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DACs — Vitus Audio MP-D201 MK.III
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Vitus Audio MP-D201 MK.III
Image source — © Vitus Audio
The MP-D201 Mk.III is the converter model in the Masterpiece Series, the top range of Vitus Audio from Denmark. It is the third version of the MP-D201 and is built with aluminium body parts. The design is modular, so options can be added later, and a fitted option lets one chassis act as converter and preamplifier together. Warm Silver, Jet Black or Pure White form the standard colour choice, Dark Champagne, Titanium Grey or Titanium Orange make up the Unique group, and bespoke versions are available on request.
Key specs that matter
The converter stage relies on 16 Analog Devices AD1955 chips, eight working in parallel on each channel in a mono configuration. There are five digital inputs. A USB-B port accepts PCM up to 32 bit and 384 kHz plus DSD128, and two AES/EBU inputs on XLR and two S/PDIF inputs on RCA take up to 24 bit and 192 kHz. Analogue output is offered on balanced XLR sockets as well as RCA sockets, both with an 80 ohm output impedance. Vitus specifies a frequency response reaching beyond 800 kHz, noise at least 110 dB below signal at 1 kHz and THD plus noise below 0.01 percent. The case is 435 mm wide, 428 mm deep and 135 mm tall including feet, and weighs 25 kg. Standby consumption is 55 W.
Engineering and use context
Every incoming signal passes through the Engineered S8 sample rate converter and is upsampled to 792 kHz before it reaches the DAC chips. An updated master clock running at 24.576 MHz held to within 1 ppm drives all 16 chips, aiming to keep jitter low and timing consistent across the array. Placing eight chips in parallel per channel is a method of lowering the noise floor, because the uncorrelated noise of the chips partly averages out. A power supply with many ultra-low-noise regulator stages feeds the digital and analogue sections. A standard on-board volume is intended for level trimming. The optional module adds a pair of analogue inputs on RCA and XLR together with the discrete-resistor attenuator used in Vitus preamplifiers, turning the unit into a DAC and preamplifier.
Pairing
The low output impedance on both connection types lets the converter drive balanced or single-ended inputs of a preamplifier or integrated amplifier without a buffer. With the attenuator option fitted, the unit is able to drive stereo or mono power amplifiers on its own and still accept a line-level analogue source, for example a phono stage.
Alternatives
The Vitus Audio RD-101 Mk.II from the Reference Series is a smaller converter built around a single Sabre ES9038PRO chip with a streaming input.
Key specs that matter
The converter stage relies on 16 Analog Devices AD1955 chips, eight working in parallel on each channel in a mono configuration. There are five digital inputs. A USB-B port accepts PCM up to 32 bit and 384 kHz plus DSD128, and two AES/EBU inputs on XLR and two S/PDIF inputs on RCA take up to 24 bit and 192 kHz. Analogue output is offered on balanced XLR sockets as well as RCA sockets, both with an 80 ohm output impedance. Vitus specifies a frequency response reaching beyond 800 kHz, noise at least 110 dB below signal at 1 kHz and THD plus noise below 0.01 percent. The case is 435 mm wide, 428 mm deep and 135 mm tall including feet, and weighs 25 kg. Standby consumption is 55 W.
Engineering and use context
Every incoming signal passes through the Engineered S8 sample rate converter and is upsampled to 792 kHz before it reaches the DAC chips. An updated master clock running at 24.576 MHz held to within 1 ppm drives all 16 chips, aiming to keep jitter low and timing consistent across the array. Placing eight chips in parallel per channel is a method of lowering the noise floor, because the uncorrelated noise of the chips partly averages out. A power supply with many ultra-low-noise regulator stages feeds the digital and analogue sections. A standard on-board volume is intended for level trimming. The optional module adds a pair of analogue inputs on RCA and XLR together with the discrete-resistor attenuator used in Vitus preamplifiers, turning the unit into a DAC and preamplifier.
Pairing
The low output impedance on both connection types lets the converter drive balanced or single-ended inputs of a preamplifier or integrated amplifier without a buffer. With the attenuator option fitted, the unit is able to drive stereo or mono power amplifiers on its own and still accept a line-level analogue source, for example a phono stage.
Alternatives
The Vitus Audio RD-101 Mk.II from the Reference Series is a smaller converter built around a single Sabre ES9038PRO chip with a streaming input.
Specifications
Model name
MP-D201 MK.III
Conversion type
N/A
Engine
Engineered S8
DSD compatability
Yes
Parameters
up to 32 bit / 384 kHz and DSD128
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
N/A
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
800 000
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)
80
Output Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
80
Analog outputs
N/A
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)
>110
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (% at 22 kHz)
<0.01
Dimensions (mm)
135 × 435 × 428
Weight (kg)
25
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