The page on the new Ultra DAC would appear to establish that a companion amp is also on the way. Can anyone with better eyes than me make out what the leftmost switch is labeled? If it's indeed "Rear Outputs", I'm going to do a little happy dance!

It looks like it does say rear outputs to me. Hopefully they finally integrated some preamp outputs like everyone requested.

It looks like it does say rear outputs to me. Hopefully they finally integrated some preamp outputs like everyone requested.

Yep. That's pretty much the only thing that kept me from getting the previous Balanced Desktop amp. Will be interested to hear what else has changed to make it "Ultra".

Yep looks like rear outputs to me. They pretty much had to do that or else it simply does not fit into the audiophile desktop.

There are rear outputs on the BUDA.

Thanks for the news Hopstretch. It will be great to see what else does make it an Ultra. Looking good so far .

HRBUD? I'll bet it will have great synergy with Dom.

It looks like it says, "rar on pants" to me.

Is that using the same DAC chip as the Buffalo DAC uses?

Is that using the same DAC chip as the Buffalo DAC uses?

Yes, the standalone DAC is based around the Sabre chip. The modules in the various amp lines will remain unchanged for the time being though.

Is the Hertsens DAC gonna get a makeover with the new Sabre chip?

Is the Hertsens DAC gonna get a makeover with the new Sabre chip?

Nope, can't do it. The new DAC is not module based so the Hertsens will remain as is, which is to say excellent. I do hope to get a listen to the new DAC at some point though and do a little comparing.

Yep. That's pretty much the only thing that kept me from getting the previous Balanced Desktop amp. Will be interested to hear what else has changed to make it "Ultra".

Hey, Tyll, am I allowed to answer that question? (and would you like to donate me your prototype when you're done with it...?)

The DAC has interesting looks and features. It's a pity that it can't decode higher sampling rates and bit depths than 44/16 over USB, and leaves that only for the SPDIF inputs.

The DAC has interesting looks and features. It's a pity that it can't decode higher sampling rates and bit depths than 44/16 over USB, and leaves that only for the SPDIF inputs.

Sounds like it does up to 192/24 over optical, too?

Sounds like it does up to 192/24 over optical, too?

I don't think that's technically possible is it?

I don't think that's technically possible is it?

I know not. But this is what the product page says:

The UltraDAC accepts S/PDIF digital audio signals at standard rates and depths (44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz, and 192kHz from 16 to 24 bit word depth) on both coax RCA and TOSLINK optical connections, and will decode 44.1/16 digital audio from your computer via a standard USB connection.

And sorry, I realize I misread Torpedo in the first place as S/PDIF = RCA.

I think it's theoretically possible to send 192 over optical. The trick would be finding 1) 192k source files, and 2) a transport that supports that.

I don't know either, but I think it's possible the description has mixed the inputs and what the DAC actually does is accepting any signal over USB and only 44/16 over SPDIF/Toslink. Tyll, are you there to clarify, please?

It could be possible, but that would be illogical. 44/16 is standard for usb audio, and doing more requires custom drivers at the very least. Very few dacs are limited to 44/16 over spdif (coax or optical)

I don't know either, but I think it's possible the description has mixed the inputs and what the DAC actually does is accepting any signal over USB and only 44/16 over SPDIF/Toslink. Tyll, are you there to clarify, please?

No, the description is correct. It is my understanding that USB cannot transmit higher sampling rates or bit depths without using a specific receiver chip which is cost prohibitive.

S/PDIF can natively output and transmit higher bit depths and sampling rates as dictated by whatever transport is being used and the Buffalo chip when properly implemented can accept up to 24/192. At least that's what I've read and been told by the guys at Twisted Pear.

Could be, but AFAIK the new Lavry DAC can do 24/192 over USB without custom drivers, just using the Windows' ones.

Sorry Nate, I hadn't read your reply. If doing that requires a very expensive chip, then the description would be correct. It's a pity, it would be very handy a DAC working over USB to reproduce high resolution files. Doing high sampling rates over SPDIF requires some good sound card to output them from the computer.

Edited March 23, 200917 yr by Torpedo

The lavry has a custom usb receiver chip. A significant cost for the producer, much like custom drivers.

The lavry has a custom usb receiver chip. A significant cost for the producer, much like custom drivers.

Right. And I don't see too much of a problem with limiting USB input to 44.1/16 anyway. How many folks, even among our enthusiast/early-adopter population, are actually using computer sources for playback of high-rez recordings?

Right. And I don't see too much of a problem with limiting USB input to 44.1/16 anyway. How many folks, even among our enthusiast/early-adopter population, are actually using computer sources for playback of high-rez recordings?

I'm not, but I could once I had the "proper" gear to do so. I'd like to be able to play in my main rig high resolution files that I download from HD Tracks, vinyl rips, etc. Having a "no problems" DAC which I could feed from a laptop wifi connected to the main computer, would be a nice first step.