Topping Centaurus - teardown

[whydan]

It's been a long time without purchase new DAC, since we are working on new class D amp with 12V trigger function.
And I choose Centaurus duo to R2R is my favorite type of DAC.


Front panel, it is new ID design with LCD display. The painting finish is really good than before.

Back panel, XLR/RCA output, I2S/Coaxial/Toslink/Bluetooth/AES/USB input and trigger. I believe it has all interface we need.

Bottom side, it also updates new foot with bigger rubber which makes more stable on table. The painting finish makes fingerprint more observed.

Inside, this DAC is made by Holo Audio DAC module same with Cyan2

Backside, we can see red screw glue on it to avoid someone teardown.

The power module. There are two portion, digital power DC5V on the left and analog power ±8V on right.

AC input, EMI filter put on main board and we can see ±8V wording on power module.

The digital control portion, XMOS XU316 on left side, Altera CPLD in the center and the IC without top marking should be SPDIF receiver.
SYNWIT MCU is used to control the DAC on the right side, I am not sure why this IC need to scratch out its top marking.

XMOS/CPLD used NDK crystal, I am not sure which series but they should be NZ2520SDA on CPLD.

Holo Audio R2R module, the OPA1612 may be used for reference voltage.

The backside of DAC module, those resistors are used for DSD decoding. There is something behind DAC module.

There are two IC on main board, CS43198 on left and the right IC should be used for upsampling or PEQ.
And there are some ultra low noise regulators surround those two IC.

It is quite interesting to add another DAC CS43198 since Centaurus is a R2R DAC, I guess CS43198 may be used for volume control.
Normally R2R DAC can't do volume control except extra volume control IC or something.

The I/V used Topping discrete module without epoxy coating. I am not sure this module is the same as Topping A70.
The single end converter used OPA1612. The AC coupling caps used Nichicon FW 220uF 16V

 

[Scrivs]

Thank you for the teardown, they're my favorite!

As per D. Jones, I can't resist taking components apart before reassembling, only then, plugging her in

 

[Scrivs]

Also, checking your blog out, it's rad!

 

[unpluggged]

And again no safety certification markings on a mains-powered device.

 

[staticV3]

It is quite interesting to add another DAC CS43198 since Centaurus is a R2R DAC, I guess CS43198 may be used for volume control.

The CS43198 is used to render the FFT display, apparently: https://youtube.com/watch?v=myeVh77xedk&t=180

 

[Sokel]

And again no safety certification markings on a mains-powered device.

See the bottom,it's there.

 

[MCH]

I wonder about the (EMI shield?) film around the power supply. Too transparent to be polyimide or PPS. Maybe PET is good enough?

 

[Roland68]

And again no safety certification markings on a mains-powered device.

The CE mark for the EU is located on the bottom of the device. The declaration is the responsibility of the importer or the person placing the product on the market.
CE certificates for such devices are prohibited by law in the EU anyway.

 

[Roland68]

I wonder about the (EMI shield?) film around the power supply. Too transparent to be polyimide or PPS. Maybe PET is good enough?

This foil has nothing to do with shielding. It serves as contact protection and to secure the components. It's not uncommon to use clear and rigid shrink tubing for this purpose.

 

[unpluggged]

See the bottom,it's there.

No, there are none. Only self-declared compliance and environmental marks.

 

[Roland68]

No, there are none. Only self-declared compliance and environmental marks.

Exactly, and that's all it needs in the EU.
Because that means the sole responsibility lies with the manufacturer in the EU, or with the person who placed the devices on the EU market.
And there's absolutely no way to shift this responsibility or bribe anyone.
This also eliminates the possibility for certain institutions to put obstacles in a manufacturer's way.

 

[whydan]

The CS43198 is used to render the FFT display, apparently: https://youtube.com/watch?v=myeVh77xedk&t=180

Thanks for sharing, I wrote down this report around 9weeks ago so I may miss this info.
And I guess there is not only for FFT display, or the top marking removed one IC need to cover volume control.

 

[egellings]

Is that little blue square component on the pcb a thick film hybrid?

 

[whydan]

Is that little blue square component on the pcb a thick film hybrid?

I am not sure which blue one you are asking for, but both two modules are not think film hybrid, just module.
The blue one near antenna is Bluetooth module, another one is CS43198 42-balls WLCSP package with adapter board.

 

[amirm]

Wow, very nicely done! Promoted to home page.

 

[gvl]

Congrats Topping, through heroics you almost achieved performance of the tiny inexpensive Cirrus Logic chip hiding behind the Holo module.

 

[BeeKay]

Congrats Topping, through heroics you almost achieved performance of the tiny inexpensive Cirrus Logic chip hiding behind the Holo module.

 

[audiotron]

Nice work!

 

[TNT]

R2R days usually do volume reg fine - see e.g. Soekris. Maybe you think of DSD?

//

 

[whydan]

R2R days usually do volume reg fine - see e.g. Soekris. Maybe you think of DSD?

//

yes, you remind me that Soekris dam1021 can control volume from inside FW. I almost forgot that since bad sound quality.
But I put my suspension in post because Holo audio may not do volume control from FPGA.
See Holo Audio Cyan2 (twin of Centaurus) no volume control and their brother Spring 2/3 used external preamp board on it.

That's why I am curious how Topping do for volume control.