Audio Note DAC 1.1-X Owners manual
DAC1.1x
Owner’s Information
The DAC1.1x is a Level 1 digital to analogue converter,
developed for the best possible sonic performance rather
than technical specifications. To this end, the DAC
incorporates thermionic valve technology to produce the
most accurate sound possible and has been brought to
maturity through a development process we call
comparison by contrast, which is currently unique to
Audio Note. The article from which this technique is
based, named ‘Audio Hell’, is available from Audio
Note by request.
Please read this manual carefully in order to obtain the
best possible performance from your DAC. Audio Note
wishes you many happy years of listening pleasure.
Technology
Extensive research into the fundamental properties of the data stream itself have
shown beyond doubt that regardless of the theoretical and measurable advantages of
the signal manipulation employed in all currently available digital products, such as
higher over sampling, noise shaping, re-clocking or jitter reduction, the result is this:
all these corrective measures greatly interfere with the critical time domain
requirements of the signal, based as current theory is, on an assumption that music is
similar to book keeping data which of course it is not. Music is a time continuum
from beginning to end, which when broken is irreparably damaged and no amount of
clever manipulation can ever restore it to its original time-frequency-amplitude
duration or relationship, regardless of what the theorists may tell you.
The DAC1.1x uses the revolutionary and currently exclusive Audio Note digital
technology dubbed 1x oversampling™ direct from disc™ circuit topology. The
technology in essence dispenses with all the correction measures inherent in all other
D/A converters and presents the digital signal directly to the converter after
reformatting. In other words, all products in the Audio Note DAC range have no
oversampling, no jitter reduction, no noise shaping and no re-clocking. Having
removed all the digital filtering that is part of the oversampling, all filtering is done in
the analogue domain where it appears to be easier to retain good wide band phasefrequency and dynamically coherent behaviour than in the digital domain. The end
result being the reproduction is more reminiscent of master tape in quality.
The Audio Note DAC range use the highest grade Analogue Devices AD1865, 18Bit
stereo converter chip because we found this chip to be the best sounding available
(yes, even better than the 20Bit versions!). This is fully compatible with 16-bit
44.1kHz technology as well as 48kHz and can also be used with the 24-bit 96kHz
DVD-A standard as the DAC chip will only loose resolution at the 20th, 22
nd
and 24
th
Bit, a truncation that mildly reduces the resolution. Tests have shown that this
information loss is inaudible when compared to comparable methods used in digital
technology, which involve either oversampling, up sampling or other digitally derived
signal manipulations or “improvements”.
The DAC1.1x features an ECC88 zero feedback output stage.
Unpacking & Installation
Please take care when unpacking the DAC1.1x. We recommend that you store the
packing materials in case the unit requires shipping at a later date.
Next, select a suitable location for the unit, ensuring that adequate ventilation is
provided (the valves generate a fair amount of heat). In the interest of safe, reliable
operation, situate the DAC1.1x well away from dampness or direct sunshine.
Worthwhile sonic improvements may be obtained by locating the unit on a
specifically designed audio component support system; we tend to prefer natural
materials such as wood.
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