The Well-Tempered Computer, an introduction to computer audio

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Centrance DACmini CX

From our earlier post on the Dac Mini. Centrance, maker of the popular DACport™, has firmed up details on the unit and renamed it DACmini CX.

"'Built like a tank' and 'Pristine audio quality' are no longer mutually exclusive," stated Michael Goodman, Managing Director of CEntrance. "Through our expertise in the professional audio industry, we're bringing reliable design and robust performance to the world of Hi-Fi. We have Mastering engineers endorse our products-they use the best gear from the Pro Audio and the Audiophile markets to create their listening systems. Their goal is to hear exactly what the music sounds like and make the recording the best it can be. We create sophisticated products to do the same thing: let the consumer hear the best possible sound - all at a great price-point. The DACmini is a perfect example of this philosophy." 
The newly announced DACmini CX™ is a compact 192kHz 24-bit USB DAC and Class A Headphone Amplifier. It's a preamp and digital to analog converter with multiple I/O options including: USB, optical, Coax S/PDIF, analog input and output, and a front-mounted 1/4-inch connector for professional headphones. DACmini's stylish form-factor matches the classic Apple "Mac mini" computer footprint, creating a perfect platform for an audiophile-level music server.
DACmini features galvanically-isolated, gold-plated output jacks, a proprietary JitterGuard™ jitter elimination system, and plug-and-play driverless USB connection on PC or Mac. The extended range volume control accommodates the widest array of headphones, from IEMs to professional high-impedance models. DACmini is engineered to excel at rugged reliability and is constructed for quiet, interference-free performance. Placed near your computer monitor, DACmini becomes the center of your desktop audio system. 
The new DACmini CX is now available and has a suggested retail price of US$795.