Pt-100 --Dac using what chip set ?

[kauai82]

What chip set is the PT-100 and TA-100 using in the DAC section ? Really like the sound of DAC in my PT-100.  Matt

[kauai82]

No one knows ?

[novisnick]

I don't know but it does sound very similar to my DC-1 which sounded very similar to the XMC-1. Don't call me out on it but I'd claim they're the same DACs

[Axis]

They may have the same Burr-Brown DAC the Big and Little Ego use or maybe a Cirrus Logic DAC. I do not think Emotiva uses the Wolfson DAC but I could be wrong. Whatever the DAC used it performs very good according to reviews.

I thought the Big and Little Ego use the AKM Semiconductor DAC.

[knucklehead]

It's an AD1955a DAC. Look on the Emotiva website. Nice big picture of the DAC chip.

[kauai82]

Jun 4, 2017 21:51:29 GMT -5 knucklehead said:

It's an AD1955a DAC. Look on the Emotiva website. Nice big picture of the DAC chip.

Thanks for pointing us to the correct answer !

[vneal]

a
Information furnished by Analog Devices is believed to be accurate and
reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed by Analog Devices for its
use, nor for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties that
may result from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise
under any patent or patent rights of Analog Devices.
One Technology Way, P.O. Box 9106, Norwood, MA 02062-9106, U.S.A.
Tel: [phone] www.analog.com
Fax: [phone] © Analog Devices, Inc., 2002
AD1955
High Performance Multibit
- DAC
with SACD Playback
FEATURES
5 V Power Supply Stereo Audio DAC System
Accepts 16-/18-/20-/24-Bit Data
Supports 24-Bit, 192 kHz Sample Rate PCM Audio Data
Supports SACD Bit Stream and External Digital Filter
Interface
Accepts a Wide Range of PCM Sample Rates Including:
32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, and
192 kHz
Multibit Sigma-Delta Modulator with "Perfect Differential
Linearity Restoration" for Reduced Idle Tones and
Noise Floor
Data Directed Scrambling DAC––Low Sensitivity to Jitter
Supports SACD Playback with "Bit Expansion" Filter
Differential Current Output for Optimum Performance
8.64 mA p-p Differential Output
120 dB SNR/DNR (not muted) at 48 kHz Sample Rate
(A-Weighted Stereo)
123 dB SNR/DNR (Mono)
–110 dB THD + N
110 dB Stop-Band Attenuation with 0.0002 dB
Pass-Band Ripple
8 Oversampling Digital Filter
On-Chip Clickless Volume Control
Supports SACD-Mute Pattern Detection
Supports 64 fS/128 fS DSD SACD with Phase Mode
Internal Digital Filter Pass-Through for External Filter
Master Clock: 256 fS, 512 fS, 768 fS
Hardware and Software Controllable Clickless Mute
Serial (SPI) Control for Serial Mode, Number of Bits,
Sample Rate, Volume, Mute, De-Emphasis, Mono Mode
Digital De-Emphasis for 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, and 48 kHz
Sample Rates
Flexible Serial Data Port with Right-Justified, LeftJustified,
I2
S, and DSP Modes
28-Lead SSOP Plastic Package
APPLICATIONS
High End DVD Audio
SACD
CD
Home Theater Systems
Automotive Audio Systems
Sampling Musical Keyboards
Digital Mixing Consoles
Digital Audio Effects Processors

cost $10.48 each to the consumer

don't know why-don't care
but the PT100 & ELAC 5 speaker system really sings

[Boomzilla]

Hi kauai82 -

I, also, like the sound of my PT-100's DAC. In fact, I like it better than the "top of the line" Sabre DACs in my new Oppo UDP-205. How Emotiva gets such good sound out of such modest gear, I don't know - but the PT-100 is an absolute winner in my book!

Boomzilla

[KeithL]

I would like to point something out to those who may be new to DAC chips....
While Sabre DACs are indeed technically "very good DACs", they have a distinctive flavor or "house sound".
They tend to boost or enhance details - the result is that they either sound "more detailed" or "grainy and harsh" - depending on whether you find their sound pleasing or not.
However, they do NOT sound neutral.

So, in general, Sabre DACs sound somewhat different than all other DACs (most other DACs do their best to sound neutral).
(Note that the distinct "Sabre sound" may be more or less obvious with different circuit designs.)

Jun 5, 2017 8:35:55 GMT -5 Boomzilla said:

Hi kauai82 -

I, also, like the sound of my PT-100's DAC. In fact, I like it better than the "top of the line" Sabre DACs in my new Oppo UDP-205. How Emotiva gets such good sound out of such modest gear, I don't know - but the PT-100 is an absolute winner in my book!

Boomzilla

[hemster]

Jun 5, 2017 11:19:38 GMT -5 KeithL said:

I would like to point something out to those who may be new to DAC chips....
While Sabre DACs are indeed technically "very good DACs", they have a distinctive flavor or "house sound".
They tend to boost or enhance details - the result is that they either sound "more detailed" or "grainy and harsh" - depending on whether you find their sound pleasing or not.
However, they do NOT sound neutral.

So, in general, Sabre DACs sound somewhat different than all other DACs (most other DACs do their best to sound neutral).
(Note that the distinct "Sabre sound" may be more or less obvious with different circuit designs.)

Jun 5, 2017 8:35:55 GMT -5 Boomzilla said:

Hi kauai82 -

I, also, like the sound of my PT-100's DAC. In fact, I like it better than the "top of the line" Sabre DACs in my new Oppo UDP-205. How Emotiva gets such good sound out of such modest gear, I don't know - but the PT-100 is an absolute winner in my book!

Boomzilla

I liken it to sharpening of images. A little too much and it looks artificial.. or should I say.. less natural. 

[routlaw]

Jun 5, 2017 11:19:38 GMT -5 KeithL said:

I would like to point something out to those who may be new to DAC chips....
While Sabre DACs are indeed technically "very good DACs", they have a distinctive flavor or "house sound".
They tend to boost or enhance details - the result is that they either sound "more detailed" or "grainy and harsh" - depending on whether you find their sound pleasing or not.
However, they do NOT sound neutral.

So, in general, Sabre DACs sound somewhat different than all other DACs (most other DACs do their best to sound neutral).
(Note that the distinct "Sabre sound" may be more or less obvious with different circuit designs.)

Jun 5, 2017 8:35:55 GMT -5 Boomzilla said:

Hi kauai82 -

I, also, like the sound of my PT-100's DAC. In fact, I like it better than the "top of the line" Sabre DACs in my new Oppo UDP-205. How Emotiva gets such good sound out of such modest gear, I don't know - but the PT-100 is an absolute winner in my book!

Boomzilla

Interesting comments as I've been somewhat curious about the new Oppo 205 myself. Thus far there is not a lot of information/reviews (professional) on the product but I have found a number of consumer reviews that indicate this new Sabre Dac is considerably different sounding than their predecessors including folks who have owned the previous generation 105 model. And I know of a few people who have the Sonica DAC (same chip as the 205) made by Oppo claiming similar results. This would leave one to believe that perhaps Sabre has veered away from their traditional and distinctive house sound which personally I don't care for either with this new dac chip.

That said, at least in my system I don't find the Burr Brown DACS in my XMC-1 to sound anything like the AD DAC in my ERC-3 or the DC-1. Whether that has more to do with the way the signal is sent, i.e. coax cable, HDMI, transport or what have you who knows but they do sound different.

Thanks

[Boomzilla]

The Oppo BDP-105 DAC, to my ears, sounded quite like the DAC in Emotiva's PT-100. Both were relatively neutral with good sound-stage width and depth.

The Oppo UDP-205 DAC, to my ears, sounds like "Home-Theater-In-A-Box" products. Both Sabre & Oppo made a major step backward with their new implementations.

Can the sound of the Oppo be modified by a firmware update? Time will tell. And I suspect that the pressure will be on to make an improvement, because apparently I'm not the only one hearing bad things from the UDP-205.

Time to write to Oppo...