DAC output - passive/active quandary - wheezer

Tweakers' Asylum

Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ.

DAC output - passive/active quandary

I've been modding the DAC Ah for a few days now and finally getting to the output stage, (which is all stock except for panny FM caps). It runs 8 TDA1543's, Vdd 6V. Outputs trimmed to 3.3V
Going passive with cap values from 0.2uf to 2.0uf and 100K for the load.
The caps are from Hovland and SEC. Riken 100K. My Pre has input's of both 100K and 200K. Yes there is a sonic difference between the too.
Proper RC impedance matching would be from 1uf to 2uf.
I'm finding the small caps sound lean but fast and for the obvious reasons. Up around 2.0uf it sounds full but bloated and blah. In-between sounds very musical but lacks dynamics, when compared to the opamp.
By upgrading the opamp rail to Schottky's and LDO VR's, add in OPA604 or OPA627, I'm pretty sure the opamps will win hands down. From what I understand, it should be the passive, being the clear winner.
Is there some magic cap value that's out there, perhaps in increments of 0.1uf + putzing?
Any other folks go through, what appears to be a very long road the best sounding recipe?

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Analog Engineering Associates

Topic - DAC output - passive/active quandary - wheezer 09:50:06 12/29/06 (5)

I never got a chance to find out. - Quiet Earth 11:38:33 01/04/07 (4)

Re: I never got a chance to find out. - wheezer 17:59:22 01/04/07 (3)

Mine always sounded awful. - Quiet Earth 07:18:00 01/05/07 (2)

Re: Mine always sounded awful. - wheezer 10:53:12 01/06/07 (1)

Thanks wheezer! Will do if I get some free time. (n/t) - Quiet Earth 20:32:48 01/07/07 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.