Da-capo issue (John W?)

[Betto]

So John no more digital amps coming?

[JohnW]

Hi Betto,

Yes, the Digital Amplifiers are still very much in the works. We have been using the "DAC" designs as a development platform for the digital filters / Clock & Modulators - it would seem a shame not to release as a product in its own right - and not everyone is ready yet to have a "Digital Amplifier", so we might as well sell to willing customers.

The "DAC" so out performs every unit we have compared to (at any price), that we are very proud of it – there’s seems to be hardly any external DAC’s left on the market…

Those of you who still have working Dacapo’s well know that on 44.1 KHz Dacapo is very hard to beat at any price point – even after 17 Years!!! – one of its weakness is the lack of support for higher sampling rates... which of course where not even a glimmer in a designers eye, when Dacapo was originally designed back in 1990 - 1991!

It would be more then a shame if others could not share the experience - this is a jewel of a product - it’s a fact that because we will be selling it at such a low price point that many will not take it seriously... but then I'm not one for all that "marketing" crap - that’s what’s killing this industry...

John

[martin clark]

John - Thanks for taking the time to verify , and post, little tidbits like this!
Best wishes for your current projects.

It took us longer then expected to unravel the “unpublished” little tricks that the original SAA7350 designers implemented to improve its modulator performance within the limited silicon space of the day.

We where pleasantly surprised that the designers of the SAA7350 chose to design for best audio quality, at the expense of better measured performance
...

[Studley]

John
the DAC sounds really interesting. To perform at its best is it designed so as to enable the transport clock to be synced to the DAC clock (like the Da capo) ?

And dare I ask timescale for it to appear?

[Betto]

Thank you very much John.
I feel better now (I've been waiting for the digital amps for two years...)
BTW, could you please tell us when they will presumably hit the shelves?
Best regards, Betto

[dowayo]

Dear John,

Will it be any possibility to connect the Cardinal to the new DaCapo?
Will it have optical inputs?
When is it expected to be on the shelves?
I hope the circumstances won't force you to rise its price too much!
Regards,

dioni.

[JohnW]

Studley, Betto & Dowayo

The DAC & Digital Amps support “ClockLock” in both optical ( preferred) and electrical formats – at 64fs, 128fs, 256fs, AES Black & SPDIF (to allow clock-locking to PC workstations).

This allows clock-locking with some models from the following manufacturers:- ARCAM, Cambridge Audio, Pink Triangle, Tube Technologies, Deltec / DPA & PC workstations, and I’m sure others thats support the above clock rate inputs…

Both products support Electrical and Optical (Toslink) SPDIF inputs, and USB.

DAC will be ready in initial small Qtys. for Christmas – Q2 08 for the Digital Amp.

John

[audiobomber]

Originally posted by JohnW
The DAC & Digital Amps support “ClockLock” in both optical ( preferred) and electrical formats – at 64fs, 128fs, 256fs, AES Black & SPDIF (to allow clock-locking to PC workstations).John

How about I2S?

Originally posted by JohnW DAC will be ready in initial small Qtys. for Christmas – Q2 08 for the Digital Amp.

What about the T1 transport, when will it be ready?

[Betto]

Thank you John, that's good news.
One more question: how to play SACDs with the digital amp?
Regards, Betto

[JohnW]

Hi Dan,

The T1 will be released the same time as the Digital amplifier as they share the same chassis. To reduce cost and concentrate the BOM cost on the electronics, the DAC is in a smaller case.

As the units can be Clock-Locked there’s no need for I2S - Clock is generated within the DAX / Amplifier (Master units), I2S would require extra connections for Zero benefit - in fact would worsen performance by adding extra RF loops / RF emissions / Ground loops.

Betto – what SACD player do you have? – I ask as I’m unaware of any that output a native DSD stream (not down converted to PCM).

For Diy’ers, we will have a card that can be installed into a SACD player that allows clock-locked and to output a native DSD stream. The DSD stream is embedded and heavily encrypted within a standard “SPDIF” type connection as non audio data.

We have encrypted the DSD Stream to protect the owners Copywrite – the “pure” DSD stream is only recovered within the Modulators to prevent external excess to the data.

John