DISC Korg DS-DAC-100m Portable High End USB Headphone Amplifier

Full Description

Portable and User Friendly Design

The DS-DAC-100m is great for taking with you on trips. It's highly portable and easy to fit in a bag but still provides the great quality audio you're used to. The body is approximately the same size as a postable hard disk but it has essentially the same circuitry as the slightly larger DS-DAC-100.

Hardware and Software

The DA-DAC-100 easily connects to your computer via USB and produces high quality audio playback. The DS-DAC-100m converts the data from AudioGate, that plays audio from your computer in high quality, into an analog signal for playback through your headphones or speaker system. KORG has created a pairing of hardware and software that combine to create the best possible audio experience.

The Secret of Great Sound

The secret to the best sound through your headphones or audio system is accurate, real time DSD analog conversion. Audio files such as MP3 and WAV from your computer or a CD can be converted to 5.6448 MHz/DSD data in real time and played back by the AudioGate software. Since conversion to ultra-high quality DSD data is impractical for stand-alone hardware due to the huge amount of processing power that is required, the power of your computer is used to perform this task, extracting the maximum information from the musical source before sending it to the DAC. The DS-DAC-100m takes the audio optimally designed for DSD, then converts the data to an analog signal for the ideal audio playback scenario. You might even start hearing new details in your familiar CD or MP3 collection that's previously been hidden in the mix.

Korg was among the first audio companies to focus on the high sound quality benefits of DSD, using DSD as the recording format for the acclaimed MR recorders. Now major music distribution sites such as Blue Coast Records and Channel Classic Records have started distributing data in the DSD format, and major audio manufacturers have also started to release USB DAC units. The DSD format has become acknowledged by audio fans as a synonym for the utmost in high-quality playback. The quality of this DSD data is fully realised by the "DSD native playback of DSD data" offered via this USB DAC unit. The unit supports playback not only of 2.8224 MHz DSD data but also the still higher-resolution of 5.6448 MHz, which is even more faithful to the original source.

Pro Hardware Design

The "asynchronus transmission" used to convey the data doesn't synchronise with the USB clock in your computer which greatly reduces unwanted jitter. The USB bus power supply avoids any extra noise that might have come from power cables plus the DA converter uses the CS4398 made by Cirrus Logic which is the same reliable and ultra high quality component found on the MR devices including the professional standard, MR-1000.

Dedicated Driver

In order to allow truly native playback of DSD data, Korg has developed native drivers allowing the data to be conveyed via USB in DSD format and then DA converted within the converter itself. New drivers allow stable operation and trouble free compatibility on both Windows and Mac.

Included AudioGate 3

Originally developed as a converter for Korg's MR recorders, AudioGate can now be freely downloaded and has wide support file compatibility. The new version 3 software features a dramatically revised user interface for intuitive music playing. AudioGate 3 supports a wide range of file formats, starting with MP3, AAC, and 44.1/48 kHz WAV as well as high-resolution formats such as 24 bit (96/192 kHz) WAV and FLAC, in addition, of course, to DSD. It can handle play lists that contain mixed bit resolutions, sample rates and even different file formats. Setup is easy, and there are no worries about compatibility. With KORG AudioGate 3 you can experience the finest in DSD sound.

Features/Specifications

AudioGate

• AudioGate 3 and the DS-DAC interfaces provide the simplest and yet most comprehensive high-quality playback system available
• Realtime DSD conversion delivers optimum sound
• AudioGate 3 features a completely refreshed user interface for greatly improved usability
• Native DSD playback of 2.8224 MHz or 5.6448 MHz DSD files
• AudioGate 3 supports playback for a comprehensive range of audio formats such as 24 bit (192/96kHz), 16bit
• WAV, FLAC, MP3 and more
• Pro-quality hardware design that builds on the achievements of the MR series DSD recorders
• Stable, dedicated Win/Mac drivers developed specifically for AudioGate 3 and the DS-DAC series

Please note: AudioGate 3 is released in March 2014. Until then AudioGate 2 software is available.