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DACs — Vitus Audio RD-101 MK.II
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Vitus Audio RD-101 MK.II
Image source — © Vitus Audio
The RD-101 Mk.II is the Reference Series DAC made by the Danish company Vitus Audio, designed to sit next to the Reference amplifiers. Vitus says it carries technology from the Signature Series SCD-025 Mk.II CD player into a more compact aluminium chassis. The Mk.II revision swapped the earlier ES9028PRO chip for the ES9038PRO and added a dedicated RJ45 input for network streaming. The other Reference Series models are the RI-101 Mk.II integrated amplifier, the RP-102 phono stage, the RL-102 line stage and the RS-101 stereo power amplifier.
Key specs that matter
The Sabre ES9038PRO does the conversion. It is a 32-bit HyperStream II part that ESS rates at up to 140 dB dynamic range and -122 dB THD+N. The master clock runs at 24.576 MHz with a tolerance of 5 ppm. There are five digital inputs besides the network port. The USB B socket takes PCM up to 384 kHz and 32 bits plus native DSD up to DSD128, two AES/EBU inputs on XLR accept up to 192 kHz, and two coaxial S/PDIF inputs on RCA accept 192 kHz and DSD64. Both the XLR and RCA analogue outputs present 75 ohm. Vitus quotes a frequency response reaching past 800 kHz, noise more than 110 dB down at 1 kHz and THD plus noise below 0.01 percent. The case measures 435 mm wide, 103 mm high and 396 mm deep, or 431 mm deep including the rear terminals, and weighs 12 kg. Power draw is 25 W in use and under 1 W on standby.
Engineering and use context
Vitus built the power supply for very low noise, with several voltage regulation stages feeding the conversion and output circuits. Its streaming board covers DLNA and UPnP as well as Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect, and with the MConnect app the unit plays Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify and Deezer along with music stored on a NAS or in shared computer folders. A USB slot accepts a Wi-Fi dongle for homes where a network cable cannot reach. The layout is modular, so later upgrades can be fitted to an existing unit rather than requiring a new chassis. The front can be ordered in white, black or silver as standard, and in orange, champagne or grey titanium tones as special finishes.
Pairing
Vitus presents the converter as the source half of a two-box system with the RI-101 Mk.II or SIA-025 Mk.II integrated amplifier. In a separates chain it matches the RL-102 line stage, whose inputs present 10 kohm, and both units share the same case width and height for stacking.
Alternatives
The Vitus Audio SD-025 Mk.II is the Signature Series converter and streamer, built around two AD1955 chips running in mono mode inside a 26 kg chassis.
Key specs that matter
The Sabre ES9038PRO does the conversion. It is a 32-bit HyperStream II part that ESS rates at up to 140 dB dynamic range and -122 dB THD+N. The master clock runs at 24.576 MHz with a tolerance of 5 ppm. There are five digital inputs besides the network port. The USB B socket takes PCM up to 384 kHz and 32 bits plus native DSD up to DSD128, two AES/EBU inputs on XLR accept up to 192 kHz, and two coaxial S/PDIF inputs on RCA accept 192 kHz and DSD64. Both the XLR and RCA analogue outputs present 75 ohm. Vitus quotes a frequency response reaching past 800 kHz, noise more than 110 dB down at 1 kHz and THD plus noise below 0.01 percent. The case measures 435 mm wide, 103 mm high and 396 mm deep, or 431 mm deep including the rear terminals, and weighs 12 kg. Power draw is 25 W in use and under 1 W on standby.
Engineering and use context
Vitus built the power supply for very low noise, with several voltage regulation stages feeding the conversion and output circuits. Its streaming board covers DLNA and UPnP as well as Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect, and with the MConnect app the unit plays Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify and Deezer along with music stored on a NAS or in shared computer folders. A USB slot accepts a Wi-Fi dongle for homes where a network cable cannot reach. The layout is modular, so later upgrades can be fitted to an existing unit rather than requiring a new chassis. The front can be ordered in white, black or silver as standard, and in orange, champagne or grey titanium tones as special finishes.
Pairing
Vitus presents the converter as the source half of a two-box system with the RI-101 Mk.II or SIA-025 Mk.II integrated amplifier. In a separates chain it matches the RL-102 line stage, whose inputs present 10 kohm, and both units share the same case width and height for stacking.
Alternatives
The Vitus Audio SD-025 Mk.II is the Signature Series converter and streamer, built around two AD1955 chips running in mono mode inside a 26 kg chassis.
Specifications
Model name
RD-101 MK.II
Conversion type
N/A
Engine
ES9038PRO
DSD compatability
Yes
Parameters
up to 24 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)
75
Output Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
75
Analog outputs
N/A
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)
>110
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (% at 22 kHz)
<0.01
Dimensions (mm)
103 × 435 × 396
Weight (kg)
12
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