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The Making Of Ultimate TDA1541 DAC (Part 1)

Looking back from early this year, I made several well known and reputable multi bit DAC in the small size. From the portable size DAC PCM56P here and DAC PCM56P for integrated amplifier here. Then I also made the portable size USB DAC + headphone amplifier TDA1541A here. I like to made one complex circuit small. This is also testing my skill when built them. They are working well but this small and portable size DAC have to cutting some corner to fit all in. And those cutting really effect to the sound quality.

Then I also made very optimal implementation of TDA1541A USB DAC here. This optimal version is focus on the power supply circuit, the component matching and very rigid chassis. Those are the recipe for the best sounding DAC. The drawback for all of this is the bigger size casing and of course, it sound far better than the small one.

The idea for making this ultimate implantation of TDA1541A DAC comes far before I made my latest DAC based on AD1862 here. I want the DAC that push harder in the implementation with almost cost no object. So in this post, I will share this Ultimate TDA1541A DAC built.


In this part 1, I only show this DAC in completely built.

All of this building process will be cover on the next post, the part 2.

So meanwhile, please treat this post as teaser only.












Disclaimer: Any statement and photos in this article are not allowed to copy or publish without written permission from the writer. Any injury or loss from following tips in this article is not under writer responsibility.

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Comments

  1. MatthewFebruary 3, 2022 at 2:34 PM

    Hi,
    Thanks for sharing your projects! Really love the insights and how you build :)
    I'm looking to build my own TDA1541 DAC, however with Tube output stage. Do you have a good schematic for the DAC that you could share? For now I have bought a complete DAC Board that I want to use, but seeing your work I want to build it up completely from scratch :)
    Thanks and keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
  2. MatthewFebruary 3, 2022 at 2:36 PM

    The name is Matthew btw :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OrronocoFebruary 4, 2022 at 9:15 AM

      Thank you for visiting my blog.
      Actually there are many various tube output stages for current output DAC. The popular one is SRPP configuration. The key points is the value and quality of the IV resistor.
      Honestly I cannot recomend any of them since I am not a tube guy. But seeing many has successfully made a tube output (but dunno how the sound is) so I think it is not difficult at all.

      Delete
  3. MatthewFebruary 4, 2022 at 2:31 PM

    Hi, Thanks for your reaction!

    I actually found an interesting schematic: https://jelabs.blogspot.com/search/label/Digital%20Audio?m=1. He harvests a complete Chinese made board, which I also have.

    But now I’m looking for a schematic of the DAC section, including the power supply.

    Seeing your build up the number of components is limited and it looks a lot less daunting an prettier than a complete board. So much nicer actually that I want to build it myself so that I can also play around with various components. For example your capacitors look nice, are those Wima’s?

    Thanks a mil! Matthew

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OrronocoFebruary 4, 2022 at 9:41 PM

      Thanks again for this compliments 😊
      Yes, they are wima MKP10, bigger than the MKS version. They not only look pretty but they’re also give positive effect to the sound.
      The power supply is the most sensitive section especially for multi bit DAC like this. I only using 2 stages of LM317 LM337 for DAC and separate LM317 for the receiver. If you can go further more like Salas shunt regulator, I would say go ahead. As long all the components are original and hi quality, the result will be astonishing 👍

      Delete

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