If you're a current DIY hobbyist or professional/manuf. engineer of high-performance digital-audio gear, what modern choices do you have in selecting DACs and related technology?
Delta-Sigma DACs (modern/in-production):
- AKM: e.g., 32-bit "VERITA" AK4497EQ
- Analog Devices (AD): AD1852
- Cirrus/Crystal: e.g., CS4398, etc.
- ESS: e.g., Sabre ES9018, and (new) PRO Sabre.
- Texas Instruments/Burr-Brown: e.g., DSD1792
- Wolfson (now part of Cirrus/Crystal): e.g., WM8740
Multibit and Non-Delta-Sigma (modern/in-production):
- Analog Devices AD5791 (used in Schiit Yggrasil) -- this AD DAC was adapted for audio use by Schiit (orig. intention: Military/Aerospace/Health/Medical/Safety-critical)
- AD 1851 and AD1861 R-2R 16- or 18-bit FS PCM single-channel audio DAC ($5.00 ea.); diyaudio.com thread
Multi-bit and Non-Delta-Sigma (not-in-production / classic / new-old-stock):
- Philips TDA1541A (common on eBay, and/or thru Chinese sources)
- Philips TDA1545A (common on eBay, and/or thru Chinese sources)
- Philips TDA1387 (common on eBay, and/or thru Chinese sources)
Discrete R2R DACs (modern/in-production):
- diyparadise.com: Monica Discrete (no longer in production)
- MSB Technology: e.g., MSB Ladder DAC
- Soekris: dam1021 [R-2R sign magnitude DAC design]; also see: diyaudio thread; diyaudio thread for filter brewing; wordpress blog; dimdim.gr (fan-based site); moredamfilters.info (cutsom digital filters for the DAM
- TotalDAC: e.g., d1-six DAC or DAC/server
Digital Filters (oversampling/reconstruction)
- FPGA (aka DSP): algorithm-based, custom-programmed software, used since late 1980s by Wadia (DigiMaster), Theta, etc.
- Discrete audio DFs: no longer manuf'd (last in-production stand-alone digital filter was TI's DF1704); older examples: Yamaha, NPC, Philips SAA7220, Pacific Microsonics (PMD100 and PMD200, "HDCD")
Digital filter adapters (kits for DIY projects; by audiotuning.de)
Upsampling (Sample-Rate Conversion):
Output Stages (multi-pole filters, buffers, I/V, etc.):
- Twisted Pear Audio "IVY" I/V stage (for current output DAC)
- Tube output stage for voltage DAC
- (more coming soon)
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