T+A SDX 3100 HV Combines a Preamplifier, DAC, and Network Streamer in a Single Chassis

T+A has expanded its flagship HV series with two new components – the A 3100 HV stereo power amplifier and the SDX 3100 HV multifunction preamplifier. The devices have been developed as the foundation of a reference-grade audio system and can be used together. At the same time, the SDX 3100 HV is more than just a preamplifier, serving as a universal control centre for both digital and analogue sources.

Inside a single substantial chassis, T+A has combined a fully analogue preamplifier stage, a high-end digital-to-analogue converter, and a network player. The streaming section is based on the third generation of the company’s proprietary Audiophile Streaming Architecture – ASA G3. It provides access to Amazon Music, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, and HighRes Audio, while also supporting Apple AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Qobuz Connect, and Tidal Connect. Roon certification is expected to follow at a later date. In addition, the unit can play DSD files directly from both local network sources and connected storage devices.

For the digital section, the engineers employed the company’s proprietary Path Separation Technology, which processes PCM and DSD signals through separate conversion paths. DSD is decoded without intermediate conversion at resolutions of up to DSD 1024 using the True 1-Bit single-bit converter. PCM signals are handled by a configuration based on four 32-bit Burr-Brown chips, providing a total of eight conversion channels.

Particular attention was paid to reducing jitter and improving clock stability. The SDX 3100 HV uses a master-clock system featuring two femtosecond crystal oscillators and multi-stage filtering. This architecture is intended to improve timing accuracy and preserve detail when reproducing high-resolution digital recordings.

The analogue preamplifier stage employs a fully balanced dual-mono design based on T+A’s proprietary high-voltage HV architecture. The separate construction of the two channels is intended to improve stereo separation, minimise interaction between circuits, and provide substantial dynamic headroom. The unit also features an analogue tone-control section that allows the bass and treble to be adjusted without converting the signal into the digital domain. Settings can be made independently for the left and right channels.

For vinyl enthusiasts, an optional HV phono stage board is available. The module is offered in versions for both moving-magnet MM and moving-coil MC cartridges, eliminating the need for an external phono preamplifier.

The T+A SDX 3100 HV preamplifier features a substantial aluminium chassis and will be available in silver and titanium-grey finishes. The recommended retail price is $44,900. The optional HV phono stage module costs an additional $2,190.