ЦАПы — YBA HERITAGE D100 DAC

The Heritage D100 is a DAC from YBA's Heritage range, the French company's line of compact components, built around a Texas Instruments PCM1795 converter with upsampling of all inputs. It combines USB, coaxial, optical and Bluetooth inputs with variable RCA and XLR outputs, so it can also act as a digital preamplifier for a power amplifier, and black and silver versions are offered.

Key specs that matter

YBA builds it around the TI PCM1795 converter. The digital inputs accept 16, 24 or 32 bit words at 32 to 192 kHz, and all signals are upsampled to a fixed 32 bit and 192 kHz with low-jitter reclocking. The asynchronous USB input handles PCM up to 24 bit and 384 kHz and DSD64 and DSD128, and needs a driver on Windows but not on Mac. Inputs are USB, coaxial, optical and Bluetooth 4.0. Analogue outputs are variable, reaching 2 V on RCA and 4 V on XLR, and a coaxial digital output is fitted as well. Noise is 125 dB down on XLR and 120 dB down on RCA, THD plus noise is below 0.001% and frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The linear power supply uses an R-core transformer, and the aluminium case is 430 mm wide, 372 mm deep and 118 mm high, weighing 5 kg.

Engineering and use context

Upsampling every input to one fixed format means the PCM1795 always works at the same rate, whatever the source, and the reclocking stage regenerates the timing before conversion to reduce jitter. The higher sample rates and DSD apply to the USB input only. An asynchronous USB interface takes its timing from the DAC's clock rather than from the computer. An R-core transformer has a core wound from a continuous strip with a round cross-section. With variable outputs, the D100 sets the level itself and can feed a power amplifier with no preamplifier. YBA describes the case as a single-frame aluminium construction. Bluetooth allows playback from phones and tablets.

Pairing

With its variable outputs, the D100 pairs directly with a power amplifier such as YBA's Passion A650, forming a system with a computer or streamer as source. It also connects to an integrated amplifier using the outputs at full level. A CD transport connects to the coaxial or optical socket.

Alternatives

The YBA Genesis S2 is a streaming DAC with two AKM AK4497EQ chips, DSD512, a 1 TB SSD and a 6-inch touchscreen.