4.
Lusya HIFI TDA1543*4 (
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32880513465.html )
This is the most intriguing one . From what I've read it does wonders to the sound and it due to some old but really nice Philips chipsets. Is it plug and play ? Would I need to buy a case for it ?
Intriguing as it should give R2R sound. It is a board only and honestly... it cannot be any good. Four DAC chips alone take 1W power. It is already to much for a typical phone. And a passive output for a headphone? This is a nonsense.
Most of people are happy from Delta-Sigma converters, but If you are about R2R portable sound indeed (by example listening to a classical, jazz and all kind of acoustic instruments), there is another product I do recommend:
Nobsound 8x TDA1387 DAC/HPA
Eight chips TDA1387 take only 220mW (four times less). It gives compatibility with most of phones. There are two S/PDIF outputs and RCA sockets. There is a passive I/V conversion, better than using cheap opamps, but impedance matching is required. Most preamps are 47kOhms, should not give a problem. It sounds very good when connected to the home HiFi system. Not fatiguing at all, you will listen to more music, I promise.
The interface chip CM108 is oversampling 4x (I think), it takes only 16/44.1kHz or 48kHz source. Not very modern, but it is a low power solution and no drivers required. A typical Android output is 48kHz anyway.
A headphone amplifier is based on the TDA1308 chip. It drives my 19 Ohms Sennheiser HD4.50 BTNC easy. Wiith HD600 the power is not in excess. Those who are listening loud will complain. A sound is not very detailed, so I tried FiiO E12A. It is better, gives much more details, but I think it doesn't match sound signature of the DAC well, it sounds to thin and electric. It doesn't justify to carry extra box and cables.
In summary, Nobsound gives very good portable R2R sound. I was also using it for one year on desktop before purchasing an Audio GD R2R11 DAC/HPA and HD600. Nobsound is outclassed, but it is not a shame for $42 device. I still use a Nobsound with HD4.50 on the road, now less frequently because of lockout.
