DevilSound DAC

"Excellent sound quality, reasonable price, and absolutely simple to use." – Computer Audiophile

Ultra Audio Review of the Devilsound DAC

The Devilsound Labs DAC Version 2.1 Builds on the impressive foundation set forth by the v2 DAC. Featuring significant improvements in tonality and bass. the Devilsound DAC V 2.1 is now cryogenically treated, resulting in a much smoother, non-fatiguing sonic presentation, with more realistic soundstaging as well as greater instrument detail. Don't just try this DAC with your high bit-rate files, listen to how much better even the low bit-rate MP3's and internet radio sound.

The DevilSound DAC brings the highest quality components and advanced audio circuitry to your home computer (PC or Mac), giving you amazing audiophile quality play back with plug and play simplicity. Things like a CNC machined aluminum enclosure, for minimal RF noise, Eichman Silver Bullet RCA connectors, and pure silver interconnect leads. Its the little touches that add to the superb sonic characteristics of the Devilsound.

More Audiophile Stuff
In the devilsound DAC, clean power is regenerated from USB power using a small, fast DC-DC converter chip, the MAX8614. The MAX is used to regenerate positive and negative 6 V, which is then filtered (to remove any switching noise) and down-regulated. This provides extremely clean and stable positive and negative 5 V power rails.

The positive 5 V rail is further down-regulated to supply power to other chips on the board, which require lower voltages.

The Devilsound USB Receiver Chips
The DevilSound DAC uses the PCM2706, a Burr-Brown chip utilizing SpAct, as the USB receiver. The devilsound DAC bypasses the chip's built-in digital to analog circuitry, and just uses the PCM2706 to generate a clean, low-jitter digital audio stream.

The DAC Chips
The devilsound DAC uses a stereo pair of Analog Devices AD1851s, run in non-oversampled mode. They use the "J" version of this chip, which is the highest quality.

What about my computer's sound card?
The devilsound DAC bypasses your computer's built-in sound card, bringing the benefits of an audiophile grade digital to analog converter to your computer, with Plug and Play simplicity. Simply plug it in, and in a few seconds the Devilsound DAC is ready to play. Its that easy.

The non-oversampled (NOS) output stage puts minimal processing between you and your music. By eliminating the harsh digital filtering used in most commercially available audio devices, the devilsound DAC creates exceptionally open, natural sound. The DC-coupled output insures exact reproduction of low frequency notes, with no time-smearing.

The result is clear, detailed audio, with deep, articulated bass.