All
DACs — Audio Note DAC 5
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Audio Note DAC 5
Image source — © Audio Note
The DAC 5, known in its current form as the DAC 5 Special, is a heavyweight D/A converter made by Audio Note (UK) built around a selected 18-bit Analog Devices AD1865N converter chip. It uses the company's 1x oversampling direct from disc approach and relies on transformers at the digital input, the current to voltage interface and the valve output stage.
Key specs that matter
The converter accepts 44.1, 48 and 96 kHz signals through two switchable, silver plated digital inputs, one RCA and one XLR. Audio Note quotes a reference output of 3.2 V RMS, 600 Ohm output impedance on balanced or single-ended connections, and channel balance within 0.2 dB. The valve complement is one 5814a, one 6463, one 6X5, one ECL82 and one 5651. The chassis measures 145 mm high, 450 mm wide and 425 mm deep, and the unit weighs 22 kg.
Engineering and use context
A Crystal CS8414CS chip acts as the digital receiver. Both digital inputs pass through silver-wired, mu-metal cored toroidal transformers made by Audio Note, one TRANS-278 and one TRANS-268. After the AD1865N, current to voltage conversion is handled by two copper-wired, fully interleaved transformers on Supermumetal 250 cores rather than by an op-amp or resistor. Analogue filtering uses a silver-wired choke with a copper foil paper in oil capacitor. The output stage places two NOS 5687 double triodes in series with copper-wired output transformers of 33 to 1 ratio, alongside silver-wired Radiometal double C-core transformers with 0.2 mm laminations. A dual mono supply feeds the circuit through several regulation stages. Mains fusing is 1.6 A anti-surge for 110 or 120 V operation and 800 mA for 220 or 240 V. As in every Audio Note converter, the design contains no jitter correction stage, no noise shaping and no clock recovery, which the company regards as damaging to the time structure of the signal.
Pairing
The switchable RCA and XLR digital inputs let a CD transport or streamer connect over coaxial S/PDIF or AES/EBU. The analogue outputs feed a preamplifier or integrated amplifier at line level, and the output level is suited to standard line inputs. Given its weight and full width, it needs a sturdy rack shelf, ideally alongside other full-size Audio Note components.
Alternatives
Positioned below it in the range, the Audio Note DAC 4.1x Balanced uses the same AD1865N chip and casing dimensions with a 1.5 V RMS output and an 18 kg weight.
Key specs that matter
The converter accepts 44.1, 48 and 96 kHz signals through two switchable, silver plated digital inputs, one RCA and one XLR. Audio Note quotes a reference output of 3.2 V RMS, 600 Ohm output impedance on balanced or single-ended connections, and channel balance within 0.2 dB. The valve complement is one 5814a, one 6463, one 6X5, one ECL82 and one 5651. The chassis measures 145 mm high, 450 mm wide and 425 mm deep, and the unit weighs 22 kg.
Engineering and use context
A Crystal CS8414CS chip acts as the digital receiver. Both digital inputs pass through silver-wired, mu-metal cored toroidal transformers made by Audio Note, one TRANS-278 and one TRANS-268. After the AD1865N, current to voltage conversion is handled by two copper-wired, fully interleaved transformers on Supermumetal 250 cores rather than by an op-amp or resistor. Analogue filtering uses a silver-wired choke with a copper foil paper in oil capacitor. The output stage places two NOS 5687 double triodes in series with copper-wired output transformers of 33 to 1 ratio, alongside silver-wired Radiometal double C-core transformers with 0.2 mm laminations. A dual mono supply feeds the circuit through several regulation stages. Mains fusing is 1.6 A anti-surge for 110 or 120 V operation and 800 mA for 220 or 240 V. As in every Audio Note converter, the design contains no jitter correction stage, no noise shaping and no clock recovery, which the company regards as damaging to the time structure of the signal.
Pairing
The switchable RCA and XLR digital inputs let a CD transport or streamer connect over coaxial S/PDIF or AES/EBU. The analogue outputs feed a preamplifier or integrated amplifier at line level, and the output level is suited to standard line inputs. Given its weight and full width, it needs a sturdy rack shelf, ideally alongside other full-size Audio Note components.
Alternatives
Positioned below it in the range, the Audio Note DAC 4.1x Balanced uses the same AD1865N chip and casing dimensions with a 1.5 V RMS output and an 18 kg weight.
Specifications
Model name
DAC 5
Conversion type
N/A
Engine
Ananloue Devices AD1865N
DSD compatability
N/A
Parameters
up to 18 bit / 96 kHz
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Gain (dBu)
N/A
Output Level (balanced) (V)
3.2
Output Level (single-ended) (V)
3.2
Input Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
110
Input Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
75
Output Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
600
Output Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
600
Analog outputs
N/A
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)
N/A
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (% at 22 kHz)
N/A
Dimensions (mm)
145 x 450 x 425
Weight (kg)
22
Official link
