Cleo Max 24/192 USB DAC

Hong Kong based DIY Hifi Supply name is rather...er...DIY, but they are actually quite a professional outfit and lately produces some of the better products with real world prices such as the excellent Django AVC/TVC transformer passive preamp.  Their SATCH DAC has quite a following in the DIY enthusiast community.  

They are now back with two interesting digital products.

Cleo Max 24/192 USB DAC 

• Asynchronous USB up to 192KHz 
• Tube output stage
• MuMetal wrapped power transformer
• Ultimate Clock power supply
• On board Linear power supply (LPS) (nothing powered from the computer)
• Ultimate Clock module with 0.5ppm TCXO

The DAC is actually modifications to the Musiland DAC PCB include Sanyo Os-Cons and Elna Silmic Capacitors in specific positions to get the best sound, disabling all the switched mode local supplies and re-using the chokes from the SMPS's to add LC filtering to the DAC power-supply (pre DAC regulator).

Only the digital core of the Musiland is retained (including the 192KHz/24 Bit advanced segment DAC by Burr Brown) , with heavily upgraded power supplies (including a low noise "current source" pre-regulator supply by using the filament supply) and related circuitry.

The original Op-Amp analog stage of the Musiland is completely removed. The DAC's output pins directly connect via silver solid core wire in teflon sleeving to the Tube Stage PCB, the outputs from the tube stage also use silver solid core wire in teflon sleeving. The Tube stage is fitted with the Obbligato Tinfoil Capacitors.

To run high resolution files, the Cleo needs a PC as the 24 bit 192khz capability requires the included drivers. At this time can not be used with Mac's native drivers.