ЦАПы — Nuprime Audio DAC-10H

The DAC-10H from NuPrime Audio is a D/A converter that its maker calls a reference class preamp and an ultimate desktop DAC and headphone amplifier. It combines high-resolution PCM and DSD decoding with a balanced headphone amplifier, and a sister model, the DAC-10, shares the same design but leaves the headphone section out.

Key specs that matter

NuPrime built the DAC-10H around the ESS Technology SABRE32 Reference ES9018K2M, which uses a 32-bit Hyperstream architecture and is rated by ESS for dynamic range up to 127 dB and THD+N of -120 dB. Over USB the unit accepts PCM from 44.1 to 384 kHz and DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256, while the S/PDIF inputs take 44.1 to 192 kHz. NuPrime specifies a frequency response from 10 Hz to 80 kHz, THD+N below 0.0003 percent, crosstalk of at least 93 dB at 1 kHz, and a dynamic range above 115 dB into 600 ohm A-weighted. Headphone output reaches 680 mW at 1 kHz into 600 ohm. The case measures 59 x 215.4 x 382.6 mm and weighs 5 kg.

Engineering and use context

Inputs consist of one USB port, two coaxial S/PDIF, two optical S/PDIF and two analogue stereo RCA pairs, so the unit can also serve as a line preamplifier for analogue sources. Maximum level at the RCA line output is 2 V at low gain and 4 V at high gain, and the balanced XLR-3 output delivers up to 4 V and 8 V at the same settings. Volume is set by a stepped thin-film switched-resistor ladder and MUSES chip, with 99 steps of 0.5 dB shown as 0 to 99 on the front panel. Headphones connect through a balanced 4-pin XLR socket or an unbalanced 6.3 mm jack, and both headphone outputs have an output impedance below 10 ohm. A hexagonal remote control repeats all the front-panel functions. Power draw is below 1.17 W in standby at 110 V and below 2 W at 230 V, and idle consumption stays under 13 W at 110 V and 14 W at 230 V. A selector sets the mains range to 90 to 130 V or 210 to 250 V. Buyers can choose black or silver anodised aluminium for the enclosure, with warranty cover lasting one year.

Pairing

The two gain settings let the variable outputs match either a power amplifier with high input sensitivity or one that needs a larger drive signal, and the balanced output suits amplifiers with XLR inputs. With a computer on the USB input and a television or disc player on the optical and coaxial ports, the DAC-10H can handle all digital sources on a desk, while the headphone outputs allow listening without speakers.

Alternatives

Another NuPrime converter is the DAC-9, which is based on an AK4490 chip.