[ExTubeGamer]

I just purchased RU6 earlier today that was on sale on Classifieds. I'll share my findings against Audio-GD R2R-11... AD1852 must be good - I currently own MHDT Atlantis DAC w/ AD1862 which I like very much. I'd expect AD1852 to be very similar!

I put a Burson V5i-D opamp into it and it sounds so incredible good. It is miles ahead of any dongle if you like warm sound with incredible details, soundstage and imaging. Too bad the USB input didnt worked with my PC so I used the spdif of my mainboard.

 

[ExTubeGamer]

The AD1852 and the PCM1794 DACs have made me realize that the Topping DAC line is good at producing a nice treble glare. These old school DAC chips sound natural. Chifi treble glare is real.

 

[sajunky]

I just purchased RU6 earlier today that was on sale on Classifieds. I'll share my findings against Audio-GD R2R-11... AD1852 must be good - I currently own MHDT Atlantis DAC w/ AD1862 which I like very much. I'd expect AD1852 to be very similar!

AD1852 is Delta-Sigma chip, the same referenced later PCM1794, while your AD1862 is R2R.

Congratulation for RU-6. You seems like R2R, keep that way. You can bring R2R-11 to a next level with simple mods. More details?

 

[matts19]

Congratulation for RU-6. You seems like R2R, keep that way. You can bring R2R-11 to a next level with simple mods. More details?

I am all ears !

 

[TheRealDz]

AD1852 is Delta-Sigma chip, the same referenced later PCM1794, while your AD1862 is R2R.

Congratulation for RU-6. You seems like R2R, keep that way. You can bring R2R-11 to a next level with simple mods. More details?

I believe the AD1852 is a hybrid chip, as per Analog Devices' data sheet.

 

[sajunky]

I believe the AD1852 is a hybrid chip, as per Analog Devices' data sheet.

Nah, AD had no hybrid chips at the moment. Hot feature was a multibit DS. /quote/

The AD1852 is a complete, high performance, single-chip, stereo digital, audio playback system. It is comprised of a multibit, Σ-Δmodulator, digital interpolation filters, and analog output drive circuitry. Other features include an on-chip, stereo attenuator and mute, programmed through an SPI-compatible serial control port.

 

[simon740]

Hello,

I dont know is this is right thread.... but ..what cheap DAC is 70-80% of Denafrips Ares II dac? in music quality...

regards,
Simon

 

[]eep]

Hello,

I dont know is this is right thread.... but ..what cheap DAC is 70-80% of Denafrips Ares II dac? in music quality...

regards,
Simon

At what budget? Have a look at Teradak. Several options in refinement.

 

[simon740]

At what budget? Have a look at Teradak. Several options in refinement.

Max 400€.

 

[]eep]

Max 400€.

Well then the Teradak 3.1 (or the 2.6 or the 4.0) is definitely an option with 8xTDA1543. I used it recently to audition a new pair of speakers. It has also a decent usb input, but as it is based on 8xTDA1543 it is limited to 96kHz (which is optimal for NOS anyway) and can't do DSD. The 4.5 has a seperate PS and used the extra space for 16xTDA and space for huge output caps for modifying.

That tells you, the only real holdback is the output caps. In the smaller models there are 2 metal Russian caps that are just 'good'. They hold back the overall soundquality. I shorted them out so you only hear the direct output from the chips (no output stage needed) with a 3V DC on the output. All engineers will shout 'that is blasphemy' but most amplifiers don't care because they all have input caps.

I'll make a summaryTeradak
v2.6 €168 +€33
V3.1 €207 + pp improved PS
V4.0 €368 + pp separate PS
V4.5 €398 +€47 16X and seperate PS.


Teradak V3.1d 8 Stuk Philips Tda1543 24bit/96Khz Usb Dac Hifi Audio Coaxiale Spdif Input Decoder €207 incl VAT excl €33 postage
https://a.aliexpress.com/_Ev9SCNx

You can see here near the top these three nuts and bolts, this holds down an isolated centre piece of the PCB with the 8 TDA dac chips to the bottom plate for cooling. Just north on the same cutout are those two caps you might want to change out or short out. From there it's only a wire direct to the output.

This is the 16x , just over your set budget. But I'll mention it anyway.
€398,99 15%OFF | Teradak 4.5 TDA1543 16 Stuk Parallel 24bit/96Khz Usb Dac/110V Of 220V Keuze
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EuhJmqN


This is the cheapest version (like I have) €168,01 14%OFF | New Teradak V2.7d Dac Tda1543 Nos Dac 26d 96K/24bit Coaxial/Optic/ Usb Dac
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EvQ2W1L

 

[matts19]

I have the Teradak V2.7d Dac, one that I previously said makes annoying mechanical vibration from chassis caused by transformers. It could be my home outlet DC offiset, I dunno. But I don't have same issue other DACs I own. When I open the top of the chassis (exposing the internals) then annoyance goes away.

 

[simon740]

Well then the Teradak 3.1 (or the 2.6 or the 4.0) is definitely an option with 8xTDA1543. I used it recently to audition a new pair of speakers. It has also a decent usb input, but as it is based on 8xTDA1543 it is limited to 96kHz (which is optimal for NOS anyway) and can't do DSD. The 4.5 has a seperate PS and used the extra space for 16xTDA and space for huge output caps for modifying.

That tells you, the only real holdback is the output caps. In the smaller models there are 2 metal Russian caps that are just 'good'. They hold back the overall soundquality. I shorted them out so you only hear the direct output from the chips (no output stage needed) with a 3V DC on the output. All engineers will shout 'that is blasphemy' but most amplifiers don't care because they all have input caps.

I'll make a summaryTeradak
v2.6 €168 +€33
V3.1 €207 + pp improved PS
V4.0 €368 + pp separate PS
V4.5 €398 +€47 16X and seperate PS.


Teradak V3.1d 8 Stuk Philips Tda1543 24bit/96Khz Usb Dac Hifi Audio Coaxiale Spdif Input Decoder €207 incl VAT excl €33 postage
https://a.aliexpress.com/_Ev9SCNx


You can see here near the top these three nuts and bolts, this holds down an isolated centre piece of the PCB with the 8 TDA dac chips to the bottom plate for cooling. Just north on the same cutout are those two caps you might want to change out or short out. From there it's only a wire direct to the output.

This is the 16x , just over your set budget. But I'll mention it anyway.
€398,99 15%OFF | Teradak 4.5 TDA1543 16 Stuk Parallel 24bit/96Khz Usb Dac/110V Of 220V Keuze
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EuhJmqN


This is the cheapest version (like I have) €168,01 14%OFF | New Teradak V2.7d Dac Tda1543 Nos Dac 26d 96K/24bit Coaxial/Optic/ Usb Dac
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EvQ2W1L

Thank you for this info.

regards,
Simon

 

[ExTubeGamer]

I am so thankful for this thread. My dream DACs are sitting right next to me on my desk and they did not cost me a lot. That is soo nice. One DAC with a Burr-Brown chip and one DAC with a multibit chip from AD. Because of these devices I have no need for an upgrade. My last DAC before I discovered this thread was a Topping D10s and these old chips blow it right out of the water.

 

[]eep]

I am so thankful for this thread. My dream DACs are sitting right next to me on my desk and they did not cost me a lot. That is soo nice. One DAC with a Burr-Brown chip and one DAC with a multibit chip from AD. Because of these devices I have no need for an upgrade. My last DAC before I discovered this thread was a Topping D10s and these old chips blow it right out of the water.

Good audio doesn't always need to break the bank (or the pink ceramic piggy). Sometimes it does. And sometimes a huge leap in spending brings you little to no improvement. And sometimes a different direction brings a lot. But grosso modo, overall, on average, more money brings incremental improvement, more longevity, better looks, more ease of use, less clutter. Getting the best combination, synergy, is an art that also takes skill, good intuïtion and information. It's a battle against the laws of physics. The art of the compromise.