Digital to Analog converter
All pre-owned product is tested in our service department and have been passed for sale... and comes with a 90 day warranty!
In nice condition. Works great. Some dirt and dust on front panel and wear on side panels. We have priced this based on cosmetics, not on functionality. Original box and packing are NOT available, but we will pack carefully!
Circa 1993. Price when new $3495. See original ads after product pix and last image for specs.
From ARC marketing material:
Like its predecessor, the DAC2 uses not one but three separate power transformers (fed by an internal A.C. power filter) to properly supply critical areas of signal handling. This sensible approach enables tighter regulation of power supplies, with much better isolation between digital and analog circuits, than a single multi-winding transformer can ever achieve. In addition, multiple discrete regulators maintain a clean supply of power to each stage. And, the use of multiple. Audio-Research-patented DEC networks allow power-supply capacitors to work more effectively. yielding better dynamics with less sonic smear at critical frequencies.
The DAC2's heavy, three-layer circuit board typifies the Audio Research approach: heavy plating and extra-wide traces laid down in a clean, shortest-path layout for the analog stage, with controlled-impedance stripline traces for the digital section. Special attention to grounding paths prevents infiltration of the analog signal path by digital noise.
Having the advantage of a dedicated power transformer and power supply, the analog output stage of the DAC2 terminates in both single-ended and balanced (XLR) output connectors-allowing maximum low-noise performance with long interconnects. The analog stage is a high-current, low-feedback design using J-FET transistors at the input and selected bipolar devices at the output, providing extremely linear operation and generous headroom under all operating conditions. The circuit is D.C. coupled from the converter itself to the output, insuring maximum signal purity.
The digital brain of the DAC2 is a specially selected VLIC supplied to Audio Research by UltraAnalog, Inc., the worlds leader in high-resolution digital circuits for audio applications. Data jitter at the input of the digital section is tightly controlled by a state-of-the-art digital receiver. This allows the DAC2 to achieve higher resolution with a wide range of CD transport mechanisms.
For connective convenience, the DAC2 is unsurpassed: inputs one and two offer ST-standard Toslink-standard optical fiber connection, while input three is switchable between BNC-terminated coaxial or the AES-EBU "XLR" connector. Finally, a Toslink-standard digital pass-through is offered for use with digital recorders. Front-panel controls enable power-on. phase inversion and input selection with corresponding data "lock" LED indicator. None of the front-panel controls invade the audio signal path: phase inversion is accomplished entirely in the digital domain. All in all, the DAC2 has what you need and use every day in a digital-sourced music system.
