Audio Note DAC (kit) 4.1

[flez007]

I have just added this piece to my system after a long listening period (about a month), I would start saying that I have not yet heard here the usual TOTL designs from Zanden, dCS and the like, but I can firmly assure this has been the best DAC I have owned.

My notes read: silvery-analog like highs (this DAC has the best AN transformers available in kit form), really hard to tell out if this is a vinyl reproduction, voices are so "human", trumpets and violins shine.....

I am using it via a SPDIF Siltech cable with my Electrocompaniet top-loader CDP used as transport and OmegaMicro cables from DAC to preamp.

Here the pics:

 

[flez007]

specs:

ANK Audiokits DAC 4.1 Limited Edition is our supreme Digital to Analog offering. For the ultimate in Digital reproduction the DAC 4.1 offers velvet smooth operation with no digital artifacts or treble edge. Our pure Resistor Ladder DAC architecture hardwires digital information directly to output voltage, and with the new Triple C-Core Transformers on the output stage digital reproduction has never sounded so good!

The latest version of the DAC 4.1 LE boasts numerous features as our top of the line DIY DAC and supports up to 24/96khz sampling and data widths. The DAC is based on the Resistor Ladder DAC (R-2R) pure Digital to Analog conversion method ( see white paper on R-2R vs Sigma Delta DAC's) and has the M2 Tube Rectified and Regulated power supply for ultimate smoothness.​

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The discrete Digital Power Supply powers the Non Oversampling Digital To Analog conversion section populated with ELNA Silmic Capacitors and Audio Note Tantalum Resistors in the IV conversion chain. Our Nickel Core IV Transformers partition the digital from the analog section and the TUBED analog output stage drives our new Triple C-Core Output Transformers.​

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And to complete the pure digital to analogue design of the DAC 4.1 the digital board has No Analog Filtering (analog filtering has been totally removed). We have found having Analog Filtering in the signal path has a marked detrimental effect on sound quailty.​

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If you are looking for Digital sound reproduction with no digital artifacts and smooth as velvet output with no fatigue then the DAC 4.1 LE is the kit for
you! The features are numerous:​

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• AudioNoteKits new 3mm powder coated black Aluminum chassis.
• New enhanced M2 Power Supply uses high quality RubyCon Electrolytics and Panasonic FC Caps for the filament position.
• Updated and more rugged Mains Transformer.
• 5687 Driver Board with Audio Note Tantalum Resistors, Copper Film Capacitors and Elna Cerafine Bypass Caps.
• Triple C-Core Output Transformers for the final stage.
• Support for XLR, RCA (SPDIF) and optional USB input and both RCA and XLR Balanced Outputs!
• Pre-assembled Digital DAC board with dual Toroidal Input Transformers and Elna Cerafine capacitors.
• Optional USB input board.

 

[LL21]

Congrats! Sounds great from your description. Enjoy!

 

[Drikus]

Nice! Does it have the optional USB input board?

 

[flez007]

Thanks Lloyd.
Noy yet Lindeman, I am using a Mytek DAC for that purpose.