DIY TDA1541A USB DAC (Part 1) With JFET Output

Building TDA1541A DAC is very simple compare when I built the R2R PCM56P DAC here. This is because TDA1541A is a stereo DAC in single IC package. The input TDA1541A is I2S that can be pair easily with the popular PCM2706 USB to I2S module.

My previous portable size TDA1541A USB DAC & headphones amplifier here is successfully brings the music enjoyment in the small size. Of course there are some cutting corner especially in the regulator power supply section to make all components fit in that small casing.

This is my second built TDA1541A USB DAC, but right now it is the desktop size DAC. I have this nice and elegance thick aluminum casing for quite a long time but not sure what suitable project for it until this project come. So lets begin.

DIY Portable Size TDA1541A USB DAC (Part 2) Thermal Improvement

This is the second part about DIY portable size USB DAC TDA1541A including headphones amplifier. The first part can be find here

I successfully built a miniature, portable size USB DAC using a TDA1541A. I think it is the first TDA1541A DAC built in this small casing ever. But after all, it is still a desktop DAC headphones amplifier because it using the external power supply from the wall adaptor.

This design has a flaw. The heat from the regulator IC cannot dissipate efficiently. This is because no heatsink attached to them. This may cause the IC to fail and direct impact to the TDA1541A it self. So here is few solution I made to solve this heat issue.

DIY Portable Size TDA1541A USB DAC (Part 1)

This is the first part about DIY portable size USB DAC TDA1541A with the headphones amplifier included. The second part can be find here

I have many awesome DAC that I have collected from early this year. The latest built DAC that I listen so much is this PCM56P here as part of my home stereo integrated amplifier. I don't to add another one until my conversation with my friends started. He has brand new TDA1541A IC that willing to sell to me. So here let's the new DAC project begin.

What Apple Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio Does To Music?

Last month Apple just announce the Dolby Atmos - Spatial Audio support for the Apple Music apps. This is also include the uncompressed, lossless audio format. I think this announcement is special since previously Apple always stick to their compressed ACC audio files. Frankly speaking, this Apple lossless audio is coming quite late. Others online music streamer such as Spotify Premium and Tidal already put the hi-res audio in their music library few years ago. So Apple seems responding this issue with this new Spatial Audio support by Dolby Atmos as the answer for current audio streamer player availabe.

Dolby Atmos - Spatial Audio only works with Apple device with iOS 14 or above. In this review, I test it using my iPhone 11. This phone is my primary mobile device since last year and also become the big parts in this blog because I use it for taking the photo. I've ever said before, somewhere I forgotten, that Apple right now is only focusing on their camera quality rather than sound quality for music. I think the coming of this Dolby Atmos - Spatial Audio and Apple Lossless in Apple Music could be changed my opinion about this Apple device from now on.

TDA1543 DAC Review In 2021

It is a fine day and as usual I am reading and searching online contents related to almost anything I like. During my search, I stop to the few online forum discuss about a simple DAC using TDA1543 DAC IC. The discussion about this DAC was about 3 years ago, and the latest was about a year ago. Quite new and overall discussion about this DAC sound quality mostly are positive. It is interesting topic anyway especially I was built this TDA1543 DAC long time ago in 2016. At that time, I combine this DAC with Tripath amplifier here and here before it sold in 2019. That is also my first DIY DAC and I am quite enjoyed this DAC so much, at that time.

The background story about this, previously I was using Sony Playstation SCPH-1002 as my reference CD Player. The reason I moved to this TDA1543 DAC is because the CD optic inside the Playstation is wear out and I cannot find the replacement for it. I pretty remember the sound quality of this TDA1543 DAC is quite comparable to Sony Playstation especially in the smooth mid range presentation.

So here it is in 2021, the new test of TDA1543 DAC.

DIY Fiio M5 Digital SPDIF Coaxial Output Cable

I was looking a portable player to replace my LG DVD player here as my current CD transport. The reason for this is I want more simple audio system. As you may know that my LG DVD player has digital SPDIF output. This SPDIF is Sony Philips Digital Interface, the standardized in digital audio format from the early digital audio system. This output is connected to the external DAC for the better sound quality.

I was looking portable player that support this digital SPDIF output but it is not an easy task since all input output connection for digital has been shift to the USB connection. The USB is actually a better improvement for multi purpose function, but for audio purpose, I still believe that the SPDIF gives better sound. Other than that, all my DAC input is using SPDIF input. So, no way I want to switch to the USB either.

I was looking the used Fiio X series from the X1, X3 and X5. They are all support this digital SPDIF output but somehow the used price still above US$100. This is expensive for a portable player that more than 5 years old.

All new portable player already remove this digital SPDIF output until I find this Fiio M5.

Funny it marked COAX OUT instead of SPDIF output although the function is all the same.