Download Audio Research DAC8 audio converter

Audio Reseqrch DAC 8
digitol converter
B,rn,n.Hugh
s
Like alAudio Fesearch products, the DAC B requires a hefty burn,I
at ts best ARC reckon on at least 600 hours. pllor
to be ng fuly rln n. the DAC 8 rnay sound a shade t ght ancl unbend ng - ike
per od llefore soufd ng
nce upon a t me, buy ng an
outboard DAC was simply
an em nent y sens b e way to
upgrade an o der CD p ayer
that was starting to sound
a ltlle laded. After al, buyng a new
DAC
promises to rejuvenate the sound of your ht-
fi system. upgrading your entire siver disc
colect on at a stroke. So - why not?
Cedany thal's the ure lor CD paying
audroph
les. Therefore n one
sense,
the DAC 8 wrl stand or fal by the eve of
rmprovement it de lvers over af exist ng
player's interna d g
ta
to ana ogue conveder
But. access to other sources of d gital mus c
s another reason to cons der buy ng a DAC
8 n-rore on th s later.
y but nonetheless fee a wee b t st tf.
However, with extended use the trebe opens-lp and grows sweeter
Overa l. the sound wi I becorne fleer and more re]axed, with r-ro loss of def n tton
or resolulion.
a brand new pair of shoes that fit pedect
Fodunately, oLrr Tevew DAC 8 had seen prevous actof ancl prompty
produced mpressive results.
We were immed ate y impressed by the bolcl, big bonecl sound of the
DAC B which de ivered massive presence, powe( and sca e. Of course, thls
s down to lhe quaity of the sound produced. But there's ar"rother reason.
Shrewdly, ARC has gven the DAC B's analogue outputs significanty hgher
gain than usua.
So, expect to hear an increase n volume of at east 2 or 3dB. {probaby
more), cornpared to most CD p ayers. When compar ng the DAC I against
your existing CD player, thrs means you'l need to reduce alnp ifier voume
wth the forrfer to compensate for this extra gain.
But, lntr guingly, even when vo ume leve s are reduced for the DAC 8, the
sublect ve mpression st ll seems to be one of increasecl power and greater
drve. Va the DAC B, mus c seerns to have extra presence and immed acy
leve s
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AUDIO RESEARCH DAC 8 DIGITAI- CONVERTER
"The DAC 8's state-of-the'q'rt digital
performance is the result of a low-jitter
Dual Mqster Clocls, which Produces
superior D/A conuersion. But it's more than
a one trich pony, and ARC haue talzen great
care to ensure the DAC 8 does full justice to
a wide range of digital source options."
I
does full justice to a wide range of digltal
source options.
Those of us partnering the DAC B with
a CD player/transporl wlll probably connect
using the conventional S/PDIF intedace
But, a USB 2.0 HS input, optimised for six
different sampling rates, is also provided
These rates are 44.1, 48,88.2,96, 176.4,
and 192kHz, makjng the DAC 8 compatible
with a wide variety oJ sources.
While S/PDIF remains the input of choice
to' 'igc qJal ly auoio. rhe DAC B p om
soundinq 'bigger' and more dimensional, with increased dynam c range and
enhanced impact and attack.
Curiously perhaps, this makes it posslb,le to listen at slightly reduced
volume levels. Because the sound has greater drive, lt seems to fill the room
more effortlessly. As a result, you don't have to play ihings excesslvely loudly
to create a big room-fil ing sound. The mus c projects with greater ease - just
like good analogue.
While the DAC 8 produces tremendous weight and security, its musical
presentatlon is subtle and finely shaded, with plenty of delicacy However,
there's nothing effete or fragile about the sound; it's always soLid and
authoritative. Tonally, the results are smooth and reflned, with a nlcely open,
highly detailed, top-end.
Subjeciively, the internal separation between voices and instruments
is extremely good too. This produces an enhanced sense of space and
depth, wlth increased dimensionality, plus the impress on of a wider deeper
soundstage, and less of ihat dynamic 'flatness' that can mar CD reproduction.
lmpressive stuffl
But while the sonic improvement delivered by the DAc B overyour player's
interna DAC s important, the versatility of the product is an equally strong
selling point. With CD sales in dec ine due to download ng, many listeners
want a product that allows access to music ln ditferent digita formats
The DAC BS state-of-the ad digital pedormance is the result of a low-jitter
Dual lvlaster Clock which produces superior D/A conversion. But it's rnore
than a one trick pony, and ARC have taken great care to ensure the DAc
ses
comparable high-grade peformance from
USB based digital sources. As a result,
Audlo Research claims the DAC B will
provlde superior sonic resuts, regardless of
the digital input chosen.
Moreovet unlike AFC'S DAC 7, the DAC
I lets vou listen to digitaL music at its original
sampLing rate, ensuring 'bit-perfect' low jitter
resuts. Because PC and [,4AC systems do
not properly support sampling rates over
96kHz, ARC'S special ASIO drivers ensure
USB sources stay sonlcally transparent at all
sampling frequencies.
Four 24bl digital to-analogue
converters are emploved, with each channe
having dual converters running in mono
mode. AFC claims this lowers the noise floor
and lncrease dynamic range. Two low jitter
- one for 44.1 .
88.2, and 176.4k14 and the other for 48,
96, and 192kHz sampling rates.
master osci lators are used
The master osci lator selects the correct
sampllng Jrequency automatlcally, avoiding
decod ng and quantization errors. A I inputs
are Galvanlcally isolated from the source to
e iminate noise and jitter entering the DAC
8. The analogue output stage features a
true direct coupled differential amplifler wth
bandwidth in excess of 90kHz.
The DAC
I
is a fully-balanced,
zero
feedback, solid state design, with a directcoupled FET output stage. The power supply
ls generously regulated, with separate audio
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34
>
i
> and digital power transformers,
AUDIO RESEARCH DAC 8 DIGITAL CONVERTER
CD, while absolutely delighting those
fundamenta ly happy with silver disc. lt
plus seven stages of regulation Circuit boarcls
are made from the same material used for ABC's Feference products
Those using the DAC Swith computer based sources can setthesampling
rate from 44.1 to 192kHz, allowing the inbuiit music seTver management
sounds very cean, and tona quality
bass and treble extremes.
software to up/down convert digital mus c source to the selected sampling
rate. This helps ensure optimum sound quality, regardless of sampling
Summing up, the DAC B is truly an
awesome sounding device. For Red Book
frequency.
CD, this is about as good as it gets - though
You can a so use custom sampling rate conversion algorithms or other
file formats provided by third-party suppliers, including Windows l\,4edia Player,
Tunes, J Blvers l\y'edia Centre, lvledia N,4onkey, Foobar, and others Perhaps
the onlv thing mlssing is a docking station for an iPod, and some sofi of USB
perhaps lronically, the product comes rnost
fuly into its own when used wlth sources
other than Fed Book CD. But even if CD is
all yol.r play, the DAC B can lle reled on to
deliver impressive class-lead ng results. +
wireless connection.
The DAC 8's USB driver software provldes your computer with specjal highspeed audio drivers not supplied by lvlS Windows or l\4ac OS Audio Research's
USB drivers are specially designed to deliver low iitter 'bit-perfect' data transfer
between the server/computer, and the DAC 8, at all sampling rates
TECHNICAT
SPECIFICATIONS
ABC drivers set up a USB interface that guarantees wide bandwidth'
independent of active bulk transfers from the hard dive Via the ARC icon
on your computer, you can set the DAC B to any sampling rate from 44 1
to 192kHz. This allows the music server/management software to up/down
Audlo Reseqrch DAC
I
lnputs: S/PlDF, (RCA, BNC. XLR), TOSLINK,
ond
conven music to the appropriate sampling frequency.
Thjs makes the DAC 8 perfect for those into downloads and computer-
based hiji, gjving jt a very broad appea. But, even when used iust as
USB 2.0 H5.
Outputs: RCA {Unbolqnced)
a
stand-alone DAC for CD. the DAC B delivers excellent resulis. Best sound
quality is obta ned via the balanced analogue outputs, but even the standard
unbalanced outputs sound great.
The DAC 8's big lmposing style of presentation ensures an lmpressively
full, commanding, solld quality of sound. Bass s very welghty and fu l-bodied
for CD, and th s helps create a sense of power and presence. The music a
but leaps out of the speakers and bounds over to greet you lt's a very tactile
(Bo
XLR
qnced).
Dimer sion': 48cm x
l3/cm x 2/cr
.
Hondles odd o furiher 4cm to fronl/
bqck depih
Weighl:7kg
Price: t4.698.00
I
Distributor: Abso ute Sounds, 58 Durhom
vlv d sort of presentation.
Rd, London, SW20 OTW
Those who usualy flnd CD a litt e reined-in and circumspect should revel
in the big, bold, three dimensional soundstage produced by the DAC 8. lt
really does brlng out the colour and drama in the music, especially when you
utllise its balanced analogue XLB outputs. The sound has real depth and
Tel: 020 8971 3909
dimensionality.
ln some ways, the DAC
8ls a mix of opposites.
While
t
delivers a
bg dimensional sound that's notab e for its depth and separation, it's
also
surprisngy subtle and refined. Nlassed violins, for exarnple, have excellent
attack and plentv of brilliance, whlle retaininq something of that 'woody'
me lowness you experience in
real ife.
ln this respect, the DAC B sounds very 'analogue'. lt's the sofi of digital
product that would find favour with those who have mixed fee ings about
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36
s
smooth and natural, with good extension at
U
RL:
www.obsoluiesounds.com
Monufocturer: Audio Reseorch
ilRL: www orrclioreseorch.com