As a reviewer I like to keep abreast of what peers and colleagues cover AND how they cover it. I try to read as much as possible from fellow writers over at 6Moons and TONEAudio as well as the always excellent Audiostream. Doing so pushes me to become a better writer. Over the past few years, such reading – combined with my

S.O.t.M. = Soul Of the Music. I won’t be in Las Vegas next week but South Korea’s S.O.t.M. is set to demonstrate a brand new combination DAC and pre-amplifier at this year’s CES. The sDP-1000 DAC/Pre-amp supports up to 32bit/192khz PCM as well as the (supposed) next hot thing: native DSD. It’s a fully balanced design which – more arrestingly

I saw Wyred4Sound’s forthcoming portable DAC/head-amp at this year’s RMAF – now it has a tentative street date of December 2012. The µDAC-HD shares the same casework as the original µDAC, drops optical and coaxial inputs and picks-up a quarter inch headphone socket. Data feeds of up to 24/192 and Linux compatibility are handled by the (USB Audio Class 2.0)

Here’s something interesting from Channel Islands Audio. Their new Transient MKII USB convertor doubles as a DAC. There aren’t too many of these 2-in-1 products doing the rounds at the moment but we’re sure to see more of them in the future. Another way to think of the Transient MKII is as a DAC and a DDC.  It has both

New Zealand manufacturer Perreaux have announced their new high resolution audio preamplifier: the Audiant DP32. It’s a fully-balanced pre-amplifier with on-board 32-bit/192kHz DAC. At the heart of the Audiant DP32 DAC is ESS flagship 32-bit Sabre32 ES9018 chip. Connectivity is via six (6!) digital inputs: one AES/EBU, one asynchronous USB, two coaxial & two optical. “The DP32 raises the bar

NAD Electronics is now shipping the MDC DAC USB Digital-to-Analogue Converter.  Not a standalone DAC but a module designed specifically for two of the company’s most recognised integrated amplifiers: the C375BEE and C356BEE.  The MDC DAC slots right into the internals of either allowing for up to 24/96 playback over USB and up to 24/192 over optical. The MDC DAC’s

Having just moved house and the new apartment still in disarray, this blog post comes to you from Sydney’s North Shore where a tray of work-shy music lovers had earlier convened for lunch and an afternoon’s DAC auditioning. The key question on this fellow’s mind: is NAD’s M51 DAC as good as initial forum chatter might suggest? Due to the

Antelope Audio’s Zodiac D/A converters are now compatible with Apple’s iPad, allowing playback of audio of up to 384kHz files (WAV/AIFF) played and controlled from an iPad through the Zodiac DAC.  FLAC files are supported up to 192kHz via the excellent FLAC player iOS app. Connectivity is pretty simple:  plug an Apple Camera Connection Kit jack into the iPad and

It’s been a long while in development but Anedio will finally ship their D2 DAC in early February 2012.  Improvements over the D1 DAC include an XMOS receiver chip to enable asynchronous 24/192 over USB, balanced outputs and a redesigned chassis (fewer blue lights!).  The complete revision list can be read here.  Those keen on the measured side of life

Here’s another review sent for a lunar module ride across the surface of 6Moons. Months and months in gestation, a PS Audio factory tour cuts back to summary commentary of two years of DACs-to-date, which in turns leads into comparatives with PS Audio’s PerfectWaveDAC (it ‘wins’) and then onto my (99% excellent) user experience with the bespoke UPnP software that

DAR-reader Philippe G wrote to me with some thoughts on op-amp rolling in the Eastern Electric Minimax DAC.  A combination of his enthusiasm and the Australian angle of Burson means Philippe’s words (and photos) might be of some interest to other readers: “An informal guess: (Eastern Electric’s) Alex Yeung knows that the Minimax’s potential can be expanded by optimising the

Discrete output stage adds clarity and refinement to an already impressive package.  Guest reviewer Pete Mac explains… During the past few years, Beresford’s 7520 DAC has undergone a series of evolutionary progressive tweaks, predominantly pioneered by the DIY/mod community.  Clearly Stanley Beresford knows how to listen to his more committed fans.  What was once plain 7520 then became 7520 Caiman.