View Full Version : tda 1541 - why not re-make?
a seemingly silly question it may be, though i am really concerned.
namely, this dac is (almost universally) applauded as 'the best of all dacs ever built', machines bearing it purchased as donors of pretty serious tweakings, and/or for spares just in case... true high-end players put ashmed by the modded 1541-based ol' mates... all these alluring aidiophools all over the world to become members of the 1541 society in huge numbers - BUT all dependant on the limited numbers and sources of this lil' marvel of dacs.
now, i wonder why not to start a 'campaign' to make a dac manufacturer re-produce the tda 1541? i believe the whole tweaking world would support the idea and then pay for the outcome, won't they/us?
I disagree about this being the best DAC chip ever made.. There were loads of compromises in its use IIRC and although my own machine uses one, I strongly suspect that modern DAC's properly implemented will comfortably out-perform it at the limits of the 16 bit performance (down at minus 100db etc)
I always (mistakenly?) thought that the audio output buffer was the most influential thing, together with any digital filtering needed *after* the DAC chip...
Hi Dave,
There were loads of compromises in its use IIRC and although my own machine uses one, I strongly suspect that modern DAC's properly implemented will comfortably out-perform it at the limits of the 16 bit performance (down at minus 100db etc)
I'm afraid that's not been my experience so far with my Audiocom-modded (TDA1541-based) DAS-R1, but I live in hope! :)
Marco.
Marco's Uprated Sony R1 DAC has a huge sound-stage, very natural and organic sounding. It is certainly reference material IMHO but I guess it was Sony's flagship in its day and Marco has had it heavily upgraded. I think you have to spend a little to get something close to it.
Hi Dave,
It was great fun having you guys round today - always a pleasure :)
Hope you enjoyed it too. I honestly expected much more from the Havana than it delivered.... :scratch:
Marco.
Hi Dave,
It was great fun having you guys round today - always a pleasure :)
Hope you enjoyed it too. I honestly expected much more from the Havana than it delivered.... :scratch:
Marco.
Yep, me too. I was quite disappointed with it having heard it at Ian's and Dave's. Your system is probably more revealing and showing its weakness. I wonder if I should have first let all those new caps burn in for a few days ?
David
Dave Hewitt
19-02-2010, 21:00
Hi, Dave,
Just bin it.Next week I will be mostly knocking up a psu for the isodac, see if it makes any difference.To Marco I may becoming a Kraut rock fan,much better than Nora Jones.In my opinion the satch dac seems fair value in comparison to the havana and its not compulsary to have a valve output stage.
Regards Dave.
It isn't mine to bin. I think Val might be upset if I did that. I am sure he wants it back sometime.:whistle:
Dave Hewitt
19-02-2010, 21:32
Hi
I have a plan to obtain at least 2000 tda chips.We all visit our nearest Cash Converter store and pick up the appropriate player with said chip fitted,simple.
Regards Dave.
Audiocom AV
19-02-2010, 21:33
a seemingly silly question it may be, though i am really concerned.
namely, this dac is (almost universally) applauded as 'the best of all dacs ever built', machines bearing it purchased as donors of pretty serious tweakings, and/or for spares just in case... true high-end players put ashmed by the modded 1541-based ol' mates... all these alluring aidiophools all over the world to become members of the 1541 society in huge numbers - BUT all dependant on the limited numbers and sources of this lil' marvel of dacs.
now, i wonder why not to start a 'campaign' to make a dac manufacturer re-produce the tda 1541? i believe the whole tweaking world would support the idea and then pay for the outcome, won't they/us?
Hello
If Philips remade the TDA1541 S2 then DIYER’s worldwide would celebrate, but I doubt than many OEM’s would take the product on.
The best way to enjoy the TDA1541 still seems to be DIY and you can still find the S1 versions if you hunt around.
Then there is the Sony DAS-R1, Marantz CD7 or Philips CD12/DA12 players & DAC’s, Ken Kessler uses a modified CD12/DA12 as his reference player.
Best Regards,
Mark
Hi Dave,
Yep, me too. I was quite disappointed with it having heard it at Ian's and Dave's. Your system is probably more revealing and showing its weakness. I wonder if I should have first let all those new caps burn in for a few days ?
Given what we heard today, I don't think the most super-duper, fully run-in, caps in the world would have bridged the (embarrassingly huge) gap between it and the Sony.... Mind you, like you said, we're talking about two very different price tags for both!
As good as the Sony was though I thought that the SL-1210 murdered it. I hadn't been listening to vinyl for a few days, so I guess that the sound of the T/T had gone out of my head a bit, but when it went in and the needle hit the groove, all of a sudden we had REAL music instead of just a very impressive snapshot of such... :eek:
Just when you think digital can't get much better, along comes a veritable (analogue) reality check that bites you on the bum and puts the cat amongst the pigeons!! :)
To Marco I may becoming a Kraut rock fan,much better than Nora Jones.
Hahaha.... Yes, I was surprised that you liked Rammstein. I could defo see you in a little German uniform throwing some shapes on the dance floor, doing ya goose-step thang! :dance: :lolsign:
Marco.
Hello
If Philips remade the TDA1541 S2 then DIYER’s worldwide would celebrate, but I doubt than many OEM’s would take the product on.
The best way to enjoy the TDA1541 still seems to be DIY and you can still find the S1 versions if you hunt around.
Then there is the Sony DAS-R1, Marantz CD7 or Philips CD12/DA12 players & DAC’s, Ken Kessler uses a modified CD12/DA12 as his reference player.
Best Regards,
Mark
Hi Mark,
How's it going, mate? I hope all is well :)
You'd have been proud of the way your modified DAS-R1 performed today during the sesh I had with the two Daves. I really should have you modify it further, but one wonders just how much better it could become?
Marco.
Spectral Morn
19-02-2010, 22:22
Hi Guys
Don't forget the AMR CD77, which uses TDA1541 Dacs, with a valve output stage.
Regards D S D L
Spectral Morn
19-02-2010, 22:27
Indeed :)
Marco.
Or the Zanden Cd players.
Regards D S D L
Audiocom AV
19-02-2010, 22:28
Hi Mark,
How's it going, mate? I hope all is well :)
You'd have been proud of the way your modified DAS-R1 performed today during the sesh I had with the two Daves. I really should have you modify it further, but one wonders just how much better it could become?
Marco.
Hello Marco
All is well.
It is time we caught up. :)
How much better can your modified DAS-R1 get? Answer, I have a modification for it that will blow your socks off!! This tweak I am excited about, it amounts to a high percentage of the gains you had in the last session in one hit. I will e-mail you next week with the info.
All the best,
Mark
Audiocom AV
19-02-2010, 22:32
Or the Zanden Cd players.
Regards D S D L
Hello,
Yes, two very capable players I missed. :doh:
The Avondale AAA5 is also superb, and for £450 plus donor player it is a steal.
Long live the TDA1541.
Cheers,
Mark
Hello Marco
All is well.
It is time we caught up. :)
Nice one and indeed! :cool:
How much better can your modified DAS-R1 get? Answer, I have a modification for it that will blow your socks off!! This tweak I am excited about, it amounts to a high percentage of the gains you had in the last session in one hit. I will e-mail you next week with the info.
Oooh don't get me excited, I'm not due to change my underpants again for a few weeks, hahahaha... I look forward to it!! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Good old TDA1541A, it'll still remain as ONE of my favourites .
Its problem is its expensive and awkward to work with if you want the best results, it requires more supplies than most and those supplies need to be very good quality, it requires careful layout and grounding, things like current to voltage conversion, digital filter and other critical parts are external which is great for us diyers but a pain in the arse for the manufacturers trying to keep costs down, most had to cut corners, so much so you end up with a finished product which often is a pile of crap. some TDA1541A's also required replacing after time because they went noisy.
Over time dacs got smaller and most of that external circuitry was now crammed inside the dac chip, it gets to a stage where the dac chip becomes much easier and far cheaper to implement although ultimate performance usually used to take a hit . Things are finally starting to get much better although there is still many crap new designs out there, probably more crap than decent stuff imo
I honestly expected much more from the Havana than it delivered.... :scratch:
Marco.
Wouldn't be surprised tbh looking at it, way too many over flavoured components crammed inside it imo, I'd imagine it would be showed up pretty bad in a revealing system
The Havana is not a bad DAC for the price. It is more detailed than the TDA but on Marco's Tannoy the Sony R1 had a much bigger sound-stage and presence. Bear in mind the Havana costs 800 usd were-as the Sony R1 original cost + 1.5K of Audiocomm mods ?
I personally would not buy one but rather go for the Satch DAC kit or a 2nd hand Copland 289 288 CDP. Anyone heard the latest Satch with tube O/P stage ?
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