ЦАПы — Musician Audio Delphinus

The Delphinus is a compact discrete R2R digital-to-analogue converter from Musician Audio, placed as an entry point to the maker's resistor-ladder range and sold for USD 599 in North America. Its small case suits desktop use, and it accepts computer, streamer and transport signals through five digital inputs.

Key specs that matter

Over USB and I2S the unit accepts PCM up to 32-bit and 1536 kHz and native DSD up to DSD1024, and S/PDIF plus AES/EBU connections are limited to PCM up to 24-bit and 192 kHz, with DSD64 by DoP on all of them. The balanced XLR output delivers 4 V rms with 1,250 ohms source impedance, and the RCA output gives 2 V rms from 625 ohms. Frequency response is 20 Hz to 75 kHz within +1 and -3 dB. The packaged unit weighs 2.8 kg. Musician Audio quotes THD+N below 0.002% A-weighted, SNR of 120 dB or more A-weighted, dynamic range of at least 121 dB and crosstalk of at least 110 dB. The case measures 200 x 195 x 45 mm without its base, or 60 mm tall with it, and weighs 2.35 kg inside a steel shell. The box includes a remote handset, power cable, manual and warranty card.

Engineering and use context

Conversion uses a dual R2R plus DSD architecture - a discrete R2R network with resistors held to 0.005% tolerance, driven by a dedicated FPGA and an Altera logic chip that process the incoming data. The unit is fully balanced, and the maker advises the XLR output as the preferred connection. The owner can choose non-oversampling or oversampling operation and select fast or slow filter response, invert absolute phase and swap DSD channels from front panel knobs or the infrared remote. The I2S input offers eight pinout configurations, which lets it work with most streamers and media players that send I2S over HDMI. Power comes from a metal-shielded 80 W toroidal transformer, a separate section handles DSD processing, units are wired before shipping for either 115 V at 60 Hz or 230 V at 50 Hz and cannot be changed by the user, and consumption stays at or below 20 W.

Pairing

A streamer or computer feeds the Delphinus by USB or I2S, and its fixed-level outputs go to a preamp or to a spare line input on an integrated amplifier. Desktop setups with active monitors can take the XLR feed directly.

Alternatives

The Musician Aquarius is a larger R2R converter from the same maker, rated at 128 dB signal-to-noise from its balanced output in a 5.6 kg chassis.