dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC

£40,500.00

The Vivaldi APEX DAC is a high-end digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) from dCS. It uses the latest groundbreaking dCS technology, including the next generation of the dCS Ring DAC™, Digital Processing Platform, and Clocking System. This ensures that the Vivaldi APEX DAC can deliver excellent performance from any digital source.

Category DAC
Country UK
Manufacturer dCS

Colour:

The Vivaldi APEX DAC is a high-end digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) from dCS. It uses the latest groundbreaking dCS technology, including the next generation of the dCS Ring DAC™, Digital Processing Platform, and Clocking System. This ensures that the Vivaldi APEX DAC can deliver excellent performance from any digital source.

Category DAC
Country UK
Manufacturer dCS

 
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  • Type

    Digital-to-Analogue Converter.

    Colour

    Silver or Black.

    Dimensions

    444mm/17.5” x 435mm/17.2” x 151mm/6.0” high. Allow extra depth for cable connectors. Allow space for air flow around the unit.

    Weight

    16.2kg/35.65lbs.

    Converter Type

    dCS proprietary APEX Ring DAC™ topology, with a choice of 3MHz or 6MHz operation.

    Analogue Outputs

    Output Levels: 0.2V, 0.6V, 2V or 6V rms on all outputs for a full-scale input, set in the menu.

    Balanced Outputs: 1 stereo pair on 2x 3-pin male XLR connectors (pin 2 = hot, pin 3 = cold). These outputs are electronically balanced and floating, the signal balance ratio at 1kHz is better than 40dB, Output impedance is 3Ω, maximum load is 600Ω (a 10kΩ-100kΩ load is recommended).

    Unbalanced Outputs: 1 stereo pair on 2x RCA Phono connectors. Output impedance is 52Ω, maximum load is 600Ω (a 10kΩ-100kΩ load is recommended).

    Digital Inputs

    USB 2.0 interface on a type B connector. Operates in asynchronous mode, will accept PCM data up to 24 bits at 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384 kS/s and DoP (DSD/64 or DSD/128 over PCM) in USB Audio Class 2 mode, can operate in Class 1.

    4x AES/EBU on 3-pin female XLR connectors. Each will accept up to 24 bit PCM at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kS/s & DoP/64 OR 2x Dual AES pairs at 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384kS/s & DoP/64, DoP/128 plus dCS encrypted DSD.

    3x SPDIF on 2x RCA Phono and 1x BNC connectors. Each will accept up to 24 bit PCM at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kS/s & DoP.

    1x SPDIF optical on a Toslink connector, will accept up to 24 bit PCM at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 & 96kS/s.

    1x SDIF-2 interface on 2x BNC connectors, will accept up to 24 bit PCM at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 & 96kS/s or SDIF-2 DSD (auto-selected). This interface requires a compatible Word Clock input, locked to the data rate.

    Wordclock I/Oworldclock Io

    3x Word Clock inputs on 3x BNC connectors, accept standard Word Clock at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192kHz. The data rate can be the same as the clock rate or an exact multiple (0.25x, 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x) of the clock rate. Sensitive to TTL levels.

    Word Clock output on 1x BNC connector. In Master mode, a TTL-compatible 44.1kHz Word Clock is available. In Universal Master Mode a 38.4kHz Word Clock is available for use with the Vivaldi Upsampler.

    Residual Noise

    Better than -113dB0 @ 20Hz-20kHz unweighted (6V Setting).

    L R Crosstalk

    Better than -115dB0, 20-20kHz.

    Spurious Responses

    Better than -105dB0 @ 20-20kHz.

    Filters

    PCM mode: 4 filters give different trade-offs between the Nyquist image rejection and the phase response. 2 extra filters are available at 44.1, 176.4, 192, 352.8 and 384kS/s. DSD mode: 4 filters progressively reduce out-of-audio band noise level (inherent in the 1 bit nature of DSD), plus Filter 5 which has an improved transient response.

    Software Updates

    Loaded from CD-R via PCM inputs or PC via USB interface.

    Local Control

    dCS Premium Remote is supplied as standard. RS232 (controlled by the Vivaldi Upsampler / app or a third party device).

    Power Supply

    Factory set for 100, 115, 220 or 230V AC, 50-60Hz.

    Power Consumption

    23 Watts typical/50 Watts maximum.

    • Free Delivery within Mainland UK.

    • 30-Day Money-back Guarantee

    • Returns Policy

Vivaldi APEX DAC Key Features:

  • dCS Ring DAC APEX™ hardware further reduces distortion and improves linearity for enhanced musical performance

  • Utilises the latest generation dCS Digital Processing Platform for state-of-the-art measured performance and unrivalled fidelity

  • Designed for maximum flexibility by accepting audio data from a variety of digital sources

  • Flexible output configuration can be optimised in systems with or without preamplifiers

  • Comprehensive clocking architecture plus an auto-clocking mode used in the Vivaldi range improves ease of use and minimises jitter

  • USB interface allows easy connection to a computer, accepting PCM data at up to 24/384 and DoP (DSD/64 or DSD/128 over PCM)

  • The interface runs in asynchronous USB mode, making the DAC immune to jitter from noisy computer master clocks

  • Improved power supplies give lower running temperatures and superior tolerance to AC supply variations

  • Multi-stage regulation ensures sensitive analogue circuitry is unaffected by digital interference

  • Separate power circuits for the digital and analogue sections further enhance the purity of the power supply

  • Aerospace-grade machined aluminium chassis fitted with tuned acoustic damping panels reduces magnetic effects and vibration

  • Features a full MQA™ decoder. This MQA™ implementation is unique, as it is the first opportunity to enable a DAC which, by providing exact rendering to beyond 16x (768 kHz), matches the desired temporal response with very low modulation noise

 
 
 

Watch: This film looks how the dCS flagship product Vivaldi was conceived, designed & engineered.