CEC DA 0 3.0 – Universal DSP controlled discrete resistor ladder 32bit/384kHz Audio DAC.

The brand new CEC DA 0 3.0 is the original multibit DAC concept with the most sophisticated implementation and highest precision. We based the solution on the best technology available and applied our knowledge and experience taking the design to the extreme.

The CEC DA 0 3.0 – uses a concept called R2R ladder. This is a resistor matrix that is switched for the various output levels outputting a fraction of an internal reference (much like a volume control). In order to bring the performance
of multibit DAC’s to new levels the only solution is to build them from discrete components as there are no off the shelf chips good enough. This involves the selection of ultra precision resistors, thermally coupling them and building
a very fast and sophisticated switching logic to control them. The result is an order of magnitude better performance than what is achievable by IC based solution. To take advantage
of the available resolution and bandwidth we had to implement a state of the art digital preprocessing. This is a suite of algorithms that would apply digital filtering and up sampling to the incoming data stream. After processing
a 16bit 44.1kHz CD data stream it is converted to 32bit 352.8kHZ data fed directly to the DAC. This greatly improves low-level resolution and the sense of space. The process is all user controllable and defeatable for purist band non-oversampling use. Apart from taking the uncompromising approach of using discrete ladder technology we have taken exceptional care with the construction and operation of each
circuit within the DAC.

The CEC DA 0 3.0 use transformer or optical decoupling of all inputs, meaning that contaminated ground connection and other interfering signals don’t make it to the inside of the unit. The CEC DA 0 3.0 have no output filter at the DAC output providing the cleanest possible output signal, just a transformer matching the impedance of the converter resistors to the outside world and isolating them from
external influence.

The CEC DA 0 3.0 use completely separate power supplies for each block in the DAC: the Converters, Clock, DSP and Control logic all with floating ground planes and our unique constant current regulator technology. Then the whole assembly is mounted in a solid aluminum case for vibration damping and EMI/RFI screening. The CEC DA 0 3.0 is a different league from all currentlyn available high end DAC’s.

The feature list includes among others: Multibit conversion, DSD64 and DSD128 support, 1ppm resolution, Transformer isolated output, No I/V conversion or output buffers, no filtering after DA, total galvanic Isolation of internal circuits from outside world, Internal clock generators, Selectable reclocking, Selectable upsampling, Selection of 4 digital filters.

The CEC DA 0 3.0 D/A converter is the ideal counterpart for CEC wholeheartedly recommend CD Transport TL 0 3.0. You get music reproduction quality at its finest. The calm, supreme composure and confidence with which the TL 0 3.0 and DA 0 3.0 produce music together recall the playback by an analogue mass-loaded turntable.

The concentrated application of know-how, innovative capacity and decades of experience have quite obviously paid off.

CEC SUPERLINK Digital Signal Transmission System Connection was redesign for the new DA 0 3.0. SUPERLINK is CEC’s proprietary digital signal transmission system that transports music signals and synchronization (clock) signals with separate cables. The SPDIF- and AES/EBU- systems, commonly used in coaxial digital outputs and optical outputs, transmit both the music and clock signals through the same cable, and thus are prone to jitter effects caused by the signals interfering with each other. CEC’s SUPERLINK system transmits these signals separately with multiple cables, requiring no encoding/decoding process for data transmission. It minimizes deterioration of the music signal during transmission by using the clock signals from the D/A converter’s master clock generator to achieve complete synchronization.

CEC combines the best drive system, an very excellent transfer concept and precise signal processing to create a CD drive/converter package with superior sound quality – to pack more into these products is currently unimaginable.

Specifications

• DAC: Universal DSP controlled resistor ladder 32bit/384kHz Audio DAC
• Power SupplyAC 120-230V / 50-60Hz
• Analog Outputs
  • balanced XLR connectors
  • unbalanced RCA connectors
• Digital Input
  • SUPERLINK: (BNC x 4) 2.5Vp-p/75O
  • Coaxial (SPDIF): 0.5Vp-p/75O
  • TOS (optical): -21~-15dBm EIAJ
  • AES/EBU (Balanced XLR; HOT=2):
  • USB 2.0: PCM 32bit/32-384kHz, DSD 64/2.8224-128/5.6448MHz
• Digital FilterSelection of 4 digital filters
• Consumption: Power Consumption 30 W
• Dimensions: 432( W) × 400 (D) × 120 (H) mm
• Weight: 21 kg
• Color: Silver