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DAC Primare DAC30In the line of audio components of the Swedish company Primare clearly lacked a separate digital-to-analog converter. And such a device finally appeared, and at once the flagship of "thirtieth" lineup. But before I introduce him to you, I must warn - this model is able to change preconceived ideas about the signature sound Primare.
Direct polished panels installed at a distance of an inch from the casing, the familiar shiny "buttons" and three solid legs sticking out of a sturdy steel chassis... If I was forced to extract the contents of a large double box with closed eyes, I'm still with absolute confidence would claim that it came from Sweden, and in it something of the Primare. But what exactly? Comparable in size with the other components, without the disc loading tray - so do not player. He has no handles and machined - hence it is not before and not integralnik. And then there's also a solid mass, which only adds to the doubt.
I can cheer those who have been waiting for the appearance of the model number of Swedish companies advanced and modern DAC. Here it is - DAC30. He has eight digital inputs, including a professional AES/EBU and USB interface to the terminal B. Although switched actually only five, judging by the number of indicator LEDs on the front panel. It's simple: three coaxial inputs are in parallel with the optical, which, in general, it is logical - the same source at the same time rarely connect the two lines.
Analog outputs are represented by linear and balanced stereo pairs, with XLR honest here, since, according to the description, the entire audio path of the converter is in a symmetrical ideology. In the analog path, it should be noted, all in perfect order: strengthening entrusted opamp quality Burr-Brown OPA2134, signal circuits are used in large MELF-resistors, "communicating" capacitors - polypropylene audiophile production WIMA and EPCOS. All this economy maintains a separate power supply system with three high-speed stabilizers and buffer to 74,000 uF, which is assembled from containers with different capacities.
With DAC30 can be removed and the signal in digital form, to pass it on to other audiophile components via a coaxial S/PDIF. This reason is because on board the Swedish converter has an asynchronous digital receiver Burr-Brown SRC4392, which is very effective in suppressing jitter and accurately performs transcoding data to the desired frequency - for example, 192 kHz. And immediately after the digital to analog conversion in DAC30 responds chip Crystal CS4398 - is also one of the best in the industry DACs with delta/sigma architecture and operating in 24-bit format. By the way, the concept of a separate power supply is implemented for the whole of the digital section. It is powered by four superhighways contours LDO 5A Linear Technology with a capacitive buffer to 48800 uF.
Listening to the new converter, I decided to start with the entrance USB. Including laptops, connected the cable, called the management console inputs, and ... nothing happened. I know that the driver to work properly with the converter is only required for systems in Windows (it, by the way, can be downloaded from the manufacturer's site). But with computers on Mac OS X DAC30 obliged like himself to find a common language!
Several times rebooted technique disconnected-joined again, and everything - to no avail. Just in case I decided to replace the cable of higher quality, when suddenly everything starts and immediately agreed to in the channel 192/24. What a whimsical interface! Apparently, experts Primare, together with experts from XMOS brought to mind controller USB, something namudrili software.
The second surprise - a high sensitivity to the polarity of the power supply, with about it even says in the instructions. If you after the first turn on the bass seem monotonous and lengthy, and the scene - moved away, expressionless and localization of matter, the reason probably lies in the wrong phase. I'm not too lazy to even get a tester to make sure where I have the neutral wire. It must be connected to the left terminal of the converter power strip (if you look at it, so that the nest was like a house), but not vice versa.
When everything is set up correctly, you will surely get when playing HD-audio rare effect of hyper-realism. This is when you listen to familiar music, you find all known tonal nuances, you learn to detail alignment tools, etc., but does not come to you 100% of the information, and 110! Attention capture is not the details or even how accurately they are reproduced, and it is their property. Well, for example, the conductor turned the page, and in that moment, you feel that the notes are printed on heavy paper. Or that every seat under the musicians also have their own "voice" - the creaking of one differs from another. Acoustics of a concert hall in the presence of the effect of hyper-realism in general feel as if you breathe its air. And it does not matter, whether you sit in stereofokuse or somewhere on the side. Soundstage still resembles the real environment with three dimensions, not its 3D-illusion.
By the way, the formal spatial qualities in DAC30 far reference. The scene is clearly divided into the plans, but the front line is highlighted by the listener, the images in it are somewhat larger than they should be. Materiality CI exemplary, even markedly distant but precise contours are not defined. Despite these observations, listening to music still interesting. This is so unlike the Primare, which is famous for precision and directness in the sound. New component plays everything so organically, that even losing a point of reference and makes it difficult to respond intelligibly how well reproduced bass, mid open, clean the top, etc.
To return the switch to the reality of the CD format and coaxial input. Now you're playing in a familiar environment, which is clear and understandable to every blemish tract. Heard that the converter is fluent in the lowest register, but complex dynamic bass "batches" he bit coarsens. In the middle there are the familiar simplicity and technicality, although not falling any important information. Go to the top of the band is more difficult to find fault. DAC30 here go out of their way - combines euphony with analyticity detailed, trying to bring the flavor of each instrument.
I try to switch to TOSLink. The tonal balance is less rich in bright colors, but the plastic is not added, emotions become more restrained. Although technically it's all right - the dynamics of normal, contrasts crushing and not at all blurry, the scene without apparent violations, the range is wide, harmonic clarity - like any high-end digital source of comparable value. By all indications, it is clear that DAC30 nezauryaden. And certainly not the first attempt, which should come out lumpy. It's a box with a very pleasant surprise. Only need to disclose it on the correct side. |