TDA1541A NOS DAC

[Eliad]

This Elekit I am using has PCM2704C, makes things simpler since it does the USB and the DAC in one chip. The output would be nice to go to vacuum tube instead of an OP amp. If you cant find the schematics for this Elekit you can find it at tubedepot.com who sells this kit.

[eksiil]

I bought a kit from Vlad, having sourced a "double crown" TDA1541A chip locally. I must say I'm quite blown away by the result: tremendous delicacy & dynamics, as well as great clarity. I'm strongly reminded of a Studer 730 I recently heard through a Copland amplifier into Tandberg studio monitors -- though I think mine sounds better... . clearly there's great synergy with the rest of my system (Vecteur transport, Croft amplification, refurbished Epicure 20 speakers).

Vlad's dac unseated a Wadia 121, RRP €1400, no slouch, but really no contest. it's the one on top of an elephant in the pic. the new DAC is centre stage.

[Fidel Costar]

Congrats !  It must be rather difficult these days to find a real (no Chinese copy) double crown TDA 1541. I wonder how it sounds compared to the "standard" 1541 I found in an old Philips CD player.

[eksiil]

i'm reasonably confident the chip is authentic. I bought it from a guy who's been producing his own line of well-regarded hi-end dacs & amps for some 30 years now I think.

what astounds me is the resolution of the thing. on CD after CD I now hear musicians breathing, turning pages etc, not to mention passages & sounds I hand't noticed before.  I had always thought detail was *not* one of the 1541's selling points.

the effect is comparable to my Blackbird arm: there are no "boring" CDs (resp LPs) any more.

Congrats !  It must be rather difficult these days to find a real (no Chinese copy) double crown TDA 1541. I wonder how it sounds compared to the "standard" 1541 I found in an old Philips CD player.

[hatehifi]

I ran into a “Behringer Ultramatch SRC 2000” (Rate & Format Converter Jitter Remover) for under 100€. The SPDIF Wireworld 75 Ohm digi IC costed more. After A/B testing imho I find a slight improvement in clarity but also somewhat calming, seemingly easier presentation with it in. I use an Atoll DAC100 as 3-Input digital switch. it’s Burr-Brown onboard DAC is fine but switching to Vlad’s DAC, even from a cold start, is so far better that the Atoll stays as a switch, going to the Behringer then to Vlad’s is easy peasy and a luxury. I input 2TB HD from my win10 laptop via a Jitterbug into Douk converter (with selected chip), Primare NP5 and audiolab CT6000 CD drive as present sources. All these sources benefit from the Behringer. The Atoll has an empty USB input if I need it as well as 3x optical inputs. FWIW I could never warm to optical ICs and always prefer RCA/SPDIF.



Note: The red ‘error’ light is on as there is no source playing, switching off when a source arrives at its input.

Cheers!

[Fidel Costar]

Hi Vlad,

It seems (not sure...) that TDA1541 is still a bit better than TDA1387, am I right ? And is it really worth chasing a 1541 single or double crown (hoping it is not a shitty chinese copy) ?

Regards,

Christian

[vlad1980]

Hi,

Yes, the TDA1541 it sound a little bit better than TDA1387.

I do not recommend to buy a single or double crown because can be a fake (normal chip relabeled).

You can find a broken cd-player with TDA1541 and to extract the DAC from there.
This is my recommendation.

Regards,
Vlad

Hi Vlad,

It seems (not sure...) that TDA1541 is still a bit better than TDA1387, am I right ? And is it really worth chasing a 1541 single or double crown (hoping it is not a shitty chinese copy) ?

Regards,

Christian

[hatehifi]

Some of you may remember my friend Frank who practically grew up spending all his free time at the northern Germany Western Electric‘s Service shop in Hanover. Frank inherited the shop inventory when the repairman passed on. Be that as it may, Frank worked over my Vlad DAC as early birthday present. I wanted to share his work.

Even though there is less than 2 hours play, the sound quality took a big step up, in a word, much clearer. The bass is much more articulate and hence, deeper.

Cheers!

[hatehifi]

In case of interest here is what modifications Frank did to my Vlad DAC:

I hope the translation makes sense, otherwise please ask for clarity. I am not technically versed…

“Change the 300uf on the analogue side to ROE 220uf. Bridge each cap with 2x 4700pf and + to - on Redcaps from Panasonic 0.015uf. Change input resistors on the analogue side to 1 or 2%. Exchange both “coupling caps” (?) from 0.33uf to O.22uf. Wire a “soft earth”. The signal wires should be double-shielded and led behind the tubes against interference. Mount and wire the three 220uf caps not to the board but glued to the case (gives better staging and adds to the ‘tube’ sound). Correction: Change the 3x 100uf to 3x 220uf and at least 385V.”

Cheers!

[analogadikt]

Thanks John in

Regards,

Anwesh

[mamakasou]

Hello,

Great work.

Vlad is right in saying that the TDA1541A is special. I'm using a DIY DAC with the TDA1541A. Passive I/V (resistor) conversion, using a tube rectified SRPP output (6N3P soviet tubes).

Hatehifi, one extra modification worth considering would be to use slightly bigger capacitors next to the TDA1541A chip. The red ones (must be WIMA 100nF).

You could replace them with 220nF film-foil capacitors from Nichicon. They come in a nice radial package that can fit in tight spaces.

If there was more space there I would even use oil caps in parallel.

[hatehifi]

@Mamakasu

Thank you! This is exactly what Frank suggested, chip-side oil in paper caps, but first said I should hear for about 100 hours. I’m there already and ‘hear’  that this is what should happen next.

I’m listening to one of my favorites, Strange Angels by Laurie Anderson,  and I think despite the clarity that more ‘dynamite’ would fit into the picture well.

To be continued.

Cheers!

[MickRS]

Finally I've found the time to put Vlads kit together and its playing now for a few hours. Sound is already really nice. Seriously happy with it. Thank you Vlad!

[slavedata]

First run in for Vlad's DAC kit. Sounding pretty good.

[url=https://i.imgur.com/lL6h137.jpg]

[vlad1980]

Nice enclosure, is looking very good.

My advice is to use shielded cable between DAC PCB and output PCB, also between RCAs and output PCB.

I am using mic cable Cordial CMK 422  - https://www.cordial-cables.com/en/products/cmk-422

Regards,
Vlad 

First run in for Vlad's DAC kit. Sounding pretty good.