1543 DAC Kit

Shown above is the blank PCB. At this point, I should be showing you the schematic, but I'm too lazy to draw it up. If you bother to search around this website, you'll find one. Besides, from a layman's perspective, what the heck about schematics? Looks like spaghetti to me! So here's a much easier assembly guide! (pardon the long download time). Click on image for higher resolution (and even longer download time). If using Internet Explorer, press "F11" for full screen view.

Is the above assembly guide self-explanatory? I certainly hope so. I'll have a FAQ section later. Note that C3, C4 and C10 are optional. Solder 0.1uF to bypass the big electrolytics.

There are 2 power supply connections, J4 and J5, for those who might want to experiment with dual supplies. If using just one supply, wire round via of J4 to round via of J5. Solder incoming supply to J5.

	1543 Non-OS DAC Parts List
	U1	CS8412CP
	U2	TDA1543
	U3, U5	7805
	U4	7808
	C2, C5	47uF or higher, >6.3V
	C3, C4, C10	0.1uF. >10V, Optional
	C9, C16	>2uF, >10V
	C11	>100uF, >10V
	C14, C22	0.1uF, >10V
	C20	3300pF, >6.3V
	C21	0.22uF, >6.3V
	R16	75 ohm, 1/8W
	R12	1kohm, 1/8W. Optional. Install with LED D4 or omit both.
	R17	470 ohm, 1/8W
	R18	1kohm, 1/8W
	R19, R20	1kohm, 1/8W
	L1, L2	>1mH or just replace with wire
	D4	LED. Anode (longer lead) goes to square via. Optional

Wonder what the fuss about 4xTDA1543, 8xTDA1543? Hear it for yourself! Just by changing resistors R18, R19 and R20, you can have all the fun. Yup, just these few resistors. Please bear in mind that resistor values are meant for 8V operation. If you change the supply, then you need to change the values as well. You have to change all 3 resistors, you can't get by by changing only R18 but not R19/R20. If you do so, and encounter problems (most probably you will), please don't write to me. I know a good psychiatric.

		1x TDA1543	4x TDA1543	8x TDA1543
	R18	1kohm	330ohm	~150ohm
	R19, R20	1kohm	470ohm	270ohm

If you are not too keen to solder/desolder many times on your PCB to "taste" the various sounds of paralleled TDA1543s, here's an easy way for you. Solder little sockets into vias for R18, R19 and R20. Yeah, sockets for TDA1543 as well. This way it's so easy to sample their various sounds, and choose whichever suits your taste. These sockets normally come in strips, just break them off into pieces. I use wire cutters, you can use your teeth.

When using paralleled DAC chips, it's absolutely necessary to cool them down! I use a small video fan, meant for 12VDC operation, but fed with 5VDC for dead silent operation.