Good (Best?) DAC with I2S input

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mga2009

Member
Joined 2015
#1
Hi,

I am looking a good DAC with I2S input to use with the I2S output on my 3E audio ADAU1701DAC.

Anything better than the integrated DAC of the ADAU1701 is good, and I have no problem if the output sensitivity is around 2vRMS.

DAC will be powered with a Meanwell SMPS power supply, so it would be great if it doesn't need dual voltage.

Any recomendation?

Thks.
 
#2
Most dacs with I2S input seem to need LVDS differential signals. You might need to convert from single ended output signals from a DSP chip. One good dac of that type was the original Topping D90 (the version with an AK4499 dac chip).
 
#3
#5
mga2009 said:
...I was referring to some kind of PCB Board DIY dac, and not a properly implemented DAC.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, most of the PCB Board DIY dacs are junk. The dac chip is probably okay, but the PCB doesn't have enough layers to perform well, most of the components around the dac chip are the cheapest junk possible, etc. That's how the manufacturers of those boards make money. The boards are sold for low cost, which means that the cheapest possible components have to be used, or else they will not make a profit.

Now, if you want to rebuild/redesign a low cost PCB dac board to make it sound better, that's possible. However it is a LOT of work. For one example, the story of modifying a low cost PCB ES9038Q2M board to make it sound better can be found in the very long thread at: ES9038Q2M Board
 
#6
Markw4 said:
Unfortunately, most of the PCB Board DIY dacs are junk. The dac chip is probably okay, but the PCB doesn't have enough layers to perform well, most of the components around the dac chip are the cheapest junk possible, etc. That's how the manufacturers of those boards make money. The boards are sold for low cost, which means that the cheapest possible components have to be used, or else they will not make a profit.

Now, if you want to rebuild/redesign a low cost PCB dac board to make it sound better, that's possible. However it is a LOT of work. For one example, the story of modifying a low cost PCB ES9038Q2M board to make it sound better can be found in the very long thread at: ES9038Q2M Board
Click to expand...

But after all these improvements will this dac be better than some average smsl, gustard and other chinese 300-500$ DACs?
I cannot choose between RPI HAT DACs (seems they use not enough modern chips), some AK449* board from aliexpress (too cheap components around modern chip) and any used DAC from local marketplace (no fun).
My final goal is to build a streamer + DAC in one nice custom box.
 
#7
Vavilen said:
But after all these improvements will this dac be better than some average smsl, gustard and other chinese 300-500$ DACs?
Click to expand...

Hard to say. It might end up better or end up worse. Most people don't follow through all the way; they seem to tire of modding before fixing everything. One big problem is that most of those dacs come on 2-layer PCBs with awful output stages, and awful AVCC supplies. Besides those things there is the clocking, output stage power supplies, and dac chip rail voltage regulators, clock voltage regulator, microprocessor code to program dac control registers, etc. As I said, its a lot of work, and I'm not sure if anyone around here has really mastered output stage design for ESS dacs. Those chips tend to put out a lot of noise which makes the audio tend to sound bright.

It would probably be easier to buy a decent quality finished Chinese dac with I2S inputs, then build an or hack together a CMOS I2S to LVDS I2C converter board. In fact, Iancanada may have such a module for sale in a forum group buy here.
 
#8
Markw4 said:
It would probably be easier to buy a decent quality finished Chinese dac with I2S inputs, then build an or hack together a CMOS I2S to LVDS I2C converter board. In fact, Iancanada may have such a module for sale in a forum group buy here.
Click to expand...
Could you please give a couple examples of these Chinese dacs with I2S inputs. Probably, I would go with this solution.
 
#10
Just remember the ADAU1701's weakeast link is its ADCs: "2 ADCs: SNR of 100 dB, THD + N of −83 dB" (from the datasheet). Using the world's best DAC isn't going to improve those numbers. I'd say the first DAC in your list is fine. As a bonus you can get the DAC's 5V from an used capacitor pad on the 3e Audio DSP board.
 

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#13
I just assumed there is no good DIY DAC, but it seems i am wrong.

Please point me in the right direction.

Where can I find your PCB DAC design? BOM? I2S input?

UPDATE: I JUST MISSED YOU PREVIUOS POST! SORRY. I WILL CHECK IT. THX

Cheers.
 
#15
Different people have different applications hence 'good' differs. I didn't mean to say my DAC was definitely 'good' for your application rather I am in the business in learning how it falls short in differing applications. For example I recently linked to it on a thread where the OP wanted a multi-channel solution and he responded that being 16bit only is a limitation for him. That's the kind of feedback I like getting.

Back to your questions - here are the Gerber files and schematic : lingDAC - cost effective RBCD multibit DAC design

If you scroll down two posts you'll find the BOM.
 
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