Description
DirectStream DAC – Pure DSD done right
Introducing DirectStream, one of the most remarkable DACS ever built. Hand written, discrete, perfection based conversion that uncovers all the missing information hiding in your digital audio media for all these years. CD’s, downloads, high-resolution PCM or DSD based media are expertly upsampled in the DirectStream to ten times DSD rate and output as pure analog directly into your amplifier or preamplifier. Classic PCM based DACS, including many of today’s DACS that can also process DSD, tend to cover up some of the subtle musical details buried deep within digital audio music; a problem inherent in their architecture. DirectStream solves this problem by employing a pure DSD single-bit approach for both PCM as well as DSD media. This means that your entire library of music can finally reveal all the music and subtle low level details buried deep within its core. Imagine going to a recording studio and listening to a master tape of any recording made. This is the experience DirectStream provides its owners who enjoy a renewed sense of enjoyment and discovery when listening to everything in their library: CD’s, downloads, DSD.
Pure 100% single bit DSD based D to A Converter
Most of today’s sophisticated DACs are IC based instruments using off-the-shelf-chips that are Multi-bit Sigma Delta based designs. While these are relatively simple to design and produce, they don’t often give the best results sonically. Because they are one-chip systems compromises are made in their architecture that found in DirectStream’s custom based architecture. DirectStream takes both PCM and DSD, upsamples the data and converts to single-bit DSD and then outputs pure music regardless of input format for the data. The results of this design can be heard in increased musical information presented to the listener at every opportunity.
Purely passive output stage
Most modern DACs use some form of active tube or solid state output stage to amplify, filter and drive the DACs output. DirectStream takes a different approach: passive. In one of the simplest, elegant and musically correct executions of an output stage, high speed class A video amplifiers are used as the final switch for the single-bit, double DSD output of DirectStream; feeding a high performance passive audio output transformer. The transformer is specially designed to act as both the galvanic isolation between the DAC and the outside world as well as the primary low pass filter required to present a perfect, low distortion, low noise output signal. When you listen to DirectStream you never are accosted by added bright, hard glare in the music as happens with many active designs. Instead, clean, pure music flows from the DirectStream directly to your preamplifier or power amplifier.
Resolution perfect volume and balance controls
Designer Smith perfected a 100% bit-perfect volume and balance control that’s built into DirectStream, enabling users to control the output level when feeding directly into a power amplifier or preamplifier. That the volume control is completely bit-perfect means there is no loss of resolution for any volume setting, a feature unique amongst the majority of DACS in the world today. The ability to eliminate the preamplifier in the system without any resolution loss is a major benefit to DirectStream’s outstanding musical performance.
Physical |
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Unit Weight | 22 lbs [13.5 kg] |
Unit Dimensions | 14” x 17” x 4” [ 36cm x 43cm x 10cm] |
Shipping Weight | 31 lbs [19 kg] |
Shipping Dimensions | 20.5”x 24” x 10” [52cm x 61cm x 25cm] |
Power requirements |
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Input Power | Model specific 100VAC, 120VAC, or 230VAC 50 or 60Hz |
Power Consumption | 30W |
Digtial audio inputs |
I2S(2), Coax, XLR Balanced, TOSLINK, USB, Network Bridge slot |
Sample Rates |
I2S,S/PDIF, and USB — 44.1kHz to 192kHz 16bit, 24bit, DSD 64, DSD 128 TOSLINK – 44.1kHz to 96kHz 16bit, 24bit |
Analog Audio Output |
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Connector | RCA/XLR Unbalanced /Balanced (X2) |
Output level, low | 1.41 Vrms(+5BV)/3.15 |
Output level high, maximum | 2.81 Vrms (+8dBV)/5.3 Vrms (+12dBV) |
Output Impedance | 100Ω/200Ω |
Frequency Response | 20-20KHz +/- 0.25dB |
THD+N @ 1KHz (full scale) | <0.03% |
Output Stage | Passive audio transformer, fed by high current, high speed analog amps producing double rate DSD. |
Data Handling |
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Format | PCM or DSD |
Sample rate (PCM) | 44.1kHz, 48.0kHz, 88.2kHz, 96.0kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz |
Word length (PCM) | 16b, 18b, 20b, 24b |
Data rate (DSD) | Standard (2.8MHz) or Double (5.6MHz) DoP on all inputs as well as raw DSD on I2S inputs |
Input jitter reduction | effectively 100%, residual immeasurable. No input PLLs, FLLs. |
Input Processing | 170MHz |
Signal Processing | 50MHz |
Synchronous Upsampling, all inputs | 28.224MHz |
Digital Processing S/N ration | >146 dB |
Digital Volume Control | Zero loss of precision |
Analog Conversion method | Delta Sigma (DSD) Single-bit double rate |
I2S Digital Input |
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Connector | HDMI |
Format | PCM or DSD. DoP on all inputs as well as raw DSD on I2S inputs |
USB Digital Input |
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Connector | USB “B” Type |
Format | PCM or DoP v1.1 (DSD over PCM) |
Transfer mode | Asynchronous |