VDA•2 24 Bit Digital to Analog Converter
The new VDA•2 takes Digital to
Analog audio conversion to a new level.
Traditional DAC designs use brick-wall digital filters,
usually followed by more analog filtering to reduce
sampling noise, but cause signal degradation in the
process. Another approach has been to use no filtering at
all, but this adds noise to the analog signal. Both of
these designs have their strengths and weaknesses, but
neither tends to be a good trade-off. The VDA•2 design uses
only a mild "slow roll-off" digital filter and first order
analog filter to tame the sampling noise. This architecture
has reduced filtering artifacts compared to brick-wall
types, and lower sampling noise than filterless types,
resulting in a more "analog" sound.
Digital input signals are accepted by Toslink optical or
coaxial SPDIF, then fed to the CS8416 24 bit/192k low
jitter input receiver, then to the Burr Brown PCM1794
balanced/current output DAC. The unique output stage is a
fully discrete/zero feedback design and uses only a single
transistor per output to insure the purity of the audio
signal. Circuit board is high quality gold-plated 2 oz.
copper with lead-free silver solder construction.
Input selection and digital domain phase are selected by
convenient front panel switches, and an LED indicates
"LOCK" when a valid signal is being received. The output
arrangement allows for 2 pair of single-ended connections
or a single pair of balanced outputs (with optional VRX•1
cable pair). An external 14vAC power supply is included.
Upgrades
VAC•1 Power Supply
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Inputs: Toslink Optical, Coaxial SPDIF
- Locking Frequencies: 44.1k-192k (Coaxial), 44.1k-96k (Toslink)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz +/- 0.1db
- THD: <.03% 20Hz-20kHz
- Output Level: 2.25vRMS (Single-ended), 4.5vRMS (Balanced)
- Dimensions: 112mm (w) x 67mm (h) x 112mm (d)