DACs — Ayon Audio Ayon Kronos

The Kronos is a vacuum tube digital-to-analogue converter from Ayon Audio of Austria, a company that built its name on tube amplifiers and preamplifiers before adding converters. It is sold in three versions on one modular platform - Kronos XS, Kronos Signature and the top-level Kronos Ultimate - and any unit can be upgraded later. US list prices run from USD 7,995 for the XS through USD 14,945 for the Signature to USD 16,900 for the Ultimate.

Key specs that matter

The converter handles PCM at up to 768 kHz and 32 bit as well as DSD256, using a fully symmetrical DAC configuration built on AKM chips from Japan. Ayon quotes a dynamic range and a signal-to-noise ratio both above 120 dB, distortion below 0.001% at 1 kHz and a response of 20 Hz to 50 kHz within 0.3 dB. Output impedance is roughly 300 ohm on both RCA and XLR. In fixed mode the analogue outputs deliver 2.6 V single-ended or 5.2 V balanced, and in variable mode they span 0 to 2.5 V or 0 to 5 V rms. Digital inputs cover S/PDIF on RCA, AES/EBU on XLR, I2S, TosLink, BNC, USB and three further BNC sockets for DSD, and an S/PDIF output on RCA passes the digital signal on. The chassis measures 48 x 39 x 13 cm and weighs 15 kg.

Engineering and use context

Ayon builds the output around a pure Class A triode circuit with zero negative feedback, and no solid-state device sits in the tube output signal path. The valve complement lists two 6N6Pi, two 5687 and one GZ30, the last serving as a tube rectifier for the analogue supply. Two separate R-core low-noise mains transformers and ten individual voltage regulators feed the circuits, signal paths are kept very short, and an internal clock generator is designed for very low jitter. The Signature and Ultimate versions include true PCM-to-DSD conversion, which is an option on the XS, while the Ultimate adds reference-grade parts, higher-grade coupling capacitors and special power supply capacitors. Each unit is assembled by hand and ships with a remote control.

Pairing

Because level is adjusted in the analogue domain, the variable outputs let the Kronos feed a power amplifier directly without a separate preamplifier, and Ayon notes that the low output impedance suits long interconnect runs to the amplifier. The USB and I2S inputs make it a target for computer playback and dedicated transports, while the triple BNC set accepts DSD from professional sources.

Alternatives

The Ayon Stratos is a tube converter with analogue inputs and volume control, rated at up to 192 kHz PCM and DSD128 with an output of up to 12 V.