Here are the details of implementation that make for a stellar sounding DAC:
1) lots of fast regulators, usually discrete and not shared between circuits
2) fast logic family used to minimize added jitter
3) optimum selection and placement of power decoupling caps
4) good PC board design without ground-plane cuts
5) minimized trace lengths for both analog and digital sections, forcing the uncritical signals take longer paths
6) low-jitter oscillators when used
7) minimization of stages, both analog and digital
8) proper ground-plane referencing for both analog and digital signals
9) high-quality signal pass caps for analog, when needed
10) clever use of gates and dividers to minimize jitter added
11) optimized use and selection of op-amps and knowledge of how to make them sound good
12) careful selection of peripheral parts, including USB chips, S/PDIF receivers etc. They are not all the same.
13) avoiding reclocking on inputs to enable benefits of lower jitter input signals
14) careful selection of power supply technology and implementation, not necessarily all linear
15) careful use of on-board impedance matching for all digital transmission lines
16) proper selection of impedance-matched input connectors
It's a lot like juggling a lot of spinning plates. Every aspect is important and must be considered simultaneously while designing.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio
1) lots of fast regulators, usually discrete and not shared between circuits
2) fast logic family used to minimize added jitter
3) optimum selection and placement of power decoupling caps
4) good PC board design without ground-plane cuts
5) minimized trace lengths for both analog and digital sections, forcing the uncritical signals take longer paths
6) low-jitter oscillators when used
7) minimization of stages, both analog and digital
8) proper ground-plane referencing for both analog and digital signals
9) high-quality signal pass caps for analog, when needed
10) clever use of gates and dividers to minimize jitter added
11) optimized use and selection of op-amps and knowledge of how to make them sound good
12) careful selection of peripheral parts, including USB chips, S/PDIF receivers etc. They are not all the same.
13) avoiding reclocking on inputs to enable benefits of lower jitter input signals
14) careful selection of power supply technology and implementation, not necessarily all linear
15) careful use of on-board impedance matching for all digital transmission lines
16) proper selection of impedance-matched input connectors
It's a lot like juggling a lot of spinning plates. Every aspect is important and must be considered simultaneously while designing.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio