Audio Note DAC1.1x Signature Owner's Information

DAC1.1x Signature

Owner’s Information

The DAC1.1x Signature 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.

Current theory is based 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 DAC 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, we have also
dispensed with all filtering in the analogue domain to further retain good wide band
phase-frequency and dynamically coherent behaviour. The end result being a
reproduction more reminiscent of master tape in quality, with greater differentiation
and contrast between different recordings.

Our converters all use a high grade selected Analogue Devices AD1865, 18Bit stereo
converter chip because we found this chip to be the best sounding available (yes, even
better than the 20Bit and 24Bit 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, 22nd and
24th 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 Signature features Black Gate filter capacitors, Audio Note copper foil
signal capacitors and an ECC88 zero feedback output stage.

Unpacking & Installation

Please take care when unpacking the DAC1.1x Signature. 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 Signature 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.