ЦАПы — Audio Analogue AADAC

The AAdac is a standalone D/A converter from Audio Analogue, the Italian brand owned by AF Group. It was introduced in March 2020 as part of the PureAA line, and its discrete, separately powered construction draws on the Anniversary amplifier range. The same box works as a DAC, as a fully balanced preamplifier and as a headphone amplifier. At launch the UK price was GBP 3,299, and buyers can choose black or silver.

Key specs that matter

An ESS Sabre ES9038 chip performs the conversion, rated up to 32 bit and 768 kHz. The USB input uses an Amanero Combo384 module that accepts up to 32 bit and 384 kHz PCM and native DSD512. Two coaxial S/PDIF inputs and the AES/EBU input take up to 24 bit and 192 kHz, while the Toslink input is limited to 24 bit and 96 kHz. An optional aptX Bluetooth module handles up to 16 bit and 48 kHz and comes with a 2.4 GHz antenna for a range of up to 10 m. Outputs are on XLR and RCA, both delivering 3.35 V RMS at 0 dB. Audio Analogue quotes a dynamic range of 124 dB A-weighted, THD+N of -108 dB, an ENOB of 17.65 bit and output noise of 2.9 uV unweighted. The case is 22 cm wide, 39 cm deep and 10 cm high and weighs 5.5 kg.

Engineering and use context

Separate circuit boards carry each stage, and the digital and analogue sections have dedicated power supplies, with the whole unit running on linear supplies. The output stage is fully balanced and uses discrete components. Seven digital filters are selectable - linear phase fast and slow roll off, minimum phase fast and slow, apodizing fast, corrected minimum phase fast and brick wall - with linear phase slow as the factory setting. In Direct mode the output stays fixed at full level, while the volume-regulated mode turns the unit into a preamplifier. Plugging in headphones activates the volume control automatically, and removing them returns the unit to its previous mode. A setup menu on the remote adjusts channel balance and offers three LED brightness levels, including a dark mode. The front panel carries 35 LEDs showing input, volume and sample rate. Windows computers need Amanero drivers, while macOS and Linux work without them.

Pairing

In Direct mode the AAdac connects to a spare line-level input on an integrated amplifier, and the XLR and RCA sockets may be connected simultaneously. In preamp mode it can connect straight to a power amplifier, which suits a digital-only system with no analogue sources. The matching AAdrive transport completes a disc-based setup.

Alternatives

Audio Analogue offers no other standalone DAC, so the AAdac is the only model of this category in the brand range.