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DACs — Allnic Audio D-10000 OTL/OCL DAC
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Allnic Audio D-10000 OTL/OCL DAC
Image source - (c) Allnic Audio
The Allnic Audio D-10000 OTL/OCL DAC, designed by company founder Kang Su Park in Korea, was presented by Allnic as an industry first - a digital converter whose valve output stage drives the line outputs with no output transformer and no capacitor in the signal path. The digital section was developed together with Waversa Systems, another Korean audio company. In the US the D-10000 sold for USD 19,000, in black or natural aluminium.
Key specs that matter
Two ES9018K2M SABRE32 Reference chips each handle one channel in a dual-mono layout. Five digital inputs are fitted as standard - one Toslink optical, one USB, one AES/EBU on XLR and two coaxial RCA. On order, the factory can change the coaxial pair to one RCA plus one BNC or to two BNC sockets. Supported formats are PCM at 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8 and 384 kHz, DSD64 over DoP and DSD128. Line outputs are one RCA pair plus one XLR pair, with a 50 ohm output impedance and 4 V RMS at full scale, and Allnic can set the level at 1.6 V RMS before shipping for systems that need less gain. A 13.06 kg chassis of 430 mm width, 320 mm depth and 170 mm height houses the circuit.
Engineering and use context
Eight valves are fitted - two 7258 pentode-triodes, two 12AU7 double triodes and four 6C19P triodes. Leaving out the coupling capacitor puts more weight on the valves, which have to provide the impedance match between the ESS chips and the following preamplifier. In the Waversa digital section an FPGA can upsample incoming PCM to 352.8 or 384 kHz, or convert it to DSD128 in real time. Two meters show valve bias and give an indication of valve health. The DAC ships with an Apple Remote. Its successor, the D-15000 Signature, keeps the OTL/OCL topology, the central group of valves, the twin meters and almost the same case size and weight.
Pairing
At its standard output level the D-10000 is able to feed a power amplifier that has its own volume control or a passive attenuator, while the reduced factory setting is a closer match for active preamplifiers with high gain. The XLR outputs suit a balanced preamplifier, and the BNC option helps owners of transports with BNC S/PDIF outputs. USB serves a computer or streamer, with older optical sources still covered.
Alternatives
The Allnic Audio D-15000 Signature OTL/OCL is the later valve DAC of the range, using two ES9039PRO chips and an external 10 MHz clock input.
Key specs that matter
Two ES9018K2M SABRE32 Reference chips each handle one channel in a dual-mono layout. Five digital inputs are fitted as standard - one Toslink optical, one USB, one AES/EBU on XLR and two coaxial RCA. On order, the factory can change the coaxial pair to one RCA plus one BNC or to two BNC sockets. Supported formats are PCM at 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8 and 384 kHz, DSD64 over DoP and DSD128. Line outputs are one RCA pair plus one XLR pair, with a 50 ohm output impedance and 4 V RMS at full scale, and Allnic can set the level at 1.6 V RMS before shipping for systems that need less gain. A 13.06 kg chassis of 430 mm width, 320 mm depth and 170 mm height houses the circuit.
Engineering and use context
Eight valves are fitted - two 7258 pentode-triodes, two 12AU7 double triodes and four 6C19P triodes. Leaving out the coupling capacitor puts more weight on the valves, which have to provide the impedance match between the ESS chips and the following preamplifier. In the Waversa digital section an FPGA can upsample incoming PCM to 352.8 or 384 kHz, or convert it to DSD128 in real time. Two meters show valve bias and give an indication of valve health. The DAC ships with an Apple Remote. Its successor, the D-15000 Signature, keeps the OTL/OCL topology, the central group of valves, the twin meters and almost the same case size and weight.
Pairing
At its standard output level the D-10000 is able to feed a power amplifier that has its own volume control or a passive attenuator, while the reduced factory setting is a closer match for active preamplifiers with high gain. The XLR outputs suit a balanced preamplifier, and the BNC option helps owners of transports with BNC S/PDIF outputs. USB serves a computer or streamer, with older optical sources still covered.
Alternatives
The Allnic Audio D-15000 Signature OTL/OCL is the later valve DAC of the range, using two ES9039PRO chips and an external 10 MHz clock input.
Specifications
Model name
D-10000 OTL/OCL DAC
Conversion type
N/A
Engine
2 x ESS Sabre ES9018K2M
DSD compatability
N/A
Parameters
PCM up to 384 kHz and DSD128
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Gain (dBu)
N/A
Output Level (balanced) (V)
N/A
Output Level (single-ended) (V)
N/A
Input Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Input Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Output Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Output Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Analog outputs
N/A
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)
N/A
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (% at 22 kHz)
N/A
Dimensions (mm)
430 х 320 x 170
Weight (kg)
13.06
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