2. amps-preamps
  3. 186312-183932

Digital input amp

I see a few coming on market.  Previous threads were quite old.

They take a USB or other input. No DAC on the front end. Just the DSP engine to do volume, eq, etc, then whatever conversion to PCM to feed the class D output. So the only "DAC" is the output stage.   This makes sense as it further reduces the functions in the chain.  I have not seen objective testing or any reliable subjective testing. The ones I have seen are Infineon processer based. No idea if the output filtering or feedback implementation is up to the Purify quality.   I guess the next innovation is the GaNFET output.  One has a DAC to feed a sub out. Easy as any old $5 DAC will wo there. 

I was browsing and came across the Sajab A30a. ( quite inexpensive)  Peachtree has the old Gan-1 but coax PCM only.  That would be fine if it managed buffering and clocks internally. Unfortunately my all-in-one only has USB out. 

I suspect there is a lot to be learned here but it makes sense to me for the future. 

tvrgeek
jeffrey125
282 posts
 

Love it when a guy comes on here (@tvrgeek) and corrects a person with more experience in designing and building amplifiers than anyone here. Node has a DAC...

What is the GaN 1?

It is a 200 watt-per-channel power amplifier designed to be the sole interface between your variable output digital audio device, like a Bluesound NODE, and your speakers. The GaN 1 is a simple, pure and cost-effective audio solution. Connect the GaN 1 to a streamer and a pair of speakers. That's it...no DAC, no preamp and no input switching. The signal path from the music to your speakers is remarkably short and free from artifacts. Do you want to hear the intricate details in your music that have always been there, but you couldn't quite make them out before...but NOT in an analytical or fatiguing way...simply reproduced as naturally and realistically as they were captured? Then the GaN 1 is for you!

mlsstl
1,470 posts
 

DAC is the acronym for "digital to analog converter"

Human cannot hear an unconverted digital signal as music.  It must be converted to analog. Therefore, if you are putting a digital signal into a device and getting an analog signal out of it, it must contain a DAC.

erik_squires
16,778 posts
 

I didn't eat a donut, I am the donut.

tvrgeek OP
299 posts
 

Jeff, get off your high horse and READ about how the product works.   

There is no INPUT DAC. 

cleeds
6,203 posts
 

tvrgeek

... READ about how the product works ...

As you noted earlier:

The copy writers may not have a clue.

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