AUDIO & HI-FI

audio DAC 2000

Part 3: practical matters

Readers who have

studied and absorbed
Parts 1 and 2 of this
article will be fully
aware of how the
Audio DAC 2000
works. What remains
to be discussed is the
actual building of the
converter, and this is
done in this third and
final part.

POWER S U P P LY from the ±12 V lines for the analogue

Although the summary implies that all circuits.
parts of the digital-to-analogue con- The earth lines of the two supplies
verter (DAC) have been discussed, this are interlinked on the DAC board
is not entirely true, because the power between the digital filter and the con-
supply has not yet been described. verter ICs (that is, JP3).
It was seen in Part 2 of this article Obviously, the supply consists of
that the converter ICs need a symetri- not only regulators, but also bridge rec-
cal ±5 V supply and that this was tifiers and smoothing capacitors. Resis-
derived via regulators IC13 and IC14 tors R55, R56, and R58 between the rec-
from the ±12 V supply line for the ana- tifiers and smoothing capacitors limit
logue circuits. Since it is important to the charging current to the capacitors
keep the supply lines to the converter at power-on, and any resulting inter-
ICs as short as possible, the regulators ference.
are housed on the DAC board. The secondaries of the relevant
The receiver section and some other mains transformers are linked to K11
circuits on the DAC board need a sin- and K13 respectively. The choice of
gle +5 V supply and a symmetrical transformer is up to the constructor,
±12 V supply. These voltages are pro- although some suitable models are
duced with the aid of regulators specified in the parts list.
IC15–IC17, which, together with the The power supply is conveniently
other components of the power sup- built on the ‘transformer board’
ply, are housed on a separate board, described elsewhere in this issue. This
the PSU board. board is designed to house all the com-
The circuit of the power supply is ponents required for the present power
shown in Figure 5. Note that the +5 V supply.
Design by T. Giesberts line for the digital circuits is isolated

Elektor Electronics 1/2000

12
PRINTED-CIRCUIT
BOARDS
As already mentioned in Part 1, the
5 K13 C89 C86
IC17

Audio DAC 2000 is contained on four R58 7805

5V
individual printed-circuit boards: one
8V * B1 1Ω5
R57
K12
for the ±12 V and +5 V power sup-

3k9
plies; one for the digital audio receiver C88 C87 C85 C84 C83 C82

with display driver; one for a 2-digit 1000µ 100n 10µ 100n
D7
LED display; and one for the 4x 22n 25V 63V
B80C1500 POWER
digital/analogue circuits, the digital fil-
ter, the DACs and the analogue output
stage. These boards are sections of the K11
double-sided PCB shown in Figure 6. C81 C78
IC15
15V
This high-quality board is available
R55 7812
through our Readers Services. Before B2 3Ω3
12V
any work is carried out, these four sec-
tions should be separated from one 15V C76 C74 C72 C70
K10
C80 C79
another along the milled cutting lines,
1000µ 100n 10µ 100n
either by snapping or cutting along the 40V 63V
4x 22n
lines
B80C1500
It is important to construct the var- C77 C75 C73 C71
ious circuits according to the board lay-
outs and the parts list. It is important 1000µ 100n 10µ 100n
40V 63V
that the orientation of the ICs and the R56
12V
3Ω3
polarity of the electrolytic capacitors
7912
are strictly observed, since any devia- 990059 - 3 - 16
IC16
tion results unfailingly in a non-work-
ing unit.
The DIP switches, S1–S4, are best Figure 5. Circuit diagram of the power supply for
soldered directly to the board. An soldering work. Take the Audio DAC 2000. The +5 V line for the digital
exception is S2 if it is foreseen that good care not to over- circuits is isolated on the board from the ±12 V
processor (that is, software) control heat the IC: take a pause line for the analogue section.
may be used at a later stage. In that between soldering, say,
case, the switch may be housed in a 2 or 3 pins at a time.
good-quality 8-way IC socket, but even Next, solder the converter ICs, IC7 This is best done by placing a small
then the board connector should be and IC8, in place. These are housed in a (86×13 mm) tin-plate screen between
soldered in place at a later stage. standard 20-pin SMD case (SOIC), and Re2 and IC12. The screen stretches
All supply lines are connected to are easily soldered. It is best to fit from the edge of the board to DIP
the boards via terminal blocks that op amps IC9–IC12 in good-quality IC switch S4: its position is indicated in
facilitate the wiring or servicing of the sockets. Figure 6 by a dashed line. At the ends,
relevant circuits. The +5 V line for the Capacitors C27–C38 in the analogue scratch away some of the lacquer on
digital section is linked to the DAC section are 1% close-tolerance types in the board with a sharp pen knife to
board. The receiver board is powered a square radial format, with the termi- ensure that the screen makes good
via the link between K3 and K5. Some nals placed at two opposing corners. contact with the copper area at the top
protection against (a too) high supply These types are manufactured by of the board which functions as
voltage is provided by diode D4 on the EMZ. Their pitch is standard (7.1 mm), ground plane — soldering the ends of
DAC board. so they could be replaced by metal- the screen to the copper is even better.
The LED display board is linked to lized film polystyrene or polypropy- In the prototype, the addition of the
the receiver board via a 10-way flatca- lene types. It should be borne in mind, screen improved the channel separa-
ble. One end of this cable is connected however, that the larger tolerances of tion by 12 dB at 20 kHz.
permanently to the board via a 10-way these types may result in significant
board connector. The other end is ter- changes in the frequency and phase ENCLOSURE
minated into a 10-way socket. Take responses. The EMZ capacitors speci- When the four boards have been com-
good care to use the correct length of fied carry a thin dash that indicates pleted and checked for possible build-
cable. The displays are soldered which terminal is linked to the outer ing or soldering errors, they must be
directly to the board. layer. Make sure that this pin is linked combined into a complete Audio DAC
The digital audio receiver, IC1, is to ground or to the output of an 2000 and housed in a suitable enclo-
soldered directly to the receiver board. opamp: this makes the analogue sec- sure. The most suitable enclosure is a
Take care not to damage this IC by elec- tion less sensitive to interference. The sturdy metal case, which, as far as
trostatic discharges. Sockets may be same applies to axial capacitors C25 appearance is concerned, should
used for IC4 and IC5. Crystal oscillator and C26: place the band on these at the preferably match the audio installation
IC3 is also best soldered directly to the output side of opamps IC9 and IC11. with which it is to be used.
board, since it is then as close as possi- The relays are soldered directly to The prototype is housed in a Mona-
ble to the ground plane. the board. Do not forget wire bridges cor Type UC251/SW enclosure. This is
Start populating the DAC board by JP2 and JP3: these are permanent links 435 mm wide, 230 mm deep, and
soldering IC6 to the board — see Fig- which may be made in rather thicker 44 mm high — see Figure 8. In some
ure 7. This tiny SMA (surface-mount wire than usual. countries in which Elektor Electronics
assembly) IC is housed in a 28-pin A final practical hint. To improve appears, Monacor products are sold
SSOP case, whose pins are spaced at the channel separation at high fre- under the brand name ‘Monarch’.
only 0.65 mm. This requires extreme quencies, it is advisable to shield the The manner in which the boards
care, a tiny soldering iron tip, and pos- left- and right-hand sections of the ana- are arranged in the enclosure is opti-
sibly a magnifying glass to check the logue output filter from one another. mal and constructors are well advised

Elektor Electronics 1/2000 13

 C76

15V
C74 IC15 12V
B2 C70

C78
+

H2
H3

R55
C72

6 L R

K6

K7
D2

C81
RE1

H13
H14

OUT4 OUT5

0 0

T1

C80
D3
R45 R48 C73
R42 15V ~

K11

C79

K10
R44 R49 R40 - 12V

C53 C52

RE3
T2

C48

RE2
C71

C75
R43 R56 IC16

OUT1
R47
B1

K13

C87

K12
D1 C57 C77 +
9V 5V
IC10 IC12 ~ C88 C85 IC17

C32 C49
C56
C55 R39 R41

C54
R46 R50

C29

C35

C38
C83

R58
JP2 ~ C84 0

R29

R35

H4
H1

D7 C82

C89
C66

R32

R38
C28 C31 C34 C37 C86 R57
C68

R28

R31

R34

R37
-12V 0 +12V

0 S1 1 C11 L3
M3

C10
H7
H8

C1 C2 JP1

R27

R33
M0 C6

C27

C30

C33

C36
R1

R30

R36
M2 K1

R4
IC3
C69 M1

R5 C7 C3

R2
C25

R25

R26
K9 C67

C26
C46 C50
IC9 IC11
IC14 C47
C65

C12
C61 C24 C45 C51
IC4
R54
R53

R3
IC1

IC2
C23

C22

C44
C43
C63

R6
C5 C8
D6

C13
C62

C4

L2
L1 C9
C21

C19

C42
IC7 IC8 C40
R52
R51

R10
R8
R9

R7
D5

S4

0
IC5
C64

C14

L4
C18
C60

IC13
OUT2

C15 +5V
K3
JP3

C20 C41 C39

C59 K2

H5
H6

C58
INVL
INVR
20bit

C16
+5V

OUT3

S3-1 OW0
C17
D4

-2 OW1
-3 IW0
0

-4 IW1 R19 R16

IC6

-5 I2S R23 R12

H9
H11

K8 MODE -6 SF0
-7 SF1 R24 R17
CKO (MD)
reproduced LRIP (MC) K5
-8 SRO R18 R11

K4
R21 R13
(ML) H
at 85% of H 990059-1 R22 R14
S2 L
H15

H12
H10

H16

S3 R20 LD2 LD1 R15

actual size L

Figure 6. The double-sided board must be divided into four sub-boards along the fraised lines.

COMPONENTS LIST radial grammed, order code 996530-1,

C25,C26 = 47pF 1 axial (EMZ ) see Readers Services pages)
Resistors: C27,C33 = 2nF2 1% 1 (EMZ ) IC6 = DF1704E (Burr-Brown)
R1 = 75Ω C28,C34 = 4nF7 1% 1 (EMZ ) IC7,IC8 = PCM1704U (Burr-Brown)
R2 = 220Ω C29,C35 = 330pF 1% 1 (EMZ) IC9...IC12 = OPA627AP (Burr-Brown)
R3 = 470Ω C30,C36 = 1nF 1% 1 (EMZ) IC13 = LM317 (TO220)
R4,R50 = 4Ω7 C31,C37 = 1nF5 1% 1 (EMZ) IC14 = LM337 (TO220)
R5 = 4-way 10kΩ SIL-array C32,C38 = 270pF 1% 1 (EMZ) IC15 = 7812
R6 = 10kΩ C55 = 220µF 25V radial IC16 = 7912
R7-R10 = 22Ω C56 = 1µF 63V radial IC17 = 7805
R11-R24 = 820Ω C57 = 470µF 25V radial
R25,R26 = 2kΩ49 1% C76,C77 = 1000µF 40V radial Miscellaneous:
R27,R30,R33,R36 = 3kΩ57 1% C78-C81,C86-C89 = 22nF ceramic JP1 = 2-way pinheader + jumper
R28,R34 = 4kΩ12 1% C85 = 1000µF 25V radial JP2,JP3 = wire link *
R29,R35 = 3kΩ92 1% K1,K6,K7 = cinch socket, PCB
1
R31,R37 = 3kΩ65 1% polystyrene/polypropylene mount (Monacor/Monarch type T-709G)
R32,R38 = 3kΩ32 1% EMZ, Elektromanufaktur Zangenstein K2 = 10-way boxheader
R39,R41,R45,R49 = 1MΩ Hanauer GmbH & Co. K4 = 10-way PCB-connector (for flat-
R40,R42 = 100Ω Siemensstrasse 1 cable)
R43,R44,R47,R48 = 150kΩ D-92507 Nabburg K3,K5 = 16-way boxheader
R46 = 10Ω Germany K8,K12,K13 = 2-way PCB terminal
Tel. +49 9433 898-0
R51,R53 = 249Ω 1% Fax +49 9433 898-188 block, raster 5 mm
R52,R54 = 750Ω 1% K9,K10,K11 = 3-way PCB terminal
R55,R56 = 3Ω3 block, raster 5 mm
R57 = 3kΩ9 Inductors: S1,S2,S4 = 4-way DIP-switch
R58 = 1Ω5 L1-L4 = 47 µH S3 = 8-way DIP-switch
B1,B2 = B80C1500, rectangular case
Capacitors: Semiconductors: Re1,Re2,Re3 = V23042-A2003-B101,
C1,C2 = 10nF ceramic D1 = 1N4001 12V/600 Ω (Siemens)
C3 = 68nF D2,D3 = 1N4148 Supply transformers: 2x15 V/4 VA
C4,C6,C10,C16,C62-C65,C72, D4,D5,D6 = 5V6 1W3 zener diode (e.g. Block FLD4/15; Hahn BVUI
C73,C83 = 10µF 63V radial D7 = LED, red, high-efficiency 3020165; Monacor FTR-415), and
C5,C7 = 47nF ceramic LD1,LD2 = HDN1075O (Siemens) 2x8(or 9) V/4 VA (e.g.. Block FLD4/8;
C8,C9,C11,C12,C15,C17,C46-C53, T1,T2 = BC517 Hahn BVUI 3020161; Monacor FTR-49 –
C59,C60,C61,C66,C67,C70,C71, IC1 = CS8414-CS (Crystal) see transformer board elsewhere in this
C74,C75,C82,C84 = 100nF ceramic IC2 = TORX173 (Toshiba) issue)
C13,C14,C23,C24,C44,C45, IC3 = 6.144MHz SG531P (Seiko PCB, order code 990059-1, see
C54 = 47µF 25V radial Epson) Readers Services pages.
C18-C21,C39-C42 = 4µF7 63V radial IC4 = 74HCT32
C22,C43,C58,C68,C69 = 100µF 25V IC5 = GAL22V10B-25LP (ready-pro- * see text

14 Elektor Electronics 1/2000

 990059-1
(C) ELEKTOR

Elektor Electronics 1/2000 15

 Figure 7. Soldering IC6 into place
requires a steady hand, good
eyesight and precision tools.

F I N A L LY
Testing a digital-to-analogue converter
by ear is hardly possible or sensible.
Noticeable differences, such as can be
detected in the case of loudspeakers,
cannot be expected. Nevertheless, a
test audience felt that the DAC 2000
sounded better than a number of other
available types of DAC. They found the
sound cleaner and the stereo image
clearer.
The test results in the box give a fur-
ther judgment of the quality of the
converter. They call for a few com-
ments.
• The bandwidth of sampling fre-
quencies 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, and
48 kHz, is exactly equal to half the
to use the same arrangement: the DAC K4 on the display board just behind sampling rate, since at these fre-
board in one corner, the receiver board the front panel via a 10-core flatca- quencies the bandwidth of the ana-
next to it, the supply board in front of ble. logue filter is larger than that of the
this, and the transformer board in the • K5 on the DAC board is linked to steep-skirted digital filter. At
remaining corner. K3 on the receiver board via a 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz, the band-
The only items to be fitted on the 16-core flatcable. This link also con- width is determined by the ana-
front panel are the mains on/off switch nects power to the receiver board. logue filter.
and the display that shows the sam- Mind the orientation of pin 1 on the • The THD+N at a sampling rate of
pling rate. If desired, power diode D7 connectors. 96 kHz is measured at a bandwidth
may be added to this, but this is not • K12 (+5 V) on the supply board is of 22 kHz, because at lower sam-
really necessary since LD1 and LD2 linked to K8 on the DAC board via pling rates the analogue output fil-
function very well as on/off indicator. two cables. ter has a bandwidth of 26 kHz. The
The interwiring may be gleaned • K10 (±12 V) on the supply board is reduction gives a more honest com-
from Figure 8, but is summarized for linked to K9 on the DAC board via parison of the three measurements.
convenience’s sake. three cables. [990059-3]
• K2 on the receiver board is linked to
Text: S. van Rooij

Figure 8. The completed prototype. The enclosure

used provides more than enough space to house
the various boards in an optimum arrangement.

16 Elektor Electronics 1/2000

 Technical specification +3
-0

-3

Properties -6

-9

• 1 coaxial input and 1 optical input -12

-15

• suitable for sampling rates of 32–96 kHz -18

-21

• 2-digit readout of sampling rate d

-24

a B
r
-27

• 8× oversampling -30
-33

• 24-bit digital filter -36

-39

• 24-bit digital-to-analogue converters -42

-45

• digital de-emphasis -48

-51
• switchable third-order analogue output filter -54

-57
• isolated supply lines for digital and analogue sections 10 20 50 100 200 500 1k
Hz
2k 5k 10k 20k 50k 100k
990059 - 3 - A.eps
200k

Electrical characteristics
0.5 Vpp into 75 Ω
1

Nominal input voltage at coaxial input

0.5

Nominal output voltage 2.1 V r.m.s.

Frequency range (–3 dB) 0–fs/2 (fs=32/44.1/48 kHz) 0.2

0–42 kHz (fs=88.2/96 kHz) 0.1

Amplitude at 20 kHz –0.94 dB (fs=32, 44.1, 48 kHz) 0.05

–0.66 dB (fs=88.2, 96 kHz) b %

0.02

Bandwidth analogue filter 26 kHz (Butterworth at fs=32/44.1/48 kHz) 0.01

42 kHz (Bessel at fs=88.2/96 kHz)

100 Ω
0.005

Output impedance
Signal-to-noise ratio ≥ 114 dBA 0.002

THD+N (1 kHz, B=80 kHz) 0.0016% (44.1 kHz, 16-bit) 0.001

20 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k
Hz
0.001% (48 kHz, 24-bit) 990059 - 3 - B.eps

0.0008% (96 kHz, 24-bit, B=22 kHz) CD Linearity

CD LINEARITY - Computed Results
IMD (60 Hz/7 kHz, 0 dB) 0.0035% +1.4

Linearity error <0.5 dB/–90 dB (according to datasheet) +1.2

+1
0.2 dB/–110 dB (measured) +0.8
L
Channel separation (1 kHz) >115 dB I +0.6
N
E
Dynamic range >100 dB A +0.4
R
I +0.2
T
c Y
E
+0

Measurements were made with switch settings as follows R -0.2

R
O -0.4
R
S1 S2 S3 S4 d -0.6
B
-1 off -1 on -1 on -1 off -0.8

-1
-2 off -2 off -2 on -2 off -1.2

-3 off -3 off -3 on -3 off -1.4

-110 -100 -90 -80 -70 -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 +0
-4 on -4 off -4 off -4 NC CD Absolute amplitude dBFS 990059 - 3 - C.eps

-5 on
-6 off +0

-10
-7 off -20

-8 off -30

-40

-50

-60

Performance characteristics d d
B
-70

-80

-90

For completeness’ sake, the electrical specifications are complemented by a -100

-110
set of performance characteristics. Some comments on these are: -120

Curve a is the frequency response of the analogue output filters, measured -130

-140
by injecting a current into the current-to-voltage converters, so that the first fil- -150
40 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20k
tering by C25 and C26 is included. Hz 990059 - 3 - D.eps

Curve b is the THD+N characteristic at full drive. This was measured with
the aid of a test compact disk (16-bit, 44.1 kHz). The increase in distortion above +0

3 kHz is small and remains below 0.005% up to 20 kHz. At higher audio fre- -10

-20

quencies the speed of the DACs will of course have an effect. -30

Curve c illustrates the linearity of the DACs. The amplitude sweep was car- -40

-50
ried out with test tones of 400 Hz, provided with dither to make measurements -60

up to –110 dB at 16 bit possible. e d

B
-70

r
Curve d represents the channel separation between the two channels from -80

-90

40 Hz upwards. Below this only the noise threshold would be measured. Even -100

at 20 kHz the channel separation is >88 dB in both cases. Measurements were -110

-120

made with the tin plate screen fitted as mentioned in the text. -130

Curve e shows the frequency spectrum at 1 kHz at full drive and a sampling -140

-150
rate of 48 kHz at 24 bit. Note that all harmonics are well below –100 dB. 20 50 100 200 500 1k
Hz
2k 5k 10k 20k
990059 - 3 - E.eps
50k 90k

Elektor Electronics 1/2000 17