Audiolab M-DAC+ - Black - DAC - Digital to Analog Converter

About the Audiolab M-DAC+ - Black - DAC - Digital to Analog Converter:

The new Audiolab M-DAC+ is a high-quality, multifunctional audio DAC (digital-to-analog converter) for home use, designed to be placed on a desk or table or integrated into an existing hi-fi system. It includes a highly dedicated audiophile-quality digital preamplifier and Class A output stage for connecting to a power amplifier and speakers (the output can be "fixed" for those wishing to use an existing preamplifier or integrated amplifier), as well as a high-quality output for headphone use.

A Classic, Redefined

The new M-DAC+ is based on the classic M-DAC, with some very targeted improvements, a logical step given the continued popularity of this model over the past four years. Since its launch in fall 2011, the M-DAC has earned an unparalleled reputation with both the press and the public, winning multiple "Product of the Year Awards" from the likes of What Hi-Fi?, Hi-Fi Choice and EISA as the "best DAC ever made."

"The Audiolab M-DAC+ gets an awful lot done. So much so that it actually justifies the "+."" (What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision, June 2016.)

Best DAC Circuits from the Audiolab M-DAC+ - Black - DAC

Like the M-DAC, the M-DAC+ incorporates the ES9018 Sabre Reference 32-bit DAC chipset, considered the best on the market. It is surrounded by exceptionally well-specified circuitry that leaves comparably priced DACs behind and includes a patented discrete master clock to minimize jitter, coupled with extensive time domain isolation. A JFET Class A output stage ensures that the audio signal, after conversion from digital to analog, is of high quality.

High Performance with DSD from the Audiolab M-DAC+ - Black - DAC

Under the hood are a number of performance improvements. The M-DAC+ now processes audio data up to 32-bit/384kHz via USB. This is a much higher specification as required for current hi-res music formats, fully equipping the M-DAC family for future developments of ultra-high-definition digital sound.

The USB input is now also available for DSD files (the digital audio system originally developed for Super Audio CD) and is compatible with DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256. This is an important improvement, as DSD plays an important role in the constant development of the high-resolution digital download scene.

Adjustable Sound for All Music Sources and Flavors

As digital audio technology advanced, the importance of "reconstruction digital filters" also became more appreciated. Like the classic M-DAC, the M-DAC+ features selectable filters for optimal listening and measurement modes. These filter settings allow the user to tailor performance to his or her preference depending on system configuration, digital file quality and music 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 optimize the noise floor for source file performance and the bandwidth of associated equipment such as amplifiers and speakers.

Improved Sonic Performance of the Audiolab M-DAC+ - Black - DAC

Another important change is the power supply. That has been upgraded and incorporated into the chassis of the M-DAC+, hence the slightly larger and deeper enclosure. A precision-wound toroidal transformer uses multiple windings to feed separate analog and digital rectification stages. From there, several power supply sections feed the required voltages to each area of the DAC, minimizing crossover interference. The result is the best-performing power supply Audiolab engineers have yet developed for a DAC, and its contribution to the M-DAC+'s improved sonic performance is significant.

Specifications of the Audiolab M-DAC+ - Black - DAC

• 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

View Audiolab M-DAC+, Digital to Analog Converter on the manufacturer's website.

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