
Assembled WM8741 WM8805 Coaxial Optical Decoder weiliang DAC5 - $59.66 : Enjoy in your hi-fi project, diy tube amp, amplifier diy, amp diy

Is pretty much an older Arcam CD73 circuit, responds well to upgrades, can get an XMOS usb board for it too.

I know it's more "DIBUY", than DIY, but I'm just thinking about the chance for a favorable outcome with a fixed budget.
 
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#18
You can get one for around 35 - 40 USD from several online dealers. However, reading your answer, I realize just mow, you were looking for a stand-alone solution. I think, it's also possible but far more complex. Usually, the Rasperry is used as a streaming client / mini pc. Sorry for not having read your posts completely... [emoji16]
 
#19
cheap, easy and good?

Well, what is cheap, easy and good? You could try finding a old Denon dvd-5000 with a broken transport. Just plug in any dig out cd player and turn the switch on the Denon and you are off and running with a dual PCM1704 dac with power supply and case. I bought one for $40 and started there. There must be other players that you can find that are out there that are "cheap, easy and good". On a tight budget, you need to think outside the box sort of. On a tight budget, use a little imagination.
 
#20
optimationman said:
Well, what is cheap, easy and good? You could try finding a old Denon dvd-5000 with a broken transport. Just plug in any dig out cd player and turn the switch on the Denon and you are off and running with a dual PCM1704 dac with power supply and case. I bought one for $40 and started there. There must be other players that you can find that are out there that are "cheap, easy and good". On a tight budget, you need to think outside the box sort of. On a tight budget, use a little imagination.
Click to expand...

I have been hunting an S9000es for the same reason. I just hate to waste so much player for so little DAC and analog section. I feel like DAC prices are artificially high due to design requirements to get good sound.
 
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