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Part Selection

Let's start to select the parts, circuits, we could potentially use ...

First of all, let's define some constraints, needs we want to get provided.

  • the DAC should have a noise spectrum of: <10nV/sqrt(Hz)
  • the DAC should have a settling time of: <1microSec (so that higher sample rate is possible)
  • the DAC should have a very small and short glitch period
  • it can be a single DAC, but a Dual or Quad DAC can give us benefit if all in one package (drift, same temperature, similar parameters ...)
  • if DAC has built-in feedback resistors - would be nice (drift, temperature, same effect on all channels)
  • DAC should be able to accept LVTTL/CMOS (3.3V) digital signals (for direct connection of FPGA)
  • DAC should work with very high reference voltage: +/- 15V or more
  • DAC must have an LDAC signal, used to synchronize the data words, to activate in synchronous way all DACs
  • DAC should have a high Slew Rate: >30V/microSec (settling time and full Vref range)
  • the OpAmps for further processing should fit to DAC:
  • at least the same Slew Rate: >30V/microSec
  • OpAmp must run with same power suppy voltage: >+/-15V, Rail-to-Rail would be nice
  • OpAmp should have a low voltage input spectrum: <6nV/sqrt(Hz), smaller as DAC
  • the distortion, THD, THD+N, should be small: <-100dBc, even better: -120dB would be great
  • the OpAmp must have low offsets and bias (necessary for this type of DAC)

16bit DACs

There seem to be two candidates for the DAC chip:

  • Texas Instruments, TI DAC8871B : this is a 16bit single DAC, supporting +/-18Vref, 10nV/sqrt(Hz), 1microSec - OK
  • Analog Devices, AD5544 : as quad DAC (nice), 16bit, noise is better: 7nV/sqrt(Hz), 0.9microSec, just Vref is a bit smaller: +/-15V, and: it is a current DAC, DAC8871B is voltage output, current output is way better - looks a bit more promissing

OpAmps

There are several options which have to be investigate further:

  • Texas Instruments, TI OPA211 - prefered
  • Texas Instruments, TI OPA827 - FET
  • Texas Instruments, TI OPA1611
  • Texas Instruments, TI OPA634
  • Texas Instruments, TI THS3201
  • Analog Devices, ADA4891-1 - quite nice, prefered
  • Analog Devices, ADA4627-1 - not Rail-to-Rail
  • Analog Devices, AD744 - BiFET
  • Analog Devices, AD844B-1 - very fast, but bad offsets

Voltage Reference

There are several options which have to be investigate further:

  • Texas Instruments, TI OPA2277 - Dual (nice for + and -)
  • Analog Devices AD688 - Dual (nice for + and -)
  • Maxim, MAX6143
  • Texas Instruments, TI REF50101
  • Texas Instruments, TI REF102

OpAmp Selection

OpAmp Selection

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First Conclusion

Let's assume we follow also the concept of a Bi-DAC - why not using also a PCM1794A DAC for it? We could combine the DualMono concept with the Bi-DAC concept.

We know this DAC quite well, e.g. T-DAC, RPiDAC. And potentially we can run it instead of +6V (already used) with an even higher voltage, e.g. +7 or +8V which gives us also a bit more headroom for a nice SNR. Just to check how far away official specs we can operate.

The use of a real NOS DAC and running with a quite high Vref, e.g. +-17V, seems to have the benefit of an easier management to provide a high SNR. But we do not know what happens on the cross-over, the sum functions, what is the non-linearity we create? OK, we had to verify and try (and measure).

Which OpAmp is quite obvious from the investigation: OPA211 seems to be a great candidate. Also, the ADA4627B seems to be a nice one.

Regarding the other options: even I like the LME49990 due to its amazing noise and THD parameters, I have used it and the OPA827 as well in RPi-DAC, T-DAC. And it sounds to me, the OPA827 is doing a bit better but this could be due to fact a FET OpAmp might work better on an I/V stage. But hard to judge just on personal experience. OK, maybe let's try the OPA211 also in a RPi-DAC setup first and measure there the performance (to measure is always a great idea).

Nevertheless, let's try to continue with the concept, actually extend it already by a Bi-DAC approach and let's check how we can handle the sum function. Just to bear in mind: I check the quality always with a headphone, using another power amp and loudspeakers might complicate the things. So, we need also a well selected OpAmp to sum the Bi-DAC channel output and to provide a nice headphone or line driver OpAmp.

Let the bird sing our favorite songs!