ЦАПы — Exposure DAC

Exposure's product called simply DAC is a standalone converter from the British electronics company founded in 1974 and based in Lancing, West Sussex. Introduced in 2026 at GBP 2,500, it is the brand's third outboard converter after the 2010S2 of 2012 and the 2010S2 DSD of 2016, which was retired in 2019. It was designed by Tony Brady and uses the same chassis size as the 3510 Pre and 3510 CD player.

Key specs that matter

The conversion chain combines an AKM AK4191EQ upsampler and noise shaper with an AK4499EXEQ DAC, an AK4118AEQ S/PDIF receiver and an XMOS USB interface. Seven S/PDIF inputs accept PCM from 32 to 192 kHz, made up of two RCA coaxial, three BNC coaxial and two optical connections. USB handles PCM from 44.1 to 768 kHz at up to 32 bit and DSD64 to DSD256 over DoP. The unbalanced output delivers 2.1 V in fixed mode or 4.7 V at maximum volume, and the balanced output 4.2 V fixed or 9.4 V at maximum, with an output impedance of 50 ohm at 1 kHz. Frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz ±0.2 dB, THD is below 0.0025% at 1 kHz and 2.1 V, signal to noise ratio exceeds 115 dB and channel separation exceeds 100 dB. Power consumption is 15 W. Finished in black or titanium, it is 440 mm wide, 90 mm high and 300 mm deep and weighs 7 kg.

Engineering and use context

In the AKM chipset the AK4191EQ handles the digital filtering and noise shaping, and the AK4499EXEQ performs only the analogue conversion, separating digital processing from the sensitive conversion stage. Digital filters are pre-selected by Exposure for each sample rate, and there is no user filter menu. The analogue filter is dual mono, and the balanced preamplifier cards are DC-coupled throughout. With its 99-step digital volume, the DAC can feed a power amplifier without a preamplifier, and six power-on volume presets protect against starting at full level. The custom toroidal transformer has a hum shield, and the case is all aluminium. A white OLED display offers five brightness settings and switches off automatically, and the package includes a remote. The unit has no streaming, HDMI or Bluetooth, leaving those functions to other components.

Pairing

The DAC partners the Exposure 5510 integrated amplifier and the 3510 preamplifier and power amplifier. With volume control active, it can also drive a power amplifier directly through its balanced output, and seven S/PDIF inputs leave room for a CD transport, a streamer and a television.

Alternatives

Exposure currently offers no other standalone DAC.