Audio & Visual Article OptionsMain MenuNews CategoriesView / Search Options
Pressblog Stats
Thursday 8 January 2009 total articles: 242 total publishers: 77 total authors: 84 total unique visits: 184065 total visits: 890158 newest publisher: joeriz
|
Home
The ACCUSTIC ARTS® TUBE-DAC II is state of the art digital to analog converter designed using a “Tube-Hybrid” concept. This concept combines the advantages of both solid state technology with those of the vacuum tubes (valves).
Saturday 1 December 2007
By David Denyer
ACCUSTIC ARTS® TUBE-DAC II
ACCUSTIC ARTS®
LAUNCH NEW REFERENCE SERIES TUBE DAC II
The ACCUSTIC ARTS® TUBE-DAC II is state of the art digital to analog converter designed using a “Tube-Hybrid” concept.
This concept combines the advantages of both solid state technology with those of the vacuum tubes (valves).
To make the most of this concept, a very elaborate digital signal processing engine was developed to fully realise the extraordinary precision and musicality of the Tube-Hybrid concept.
The TUBE-DAC II is the first component in the new ACCUSTIC ARTS® Reference Series and is intended for the music lover who appreciates the precision of digital sources yet doesn’t want to abandon the outstanding precision, authenticity and musicality of the very best analogue systems.
Ideally the TUBE-DAC II should be used with a high quality CD transport, such as the ACCUSTIC ARTS® DRIVE I-MK2.
The digital signal processing of the TUBE-DAC II
During development of the digital signal processing great importance was attached to the highest precision and attention to detail, leading ACCUSTIC ARTS® to develop an improved system compared to the common used “upsampling principle”.
First of all an extraordinary precise digital receiver is used for reception of the incoming digital signal (for example from a CD transport), processing and routing to an elaborately designed 32 bit Microcomputer.
This excellent Microcomputer is the heart of the digital section of the TUBE-DAC II and, contains a high precision quartz crystal-oscillator, a 32 bit digital filter and 26 parallel operating processors (multiplying processors).
The multiplying processors scan the incoming signal and calculate two 32 bit signals, one for the right and one for the left channel. All digital operations therefore take place with the accuracy of true 32 bit instead of the standard 16 or 24 bit.
The subsequent conversion of these two 32 bit signals into analogue takes place in two separate D/A conversion chips, and is therefore fully dual mono and of the highest precision.
Finally the two analogue signals are processed by an elaborate Tube-Hybrid filter circuit and leave the TUBE-DAC II either via balanced XLR-outputs or unbalanced RCA outputs.
The advantages of using vacuum tubes in this filter circuit are: very high impedance, very high bandwidth, very low distortion with a “good-natured” distortion spectrum, and a beautifully “analogue” yet very precise sonic performance.
ACCUSTIC ARTS® use only hand selected and tested tubes and the tubes are run for more than 100 hours in a special laboratory test prior to delivery.
Features: ACCUSTIC ARTS® TUBE DAC II
- Audiophile high precision “Tube-Hybrid“ concept Digital / Analogue Converter
- Unique 2 x 32 Bit technology with simultaneous separate digital signal processing
for left and right channels
- Extremely elaborate digital signal processing supported by a unique 32 bit Microcomputer
- The 32 bit Microcomputer containing:
- High precision crystal oscillator
- 32 bit digital filter (including “de-emphasis“ technology)
- 26 parallel multiplying processors (32 bit)
- “Tube-Hybrid” technology
- Plug & Play tube replacement
- Professional Class A output stage using technology derived from studio engineering
- All used components are of outstanding quality
- Premium quality rotary switches (“Made in Germany”) with gold-plated silver contacts
for input selection
- 2 magnetically shielded, encapsulated toroidal core transformers (“Made in Germany”)
of premium quality for high output reserves
- Very high power supply capacity (approximately 84,000 µF)
- Massive front panel and cover made of thick aluminium
- Handmade in Germany
Technical Specification: ACCUSTIC ARTS® TUBE DAC II
- Input data format: 16 to 24 bit word length / 32, 44.1 & 48 kHz
- Digital inputs:
- 1 x AES/EBU; balanced – 110 Ω (XLR)
- 1 x S/P-DIF; unbalanced – 75 Ω (RCA)
- 1 x S/P-DIF; unbalanced – 75 Ω (BNC)
- Digital outputs:
- 1 x AES/EBU; balanced – 110 Ω (XLR)
- 1 x S/P-DIF; unbalanced – 75 Ω (RCA)
- Analogue outputs:
- Transformer power: 1 x 100VA, 1 x 50VA
- Crosstalk: 107 dB
- Total harmonic distortion (THD+N): 0.003%
- Tube compliment:
- 2 x selected and matched 12AX7 / ECC83 / 7025
- Power consumption: 20 watts maximum
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 100 x 482 x 375 mm
- Weight: 12 kg
- Warranty: 1 year
ABOUT ACCUSTIC ARTS®
Experience gathered from more than 10 years of professional music production was bundled together in 1996 with the founding of SAE - Schunk Audio Engineering GmbH & Co KG. Initially involved in professional recording; SAE developed and produced its own near-field monitors to meet the high standards for acoustic requirements in recording studios. The knowledge gained from co-operation with external developers and audio experts, innumerable tests, listening trials, material and component tests all contribute to the production of the ACCUSTIC ARTS® hi-fi products.
This pool of knowledge was exploited in the development of the ACCUSTIC ARTS® high-end units. The stated aim was to achieve maximum authenticity during sound reproduction. ACCUSTIC ARTS® offers a comprehensive range of high-end products from loudspeakers to electronics and accessories. ACCUSTIC ARTS® products captivate through their natural sound reproduction and high output potential. The timeless design is easy to integrate in every living environment. These fine music components are the result of thorough research and development work, use of the most precise high performance components and painstaking handmade production at the facilities in Germany. The ultimate musical enjoyment is expressed through clarity, dynamics and depth of detail.
UK selling price (Inc. VAT)
ACCUSTIC ARTS® TUBE DAC II £4,995.00
AVAILABLE NOW
Consumer contact
Audio Reference,
Unit 8 Enterprise Park,
Slyfield Industrial Estate,
Guildford,
GU1 1RB
Tel: 01252 702705
Fax: 01483 301412
Email: info@audioreference.co.uk
Web site: www.audioreference.co.uk
www.accusticarts.com
All press contact to David Denyer PR on 01367 820200, high-resolution (300dpi) print-ready images and further technical details are available upon request.
ends/©DDPR November 2007 NO EMBARGO
| Click image to enlarge
|
ACCUSTIC ARTS, TUBE-DAC II, Reference Series, valve, Tube-Hybrid, DRIVE I-MK2, Microcomputer, 32 bit digital filter, Class A, Germany, Audio Reference,
|
|
