what is the "Ultimate DAC" ???

[Lyra]

Have searched this site, but can't find any answers to my question.
I'll guess all (some) DAC's have good sides, and weaker sides......but what is the ultimate best DAC around nowadays ?
I have been thinking about ordering a evaluation board, but they are costly, so I really want to make the right buy the first time...
I have been thinking about PCM1704 and DEM-DAI1704, but is this still the "state of the art" ????

🙂devilr: I want the best sound available, and I don't care too much about the implemented I/V-stage as this would probably be replaced by a discrete one... !!!)

Would really appreciate Your inputs on this !
Lyra

 

[Lyra]

What I meant was:
I have been sereously thinking about bying a demo-board as this will most likely turn out better than a board produced by me in the garage!?...but if anyone have a decent board for sale....I can put on the parts myself

The DAC's that I obviosly are thinking about is AD1955, PCM1704 or similar...
The board from Analog Devices costs something around 170$, and for the PCM-part 399$....is there anything that could make this worth paying the extra dollars ?

I see the AD1955 is balanced I-out, and this would make a discrete I/V stage a bit more "complicated", and complicated seldom leads too better sound !!!
It also looks like the onboard I/V on the PCM-board is buildt with better OP-amps etc.
Another thing is this: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17119&perpage=10&pagenumber=3
...seems like AD1852 is outperforming the AD1955...

A couple of years ago when I was putting a Zapfilter2 in one of my player, a DVD-player with UDA1328T DAC outperformed another with AD1862 !!!!😕
Seems like there are a lot more to this than just picking the best DAC !?
-The UDA1328T have V-out...could this be the reason that this one was better with the Zapfilter....that the problem wasn't in the DAC, but the Zapfilter's capability to deal with I-out ????
(The Zapfilter" are able to accept both standards...I just had to resolder some pad's...)
Is it easier to get really good sound with some kind of V-out DAC ?

Would really appreciate it if any of You have tried this evaluation boards and could share Your experients !

Regards
Lyra

 

[Cobra2]

Maybe this?

http://www.hagtech.com/hagdac.html
Shoud be better than the eval-board, and you are free to make your own I/V...

Arne K

 

[Lyra]

Re: Maybe this?

http://www.hagtech.com/hagdac.html
Shoud be better than the eval-board, and you are free to make your own I/V...

Arne K

Looks nice !....but with an even higher pricetag...

Another thing...have been looking at the pdf-file regarding DEM-DAI1704 evaluation board, an it looks really nice !!!
It don't have all that extras that was on the previous model for PCM1702....and is much smaller ! 😱
...really like it !!! 😀

...and when I am at it...I would think that it would be in TI's best interest to make as good layout as possible...theese boards are aimed at professionals when they are looking for the right DAC for their players...right ? 😕
...and if the board isn't as good as possible, they risk loosing in the competition to another manufacturer !?

Lyra

 

[rfbrw]

I am not so sure anything with a DF170x in it can be considered the ultimate in it's field.

 

[Tenson]

Actually it is my experience that the DAC chip itself is not the main issue. The PSU and output stage are.

I recently modded my Behringer DEQ2496 to bypass the op-amp output stage and use S&B transformers. It now outperforms anything I have heard up to about £5,000. The next stage is to provide a dedicated PSU for the digital stage.

The DEQ2496 uses the AKM4393. I would suggest getting one of these and modding the shite out of it. You get room correction for free!

 

[Lyra]

I am not so sure anything with a DF170x in it can be considered the ultimate in it's field.

??? It was my opinion that DF1704 was one of the better filters available !? 😕 😕

Lyra

 

[jcx]

any good reason you're ignoring the CS4398 used in LynxStudio pro soundcards and the high end "prosumer" cards like emu-1820m?

also PCM1792 seems to be BB-TI's better current output chip

 

[Lyra]

any good reason you're ignoring the CS4398 used in LynxStudio pro soundcards and the high end "prosumer" cards like emu-1820m?

also PCM1792 seems to be BB-TI's better current output chip

CS4398 : this DAC is V-out, ref. prior question...I don't know if this is better or worse...allthough I starting to believe that it could be better...will skip the problematic IV-stage...

PCM1792: This chip needs to be controlled by a microcontroller, right ?? I have already a PCM1794 laying around (allmost the same chip ?), not used, because of no board..

Lyra

 

[rfbrw]

??? It was my opinion that DF1704 was one of the better filters available !? 😕 😕

Lyra

It is alledgedly bettered by the YSF210. SM5842, PMD100, SM5847 and the PMD200.
For any dac claiming to be the ultimate, custom and/or multiple off-shelf-filter options ought to be possible.

CS4398 : this DAC is V-out, ref. prior question...I don't know if this is better or worse...allthough I starting to believe that it could be better...will skip the problematic IV-stage...

But you are then left at the mercy of an internal op-amp. I'd always opt for the flexibility offered by a current output device.

PCM1792: This chip needs to be controlled by a microcontroller, right ?? I have already a PCM1794 laying around (allmost the same chip ?), not used, because of no board..

Lyra

$399 seems a steep price to pay in order to avoid laying out a board. If I were you, for that kind of money I'd at least try laying out a board and having it built professionally.

 

[andrei]

Best current production DAC chips are PCM1704, PCM1794, AD1955, SM5865. The first is R2R, the rest are multi-level Delta-Sigma chips.

And now for a shameless plug: If you looking for a PCB to stuff, check out my NPC DAC. I have a few extra boards.

 

[Crossy]

What is the "Ultimate DAC"

Actually it is my experience that the DAC chip itself is not the main issue. The PSU and output stage are.

I recently modded my Behringer DEQ2496 to bypass the op-amp output stage and use S&B transformers. It now outperforms anything I have heard up to about £5,000. The next stage is to provide a dedicated PSU for the digital stage.

The DEQ2496 uses the AKM4393. I would suggest getting one of these and modding the shite out of it. You get room correction for free!

Tenson & all,
does such a modded DEQ2496 outperform an RME ADI-2 (S/N rated > 110dB) or an Universal Audio M-2192 (S/N rated > 120dB) ?

I'm interested in getting either a good commercial DAC/ADC myself or a good modding "base" .. been thinking about Behringer or RME..

rgrds
CROSSY

 

[hifimaker]

Has anyone tried the RRAK DAC? Looks pretty good.
http://www.kandkaudio.com/digitalaudio.html

Thoughts?

-David

 

[Lenin]

HDCD and 1541A?

Given the DACs I've heard, the ultimate DAC would have to incorporate the PMD100 HDCD filter chip and the TDA1541A S3 (running at 176k, if you please...)

Mmmmmmm.....

I've got the parts (OK, the 1541s I have are just the 'cooking' variety) but I'm setting the time aside to have a go....

By the way, is anyone aware of designs that take advantage of the 1541A's ability to run beyond standard 44.1k?