WEISS DAC204 D or A Converter Owner’s Manual
- June 9, 2024
- WEISS
Table of Contents
WEISS DAC204 D or A Converter
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on purchasing the Weiss DAC204 Congratulations on purchasing the Weiss DAC204 D/A Converter ! D/A Converter ! D/A Converter !
- The DAC204 is a stereo 24 bit / 192kHz D/A converter which supports the following conversions:
- AES/EBU or S/PDIF on RCA to analog
- AES/EBU or S/PDIF on Toslink to analog
- USB to analog
- USB to AES/EBU on XLR, RCA, BNC
- There also is the DAC205 model available which does not have the USB related features.
Features
- Inputs: There are two AES/EBU (S/PDIF) in- Inputs: puts on RCA and Toslink (optical) connectors. The sampling frequencies supported are 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192 kHz. In addition there is a USB input which supports sampling frequencies of 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384 kHz plus DSD64 and DSD128.
- Outputs: The outputs are balanced on XLR Outputs: connectors and unbalanced on RCA connectors. The XLR outputs have a 6dB higher level than the RCA outputs. The XLR outputs (XLR pin 2 or pin 3) must not be shorted to ground, i.e. there is no servo circuitry implemented. In addition there are three digital outputs with AES/EBU format on XLR, RCA and BNC connectors.
- Output Level: Two switches allow to set 4 Output Level: different output levels at 10dB steps.
- Sampling Rates, Word-length: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384 kHz at up to 24 Bits are supported. Plus DSD64 and DSD128.
- Jitter suppression: Several signal reclocking Jitter suppression: schemes are combined for a high jitter attenuation.
- Converters: Oversampling sigma delta D/A Converters: converters are used. Four D/A Converters per audio channel are operated in parallel for enhanced signal to noise performance.
- Power Supply : An external power supply is Power Supply: used. The required voltage is between 6V and 9V.
- Front-panel elements elements elements:
- A power on/off switch.
- An input selection switch.
- 8 LEDs for sampling frequency indication for the USB input.
- Two switches for DSD to PCM conversion settings selecting the sampling frequency and the word-length at the output of the converter.
- Back-panel elements: lements: lements:
- Analog outputs on XLR and RCA connectors.
- Digital inputs (one RCA and one Toslink connector).
- Digital outputs (one XLR, one RCA and one BNC connector).
- USB input connector.
- External power supply connector.
- Two toggleswitches for output level setting.
PRODUCT LAYOUTS
OPERATION
-
Unpacking and Setup of the DAC2
Carefully unpack the DAC204. The following items should be enclosed:- The DAC204 D/A Converter unit
- A power supply
- This Owners Manual
-
Power Supply Connection
Connect the enclosed power supply or any other appropriate supply to the input socket. See the Technical Data section for more information on the power supply. -
USB driver
For MacOS systems the DAC204 des not need any USB driver. For Windows systems the appropriate USB driver has to be downloaded from our website at the INT204 downloads page. www.weiss.ch. -
Input Connection
The DAC204 operates either with the RCA input, the optical Toslink input or the USB input. Select the input with the appropriate switch. The data format can be either AES/EBU or S/PDIF. The USB input also supports DSD64 and DSD128 streams. -
Output Connection
- Connect your preamplifier or power amplifier to the output connectors of the DAC204.
- Use either the symmetrical (balanced) lines (XLR) or the asymmetrical (unbalanced) lines (RCA). It is also possible to use both outputs simultaneously.
- If the XLR outputs are used to connect to an unbalanced input then make sure that XLR pin 1 is used for the ground connection and XLR pin 2 is used as the hot signal. XLR pin 3 must be left open.
- If there isn’t any signal at the DAC204 outputs check the power switch / LED and also make sure the sampling frequency is in the range supported. See the Technical Data section for details.
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Output Level Output Level
The output level can be set with the two switches in 10dB steps. Four different output levels can be selected. -
Downsampling
The USB input signal is treated as follows:- Sampling frequencies between 44.1 and 192 kHz are passed unaltered
- Sampling frequencies of 352.8 or 384 kHz are downsampled to half of their value, i.e. to 176.4 or 192 kHz
- DSD64 or DSD128 signals are converted to PCM with the parameters according to the settings of the switches. I.e. a sampling frequency of 88.2 or 176.4 kHz can be selected. Plus a word-length of 16 or 24 Bit. These selection switches may make sense if an external D/A Converter is connected to the digital outputs of the DAC204. If only the internal D/A Converter is used we recommend to set the switches to 176.4 kHz and 24 Bit.
TECHNICAL DATA
- Digital Inputs:
1. **RCA connector, (1) Toslink connector (optical)**
* All inputs accept professional or consumer standard , i.e. accept AES/EBU or S/PDIF signals.
* **Sampling frequencies:** 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4 or 192 kHz on the RCA input.
* **Sampling frequencies:** 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0 kHz on the Toslink input.
* **Maximum input word-length:** 24 Bits.
2. **USB connector** Accepted sampling frequencies: 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384 kHz, DSD64, DSD128
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Analog Outputs:
XLR connectors (hot output on pin 2, not servo controlled), DC coupled, short circuit proof output circuitry, Output impedance: 44 Ohm RCA connectors, DC coupled, short circuit proof output circuitry, Output impedance: 22 Ohm
Output level: Selectable by two toggle switches, 4 settings:- XLR outputs:
- 7.5 Vrms, +19.7 dBu, with a 0 dBFS sinewave input
- 2.3 Vrms, +9.7 dBu, with a 0 dBFS sinewave input
- 0.75 Vrms, -0.3 dBu, with a 0 dBFS sinewave input
- 0.23 Vrms, -10.3 dBu, with a 0 dBFS sinewave input
- RCA outputs:
- 3.75 Vrms, +13.7dBu, with a 0 dBFS sinewave input
- 1.15 Vrms, +3.7dBu, with a 0 dBFS sinewave input
- 0.375 Vrms, -6.3dBu, with a 0 dBFS sinewave input
- 0.115 Vrms, -16.3dBu, with a 0 dBFS sinewave input
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Digital Outputs:
- (1) XLR connector,
- (1) RCA connector,
- (1) BNC connector
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Synchronization:
- Synchronized via the input signal in the case of RCA or Toslink inputs. In the USB input case the DAC204 is the master clock.
- Extremely efficient Jitter attenuation.
- Sampling frequencies supported: 44.1 kHz, 48.0 kHz, 88.2kHz, 96.0kHz, 176.4khz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, 384kHz, DSD64, DSD128
-
Power:
- DC input voltage: 6 to 9 Volt
- DC input current: 1050mA at 6V, 700mA at 9V
- Power consumption: 6.3 W
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Measurements:
The measurements below have been taken at the following conditions (unless noted otherwise): 1 kHz measurement frequency, maximum selectable output level, 192kHz sampling frequency (Fs), 22kHz measurement bandwidth, unweighted, 0 dBr equals the output level at 0 dBFS input.-
Frequency Response
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Fs = 44.1 kHz, 0Hz-20kHz: within +- 0.25dB
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Fs = 88.2 kHz, 0Hz-20kHz: within +- 0.25dB
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Fs = 88.2 kHz, 0Hz-40kHz: within +- 0.8dB
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Fs = 176.4 kHz, 0Hz-20kHz: within +- 0.25dB
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Fs = 176.4 kHz, 0Hz-40kHz: within +- 0.8dB
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Fs = 176.4 kHz, 0Hz-80kHz: within +- 2.5dB
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Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise (THD+N)
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116 dBr (0.00016 %) at −3 dBFS input level
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125 dBr (0.000056 %) at −40 dBFS input level
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125 dBr (0.000056 %) at −70 dBFS input level
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Linearity
At 0 dBFS to −120 dBFS input level: less than ±0.4 dB deviation from ideal -
Spurious components (including harmonics)
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At 0 dBFS input level, maximum output level, 1 kHz, all components at less than −120 dBr
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At 0 dBFS input level, maximum output level, 4 kHz, all components at less than −115 dBr
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Crosstalk
Better than 120 dB, 20 Hz–20 kHz -
Interchannel Phase Response
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+- 0.05° 20 Hz–20 kHz
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+- 0.30° 20 Hz–80 kHz
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ABOUT COMPANY
- Weiss Engineering Ltd.,
- Florastr. 42, CH-8610 Uster,
- www.weiss.ch
- [email protected]