Nakamichi DAC-41 Car Audio DAC

The original Nakamichi is all made in Japan, before the acquisition to others Asian company. This original Nakamichi is so much different in quality compares with the recent Nakamichi. Like this one, this is the latest DAC from Nakamichi is DAC-41 that released on 2001. This is the successor of the famous Nakamichi DAC-101.

Nakamichi DAC-101 is 16 bit DAC using dual TDA1541A S1. I have did some review for this unit here and here.

This Nakamichi DAC-41 is 20 bit DAC. I will reveal the internal components in this post shortly. At that time, the war for highest bit number is just started. "The higher the number, the better the sound", this is a good point for a sales person.

So let's continue to see this DAC unit closely.

Short story of this Nakamichi DAC-41 is the high grade DAC just like the DAC-101. Why I say this? Simply if you count the 4 and 1 is equal to 5, which the binary number 101 equal to 5 if converted to decimal. So you got my point here:)

This Nakamichi DAC-41 on my hand is the perfect example if this unit in the brand new condition, because it is just like new one.

Going deeper to this unit, the casing is all brushed aluminum, except the bottom chassis is steel material.

I really like the simple looking gold plated RCA connector using in this unit. I also found similar RCA like this in others high grade Japanese made CD player or pre-amplifier such as Denon, Technics and Sony.

I always wondering what is the components inside this unit. So I open the top cover which only by removing the four bolts on the corner of this unit.

Looking to the internals, this unit using fiber-glass double layer PCB. So much better than the DAC-101 which only using low grade PCB. Consider to the manufacture date, this kind of PCB are become common on that era.

The power supply section in this unit is using simple 7810 DC regulator, then split into dual rail using op-amp and transistors in push-pull configuration. This method is very popular in portable audio device. For the car audio application like this unit intended, I still prefer using the more complicated switching power supply.

The next photo bellow is the IC for the SPDIF digital receiver. This unit still using YM3623B while the rest of the world already crowded with the more popular CS8412. I think it might be something special about this digital receiver IC.

The 20 bit DAC in this unit is of course the famous Burr Brown PCM1702, configure in one DAC IC per channel. This PCM1702 is one of best selling DAC IC at that era, then replaced by the successor PCM1704.

This DAC is in oversampling mode using the popular NPC SM5841CP. Not a top notch oversampling IC but for this application is more than enough.

Going to the analog section, this unit using simple 2nd order Sallen-Key LPF configuration. I have use the same method on my previous DAC built and in my opinion the sound by using this type of LPF is remarkably good, yet doesn't need so much current.

The capacitors using in this unit are mostly the Elna Duorex. This is also the popular Elna high grade capacitor for audio at that era.

My initial test for this unit is very promising. The sound quality is really similar like the Clarion DRX-9255EXL. Probably this is because they are using the same DAC IC.

This DAC unit can be use as home audio DAC by simply connect the power and remote cable to positive polarity and the ground to negative polarity of 12 volt DC power adaptor.

I also tested it in my car audio system by simply connecting the audio output to the AUX input of my Pioneer AVH-G115DVD car head unit. The SPDIF digital input is using Fiio M5 and the sound quality using this DAC is improved so much compare the sound with the built in CD player of the head unit.

So that is all about this Nakamichi DAC-41. After this unit released, there is no others DAC from the original Nakamichi ever made again after the acquisition to the others Asian company.

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