Nuforce DAC-9 launched

Sneak previewed in our earlier post, the Nuforce Dac-9 has been launched.  The DAC-9's six digital inputs offer compatibility with all existing digital sources. Thanks to its defeatable volume control, the DAC-9 can be used without a preamp as a purely digital device (when switched to Fixed Output, the volume control circuit steps aside in order to provide a simpler, cleaner signal path.) 

An innovative output filter and minimalist analog output stage that requires no negative feedback permit the DAC-9 to preserve phase coherency and musical subtleties while simultaneously maintaining an excellent transient capability. The absence in the signal path of an oversampling filter and sample-rate conversion circuit further contribute to the DAC9's excellent performance characteristics. In addition, a toroidal transformer with multiple stages of voltage regulation provides tight, low-impedance power and should be able to drive any power amplifier directly.

The DAC-9's USB input supports 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96kHz 176.4, and 192kHz (Editor: correction. 192kHz option will be provided at a later date) from PCs and MACs.

For added convenience, the DAC9 includes a high-performance headphone output with independent volume control.

• 6 inputs: USB, AES/EBU, RCA/BNC, RCA, toslink via 3.5mm mini Toslink optical
• Outputs: Balanced XLR, un balanced RCA, 3.5mm and 6.3mm headphone output, the headphone output and optical input share the 3.5mm optical Input
• Two ESS 9018 DAC chips working in current mode
• Touch panel control
• Digitally controlled defeatable analog volume
• Remote control: volume, input select, dim, mute
• Volume and sample rate display
• List price US$1,695 

(April 13th 2011) More details on the DAC-9

• Plug-in USB module/interfaces provide for upgradeability to higher bit rates
• Minimal processing and the shortest possible signal paths
• A pair of high-performance, non-over-sampling DACs offer up to 24-bit/192kHz (24bit/96kHz for USB) conversion of digital audio data. Extensive testing and listening tell us that up-sampling and sample-rate conversion do more harm than good, as does negative feedback. Consequently, no form of sample-rate conversion is ever employed. (Doesn't sound like 9018 to me??)
• Summing the output of two DACs increases the signal-to-noise ratio to near-theoretical limits
• An innovative Passive IV Digital Output Filter assures lifelike musical reproduction. The DAC-9’s passive circuit employs no negative feedback of any kind, thus providing a ripple-free response wherein high-frequency phase coherence is always maintained.
• The converted signal passes on to the analog preamplifier stage, which also adheres minimalist design principles
• Shunt-regulated linear power supply provides. With its multiple regulation stages, the power supply allows the DAC-9’s digital and analog circuits to operate to their fullest potential