SW1X DAC IV

SW1X Audio Design™ DAC IV

Performance Level 4

6V6 Power Valve Digital to Analogue Converter

DAC IV is a further development in musical scale & refinement of the already magical sounding DAC III powered by Power Output Valves and Directly Heated Diodes (DHD) in the power supply. The DHD Valve power supplies are 2 x choke filtered and quasi dual mono in design. Accomodating everything in one chassis without interference of magnetic fields proved to be a real challenge but having everything housed in one chassis with much shorter signal paths turned out to be very rewarding in the end.

The sonic presentation of the DAC IV Special is a another step up relative to the DAC III; its presentation of music is more mature and is on a larger scale. The transients are presented with a great dynamic bite, making it probably the most dynamic DAC currently in production. In a right setup, the illusion of vocalists performing in front of us and the dynamic impact of instruments appearing so real it becomes scary at times. Classic & Signature versions of the DAC IV with silver wound OPTs is limited in availability and is available on custom built to order basis only.

SW1X Audio Design™ DAC IV Features:

Pure NOS (Non oversampling – zero digital domain filtering) R2R Design
Specially Selected and Harmonically Matched Component & Material Quality
Directly Heated Double Diode tube rectified C2xLC (2 x choke filtered) quasi dual mono power supply
Anode Choke loaded or Signal Output Transformer De-coupled, Zero NFB, Triode Valve Output Stage
SW1X Audio Design™ Custom Designed Copper wound Super HiB DC core Chokes or Signal Output Transformers
Discrete Transistor Shunt Regulated Low Voltage Power Supplies
Orient grain M6 EI core mains Transformers & Chokes

Specially Selected and Harmonically Matched Component & Material Quality

Specially treated SW1X Audio Design™ 80% Nickel Mumetal Core Intefrace Transformer
SW1X Audio Design™ all Copper (Copper/Silver {Classic} or all Silver {Signature}) wound M6 EI core, Super HiB or Ultra HiB DC core Signal OPT
M6 grain orient EI core Mains Transformers & Chokes (SHiB double C-core available as an option)
Black Gate de-coupling Capacitors for TDA1541 DAC
Internally wired exclusively with our SW1X Magnum, Genesis and Opus conductors of various geometry (single strand or Litz)
AN Copper Foil in Oil (or Silver foil on request) interstage Signal de-coupling Capacitors
AB 2W non-magnetic Carbon film Resistors

Tube Compliment: 1 x 6SL7/6SN7 (Passive I/V) or 2 x 6J5 (Active I/V), 2 x 6V6, 1 x 5U4G

Reviews

DAC IV is avaiable in 4 Versions with either Satin Silver or Matte Black front Panels

with a following output transformer (OPTs) specifications:

Standard : SW1X Audio Design™ all Copper wound, orient grain M6 EI Core OPTs
Special : SW1X Audio Design™ all Copper wound Super HiB DC Core OPTs
Classic : SW1X Audio Design™ Copper/Silver Windings, Super HiB DC Core OPTs
Signature : SW1X Audio Design™ Silver/Silver Windings, Super HiB DC Core OPTs

SW1X Audio Transformers

DAC IV is available in matte Black or satin Silver front fascia and following top panel options:

Aluminum anodized in satin Silver or Black finish (standard)
Brushed Brass (yellow glow)
Brushed Pure Copper (orange glow)
Paint Finishes any of the ones stated below:

a) satin Audi Metallic Grey

b) gloss Gunmetal Black

c) gloss Porsche Guards Red

d) Black-Silver Hammered Vintage Paint finish

or any automotive paint on special request

Optional Extras:

Fully Hardwired Tube Output Stage on the Bakelite Board
Fine Silver wiring on the Input, Bakelite Board and Output
Super HiB double C-Core mains transformers for the digital and DHT/DHD power supplies
TDA1541R Selected or optional TDA1541A S1 or S2 Selected Crown version
Silver Foil capacitors Inter-stage signal de-coupling capacitors