Fundamentally our new DAC 8 DSD is capable of doing everything necessary to convert every form of digital source into analogue signals at the very highest quality, including DSD right up to the highest possible resolution. We have again further improved the unit’s outstanding pre-amplifier, and incorporated a volume control of fully analogue construction based on High-End Melf resistors. The “State of the Art” output stage is of fully symmetrical design and discrete construction. Its impedance is very low, and it is equipped with symmetrical(XLR) and asymmetrical (RCA) outputs. These features make the DAC 8 DSD more than just a High-End converter: it is also a High-End pre-amplifier of supreme quality.
The seriousness of our claim that the DAC 8 DSD is one of the world’s finest high-end converters can be judged by the fact that we employ two separate, sophisticated mains power supplies for the analogue and digital sections. A volume control is another unusual feature in a DAC, but it makes good sense if the user wishes to install active loudspeakers, or employ the DAC 8 DSD as a pre-amplifier in conjunction with external power amplifiers. The volume control is of highly refined design, and exploits analogue control elements down to low volumes, as they avoid any loss of dynamic quality even at low listening levels. Two gold-contact relays are provided to by-pass the volume control, i.e. it can be removed entirely from the signal path when not required.
We placed particular emphasis on the development of a very good headphone amplifier with the ability to handle high currents. This further widens the practical applications of the DAC 8 DSD.
Theory and Application. No other audio brand focuses on science and engineering like T+A. The name itself connotes the methodical process by which the company designs and builds its products, holding itself to the most rigorous standards. It devises, creates and fine-tunes Hi-Fi components of the utmost quality, resulting in an array of fully matured High-End speakers and electronics.
'-D/A-Converter
PCM Double-Differential-Quadruple-Converter with 4 D/A-Converters per channel, 32-Bit Sigma Delta, 352,8 kSps/384 kSps. Eight times oversampling. Upsampling: free programmable signal processor with four selectable oversapling algorithims. FIR kurz, FIR lang, Bezier/IIR, Bezier
DSD Direct DSD Signal Path via T+A True 1 Bit Converter
Analogue filter Phaselinear filter with bandwidth switching 60 kHz or 120 kHz
Frequency response PCM 44,1 kSps 2 Hz - 20 kHz
Frequency response PCM 48 kSps / DSD 64 2 Hz - 22 kHz / 2 Hz - 44 kHz
Frequency response PCM 96 kSps / DSD 128 2 Hz - 40 kHz / 2 Hz - 60 kHz
Frequency response PCM 192 kSps / DSD 256 2 Hz - 80 kHz / 2 Hz - 80 kHz
Frequency response PCM 384 kSps / DSD 512 2 Hz - 100 kHz / 2 Hz - 100 kHz
Total harmonic distortion < 0,001 %
Signal to noise ratio 116 dB
Channel separation 110 dB
-In- / Outputs
Analogue outputs high level (RCA) 2,5 Veff / 22 Ohms fix. 0 ... 2,5 Veff variable
Analogue outputs balanced (XLR) 5,0 Veff / 22 Ohm fix. 0 ... 5,0 Veff variable
Digital output 1 x coax, IEC 60958 (CDDA/LPCM)
Digital inputs S/P-DIF 4 x high quality Coax and
1 x opt. TOS-Link, 1 x BNC,
1 x AES/EBU; 32 kSps; 44,1 kSps; 48 kSps; 88,2 kSps; 96 kSps; 176,4 kSps; 192 kSps; 16/24 Bit
USB (Device mode) USB Class 2 Mode; support for asynchronous data transfer
PCM-Mode: 44,1 kSps; 48 kSps; 88,2 kSps; 96 kSps; 176,4 kSps; 192 kSps; 352,8 kSps; 384 kSps; 16/24/32 Bit
DSD-Mode: DSD64; DSD128; DSD256; DSD 512; (MAC OS up to DSD 128)
-Mains / Accessories / Dimensions
Mains 110-120 V or 220-240 V, 50 - 60 Hz
Standby < 0,2 W
Accessories Including remote control FM8, asynchronous drivers for Windows are available on T+A homepage for download
Abmessungen (H x B x T) 9,5 x 27 x 27 cm
Dimensions (H x W x D) 4 kg
Finishes Case black aluminium 42, cover silver aluminium 43
Technical modifications reserved
I got to hear the T+A DAC 8 DSD/HQPlayer/SGM server, albeit an earlier incarnation, combination in Munich last year. While impressive, this system/room/music didn’t quite grab me. Now, mixed in with my favorite bits in-Barn, the T+A grabbed me, shook me (well that was actually the music’s domain), and didn’t let go. Consider the DAC 8 DSD highly recommended for a very long term audition of your music’s guts and glory.
The DAC 8 DSD is pretty much impressive across the board: it´s format agnostic, lavishly equipped in terms of inputs and outputs, and has that battery of filters to play with – though the selection of these will be as much about personal choice as clear sonic advantages. You felt the punch of a huge instrument in a real space.
Though I heard plenty of DACs this year, many with specific strengths, the T+A emerged as the best all-rounder. The DAC 8 DSD has a great feature set which includes selectable filters, headphone and preamp functions as well as all current digital formats. Efficient engineering keeps costs down and performance up, so this isn’t a gratuitous statement piece, but instead a smart choice.
