SW1X DAC III

SW1X Audio Design™ DAC III STD Performance Level 3 D to A Converter

 

Re-experience the legendary classic TDA1541 DAC powered by valves at its full glory, re-incarnated by SW1X Audio Design™.

DAC III builds upon the refinement of the SW1X DAC II and adds additional level of organic & analogue envelope to the sound.  The sonic character becomes indistinguishable from analogue playback when combined with analogue sounding digital transport. Signature version of the DAC III is available on custom built to order basis only.

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SW1X Audio Design™ DAC III Features:

• Pure NOS (Non oversampling – zero digital domain filtering) Design
• Selected and Harmonically Matched Component & Material Quality
• Based on 1x TDA1541 – the most analogue sounding R2R DAC ever made
• STD, Anode Follower, Zero Negative Feedback, Single Ended, Class A, RC (resistive loaded, capacitive de-coupled) Valve Amplification Topology
• 6N6P or 5687 Double Triode Driver Valve Output Stage
• Signal de-coupling capacitor options a) Tesla PIO or b)  AN Copper Foil in Oil capacitors
• 6X5 Indirectly Heated or Directly Heated 5Y3 (5R4 as an option) Valve rectified CLC (choke filtered) Power Supply
• Dynamic Element Matching (DEM) of the TDA1541 is powered by an asynchronous E180F Valve Clock with EAA91 Valve rectified Power Supply
• Active I/V conversion via a single specially selected transistor (with less than 10 Ohm input impedance) with the shortest signal path directly connected to the tube grid
• Circuit is wired with of a specially selected copper (single strand or Litz)
• Discrete Transistor Shunt Voltage Regulated Power Supplies for the TDA1541, SPDIF receiver and active I/V conversion
• Supports up to 24Bit/96kHz (optional up to 48 kHz only) digital coaxial S/PDIF signal input (USB input is optional, see in options below)
• 3 x EI core mains transformers & chokes

 

Optional Extras:

a) 2 x Audio Note Copper foil, mylar in Oil signal output decoupling capacitors

b) 4 x Black Gate capacitors around TDA1541

c) AN 2W copper, non- magnetic, tantalum film resistors on plates of the output tube

d) the STD version of DAC III can be ordered with either US made 5687/E182CC or Soviet 6N6P Premium 6N6P from the 60s or Premium vintage NOS black plate Tung Sol 5687/E182CC output tube

e) directly heated vintage 5R4 type of tube (from the 60s) in the PSU

f) Additional choke filtering on the DEM clock tube PSU for the TDA1541

g) USB input with a tube master clock, powered by an separate transformer

h) 2 x HiB double C-Core mains transformers for the TDA1541 and DHT/DHD power supplies

 

 

Note: Due to SW1X Audio Design’s ongoing research and development process, specifications are subject to change without notice.  

DAC III is availble with C- and EI- cored Super HiB signal and power transformers (or chokes) as an optional extra

 

 

 

Specifications

Dimensions STD version: Height (mm) 150 x Width (mm) 340 x Depth (mm) 400

Dimensions Custom with USB version: Height (mm) 150 x Width (mm) 440 x Depth (mm) 400

Weight (kg) STD version: 13.6

Weight (kg) Custom with USB version: 15.6

Max Power Consumption (W): 23

Output Noise, Unweighted (mVrms): < 0.5

Output Impedance (kOhms): <1

Tube Compliment: 1 x 6X5 (5Y3 or 5R4 as an option), 1 x 6N6P (or 5687/E182CC as an option), 1 x EC86, 1 x EAA91

 

DACs made by SW1X: What is different about them?

 

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SW1X Audio Design Product Price List

 

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