DACs

High-end digital-to-analog converter with DSD capability. Premium DAC for desktop audio streaming.

The Aavik D-180 is a digital-to-analog converter made by Aavik, a brand under Audio Group Denmark. It uses a 102 × 384 × 400 mm adhesive-free, anti-resonant HDF enclosure, differential floating topology with a virtual ground for the I/V stage, four-layer PCBs, ultra-low-jitter clocks, 13 low-noise voltage regulators, and a 100–240 VAC switching power supply. Its galvanically isolated asynchronous USB input supports PCM up to 32-bit/192 kHz and DSD128, while its two coaxial BNC and two Toslink S/PDIF inputs support up to 24-bit/192 kHz; outputs are single-ended RCA at 4.5 Vrms and 100 Ω.

The Aavik D-280 is a digital-to-analog converter manufactured by Aavik, with two BNC S/PDIF inputs, two TOSLINK optical inputs, one galvanically isolated asynchronous USB input, and one RCA line output. Its digital inputs are re-sampled and re-clocked by an asynchronous sample-rate converter to 200 kHz/24-bit PCM, with current-output DAC chips, a differential floating current-to-voltage topology using virtual ground, and 13 separate low-noise high-PSSR voltage regulators. The unit uses a natural-based composite cabinet with minimized aluminum, and includes 72 active Tesla coils, 176 active square Tesla coils, 8 dither-circuitry units, four selectable audio settings, and dimensions of 400 × 384 × 102 mm at a weight of 5.6 kg.

The Aavik D-580 is a digital-to-analog converter made by Aavik. It has five digital inputs, galvanically isolated USB, asynchronous sample-rate conversion and reclocking to 200 kHz/24-bit PCM, current-output DAC chips, and a differential floating current-to-voltage topology with virtual ground. Its circuitry uses 13 separate high-PSSR voltage regulators, while its noise-reduction system includes 108 active Tesla coils, 248 active square Tesla coils, and analog dither circuitry; the enclosure includes a natural-based composite cabinet and a solid-copper inner chassis.

The Aavik SD-188 is a streamer/DAC from Aavik supporting DLNA 1.5 and UPnP AV 1.0. It uses a fully chipless Continuum DAC topology in which a custom-programmed FPGA converts digital audio to DSD512, followed by a non-switching digital filter and analog filter; its power supply uses resonant-mode conversion. Connectivity includes two BNC S/PDIF inputs, two optical inputs, an isolated asynchronous USB input, RCA line outputs, and a BNC S/PDIF output, with 36 active Tesla coils, 72 active square Tesla coils, and three dither circuits.

The Aavik SD-588 is a network streamer and DAC made by Aavik, supporting DLNA 1.5 and UPnP AV 1.0. Its chipless Continuum DAC uses a custom-programmed FPGA to convert digital audio to DSD512, followed by a non-switching digital filter and a simple analog filter; inputs include two BNC S/PDIF, two TOSLINK optical, and an isolated asynchronous USB interface, with RCA line and BNC S/PDIF outputs. The unit incorporates 108 active Tesla coils, 216 active square Tesla coils, nine dither-circuitry sections, and three Gold Anti-Aerial Resonance Coils using zirconium rods and silver/gold-layered copper coils, and measures 440 × 430 × 116 mm and weighs 21 kg.

Der Aavik SD-880 von Aavik, einer Marke der Audio Group Denmark, ist ein kombinierter Streaming-Player und DAC ohne Vor- oder Vollverstärker. Er verfügt über S/PDIF-Eingänge (2 × BNC, 2 × Toslink), asynchrones USB, USB-Media-Anschlüsse und LAN; das gewandelte Analogsignal wird ausschließlich über Cinch ausgegeben, während WLAN und Bluetooth nicht integriert sind. Das 510 × 580 × 155 mm große und 33 kg schwere Gehäuse besteht aus Aluminium, Titan und Kupfer und enthält unter anderem 314 handgewickelte aktive Tesla-Spulen, 663 aktive „Square Tesla Coils“, 35 Dither-Schaltkreise sowie zwei aktive „zirconium anti aerial resonance Tesla coils“; der „Aavik Non-Switching Continuum Processing DAC“ taktet das Digitalsignal auf 22 MHz hoch und wandelt es ohne Schaltarrays in ein analoges Signal um.

The ACCUSTIC ARTS PLAYER IV is a top-loading CD player and D/A converter made by ACCUSTIC ARTS. It uses a CD Pro-8 transport housed in a resonance-optimized solid aluminum subchassis, with 32-bit/384 kHz upsampling, two coaxial S/PDIF inputs, one optical S/PDIF input, and asynchronous USB 2.0 supporting 32-bit/384 kHz and DSD 512. Outputs include one balanced XLR pair and one unbalanced RCA output; the unit measures 165 × 482 × 375 mm and weighs approximately 23 kg.

The ACCUSTIC ARTS® TUBE DAC II–MK 3 is a tube-hybrid digital-to-analog converter with an integrated volume-controlled preamplifier, made by ACCUSTIC ARTS® and handmade in Germany. It supports audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz and DSD64, with AES/EBU, two S/PDIF coaxial, TOSLINK optical, and asynchronous USB 2.0 inputs, plus native or 24/192 upsampling modes. Its analog output stage uses Class A topology and a 12AX7 dual-triode military tube, with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs, two toroidal transformers rated at 150 VA and 75 VA, and a housing made primarily from 10 mm aluminum plates.

The La Voce S3 Discrete is an Italian-made, filterless R2R ladder DAC using a proprietary FPGA-based, sign-magnitude ladder converter with no digital filtering or oversampling stage (Aqua official). Its modular AQ-i input platform lets owners select and upgrade digital input boards (AES/EBU, coax, TOSLINK, or fiber) independently of the core DAC and USB modules (Aqua datasheet).

The IBE Drive USB 3.0 32GB is a digital audio reference tool made by Ayre Acoustics and supplied on a USB thumb drive. It contains full-range sine-wave “Short Glide Tone” and “Full Glide Tone” sweeps, plus Pink Noise and Brown Noise tracks for system and room-response analysis. The 32GB USB 3.0 drive supports playback from a computer through a USB-connected DAC or through an Ayre Acoustics network streaming port.

The QB-9 Twenty Factory Upgrade is a factory conversion service for existing Ayre QB-9 and QB-9 DSD USB DACs. The upgrade adds Ayre’s Diamond output circuit, a JFET differential stage, AyreLock power-supply regulation, AC noise filtering, custom Ayre Asynchronous USB technology, an ESS ES9038Q2M DAC, a six-layer circuit board, and proprietary USB-domain reclocking. The resulting DAC supports PCM playback up to 384 kHz, native DSD up to DSD256 (4x), and HDCD decoding.

The Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty Digital Hub is Ayre's flagship D/A converter and digital preamplifier, built around an ESS ES9038PRO DAC chip whose stock reconstruction filters are bypassed in favor of Ayre's own zero-feedback, fully balanced Diamond output stage and proprietary Minimum Phase digital filter running on an FPGA. It functions as a full digital hub with ten digital inputs spanning Ethernet, USB, AES/EBU, optical, and S/PDIF, a 100-step digital volume control, and both balanced and single-ended headphone and line outputs.

The Ayre QX-8 Digital Hub is a digital audio hub and DAC featuring zero-feedback, fully balanced discrete circuitry, an ESS ES9038Q2M DAC, Ayre’s custom digital clock, Minimum Phase digital filtering, single-pass 16× oversampling, Diamond output and Equilock gain stages, and a linear analog power supply. It supports up to eight digital inputs, including Ethernet, asynchronous USB, AES/EBU, two S/PDIF, and three optical connections, with USB2 supporting PCM up to 384 kHz and DSD512 RAW, and Net2 supporting PCM up to 384 kHz and DSD64/DSD128 as DoP. Outputs include balanced and single-ended line and headphone connections, with rated levels of 4.5/2.25 Vrms for line output and 9.0/4.5 Vrms for headphone output.

No-frills studio-grade converter version of the DAC3 with Benchmark's UltraLock3 jitter attenuation; a reference for transparent delta-sigma conversion.

The Benchmark Media DAC3 B is a digital-to-analog converter for two-channel audiophile and professional audio systems, priced at $1,899. It uses an ESS 9028PRO eight-channel DAC chip, with four fully balanced 32-bit DACs wired in parallel for each output channel, and incorporates the UltraLock3 jitter-attenuation system, a digital PLL, and multi-mode asynchronous USB. The half-rack-width unit provides five digital inputs—one USB, two optical, and two coaxial—along with balanced and unbalanced analog outputs, supports up to 24/192 digital sources and DSD files, and includes a Control Lock feature for permanently setting the output.

The Benchmark DAC3 HGC is a combination D/A converter, analog preamplifier, and dual-headphone-output headphone amplifier built around Benchmark's Hybrid Gain Control (HGC) volume architecture, which blends active analog gain, passive attenuation, 32-bit digital gain, and a servo-driven volume control to preserve dynamic range at any listening level. It succeeded Benchmark's well-regarded DAC2 line and is aimed at studio monitoring and high-end 2-channel systems that need both a reference DAC and a transparent preamp/headphone amp in one box. Our researched current price of $2,399 is slightly higher than the ~$2,199 guide figure; Stereophile's 2017 launch review listed it at $2,195, and current official Benchmark pricing is $2,399.

Hand-designed and built by founder Gary Dews in Waldorf, Maryland, the DAC SE is a resolutely old-school 16-bit, non-oversampling R2R DAC built around the vintage Philips TDA1543 chip, a tube rectifier, and a pure-copper chassis, sold direct-order with no wide retail distribution. It has been reviewed by Stereophile and multiple independent outlets and has a long-standing following among NOS-DAC enthusiasts.

Dual-mono flagship converter with fully separate left/right conversion channels and linear power supplies, built in Massachusetts. Optional network streaming card adds Roon Ready playback.

The Bricasti M21 is Bricasti Design's flagship dual-mono D/A converter, combining three separate conversion topologies — a 24-bit delta-sigma path (built around a pair of Analog Devices AD1955 chips), an optional bespoke ladder DAC for PCM, and a true one-bit native DSD converter — in one chassis with fully isolated left/right power supplies. A direct digital synthesis (DDS) clock-recovery scheme reclocks incoming data at the DAC itself to minimize jitter, and the unit is available in Classic, Argento, and Platinum Series finishes.