SW1X DAC III Balanced

SW1X Audio Design™ DAC III Balanced

Performance Level 3/4

EL84 Valve Power D to A Converter

The Balanced version of the DAC III is a non-compromise valve output stage design DAC III, equipped with Signal Output Transfromers (OPTs), a smaller brother to the DAC IV and DHT output stage based DAC V. The step up in transparency of the Balanced over the SE version is provided by a signal output transformer de-coupled EL84 power pentode (triode connected) tube output stage driven by the mighty 6N6P double triode.

Available in different versions: Special, Classic and the limited Signature version with different power output transformer options (M6 EI, SHiB and UHiB DC cores) and all Copper, Copper/Silver or all Silver wiring.

SW1X Audio Design™ DAC III Balanced Features:

Pure & Elegant NOS (Non oversampling – zero digital domain filtering) R2R Design
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

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: 2 x EL84, 1 x 6N6P, 1 x 5U4GB 1 x E180F, 1 x EAA91

Reviews

DAC III Balanced is avaiable in 4 Versions with either Satin Silver or Matte Black front Panels:

The Balanced version comes with 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 III VS DAC III BALANCED

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
XLR AES/EBU or I2S input

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