PGA2310 - All out effort

[ALBQ]

All,
I have started working on a new front-end for my pre-amp using a PGA2310 digitally controlled potentiometer. What are people’s experience using the chip and what circuit topology is recommend for highest audio quality? Attached is a picture of my test board. Overall, my initial impressions are very positive as just following the setup in the data sheet yields very good sound quality - likely Ti using one of its high quality opamp designs for the outputs. I would like to do an all out effort and could use help. Additionally, I am currently powering the analog circuit using batteries (circuit testing). Because of the low power requirements, perhaps a candidate for battery power?
Thank you -ALBQ

 

[DaKi][er]

http://www.diyhifi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=240 might be of interest

And i remember hearing that the opamp in it was an OPA2134

 

[ALBQ]

DaKi][er,
Thank you. Interesting about the OPA2134 as base opamp. I have a two 9V battery driven CMoy that is almost the identical circuit as I am using with the PGA2310 but, the PGA is far and away better sounding. Perhaps the best sounding of Opamps in my collection. Anyway, thank you for the thread. Was very interesting but, was thinking more along the lines of trying to bias it in class-a - ala Tangentsoft Pimeta or M3. The quest continues....
Thank you again -ALBQ

 

[motherone]

I'll be trying out the PGA in this kit:

http://www.audiodiylab.com/modules/n....php?storyid=1

It's basically a complete, remote-controlled preamp (input switching included) using the PGA. It's currently sitting on my project desk, assembled, awaiting a home. I haven't had a chance to power it up yet. Finishing up my Millett hybrids and a PCM1739 DAC (also from Audiodiylab) are my current priorities.

I think a few folks over at diyaudio have used the PGA as well. I vaguely remember a thread about digital volume controls from ~6 months ago.

 

[robzy]

How does the quality of the volume control compare to a pot? (Be it a Panasonic or an Alps Blue? Or possibly a stepped attenuator?)

Rob.

 

[ALBQ]

Robzy,
Will let you know. I use a motorized Alps pot in my other preamp and have played with the pot in a passive (sans gain stage) mode. Just comparing the the PGA2310 to my CMoy and Tube Hybrid headphone amps, I must say I am impressed. I have heard people say that the Opamp in the PGA is like Ti's OPA2134 but, my CMoy uses a 2134 and the PGA is clearly superior - much better low level detail and space. Time permitting, I will try to connect it to my main system this weekend and post results
Cheers -ALBQ

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/gilles...U7-Preamp.html

 

[tangent]

I liked the Crystal version better: CS3310? Something like that. It's more neutral, and it's a rail-to-rail design. Same pinout and protocol. Do a search on Headwize; I posted more about this there some months ago.

 

[ALBQ]

Tangent,
Thanks - I have already read your posts a well as just about everything else I could find on the net. For the moment I am stuck on the PGA but, the next time I do a Digikey order I can add a couple CS3310's. Also, from what I have read, the CS3310 is a +/-5V chip(?) - will need to download the datasheet and give it a read. I am not sure to what extent you played with different designs but, I have noticed that the PGA seems to sound better at higher PS voltages. Also, did you ever consider biasing the outputs differently or running any of the chips in class-a?
Thank you –ALBQ