Rein Audio Introduces Their Debut DAC Design, the X-DAC

January 13, 2012, Germany - X-DAC Digital Audio decoder is the first DAC designed by Rein Audio. Digital to analog conversion chips WM8740, produced by British company WOLFSON, are used for the decoder chips. CS8416 have been chosen for the digital receiver chips after an extensive selection process. WM8740 works in stereo mode while CS8416 supports a 24BIT/192KHZ sample rate. Compared to a regular receiver chip, it is adapted to a higher quality sound source. Currently the popular DIR9001 sold in the market, only supports a 24BIT 96KHZ sampling rate at most. But the CS8416 is able to bring all the potential of a decoder chip into full play.

Because it is the first DAC made by REIN AUDIO, the professional designer finally confirmed the decoding chip after comparing it to many others on the market. The appliance uses WM8740 to combine high-performance, out of band noise, and linear degree with unique programmability and an advanced digital filter device. The filter device can produce a more natural “analog-feel” sound than previous, traditional ,digital to analog converters could (which is why it’s called “the most analog D/A chip”). Compared to the top WM8741 of company WOLFSON, it is more mature (according to the tests that the designer did on THD and IMD of DAC). The harmonic distortion sound is close to the Bel canto curve, which is an important indicator for music.

The peripheral circuit of X-DAC is as important as the decoding chip. A lot of HiFi fans choose DAC chips, which is a serious misunderstanding. Only a good peripheral circuit can bring thechips into full play. The theoretical dynamic range of WM8740 is 117DB. Input methods are coaxial input and optical fiber input. The analog output is a XLR balanced output. Ordinary RCA output is realized by running 2 pieces of AD797 at thesame time. X-DAC guarantees full-band distortion thd + n <0.0006%, the dynamics during distortion is >=114DB。The combination of relatively ideal dynamics and distortion was finally determined after repeated adjustment and testing tones.

AD797 is a type of operational amplifier with low noise and low distortion. It has the functions of low noise (0.9 nV/√Hz) and low total harmonic distortion (-120 dB) on the audio bandwidth, which meet therequirements of the wide dynamic range of pre-amplifier, microphones and mixers. We all know that good power is the key to good sounds. The power supply of this appliance is also precise. The wiring structure utilizes the design of multiple sets of multi-level power supplies. Analog-digital supplies the electricity individually. An LCL wave filter is used to achieve more pure power than an average power capacitor wave filter. Only imported tripod inductance, used by famous foreign appliances, is utilized for wave filter inductance. The digital part uses a class-2 regulated power supply and all the voltage regulator tubes use advanced power.

The X-DAC digital audio decoder is based on the design concept of Pure Audio, According to the test results and repeated sound comparison of Auditory sense, there are 4 more versions in between from the first to the mass-production version in present. After more than 1 year of strict tuning, it was finalized. The function is even more thoughtful, making it possible to control all the functions from the panel board. Input methods are coaxial input and optical fiber input. The analog output is a XLR balanced output. Ordinary RCA output is realized by running 2 pieces of AD797 at the same time. Optical fiber is used in the 2604 operational amplifier, which can be replaced to increase playability, accommodating the different listening orientations.

The design concept of X-DAC digital audio decoder is to provide a solution for high performance and relatively reasonable prices for Hi-Fi fans. Therefore we streamlined out the functions of the display panel and remotesthat don’t affect the sound quality, so that all the money spent by the users are used on improving sound quality. No matter for traditional HIFI users or PC HIFI users, the X-DAC decoder is a great choice to enhance the systems performance. With the excellent design and precise tuning it has achieved the unity between music and Hi-Fi.