DACs — Nuprime Audio Evolution DAC-2

The Evolution DAC-2 is a full-width digital-to-analogue converter and preamplifier in the Evolution Series of NuPrime Audio, the range where the company places its most elaborate power supplies and chassis work. The European list price is EUR 3,750, the warranty runs for three years, and the anodised aluminium case comes in black or in silver.

Key specs that matter

Two ESS Technology ES9038Q2M 32-bit chips decode the left and right channels independently. There are nine digital inputs - USB Type B, two coaxial, two optical, AES/EBU, two I2S/DSD ports and an extension socket - along with two pairs of RCA analogue inputs at 47k ohm. Under Windows the USB link reaches PCM 768 kHz and DSD512, and on a Mac it runs to 768 kHz at 24 bits with DoP up to DSD256. The first coaxial input and AES/EBU accept up to 384 kHz, the optical pair and the second coaxial stop at 192 kHz, and the I2S ports take DSD256. Every digital input decodes MQA natively. Outputs are one XLR pair at 8 Vrms and one RCA pair at 4 Vrms, both below 50 ohm. NuPrime lists a 20 Hz to 20 kHz response within 0.3 dB, SNR over 110 dB and THD+N under 0.0005%. The unit draws 13.5 W in use and 0.9 W on standby, stands 57 mm tall, spans 430 mm in width and 375 mm in depth, and weighs 5.2 kg.

Engineering and use context

A NuPrime PSRC chip performs sample-rate conversion, upsampling PCM from 44.1 kHz to the top rate and DSD64 up to DSD512 before the ESS converters see the data. The preamp section combines a Nisshinbo MUSES8820 op-amp with a MUSES72320V electronic volume, a two-channel resistance ladder that gives linear attenuation steps, and NuPrime applies its own non-linear volume curve on top. Each input stores its own level. Power comes through C-Core transformers, chosen because they leak less stray flux than ring types, housed in stainless steel shielding cans and backed by roughly 60,000 uF of reservoir capacitance. USB transfer is asynchronous, the mains selector switches between 115 V and 230 V, and DoP streams are accepted on coaxial and optical inputs.

Pairing

Because the output is regulated by the internal volume, the DAC-2 can run a two-channel power stage or two monoblocks over balanced leads without a separate preamp, while the two analogue inputs let a phono stage and another line source share the system. With the output left at full level it can also go into an integrated amp as a fixed-level source. The multiple I2S and AES/EBU ports suit transports and streamers from NuPrime or other makers that provide those connections.

Alternatives

The NuPrime DAC-9X is a smaller 235 mm wide converter built on dual ES9028Q2M chips that adds a front 6.3 mm headphone output rated at 1,700 mW into 32 ohm.