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 AA DAC in silver or black £4,500
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
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+ in silver or black £800
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.
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
Read more about Soulnote D-1N DAC
Soulnote D-2 DAC £7,700
Read more about Soulnote D-2 DAC