TDA-1541A s1 vs modern DAC?

[daws0n]

Incase you're all wondering I bought a Asus Xonar Essence and it's been sitting in my system for a few weeks.

Sound via toslink was disappointing, not as good as the AVI DAC by any stretch. But, hooked up using the asychronous USB mode there are improvements in my opinion. Detailed and more spacious, although lacking overall weight and musicality in comparison... My amp/speaker combo is beefy enough to compensate for this, so they go together nicely all in all.

Swings and around abouts, I've yet to do any serious A/Bing but could happily live with either.

 

[AndrewGM]

......and if you do a few naughty mods it'll shine 😀

 

[audiolic]

I really like the sound of cs4398 dacs ... what would be the best cheapest spdif input (no need for usb) cs4398 you would recommend. I wonder between Finished CS4398 + CS8416 USB DAC With Transformer+case | eBay
and
Hifimediy CS4398 DAC "direct out" NEW

I have to admit tho that I miss the smooth airy treble of the bifrost dac..

Anybody have compared AKM with CS dacs?? It seems some say AKM is better but while i liked the smooth sound, the CS dac have something in the mid and bass that no other dac i've heard yet have.. is it just me???

I need help from pro here that tested both also with TDA.. I'm looking for the best since i don't want to change dac every months..

Transformer coupled CS dac seem interesting..

Also
DAC 2496 (AK4393) DAC KIT With CS8416+AK4393+5532 | eBay

Finished 2496 (AK4393) CS8416 NE5532 DAC With R-core Transformer + case | eBay

AK4396 DAC Kit 2496 CS8416 24BIT 192K DAC + Transformer | eBay

I really wonder if they compare or are better than
The Buffalo III Digital-to-Analog Converter

Also what is the best ASRC chip.. some say upsampling sucks with most upsampling chips..

 

[audiolic]

this could also be interesting.

DAC TDA1543 8.0U WM8805 NOS DAC Kit | eBay

Or what about multi bit NOS AD1865N-K dacs with passive I/V?
Anybody have compared all those 🙂

 

[jean-paul]

You could try a DAC with a recent type ESS DAC chip, you will probably like it.

 

[audiolic]

You could try a DAC with a recent type ESS DAC chip, you will probably like it.

the problem about those is the price.. any alternative as good in the lower range??

Buffalo III + IVY stage + power = 600$

 

[jean-paul]

Mmm, I wil not shamelessly advertise our DAC but you could try ES9023 based DACS. Better than the AKM DACs. Not better than TDA1541A I guess but since I don't have TDA based DACs anymore I haven't compared. It would be unbelievable if it did perform equal to TDA1541A.

 

[janos_904]

You could try opus dac board (WM8741, TP). Opus is remembers me to the CS4387 DACS, but have higher resolution and better dynamics. Any of Chinese boards listed above shows far interior building and parts quality to opus. On the top of all that, very good power supplies needed anyway to get superior sound of any type of boards. Also, Jean-Paul's ES9023 DAC is promising too. I have heard a very good feedback at Hungarian diy forum about this dac chip.

the problem about those is the price.. any alternative as good in the lower range??
Buffalo III + IVY stage + power = 600$