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Standalone DACs

One way to enhance your system to upgrade your digital conversion to current specifications is to add a stand-alone Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC). This can be used for multiple reasons including some, or all, of the following:

Upgrading a CD player or CD transport
Upgrading and/or enabling sound from a PC, laptop or streamer
Upgrading sound from AV equipment or a games console
Giving multiple additional digital inputs to any hi-fi system
Pre-amp ability (with some models)
Adding a high-quality headphone amplifier (with some models)

After long listening tests we have decided to stock the following units which we feel offer exceptional value and performance, for their price points:

Audio Analogue AADAC (DAC, Pre-Amp and Headphone Amplifier)

We have been enamoured with the fully balanced AADAC since it arrived. The sound quality of this unit is totally seductive offering a large and large soundstage, excellent image separation, fine detail and micro dynamics delivered with finesse. Bass is full bodied and extended, along with class leading dynamics and depth of image. The compact 22cm wide unit has been designed to match the style of the other Audio Analogue products and looks striking. A worthy partner with and CD transport but a natural partner for the AAdrive shown under the CD player part of this section.

Audio Analogue AADAC (DAC, Pre-Amp and Headphone Amplifier) features
- High performance D/A converter stage up to 32bit/768Khz using Sabre ES9038
- Amanero USB converter up to 32bit/384KHz and native DSD (up to 512)
- 7 different selectable digital filters
Digital Inputs:
- 2 x Coax
- 1 x Toslink Optical
- 1 x AES/EBU Balanced
- 1 x USB B
- Antenna for Bluetooth aptX

Sample Rates:
- SPDIF (up to 24bit/192KHz)
- Toslink (up to 24bit/96KHz
- AES/EBU (up to 24bit/192KHz) digital inputs
- Bluetooth aptX® high quality audio wireless input (up to 16bit/48KHz)
- Analogue outputs:
- - Both RCA and Balanced XLR
- Separate boards for each stage
- Separate power supplies dedicated to digital and analogue sections
- Fully balanced and discrete audiophile components in the output stage to perfectly support the ultra-low noise and ultra-low distortion digital stage
- High quality headphone output
- Possibility to use in direct (DAC) or volume regulated mode (DAC + preamp)
- Full aluminium construction

Audio Analogue AA DAC in silver or black £3,750

I think the AAdrive and AAdac are both something of a high-end star combination, in the making. They deserve to be at the front end of some extremely high-grade audio.

It (Audio Analogue) can do to digital what it does so well to Analogue shouldn’t be a surprise. However, the fact it does it so well, making this one of the go-to front ends to beat at the price still comes of something of a surprise, in part because the AAdac, in particular, takes on an extremely contended market. And wins.

Finally, the AAdrive and AAdac combination taken together is worthy of note, as they represent one of the best ways of making a good sound from CD for the high-end enthusiast without £50k to burn.

- Alan Sircom Hifi+ March 2021

Audio Analogue AADAC (DAC, Pre-Amp and Headphone Amplifier

Audiolab M-DAC+ (DAC, Pre-Amp and Headphone Amplifier)

The M-DAC Plus is the evolution of the multi award winning M-DAC which took the world by storm. In our listening tests we found this to be a compelling listen at an attainable price. We compared this against DACs costing multiple times its price but the M-DAC Plus did not disappoint. It delivers a very credible holographic soundstage with natural tone offering outstanding value for money.

This is a small form factor unit only 29 cm wide making accommodation easy and provides many features.

Audiolab M-DAC+ (DAC, Pre-Amp and Headphone Amplifier)features
- Uses the ES9018 Sabre reference DAC chipset which is extremely well respected
- Proprietary, discrete master clock to minimise jitter
Digital inputs:
- 2 x Coaxial
- 2 x Toslink Optical
- 1 x AES/EBU, 1 x USB for PC and 1 x USB for iPod/iPhone/iPad

Digital Outputs:
- 1 x Coaxial & 1 x Toslink Optical

Analogue Outputs:
-Both XLR and RCA

Sampling rates:
- 24-bit / 192kHz (Optical, Coaxial and AES)
- 32-bit / 384kHz (USB)
- 2.8MHz (DSD64), 5.6MHz (DSD128), 11.2MHz (DSD256)
- Class A JFET Output stage
- Digital pre-amplifier which can be bypassed
- Various digital filter settings providing slightly different ‘flavours’ of delivery
- High quality headphone output
- Remote control
- Textured Aluminium Construction

Audiolab M-DAC+ in silver or black £800

Audiolab M-DAC+

Soulnote Audio DACs

Soulnote is a high-end audio brand from CSR Inc., founded in 2004 by the former members of Marantz Japan bringing much in-house expertise. Soulnote's headquartered are in Kanagawa, Japan.

Hideki Kato, Soulnote’s ‘Chief Sound Manager’ since 2016, has been working in high-end audio since late 1980s, having been deeply involved in the development of the legendary products from NEC and Philips.

Read more about Soulnote Audio and Hideki Kato

During his long career, Kato has designed both digital and analogue equipment. One question kept bugging him, which was why something which measured better on the scope did not necessarily translate into improved audio quality. Indeed, he found the opposite to be true in some cases. During our evaluation of products over many years, when deciding on products for our curated portfolio, we have often found this to be the case. Technical specifications and scientific measurements tell you nothing about sound.

Kato believes in listening to develop, not in just electronic design on paper. This focus on listening moves from the circuit and parts, to the chassis development too, where Soulnote have some innovative technologies including floating housings. All driven by the sonic advantages they bring not just the aesthetics.

Kato is pushing for what he calls, ‘Dynamic Performance’. Through his listening tests, he has developed products with NOS (non-oversampling) mode for PCM Playback in their DACs, as well as Zero Negative Feedback designs in their amplifiers. Both of these technologies lower measured performance, but to the ear they produce much better dynamic performance and listening enjoyment. Soulnote believe that the timing of the impulse is all important, as is the recovery of the impulse. The use of their technologies enables the fastest signal possible, and thus the best timing.

Products

All of the Soulnote’s series of products share a very similar chassis design and size within each range for a very cohesive system look. All components are available in silver or back anodised aluminium.

Soulnote Series 1 components have a thick, milled front panels but conventional basic chassis to the top, bottom and rear.

Soulnote Series 2 units are built from milled aluminium panels on all sides, as well an introduction to their floating chassis technology.

Soulnote Series 3 units are built with absolutely no compromise. As well as milled panels, it incorporates all of their floating-chassis technology: top and bottom panels, along with the input and output sockets.

We first evaluated the D2 DAC and were very impressed. It has a sound field bristling with information but is not bright at all. No high end harshness that is often the case with many current DAC designs. Bass is deep, taught and textured, a similar trait to their amplifiers. It conjures a realistic, large, 3-D sound field with natural timbres.

There is also a choice of NOS (non-oversampling) mode which bypasses a lot of the processing required for traditional oversampling mode, as is used in most DAC designs, as these require additional reconstruction filters and processing which can downgrade sound quality. The DAC also has filter options too allowing the owner the choice.

Soulnote D-1N DAC £5,400