Less is more?

LiloLee said:
Valves won't suffer from this problem, but am interested why digital ones also appear to be OK (seen this else where as well as with Michael and Ian)
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The output of a switching amp is low-pass LC filtered. The switching noise is reasonably far out of band, so a simple two component filter can be used. This filter will equally have an effect on any ultrasonic aliasing components that might be present in the input signal.
 
merlin said:
You've gotta say Joel, converting PCM to PWM to analogue does theoretically seem neater than converting PCM to analogue, analogue to PWM, then PWM to analogue.
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Sadly, I'm not yet familiar with a system that does this (at not to my knowledge). You say theoretically, does that mean there are drawbacks in implementation, and can you skirt round the whole conversion part for analogue sources?
And does it come with large illuminated analogue VU meters :D
 
merlin said:
Tact does Joel ;)
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Funny, I thought you might say that. I still haven't had a chance to listen to a fully Tactified system yet, or even a partially Tactified one:(
 
merlin - it's not lightweight by any standards. In fact, one of the things often said about the NOS sound is that is has a full (but not bloated) bass.

There is one thing I want to change right away on the DAC which is to get rid of, or at least substitute the LED you can see bent over the CS8412. It's an extremely intense cyan colour which makes the box rather off-putting to look at in action. Will probably substitute it for a much less bright blue one. I'm reluctant to ditch it alltogether because it indicates when the DAC is receiving a signal.

Next up I might commission Tone to make me a decent PSU to replace the cheap as chips wall wart, not least because the wall wart has a US style mains plug which I'm putting through 2 adapters (US -> UK -> Schuko) in order to be able to use it.

Michael.
 
I've actually done one of these dac's, will full on psu, some replacement components where appropriate.
The sound compared to the Dac 64, is unfatiguing, non relentless, less bouncy, but more natural and fliud, a nice unforced paced, with as Ian says, a more 'textually compendent' real sound.
Kit, It think it depends on your version of crashing dynamics and weight , I wouldn't put that top of the dac plus list, however it gives a presentation that a lot of people like, for me personally I look for more in the sound, but for the cash worth a punt.
 
There's plenty of PCM => PWM conversion systems available. Just few implementations as yet.

Chipsets and/or modules are available from TI, Apogee DDX, D2Audio and Zetex (and probably a couple of others I've forgotten or am not aware of). The only "mass market" implementation that I'm aware of currently is the Harman Kardon DPR2005, using the D2Audio module.

Also, Sony offer a DSD => PWM conversion in the S-master amplifiers.
 
penance - they're all the rage on diyaudio.com (well, TDA1541 versions are), so have a try there. John Westlake has been known to drop by there as well.
 
Does anyone know of a place that sells a kit to make on of these, or has a list of parts with links to shops selling them.

I have been wanting a DAC to try out for a while and a cheap DIY one sounds perfect.

Thanks

Andrew
 
Andrew - see my links above and also google for it, there's loads of kits and info out there.

One thing I've noticed is that my DAC doesn't have any voltage regs whereas pretty much all the other DIY DACs of this type I've see use at least two regs (one for the CS8412 and one for the TDA1543). What might be the problems with not using any regs?

Michael.
 

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