DACs

speakerman1

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#1
Well I got a new DAC that I didn't think I would. I put in a low best offer and the guy took it. It is an Audio Alchemy. don't know the specs; but the reviews were good. So my question is I know that Burr-Brown was bought by TI. So can you just go in and replace a DAC chip? Or do they have to have the voltage stepped up and stuff?

Larry
 

orange

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#2
speakerman1 said:
Well I got a new DAC that I didn't think I would. I put in a low best offer and the guy took it. It is an Audio Alchemy. don't know the specs; but the reviews were good. So my question is I know that Burr-Brown was bought by TI. So can you just go in and replace a DAC chip? Or do they have to have the voltage stepped up and stuff?

Larry

That's like heart surgery, more or less. The whole thig would be built around that chip.

You should listen to it first.
 

gamve

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#3
Larry, Had a Audio Alchemy DAC years ago. You can get them to sound really good simply by building a decent power supply for them +12-0-12V from memory. Don't even look at their upgraded power station one, it's expensive and a bunch of crap. I accidentally blew one up so we cut it up to have a look inside. These things are really well sealed as the manufacturer does not want you to see the $10 worth of components that they used to sell for $150. Can probably dig up the circuit for you.
 

speakerman1

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#4
Gamve

Are you talking about the outboard power supply? I have a variable supply here. Would that work? Which DAC did you have? Do you have the manuals?

Steve why can't you just change the chip?

Larry
 

orange

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#5
I don't know, it sounds drastic. I may not get anywhere today because the snow sounds drastic as well. I've got four people including you plus I had wanted a few groceries as I didn't think I'd get to the store til Friday otherwise.
 

orange

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#6
Brown-Burr chips are likely to be relatively unchanged...they are supposely the most popular or something, I have heard.
 

gamve

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#8
speakerman1 said:
Gamve

Are you talking about the outboard power supply? I have a variable supply here. Would that work? Which DAC did you have? Do you have the manuals?

Steve why can't you just change the chip?

Larry
Yes they were standard with a plug pack power supply. You need a +12 and a -12V supply so a variable supply wont work as it would just be +12V. A friend built me up a nice little power supply using an over sized toroid transformer and a good ripple filtering circuit.
Cant remember the exact model it was basically just a little black box arrangement. Post a picy and I will tell you if it was the same as what you have
 

laatsch55

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#10
Larry, I have a few recipes for regulated power supplies. How much current we talking?

Yep Burr- Brown was bought by TI.
 

jbeckva

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#12
speakerman1 said:
He has to ship me some. I can't remember right off the top of my head.

Larry
Ship what? I'm confused...

Aren't these the DAC's?



Do you need power supplies for them? Built? (how hard can it be to make a bipolar 12V supply? :study: ) Whaddyaneed?

Yeah, Burr Brown also make some very high precision op amps for me ole' test bench, where accuracy in calibration was was somewhere in the 10x-5 range.
 

laatsch55

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#13
Regulated power supplies are relatively easy and cheap to build. I'm building one tonight for the DC protect boards for the 700. It will deliver 24 volts regulated with a 1.5-35 volt input at 1.5 amps out. They come as a kit and cost 8.00.
 

jbeckva

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#14
laatsch55 said:
Regulated power supplies are relatively easy and cheap to build.
You are correct! :mrgreen:

That's why I'm offering to build 'em for Larry, if I ever get past this cloud of confusion I'm in (he actually needs 'em built?? I dunno... do you Larry? lol)
 

laatsch55

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#15
Think were confused, think about Larry's last few days. He's posted a lot more than i thought he would.
 
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