Consonance D-Linear 8C wireless DAC

Opera Consonance's new D-Linear 8C wireless DAC is an interesting alternative to Apple Airport Express and Micromega Airstream units.  It can connect to a computer (PC or Mac) via wifi and stream music wirelessly.  Various digital inputs are provided so the unit can function as a DAC.  It even has a capable headphone amplifier.  Quality parts through-out with low noise toroidal transformer and class A output stage.

The heart of the D-Linear 8C is an Analog Devices AD1853 24-Bit chip running at a 192kHz sampling rate.  There are 4 selectable digital inputs on the rear panel consisting of a coaxial RCA, AES, Toslink and Wireless.  The basic signals are displayed through the front panel meter. This meter will also indicate when the signal is locked in.

Wireless streaming is limited to 48k/16bit sampling but can be operated at a considerable distance (up to 25m) from source.  How this works is that a you connect the included USB wireless dongle at source computer, then select sound output in control panel to "USB Audio Device".  Dongle then send wireless signal to the D-Linear 8C.

The D-Linear 8C also incorporates a high end headphone amplifier suitable for headphones with load impedances ranging from 32ohms to 600ohms.

• Signal output 2.5V RMS (RCA, XLR)
• Digital inputs 1 Coaxial, 1 Optical, 1 AES / EBU
• Analog outputs Gold plated RCA / phono unbalanced x 1 pair
• Gold plated XLR balanced x 1 pair
• Gold plated 6.5mm headphone jack x 1
• Frequency response 0 Hz-50 kHz
• Signal-to-noise ratio More than 118dB (RCA, XLR)
• Distortion Less than 0.001% ( RCA, XLR)
• Dimensions 100mm x 225mm x 320cm (HxWxD)
• Approx. US$1,000 street price