Can Anyone Please Recommend Me a WM8740 / WM8741 / WM8742 DAC?

[spaceman]

Hi All

I am interested in buying a USB DAC based on WM8740/1/2.

Can anyone please recommend some that are USB Powered?

Also, I was told that the WM8741/2 are a bit better than the WM8740,
is that correct?

Thank you all

[tso310]

A nice cheap option is the Cambridge DacMagic 100 (WM8742). Performance can be enhanced by changing the the capacitors, if you are up for that.

[spaceman]

Thank you very much TSO.

 

200$ is considered cheap?

I was hoping for a 100$ area..

Is that possible? (If anyone knows a WM8742 DAC for upto 100$)

[spaceman]

From the lack of answers, I assume this means there aren't any more relevant options.

 

I wonder why there aren't many DAC products based on the WM8742/1 chip.

 

 

In any case, back to the Cmbridge Audio option,

You wrote

>Performance can be enhanced by changing the the capacitors

 

If someone is into this,

what should be changed?

Just to replace the original ones to another kind?

 

[tso310]

visit http://audiopurist.pl/en/mods-en/cambridge-audio-dacmagic-100-modification-eng/ if you are not into unsoldering-resoldering components then give it a miss. Naturally one should ditch the wall wart that comes with it and get a proper power supply 12V/2A. I use one I bought from MCRU in the UK many years ago but I suspect its out of your pocket. Its a decent DAC which still gets good reviews. I only use it these days on a headphone system.

[spaceman]

>visit http://audiopurist.pl/en/mods-en/cambridge-audio-dacmagic-100-modification-eng/

Thank you very much for the link.

This includes unsoldering and soldering of SMD components too.

The second I saw that I closed the browser :))

After seeing this, I understand this is definitely not for me.

 

 

>Naturally one should ditch the wall wart that comes with it and get a proper power supply 12V/2A.

Have you ever considered powering a DAC with a battery(ies)?

On one hand it bring a "headache" of having to recharge them occasionally..

But on the other hand you get a completely flat DC, without any ripple caused by switching step-down or step-up converters..

What do you think?

 

 

>Its a decent DAC which still gets good reviews. I only use it these days on a headphone system.

Hmm..

My use of a DAC is for Speakers, not headphones.

I don't use headphones at all..

 

What DAC do you use for your speakers?

[tso310]

The link mods are for non smd only. I never touch smd components.

Yes I have thought of battery power at the moment other things are taking higher priority.

I'm currently using an Audiolab M-DAC with Swagman power supply and upgraded many electrolytic caps myself. Saw some reviews from last year which still rate the sound highly. It is extremely good even with just 96khz USB No DSD unfortunately so will probably change next year with DIY boards, possibly an R2R DAC.

I am also using an XDUOO XD-05 with a Burson op-amp. This portable (just about) DAC does DSD and is battery powered, about 10 hours. I use this in conjunction with an ASUS Tinker Board S running Volumio. It uses an AK4490 and I really like the sound. The Burson opens it out. Its my Thai system as my wife and I winter in Thailand and its easy to transport.

 

[spaceman]

>No DSD unfortunately so will probably change next year with DIY boards, possibly an R2R DAC.
What R2R DAC are you planning to use?

>I am also using an XDUOO XD-05 with a Burson op-a mp.
This Burson op-a mp came from the factory, or it's a modification you did?

>Its my Thai system as my wife and I winter in Thailand and its easy to transport.
Wow, the good life..

[Viktor]

Why not try Exposure XM7 pre or even HD if headphone amping is important? 

As far as I remember they should be Wolfson DACs. 

[spaceman]

Hi Victor

 

3000$ Preamplifier?

 

Isn't that just a bit extreme?

[Viktor]

It is a bit extreme maybe, but it shouldn't be 3K.

It's less than 1300 £ here in EU.

 

https://www.exposurehifi.com/reviews/item/xm7-pre-xm9-mono-amplifiers-hifi-choice-november-2017.html

 

 

[spaceman]

It's an insane price anyhow.

Thank you anyway.

[semente]

On 5/18/2019 at 9:34 AM, spaceman said:

Hi All

I am interested in buying a USB DAC based on WM8740/1/2.

Can anyone please recommend some that are USB Powered?

Also, I was told that the WM8741/2 are a bit better than the WM8740,
is that correct?

Thank you all

 

What's so special about that particuar D/A chip?

[mansr]

12 minutes ago, semente said:

What's so special about that particuar D/A chip?

No other chip has that number.

[spaceman]

;)

[manueljenkin]

I guess I'm very late here. Amb gamma 3 uses Wolfson 8741. It's a diy project and you could customize a lot of things if you feel like.

 

Regarding what is potentially special about that chip, maybe the following blogs can give some clue.

 

https://www.itsonlyaudio.com/audio-hardware/wm8741_vs_ess9023/

 

Paragraph 5 in first post : http://www.audio-perfection.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=462

 

The original blog is here: http://s-audio.systems/blog/

 

I apologize for linking to another forum but the content is too good to miss out on.