[colonelkernel8]

Is there such a thing? If so, is there a PCB board, instructions, some sort of project out there?

 

[picklgreen]

It wouldnt be too hard to modify the Alien Dac to use the PCM2704 chip that does have a digital out pin. You would have to make a new PCB though since the two chips (2702, 2704) are not pin compatible, but they do run at the same voltages.

 

[colonelkernel8]

I am talking input toslink, instead of USB like the AlienDAC.

 

[picklgreen]

OH!...lol sorry. If you do a google search you will find a ton of plans for this! Pretty much every external DAC on the planet has a TOSLINK digtal input. DIYaudio.com also has a bunch of them.

 

[error401]

Well, most of the designs that I've seen don't specifically specify the SPDIF connector. And it seems that most 'default' to coax. If you wanted to use TOSLINK you basically just need to buy the photodiode assembly and supply it with power. Parts like the TORX177 are pretty easy to use, simply apply 5V to them and the output voltage swing will be approx 0-4V, which should be fine to trigger your discrete stuff. You can also find parts that have both coax and toslink connectors in the same assembly.

The spec was designed to make it easy to integrate.

 

[motherone]

I purchased a kit from this ebay seller: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=160077386151

It came 3 days after I bought it. He's basically reselling the hifidiy.net TDA1543 kit. It comes with both a S/PDIF and a toslink input (though you have to provide the coax/rca connector for the S/PDIF side).

I haven't had a chance to case it up and test it, but it looks like a very well prepared kit, and the only SMD part that you have to deal with is the CS8414 input receiver.

I have no affiliation with the seller other than having purchased something from them.

 

[joe_cool]

I recently bought this converter from the same seller, nice piece of equipment.

 

[colonelkernel8]

Ok, I am looking for a DIY DAC plan that has a readily available premade PCB board (like the PIMENTA amp), that has a solid design, good sound, and isn't extremely expensive to purchase all the components.

 

[colonelkernel8]

help me out please!

 

[Regus]

I could be wrong I haven't seen every DIY DAC out there but I don't think you are likely to find one premade with TOSLINK, people seem to swear by coax for their S/PDIF connections.

But I have seen simple coax to TOSLINK converters (do a google search) that could be a solution if you don't want to do any designing yourself.

 

[colonelkernel8]

ok. I can work with coax. Give me some options then. Still meeting the following criteria:

"Ok, I am looking for a DIY DAC plan that has a readily available premade PCB board (like the PIMENTA amp), that has a solid design, good sound, and isn't extremely expensive to purchase all the components."

 

[Regus]

well lets see there is the
Monica http://www.diyparadise.com/
the DDDAC http://www.dddac.de

both non-os using TDA154x chips
built a dddac mk 2 myself and i like it but it isn't exactly cheap

i'm sure there are som os dacs out there too but all the ones i have in my links collections don't actually sell the boards they just make the design available to let you go make/get your own boards...

you may also want to take a look at this thread:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=146305

but a Monica 2 is probably not a bad match for your requirements

you might be able to obtain a PCB for the Alien DAC but i'm not sure it is going to be easy http://www.myexposition.com/diy/usbdac/overview.html

edit:
You may want to look at the EzDAC as well I have no idea how it sounds or anyhting but it exists and the designer says to email him for PCBs http://www.ezdiyaudio.com/

further edit:
looked a little at the EzDAC I don't particularly agree with the design choices but it is probably not a bad sounding DAC and it is OS as oposed to the two first ones i mentioned, looks like he creates his own boards; may not be the easiest thing to work with if you haven't soldered boards without solder resist before.

 

[motherone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by colonelkernel8 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ok, I am looking for a DIY DAC plan that has a readily available premade PCB board (like the PIMENTA amp), that has a solid design, good sound, and isn't extremely expensive to purchase all the components.

I have built both the Monica 2 and the DAC listed above. The one listed above comes with TOSLINK as you requested, and it's $45 shipped. The Monica will cost you over $100 with parts and shipping, not to mention it is quite a bit more complicated and you will have to hack your own toslink input together.

Is there some reason why the DAC I listed doesn't fit the bill?

I do like the sound of the Monica, but I haven't had a chance to compare it to the TDA1543 DAC yet. For $45, I think it's pretty hard to go wrong with that kit. It includes all the components you'll need, so the only parts you'll need to purchase are a case and a 12VDC wall-wart, and any "premium" part upgrades you want to put on it.

Other options include the Peter Daniels "Premium" TDA1543 Non-OS DAC (available as a PCB or in kit form from audiosector.com). Audiodiylab.com also has numerous DAC kits available. I have bought from both of them, and they both offer great support on their products. You could also try diyhifi.net directly (whose products are resold by the ebay guy I listed above) and order one of their kits, but shipping tends to get expensive.

 

[colonelkernel8]

Hey guys, thanks for all the help, but I think I am just going to look for an Entech 203.2 Number Cruncher instead. I appreciated all the help, I just don't think I am ready for DIY yet.