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DACs — Merason Mountain
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Merason Mountain
Image source - (c) Merason
The Mountain is the top digital-to-analogue converter from Merason, a Swiss firm whose products are both designed and manufactured at home. It heads the Mountain Line reference system, which also contains the Mountain Pre preamplifier and the Mountain Power amplifier, and it sits above the smaller DAC 2 and DAC 1 Mk II in the range. Merason lists availability from 2026.
Key specs that matter
The converter accepts PCM from 44.1 kHz at 16 bit up through 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz at 24 bit, plus DSD64 and DSD128. Analogue output is 3.4 V RMS at 0 dB from the XLR sockets and 1.7 V RMS from the RCA pair. Merason gives THD+N better than 90 dB at a 0 dB signal. The chassis measures 45 cm wide, 14 cm high and 39 cm deep and weighs 18 kg, which is the size and mass of a large power amplifier rather than a typical converter.
Engineering and use context
The Mountain is aimed at a fully balanced signal path, with the XLR level set at double the RCA figure. The company states that it does not chase maximum numbers on paper and prefers to judge the finished product by listening, and format support stops at the listed rates while many current converters go further. Within the Mountain Line the unit is the source of a matched Merason chain, although it works with other equipment through standard outputs.
Pairing
The balanced output is best used with a preamplifier or integrated amplifier that has true XLR inputs, such as the Mountain Pre from the same line. In a single-ended system the RCA pair connects to any conventional line input, and the Mountain Power amplifier completes a full Merason chain after the preamplifier. A network streamer or transport with a clean digital output acts as the digital source.
Alternatives
The Merason DAC 2 is the smaller converter in the range, with two PCM1794A chips.
Key specs that matter
The converter accepts PCM from 44.1 kHz at 16 bit up through 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz at 24 bit, plus DSD64 and DSD128. Analogue output is 3.4 V RMS at 0 dB from the XLR sockets and 1.7 V RMS from the RCA pair. Merason gives THD+N better than 90 dB at a 0 dB signal. The chassis measures 45 cm wide, 14 cm high and 39 cm deep and weighs 18 kg, which is the size and mass of a large power amplifier rather than a typical converter.
Engineering and use context
The Mountain is aimed at a fully balanced signal path, with the XLR level set at double the RCA figure. The company states that it does not chase maximum numbers on paper and prefers to judge the finished product by listening, and format support stops at the listed rates while many current converters go further. Within the Mountain Line the unit is the source of a matched Merason chain, although it works with other equipment through standard outputs.
Pairing
The balanced output is best used with a preamplifier or integrated amplifier that has true XLR inputs, such as the Mountain Pre from the same line. In a single-ended system the RCA pair connects to any conventional line input, and the Mountain Power amplifier completes a full Merason chain after the preamplifier. A network streamer or transport with a clean digital output acts as the digital source.
Alternatives
The Merason DAC 2 is the smaller converter in the range, with two PCM1794A chips.
Specifications
Model name
Mountain
Conversion type
N/A
Engine
N/A
DSD compatability
Yes
Parameters
up to 192 kHz@24 bit and DSD128
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Gain (dBu)
N/A
Output Level (balanced) (V)
3.4
Output Level (single-ended) (V)
1.7
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)
140 x 390 x 450
Weight (kg)
18
Official link
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