Arcam’s thirty five years of audio engineering experience is all wrapped up in the D33, which benefits from critically damped, low resonance casework, massive power regulation plus extensive low-noise sub-regulation. The Arcam team’s attention to detail has even delivered an incredibly low 0.5w standby power consumption and duplex RS232 control interface for custom installation. We believe the performance of the D33 SuperDAC will set a new benchmark.

Specifications:

Analogue Audio Output

• Conversion 2x Burr Brown 24-bit 192kHz Advanced Segment Delta-Sigma
• Signal to noise ratio > 110dB CCIR (unweighted)
• Harmonic distortion (1kHz) 0.0008% (20Hz — 20kHz, unweighted)
• Frequency response (+0.1dB, -0.5dB) 10Hz–20kHz
• Filtering User selectable, fast or slow roll-off
• Output level (0dB) 2.2Vrms
• Output impedance 47?
• Minimum load 5k?

Digital interfaces

• USB Class 1 electrically-isolated USB 1.1
• Class 2 USB 2.0 High Speed (480 Mbit/s)
• AES/EBU Up to 192kHz sample rate
• Coaxial S/PDIF x 2 Up to 192kHz sample rate
• Optical S/PDIF (TOSLINK) x 2 Up to 96kHz sample rate Computer compatibility
• PC Windows 7, Vista & XP (driver required for 24/192 material)
• MAC OSX (no driver required)

Physical

• Dimensions W433 x D370 x H110mm
• Weight 6.2kg nett/10.0kg packed
• Power consumption 30W maximum
• Analogue output connection RCA Phono x 2, Balanced XLR x2

Supplied accessories

• Included Mains lead, CR107 remote control, 2 x AAA batteries

D1 Grandioso- 36 Bit Mono D/A Converter

ESOTERIC has developed an original, state-of-the -art transmission format called ES-LINK4, which allows DSD and 352.8kHz/48bit PCM ultrawideband digital transmission using an HDMI cable. ES-LINK4 performs a large part of the digital signal processing on the sending side, greatly reducing the digital signal processing load on the D/A converter. In addition to ultra-wide bandwidth, we sought high sound quality through our “Pure D/A” concept, in which the D/A converter specializes in its original function of D/A conversion processing.

The D1 applies a 36-bit D/A processing algorithm that converts PCM signals to analog signals at a high resolution of 36 bits by combining several 32-bit DAC devices. The tone of the high-bit data is used for faithful analog conversion. The resolution of 32-bit encoding is 256 times higher than that of 24-bit encoding, and 36-bit encoding gives an amazing resolution level that is another 16 times higher – a total of 4,096 times higher than the resolution of 24-bit encoding. Producing even finer bit tones minimizes operational error for outstanding expression of even subtle music signals.

The clock circuit, which supplies highly accurate reference clock signals to a digital circuit, can be considered the core unit of a digital player. The clock circuit of the P1 and D1 is completely independent of other circuits, including its power source and ground, enabling pure clock signals to be supplied to the system. The voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) was developed especially for the P1 and D1 in a joint effort with Nihon Dempa Kogyo (NDK), a major manufacturer of crystal oscillators. For a high-precision custom clock device worthy of leading models, high sound quality playback is provided thanks to an extremely low level of phase noise and a crystal element that is even larger than before.

LEADING TECHNOLOGY

In the Footsteps of Esoteric’s Most Advanced Grandioso Technology

ES-LINK4

Both the P-02X and D-02X have been newly equipped with Esoteric’s state-of-the-art ES-LINK4, which provides high-accuracy digital transmission of both DSD and ultra-wideband 352.8kHz/48-bit PCM by way of its HDMI cable connections. A core feature of the Grandioso P1/D1 digital source system, and developed in line with Esoteric’s ‘Pure D/A’ concept, ES-LINK4 performs the major portion of digital signal processing on the transmission side to significantly reduce the processing load on the D/A converter in pursuit of the ultimate in sound quality.

The Expressive Power of 36-Bit D/A Processing

Like the Grandioso D1, the D-02X utilizes a 36-bit D/A processing algorithm to convert the PCM signal to analog. This 36-bit encoding provides an astounding level of digital resolution that is fully 4,096 times that of 24-bit encoding, and double that of the 35-bit model on which it is based. Taking advantage of the delicate tone realized by this high-bit data minimizes calculation errors for outstanding expression of even the most subtle musical signals.

New Dimensions in Isolated Clock Technology

Widely considered to be the core of any high-end digital player, the clock circuit provides a high-accuracy reference signal for digital circuitry. The clock circuits featured in the P-02X and D-02X are completely isolated from all other circuits, including power source and ground, enabling a pure clock signal to be supplied to the system. The clock’s voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) was specially developed for Esoteric’s Grandioso line in a joint effort with Nihon Dempa Kogyo (NDK), one of the world’s premier manufacturers of crystal oscillators, for a high-precision custom clock worthy of the world’s finest audio equipment. Its extremely low levels of phase noise combine with a large-scale crystal element to ensure exceptional sound reproduction quality.

High-Accuracy Clock Synchronization

A BNC cable connects the D-02X to the P-02X to provide a master clock sync signal for synchronized playback with minimized jitter. Esoteric’s proprietary Direct Master Clock LINK* synchronizes the two units while eliminating the need for Phase-Locked Loop (PLL), enabling clear and accurate stereo imaging and crisp sound quality. The system can be further upgraded with the addition of an optional high-accuracy G-01 Rubidium Master Clock Generator, and supports a wide range of frequencies including master clocks (22MHz/10MHz) and word clocks (44.1kHz/88.2kHz/176.4kHz).

*DMCL (Direct Master Clock LINK) DMCL links the D-02X to the P-02X with a 22.5792MHz reference clock signal that causes the two units to function as a single integrated device. Compared to normal ‘sync’ systems, which generally require PLL (Phase Lock Loop) processing of the transmitted clock signal, DMCL provides simpler and more direct clocking between multiple devices.