Hello,
we are designing for a "audiophile" customer and used the evaluation module equipped with TAS5518C and TAS5631A with success for first prototype and for demonstration. As development goes I killed that board and got a TAS5508C as replacement for the TAS5518C. This replacement was not a good idea in terms of sound performance.
Question: How long will TI continue to produce the TAS5518C and where can I get replacement pcs for the development phase? Or is there anything with comparable - or even better - performance coming out in the near future?
Thanks a lot
Michael
Hi, Michael,
Can you explain what you noticed different between 5518C and 5508?
The TAS5508C is fully in production, and has some enhancements over the 5508. I suggest you get your hands on some of those to try. I think you will like them.
-d2
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Don Dapkus
Audio Applications Engineering Manager
Dallas, TX USA
Hi Don,
thanks for your reply.
What we experienced was a loss in "brightness" of the sound. Nothing was changed in between, but the 5518 was swapped with the 5508. For engineering quite untypical we did not do any measurements but had a special listening room with a pair of high end loudspeakers and listened to the same pieces of music.
The ones with the audiophile ears say that brightness was lost (and they are not aware of the swap).
I was wondering whether this is due to the 110dB vs. 102dB performance and therefore I was trying to purchase a few of the 5518 and failed.
Thank you for any information regarding this topic - Michael
Michael,
That is very strange. I would not expect any changes in sound quality between the two...
You should be able to find some TAS5518Cs at various distributors... But, since it's NRND, maybe they have pulled it from their shelves... You might have to place a special order which might have a loooong lead time.
It appears that Digikey has some for sale. Their website is a little odd, conflicting info, but you could try with them.
Hello Don,
in order to verify the differences I had two experienced listeners in a blind test today. As I'm working under NDA I can't tell the company. They are audiophile loudspeaker producers and the equippment was in their listening room with their reference loudspeakers.
I had few different setups in the testing and the two listeners gave the following ranking for the boards with the TI ICs under question here:
1. Board 1 (TAS5518 and TAS5631) @ 48V
- large difference here -
2. Board 2 (TAS5508 and TAS5631) @ 48V
3. Board 1 @ 30V
- small difference here -
4. Board 2 @ 30V
The volume setting on the 5518/5508 was set to have identical volume in all tests. The boards were driven with the same power source during the tests and the boards were more or less unmodified Evaluation Kit boards (with the 5508 replacing the 5518 for board 1). Audio source was I2S digital input with the same I2S player. Tests were not done in order and the listeners didn't know what setup they were ranking.
So the conclusion was clear that the 5518 shoud be used for the series product. I found a few samples for development and/or repair but didn't find a supplier willing to deliver for a new serial product. Can't you tell me TI's schedule for stopping 5518 production?
BTW: Testing today also showed with TI's Evaluation Modules that the TAS5261 / TAS5518 combination was performing way superior (what a surprise ;-) ).I don't have a TAS5261 Testboard modified with the TAS5508...
Thanks for your help and information