How to choose components?

[Mikko Helin]

> For example, I'll need a 16 bit DAC, multichannel (I need 16 channels), with
> serial input. Where do I start looking? Will it maybe be be better(/cheaper)
> to use an ordinary DAC and mulptiplex it? How do you find out these things?

Maxim has some 16 bit DAC (MX541?) in 8 pin DIL case, the use two 8 ch
multiplexers (they are more common than 16 ch though these aren't
either difficult to find).
 
- Mikko