Audiolab M-Dac+

999

The M-DAC+ is a great DAC-Headphone-Amp for the budget !

Works also as a pre-amp and will take your Ipad/Iphone directly with a simple Lightning to USA A Cable!

Description

Specifications

General description Digital-to-Analogue Converter
DAC ESS Sabre32 9018 chip
Sampling Rate 24-bit / 192kHz (Optical, Coaxial, AES)
32-bit / 384kHz (USB)
2.8MHz (DSD64), 5.6MHz (DSD128), 11.2MHz (DSD256)
Digital Input 2 x Coaxial, 2 x Toslink Optical, 1 x AES/EBU, 1 x USB for PC USB, 1x USB for iPod/iPhone/iPad
Digital Output 1x Coaxial, 1 x Toslink Optical
Output Voltage Balanced: 4.5V RMS
Unbalanced: 2.25V RMS
Output Impedance Balanced: 20Ω
Unbalanced: 10Ω
THD (1kHz 0dB 20Hz – 20kHz A wtd) <0.002%
Frequency Response 20Hz – 20KHz (± 0.2dB)
Signal to Noise Ratio RCA: > -115dB, XLR: > -120dB
Dynamic Range RCA: > 115dB, XLR: > 120dB
Crosstalk RCA: > 120dB, XLR: > 130dB
Dimensions (mm) 114mm x 247mm x 292mm
Net Weight 3.7kg

Overview
Redefining a Classic
The new M-DAC+ is based firmly on the classic M-DAC, with carefully targeted improvements in key areas – a logical move, given the original model’s sustained popularity over the last four years. The M-DAC built a peerless reputation with press and public alike since its launch in the autumn of 2011, scooping multiple Product of the Year Awards from the likes of What Hi-Fi?, Hi-Fi Choice and EISA to make it arguably the most critically acclaimed DAC component ever made. “The Audiolab M-DAC+ gets an awful lot right – so much, in fact, it comfortably justifies its ‘+’ designation”. ~ What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision, June 2016

Design
The Finest DAC Circuitry
Like the M-DAC, the M-DAC+ incorporates the ES9018 Sabre Reference 32-bit DAC chipset, still widely regarded as the finest available. This is surrounded by exceptionally well-specified circuitry that puts other similarly priced DACs to shame, including a proprietary, discrete master clock to minimise jitter, coupled with extensive time domain isolation. A JFET Class A output stage ensures that the audio signal, following conversion from the digital domain to analogue, is of the highest quality.

Technology
High Performance with DSD
Under the hood lie a number of performance-related enhancements. The M-DAC+ now processes audio data up to 32-bit/384kHz via USB; this is a far higher specification than that required by current hi-res music formats, ensuring this new, premium-quality addition to the M-DAC family is fully equipped for future advances in ultra-high-definition digital sound.

Pictured with 8300A Integrated amplifier.

The USB input now also accepts DSD files (the digital audio system originally developed for Super Audio CD), offering compatibility with DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256. This is a significant addition, as DSD has an important role to play in the developing high-resolution digital download scene.

Technology
Ajustable sound for all sources and tastes
As digital audio technology has progressed, the importance of the characteristics of reconstruction digital filters has become more appreciated. Like the classic M-DAC, the M-DAC+ features user-selectable filters for optimal listening and measurement modes, in addition to more conventional types for easy comparison. These filter settings allow the user to tune performance to suit his or her preference, depending on system configuration, digital file quality and musical taste. The M-DAC+ inherits seven filter settings from the M-DAC for PCM files and adds four more for DSD playback, allowing the user to optimise the noise floor to suit the performance of the source file and the bandwidth of associated equipment such as amps and speakers.

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Additional information

Color

Black, Silver

Brand

Audiolab