Denon DA-500 Vintage R2R DAC Review

[rocksteady]

@infinitesymphony

Some, not all? Apart from the early 1Bit chips launched right at the end of the 1980s, they were definitely ALL R2R. I think that's the period the original poster was referring to. You can add the AD1860, BB PCM54, BB PCM58, PCM64 to the list, among others. All these BB Chips, along the PCM56, were indeed around in the 1980s...

 

[batagy]

Hi All,

I have a question for Denon DA-500.
In case if I don't use the DAC part (i.e. not using analogue outputs), the SPDIF Coax and Toslink input selector part can passthrough PCM also only up to 48 kHz, or can it passthrough any SPDIF bitstream to the digital output?

In other words, can I use this equipment as purely a SPDIF input selector, for let's say 192 kHz Stereo PCM?

Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[Scytales]

Welcome here!

The digital input and output selector of the Denon DA-500 is based upon GP1F32R/T optical emitters/receivers, 74HCU04 inverters used as buffers on the coaxial inputs and outputs, a 74HC4051 multiplexer/de-multiplexer to switch between the various digital inputs and a transformer coupled coaxial digital output :

No decoding of the S/PDIF signal is done at this stages.

I know nothing about the actual performance of the particular optical emitter/receiver used (it is said that some devices work to transmit S/PDIF with up to 192 kHz content, but most of them don't go over 96 kHz content), but it seems to me that this circuit may work to switch between S/PDIF signal transmitting higher than 48 kHz sample rate PCM. Up to 192 kHz (in reliable conditions) in another matter. I guess it will depend on the respective characteristics of the optical output emitter and of the pulse transformer on the coaxial output.

Perhaps other members will provide you with more insightful comments.

 

[LTig]

I have a question for Denon DA-500.
In case if I don't use the DAC part (i.e. not using analogue outputs), the SPDIF Coax and Toslink input selector part can passthrough PCM also only up to 48 kHz, or can it passthrough any SPDIF bitstream to the digital output?

In other words, can I use this equipment as purely a SPDIF input selector, for let's say 192 kHz Stereo PCM?

Coax in to Coax Out should work. For Toslink see below.

The digital input and output selector of the Denon DA-500 is based upon GP1F32R/T optical emitters/receivers, 74HCU04 inverters used as buffers on the coaxial inputs and outputs, a 74HC4051 multiplexer/de-multiplexer to switch between the various digital inputs and a transformer coupled coaxial digital output :

View attachment 450956

No decoding of the S/PDIF signal is done at this stages.

I know nothing about the actual performance of the particular optical emitter/receiver used (it is said that some devices work to transmit S/PDIF with up to 192 kHz content, but most of them don't go over 96 kHz content),

192 kHz depends on the optical transmitter and the optical receiver and the cable (quality, length). The transmitter/receiver chips here seem to be made by Sharp and have a bandwidth of 8 Mbps (NRZ), according to the datasheet.

20+ years ago I built an active digital patch bay for SPDIF using the Toshiba TOTX173/TORX173 series as optical transceivers, and AFAIR those were able to handle 192 kHz. They have a bandwidth of 6 Mbps max, so the Sharp should be able to do so as well, if the other side can handle it and the cable is not too long (max 5 m, I'd say).

but it seems to me that this circuit may work to switch between S/PDIF signal transmitting higher than 48 kHz sample rate PCM. Up to 192 kHz (in reliable conditions) in another matter.

I agree.

 

[batagy]

I know nothing about the actual performance of the particular optical emitter/receiver used (it is said that some devices work to transmit S/PDIF with up to 192 kHz content, but most of them don't go over 96 kHz content), but it seems to me that this circuit may work to switch between S/PDIF signal transmitting higher than 48 kHz sample rate PCM. Up to 192 kHz (in reliable conditions) in another matter. I guess it will depend on the respective characteristics of the optical output emitter and of the pulse transformer on the coaxial output.

Perhaps other members will provide you with more insightful comments.

Coax in to Coax Out should work. For Toslink see below.

192 kHz depends on the optical transmitter and the optical receiver and the cable (quality, length). The transmitter/receiver chips here seem to be made by Sharp and have a bandwidth of 8 Mbps (NRZ), according to the datasheet.

20+ years ago I built an active digital patch bay for SPDIF using the Toshiba TOTX173/TORX173 series as optical transceivers, and AFAIR those were able to handle 192 kHz. They have a bandwidth of 6 Mbps max, so the Sharp should be able to do so as well, if the other side can handle it and the cable is not too long (max 5 m, I'd say).

I agree.

@Scytales @LTig
Thanks a lot for both of You for detailed answer!
Even though that would be promising, but I forgot to ask for 24bit support.
However the 8 Mbps bandwidth is surely not enough for the max 24 bit 192 kHz stereo stream.
I choose some other spdif input selector.

Thanks again for your viewpoints and aspects!