[TIN TỨC] Meier Audio StageDAC

[9fly]

Cũng theo quan điểm quảng cáo của Meier Audio, DAC mới được show hàng trước một thời gian dài trước khi chính thức được bán. Và hiện tại bạn có thể thấy DAC mới Meier Audio dòng Corda tên chính thức StageDAC được đưa hình lên trang wed của hãng. Theo mặt trước chúng ta thấy có rất nhiều tinh chỉnh cho tính năng của chiếc DAC này và không loại trừ mạch được thiết kế mạch crossfeed.

Theo một số thông tin của dân trên HF thì sản phẩm có kích thước nhỏ hơn Corda Symphony một chút và được thiết kế với hai bộ DAC Wolfson WM8741 cho hai mạch mono riêng.

Sản phẩm công bố có mặt trên thị trường vào tháng 7 hoặc 8 năm nay.

Thông tin thêm xem tại Meier Audio Germany.

[DNT]

Kí nì qua source chứ ca ca. ^^

[Jay Kay]

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Intention of the STAGEDAC is to provide an extremely high quality DAC for a price that is as low as possible. Therefore it will not have XLR outputs which would have added considerably to the technical complexity of the device (due to the presence of the crossfeed filter) but that are normally used by very few people only. Also this device will have a relatively simple enclosure. Sure, it will be very sturdy but there are no design gimmicks that would not add anything to the sound but that would add considerably to the price. Be aware that the enclosure is by far the most expensive part of any amp or dac.

The true qualities of the STAGEDAC are found at the inside. At the heart there are two Wolfson WM8741 DAC-chips in dual-mono mode. These are the top-of-the-range of this renowned manufacturer and provide an extremely clean and resolving sound. Moreover, they allow the user to vary oversampling rate and filter response and thus provides 9 different sonic settings (including classic filtering, low pre- and postringing, no pre-ringing, quasi non-oversampling, ....). People thus can customize sound to their own personal taste.

The DAC will have an optical and two coaxial inputs accepting upto 24-bit, 192 kHz as well as one USB input accepting upto 16-bit, 48kHz.

The receiver chip inside is the newest Wolfson WM8804. This one not only is very immune to interferences on the input signal but also offers an extremely high level of jitter reduction. All input signals are effectively re-clocked using an on-board crystal clock.

There are two pairs of outputs. One is fixed and the other one is variable and can be controlled by the rotary dial at the right front-side.

The powersupply uses two separate toroidal transformers and has completely independent powerlines for the analog output stages, the analog stages of the DAC-chip as well as for the digital part of the electronics.

The most unique part of the DAC however is the crossfeed filter built-in. The technical realisation of this filter is much more sophisticated then the filter that is used in my headphone amplifiers. The latter only uses a relatively simple passive RC-network to do the job. However, with the STAGEDAC active delay lines are implemented. The main advantage is, that the frequency range over which the signals are crossed can be strongly extended. With the RC-network solution there is a strong relation between the delay time (around 300 microseconds) and the frequency range (upto 600 Hz). With the STAGEDAC the frequency range is extended to around 2 kHz. Since the human ear is directional sensitive for frequencies upto 1.5 .. 2 kHz the active solution implemented in the STAGEDAC results in a much improved imaging when compared to the passive solution. It should be noted that, in contrast to other more conventional active solutions, the crossfeed in the STAGEDAC does not suffer from any Comb-effects and that mono-signals are not altered in any way. The filter does “recognize” the positions of the sonic sources and “adjusts” delay time and the intensity of the crossfeed signals accordingly.

The effect of the crossfeed filter can also be reversed. Signals from one channel are now transferred to the other channel but with their phase reversed. This widens the soundstage considerably and is a great feature when listening to loudspeakers. With normal stereo imaging instruments and singers that are mixed into one of the channels only do tend to “stick” to this specific loudspeaker and have no body/width. There is no sonic space beyond the limits of the loudspeakers. Using the crossfeed filter removes some these restrictions and the instruments and singers now become air and body. The effect is especially usefull when listening to e.g. large orchestral recordings and adds strongly to the “life-feeling”.

Delay time and intensity of the crossfeed filter each can be varied in three steps. Thus people can adjust to their personal taste.

People may wonder that the DAC has no headphone output. The reason is simple. The sonic qualities of this DAC are of such a level that only an amp like the SYMPHONY really does true justice to is capabilities. However, to implement such a headphone output into the STAGEDAC would increase costs considerably and many users will already have a high-quality headamp or will use the device with their speaker-setup only

I’m sure people would like to know some prices. Unfortunately I have not been able to calculate all costs yet but I do expect something of around EUR 500,- or USD 700,- for people living outside the European Union. Unfortunately people from inside the EU also have to pay 19% VAT so their price will be around EUR 600,-. Considering the technical and sonic merits I personally feel that those prices are very competitive.

Cheers

Jan

[DNT]

USB input con này không ngon nắm nhỉ.

[9fly]

ủa sao nó nằm bên này ta. Để bên amp rồi mà?

[DNT]

Chắc Jay ca move đóa anh. Nhưng bên đây mới đúng mà. ^^

[Jay Kay]

Originally Posted by DNT

USB input con này không ngon nắm nhỉ.

Con nào cũng như con nấy thoi.

[DNT]

Không bằng mí con wavelength. ^^

[Jay Kay]

Tiền nèo của đó thoi.

[DNT]

700 cũng hem phải là nhẹ cho 1 con DAC.