Nu Force uDAC2 USB DA converter

NuForce uDAC-2 is a high-performance USB Digital Audio Converter (DAC) that connects your personal computer's audio to your home stereo, desktop sound system, or headphones. The quality and versatility of the uDAC-2's performance belie its diminutive size. With its extensive power supply, filtering capabilities and charge-pump circuit as a foundation, the uDAC-2 processes incoming data via a USB audio receiver. A D/A converter chip then translates the data to a two-volt analog signal.The NuForce uDAC-2's performance equals or exceeds that of a great many audiophile CD players. The unit's exemplary flexibility -- analog RCA, digital coaxial, and high-performance headphone outputs -- is bound to satisfy the needs of the most critical music lover. As a step above the uDAC, the uDAC-2 boasts a highly linear TOCOS volume control for improved channel tracking at low listening levels in addition to 24bit/96kHz USB DAC and an improved headphone amp.

Features

• Discrete USB audio receiver and D/A converter
• Coaxial S/PDIF output
• Double jitter-reduction mechanism at data level and at oversampling filter stage
• High voltage 2V analog output
• A highly linear TOCOS volume control for improved channel tracking at low listening levels.
• No capacitors in any of the audio signal paths
• USB powered, no external power supply required
• Headphones impedance between 16 ohm to 300 ohm are suitable for use with Icon uDAC-2

* iPAD with iOS 4.2.1 works with uDAC-2 provided that a powered USB hub is used between an iPAD and the uDAC-2.

* If you're using the Icon uDAC-2 with sensitive in-ear earphones and listening at low volume, please read this article about channel imbalance issues.

Note1. The uDAC-2 is designed for consumer playback of digital music. It has not been calibrated for professional recording. At the 9 o'clock volume indicator, there is hardly any signal; further, analog pots do not behave reliably. At normal listening levels, the volume tracking is within 1dB.

Note2. The uDAC-2 volume max out at around 0dB input (maximum digital input) with THD+N around 1% is intentional, i.e., targeting the voltage rail limit in order to achieve the loudest possible, yet un-distorted, music playback. Short of 1% THD at 0dB input, we are not fully implementing our voltage limit, which translates in practical terms to a diminished volume range for music.