ЦАПы — SOtM sDP-1000EX

The sDP-1000EX is a DAC and preamplifier from SOtM of South Korea, a company mostly associated with network players, USB regenerators and clock boards. It brings together a USB audio interface with DSD playback, a clock circuit of the maker's own design, a pair of internal batteries and a fully balanced line stage in one case, so it can sit between a computer or network player and a power amplifier with no extra line stage in between.

Key specs that matter

The USB input is a USB Audio Class 2.0 asynchronous design taking PCM as high as 32-bit/384 kHz plus DSD64 and DSD128, with native ASIO support. Optical, coaxial and AES/EBU inputs take up to 24-bit at sampling rates from 32 kHz to 192 kHz, with 75 ohm coaxial and BNC connections and a 110 ohm AES/EBU socket. Balanced and unbalanced analogue inputs each accept up to 4 Vrms at more than 10 kohm, with a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz within 0.1 dB. Both output types deliver 3.8 Vrms at 0 dB, within 5%, from 47 ohm, with the same flat range and THD below 0.003% at 1 kHz. Volume runs from -75 dB to +10 dB in 0.5 dB steps. The chassis measures 360 x 68 x 245 mm and weighs 4 kg, and the stated operating range is 10 to 35 degrees C.

Engineering and use context

Every audio circuit, including the conversion stage and the volume control, is fully balanced, and no coupling capacitors are used anywhere in the chain. A 32-bit up-sampler circuit sits ahead of the converter. Two battery packs are fitted - while one powers the unit, the other charges, and they swap roles automatically, so the DAC can run continuously from battery. Charging needs 9 V DC within 1% at up to 3 A, and SOtM sells an optional ultra low noise linear power unit as well. When the optional sCLK-EX clock upgrade is installed, the unit has to be fed directly from a 9 V DC source instead. An OLED window shows operating information, and the unit responds to its front-panel switches and a remote handset.

Pairing

The high output level and wide digital volume range allow direct connection to a power amplifier over balanced or RCA cables, while a phono stage or tuner can still be connected through the balanced or unbalanced analogue input. A computer or SOtM's sMS-200ultra network player can feed the asynchronous USB port, and the 360 mm width matches the sMS-1000SQ server for a stacked setup.

Alternatives

SOtM's sHP-100 is a smaller desktop USB DAC that adds a headphone output.