Which DACs are interesting for modest DIYs running 16bit/48khz?

[john61ct]

I hope the same concept can be applied to ADCs

and the SigmaStudio/ADAUxxx chips, to go in between

For mono, two, four etc channels, up to 24

Then modular design PSU + enclosures with choices of connector types, room for lots of knobs

and room for RPi / Pico (DSPi) and/or STM MCUs

Dreaming...

 

[Hayk]

You already have a very solid lineup covering most classic multibit and delta-sigma DACs. If you want to expand it, I’d add AD1862 as a higher-end step above AD1865, and PCM63 as a top-tier Burr-Brown ladder chip. You could also include a few cheap reference chips like AD1856 or PCM1716 for baseline testing. For a modern comparison, something like CS4398 would be useful. Overall, your list is already strong—these just fill the main gaps.

Thank you for your interest in the subject.
The AD1856 is pin compatible with pcm56, the pcm1728e is updated 1716.
The CS4398 is not a good 16bit with 2%THD+N @-60db but I have a plug-in sharing with pcm1794 of similar technology.
The AD1862 costs $40 and pcm63 $175 are out of range for a modest DIY.
The AD1864-5 has a plug-in using the low cost PLCC casing.

 

[Hayk]

This is a 2 channel with a single TDA1540, a complete autonomous board. The SRC4190 board is represented by connectors .The circuit is relatively simple. The output jfet opamp can be any. I need to design stiffer power supply from -20v and +8v.

 

[Hayk]

As I have lot of space on the PCB, I will add the Sony gyro filter option shown on post 57.

 

[Hayk]

This is the analog part of TDA1540 single.
2 pairs of output can be selected, filtered or non. The 2x56k resistors can be replaced by 100k potentiometer to adjust the volume of the filtered output.
What I like these gyro filters, the opamps are activated only to take off what is not needed, The signal in the passband remaines untouched.

 

[Hayk]

I added to the list the AD1955. This is DAC is still active and replaced the AD1853. I will use it with the 8xdigital filter but running it at 96khz. The filter will cut off above 45khz, leaving the first 20khz bandwidth intact. It will be the same for PCM1728.
This is the standing list of single bit Delta-sigma DACs retained.
SAA7350
AD1853
AD1955
WM8740
PCM1728.
I may add the TDA1549 and run it also at 96khz to cheat the digital filter.
All modern ones are mutibit Delta-sigma, are available in all finished boards at affordable cost, I will keep only the very first one, the PCM67.
I couldn't find anywhere the description of Sony-Toshiba early DACs the cx20017 and cx20152, TD6709N, TD6720N. I am persuaded it is PWM as they run at 70Mz.

 

[Hayk]

I made another discovery, the cirrus cs4338. This is an 8 pin chip, used in Cambridge audio d300 se. Several demo on youtube. It can receive 16 bit 96khz, so I can cheat the filter as it can't be bypassed. It uses multi level Delta-sigma.
5 pieces from Ali is less than $4 Inc ship. Those who look for alternative I2S TDA1543, the cs4334 can do.

 

[Hayk]

There is an update version of this chip with 10pins, cs4345, slightly lower noise and still cheaper for $0.57 a piece. I will use 2 per channel differential and parallel to get 6 dB lower noise.

 

[Hayk]

I will also include PCM5102. Using it with upsampled 96k, and differential, I should get very low noise and linear DAC. To remind you that the ringing of the filter is at Nyquist frequency that is 48khz, eliminated by the Sony filter.

 

[Hayk]

This prestigious Luxman cd player with tube output, uses this PCM5102,DAC.
There is Denon and Teac too. The S/N number is 115db.
The DS says, I can choose the Filter oversample rate down to bypass, probably, the bit clock and the master clock ratio determine it. That is, with 96k if the master is 24Mhz, I get 4 times OS , maybe with bit ck 6Mhz, it will bypass.

 

[Hayk]

Another DAC similar to PCM5102 is ES9023. The DS doesn't speak much about it.
The price for 5 is $8. The output is weak, 5k load, needs to be paralleled.
It only states, studio quality audio.

 

[Hayk]

I think I made a full view of DACs suitable for 16 bit.
I put aside the 3.3v ones, the PCM5102 and the ES9023.
I retain for now the important DACs,
PCM56, AD1851, AD1860, Ad1865, PCM1702, TDA1540 and TDA1545A.
SAA7350, AD1853, AD1955, PCM1728, WM8740 and CS4345.
The AD1853, suddenly became scarce, as in few months the price doubled.
The two least serious ones, the TDA1545A and the CS4345, look bellow, will share the same board, and PCM56, AD1851, AD1860 in the same board.
The AD1955 needs to be programmed at the start up, I will do it by hardware.
I will put aside the hybrid, R2R+Delta-sigma, PCM69 for now.

 

[Hayk]

The programming of AD1955 by hardware is very simple. It needs only one register of 16 bits to be written, it will be done continuously by dividing the BCK to be 16 cycles in half the WS. The parallel to serial shift registers will load the 16 bit required data on the other half of WS. Very simple.
I will use a single AD1955 as it has high current differential output on each channel and add on the same board the AD1853 of similar output.
The AD1955 costs less than $4.

 

[Hayk]

Denon dcd1650 have used several types of DACs, among them are the 4xpcm1702 with AL, AR suffix and 4xAD1862 with GL.
Can someone find a difference in sound that makes AD1862 unaffordable?

 

[Hayk]

Andrea Ciuffoli have used the AD1955 in 2012.

USB DAC 2 - Hi-Resolution System

www.audiodesignguide.com

According to him, the AD1955 is better than PCM1784 and WM8740.
He mentions that this DAC has attenuator without loss in resolution.
Is it possible?

 

[audio_tony]

The Cambridge Audio 851D uses two x AD1955 - I have the schematic for it.

 

[Hayk]

Dual mono?

 

[audio_tony]

Dual mono?

Yes.

 

[Hayk]

The distortion of 1955 with 96k, has lot of even harmonics and in differential mode as is in mono wired, it can be eliminated. The problem is the output current to become 16ma p-p. The feedback resistor of the I/V opamp becomes so low, that the opamp gets overloaded to generate distortion. 3v/8ma=390 ohms, insane.

 

[Hayk]

Vitrus audio RCD100, $14k, uses SRC4192 and a single AD1955 , mine can sound similar.