All items tagged with DAC (186)
FiiO Unveils K15 Affordable Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier Featuring Dual AKM AK4497S Converters
July 3, 2025 by Joao Martins

FiiO Unveils K15 Affordable Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier Featuring Dual AKM AK4497S Converters

FiiO (FiiO Electronics Technology Company), a Chinese manufacturer from Guangzhou established in 2007 by a team of engineers from OPPO - and one of the rare examples of a decent brand name - announces the launch of its new K15 Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier. This new model, described as a "trickledown" version of the FiiO K17, was carefully engineered to hit a price point which is half the price of any rival, and leverages the latest AK4497S Velvet Sound DAC from Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation (AKM) in a dual configuration.
Read more...
Cirrus Logic Expands Pro Audio Portfolio with New Range of ADCs and DACs
June 24, 2025 by Joao Martins

Cirrus Logic Expands Pro Audio Portfolio with New Range of ADCs and DACs

Cirrus Logic announced the launch of its latest additions to the Pro Audio product family: two analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and two digital-to-analog converters (DACs) that are designed to deliver exceptional audio performance at a cost-effective price point. Highlighting affordability without compromising audio quality, these new devices are tailored for hifi playback, installed audio systems, professional audio setups, musical instruments, and USB audio interfaces.
Read more...
New MUTEC Astralius Flagship DAC Meets the Highest Demands in Digital Audio Playback
June 2, 2025 by audioXpress Staff

New MUTEC Astralius Flagship DAC Meets the Highest Demands in Digital Audio Playback

MUTEC GmbH, a Berlin-based company recognized for its professional audio technology for studio and high-end applications, announced the launch of the Astralius DAC at the 2025 High End Munich. This state-of-the-art Re-Clocking Digital/Analog Converter combines Dual-Mono Analog Conversion with the company's REVIVE Re-Clocking Algorithm to eliminate jitter, taking digital music to a new level of precision and musicality.
Read more...
Schiit Audio Introduces Mimir Affordable DAC and Digital Preamp
April 25, 2025 by audioXpress Staff

Schiit Audio Introduces Mimir Affordable DAC and Digital Preamp

Schiit Audio recently surprised with the introduction of its Forkbeard wireless control and monitoring solution, which the manufacturer is now expanding to more products. The latest example is the Mimir, a new affordable USB DAC that debuts a Forkbeard-controlled preamp functionality and is also the company’s first to feature what they call a Mesh filter, implemented on a standard ESS Sabre chip.
Read more...
Fresh From the Bench: RME Audio DPS-2 Power Supply and LNI-2 DC Filter and Stabilizer
February 12, 2025 by Stuart Yaniger

Fresh From the Bench: RME Audio DPS-2 Power Supply and LNI-2 DC Filter and Stabilizer

When RME Audio released the DPS-2 Power Supply and LNI-2 DC Filter and Stabilizer, it left many of its faithful customers intrigued. The two new solutions are designed to improve the performance of its ADI-2 series of converters in critical applications. One is a super low noise linear audio power supply with a unique µfilter and sensor technology, and the other is an active DC filter with galvanic isolation. Stuart Yaniger explains how these two new solutions improve what is already outstanding.
Read more...
ROHM Introduces Second-Generation MUS-IC Series 32-bit Audio DAC with Exclusive HD Monaural Mode
January 28, 2025 by Joao Martins

ROHM Introduces Second-Generation MUS-IC Series 32-bit Audio DAC with Exclusive HD Monaural Mode

ROHM has developed a 32-bit D/A converter (DAC) IC and an evaluation board for flagship models in its MUS-IC series, optimized for high-resolution audio playback. Specifications detail top-class THD+N and signal to noise rations, working from 32kHz to 1536kHz PCM sampling frequencies or DSD native signals. The new DAC is touted by the Japanese manufacturer as able to deliver a more authentic listening experience by better expressing spatial reverberation, quietness, and dynamic range while preserving the natural “texture" of musical instruments.
Read more...
McIntosh Introduces MSA5500 Streaming Integrated Amplifier
December 6, 2024 by audioXpress Staff

McIntosh Introduces MSA5500 Streaming Integrated Amplifier

A brand mainly associated with classic, high-end hifi, McIntosh Laboratory just announced a new streaming and amplifier all-in-one setup, crafted for modern living. Under the unmistakably McIntosh design with the iconic blue Watt Meters, the compact MSA5500 Streaming Integrated Amplifier’s combines endless capabilities and connectivity such as AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Chromecast, Spotify Connect and more, as well as physical inputs for a turntable and HDMI (ARC). Just add the right speakers.
Read more...
MQA Labs QRONO Audio Enhancements Hit the Market
December 5, 2024 by audioXpress Staff

MQA Labs QRONO Audio Enhancements Hit the Market

MQA Labs, a division of Lenbrook Media Group, a software, IP, and audio content distribution and management company, announced the availability of two innovative technologies within its QRONO product line: QRONO dsd, a DSD-to-PCM converter, and QRONO d2a, designed to get the best audio performance out of every DAC. Both technologies will hit the market in December 2024, with the integration in Bluesound's latest streamer, the NODE Icon.
Read more...
New AKM AK4498EX Partitioned Stereo D/A Converter Now Sampling
November 19, 2024 by Joao Martins

New AKM AK4498EX Partitioned Stereo D/A Converter Now Sampling

Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) announced the new AK4498EXVQ Stereo Premium DAC that utilizes advanced Switched Capacitor Filter Voltage Output Velvet Sound technology. Like the existing AK4499EXEQ, launched in 2022 as part of AKM's two-chip solution, when paired with the AK4191EQ separate digital filter with multi-bit sigma delta modulator, the new AK4498EXVQ also delivers a completely partitioned digital and analog architecture to improve noise isolation, enabling analog conversion from ultra-high-resolution audio sources, including DSD.
Read more...
Bluetooth Wireless Audio, Innovations in Audio, and More in audioXpress December 2024
November 12, 2024 by audioXpress Staff

Bluetooth Wireless Audio, Innovations in Audio, and More in audioXpress December 2024

audioXpress December 2024 features a comprehensive report on Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, the suppliers and development ecosystem. Jonny McClintock adds insights on Ultra-Low Latency Audio Transmission over Bluetooth LE Audio. Plus three reviews of the QuantAsylum QA403 Audio Analyzer, the DPS-2 Power Supply and LNI-2 DC Filter and Stabilizer from RME Audio, and the SPL Phonitor 3 DAC, Headphone Amplifier and Monitor Controller. Hans Polak details his extensive experiments on Moving Magnet Cartridges.
Read more...