SW1X Audio Design™ DAC III Balanced Features:
- Performance Level 3/4
- Pure & Elegant NOS (Non oversampling – zero digital domain filtering) R2R Design
- Highest Grade TDA1541 DAC
- Balanced (& Single Ended) Signal Output Transformer de-coupled Valve Output Stage Topology
- EL84 Power Output Tubes, Zero NFB, Class A, Valve Output Stage
- Passive I/V conversion via a specially selected resistor with the shortest signal path directly connected to the tube grid
- Dynamic Element Matching (DEM) powered by an asynchronous Valve Clock with Valve Rectified & Choke Filtered Power Supply
- Discrete Transistor, Shunt Voltage Regulated Low Voltage Power Supplies
- 5U4GYB/5R4GYB Directly Heated Valve rectified CLC (choke filtered) B+ Power Supply
“Outstanding musicality and true-to-source lifelike reproduction”
-Audiodrom.net
Versions
DAC III Balanced is available with a following output transformer (OPTs) specifications with either Satin Silver or Matte Black front Panels:
- 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
Note: Due to SW1X Audio Design’s ongoing research and development process, specifications are subject to change without notice
DAC III Specifications (Unit)
Dimensions: Height (mm) 150 x Width (mm) 450 x Depth (mm) 410
Weight (kg): 18
Max Power Consumption (W): 23
Output Noise, Unweighted (mVrms): < 0.5
Output Impedance (Ohms): <100
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I've had my SW1X DAC 111 Balanced Special for almost a month now and I have to say it really is Special.
The sound quality is exceptional, the best I've heard in my system.
The soundstage is huge, the widest, deepest and most holographic I've heard in my system.
I also received the SW1X VDT 11 at the same time as the DAC and they are a perfect match.
The rest of my system comprises of a Decware CSP325 Preamplifier, a Decware SE84UFO25 Amplifier and DIY Open Baffle Speakers.
I'm really happy that I found Dr Slawa and SW1X after I saw a youtube video that piqued my interest.
I'm even looking to take things to the next level in the future by upgrading to the DAC IV.
Massive thanks to Dr Slawa and all at SW1X.
Best regards,
Graham Matthew
I received the SW1X DAC III Special on 20th Nov 2020, so have used it for about a month now (for around 150 hours – 175 hours). Have jotted down few thoughts below on my experience so far…
My current system :
SONIC TRANSPORTER i7 Music Server > EtherRegen (Uptone JS2 PSU + Mutec REF 10) > Sonore ultraRendu (Farad PSU ) > Singxer SU1 with SOtM sCLK-EX Upgrade (Final Touch Audio USB + Paul Hynes PSU + Mutec REF 10) > SW1X DAC III Special (Final Touch Audio AES)
Wilson Audio Sophia MK III speakers
Ming Da MC 300 PRE pre-amplifier
PS Audio BHK Signature 250 stereo power amplifier
Sunfire XTEQ12 subwoofer - pair
My Dac III Special has the following upgrades:
• 2 x Audio Note Copper Foil, Mylar in Oil signal output decoupling capacitors
• 4 x Black Gate de-coupling capacitors for TDA1541
• Premium Tung Sol Black Plate 5676 tube form the 60s
• Additional choke filter for the TDA1541 DEM power supply
• 2 x Audio Note 2W copper, non-magnetic, tantalum film resistors on plates of the output tube
• Super HiB Double C core mains transformer
• Super HiB double C core choke
I was previously using a Holo Audio Spring Level 2 Dac, so all my comparisons are with that as a baseline. Of course, it isn’t fair to compare a $ 1,800 Dac with an $ 8,000+ Dac but I don’t have anything else to compare it with. So with that in mind.. my brief subjective notes on the sound are as follows :
• Better soundstage depth, width, and height, more Holographic / 3D
• Music has more weight & impact across the frequency spectrum (more meat to the bones)
• Improved lower bass & mid-bass impact
• I am very treble sensitive. The Dac III has an extended, clear treble that doesn’t tip over into sibilant territory. Sound is non-aggressive to the ears, I used to get listening fatigue after a couple of hours on quite a number of albums before but can listen longer now.
• Even albums that sounded ordinary before now sound good
• Vocals feel more real, firmly placed center stage.
• Music sounds more enjoyable., engages me more emotionally.
• All the above are much more apparent on my Headphone system as compared to my speakers (for example. If sound improved by …say...20% on Speakers, on headphones it improved by 30% (the percentages are just for example))
• In one of the SW1X DAC reviews someone else had mentioned this comment - “ I find it necessary to adjust the volume much more frequently than in the past. I believe this is due to more dynamic range though I am hard-pressed to explain the phenomenon”. My experience is similar. I now understand what the term “dynamic range” means.
Dr. Slawa was extremely patient through the whole purchase & build process and answered my numerous questions diligently. I was quite apprehensive about moving from a Dac on which I was upsampling everything to DSD512 , to a DAC which uses an old dac chip that only does 24/96 max.
Bottom line, quite happy with my Dac purchase!
