Kassandra II Reference DAC
Our approach in designing the Kassandra was to go back to the drawing board. Extensive testing and research proved to us that many of the DAC designs on the market had a certain character, lack of dynamics, lack of musicality and lack of true analog-like timbre and flow. In the process of development of our reference system, we were also searching for the best available converter. Yet no converter we tested delivered the sound we expected.
Delta-Sigma DAC and Multibit architecture didn’t deliver the required realism and analogue sound present in our other SOTA products. This quickly led us to the R2R Ladder DAC architecture for the Kassandra series, and the development of our AD1865N-K digital engine.
Technical Specifications
DIGITAL SECTION
| IC Chip Array: | 16 R2R converters per channel, complimentary current output using the top grade Analogue Devices AD1865N-K with 8 converters per bank, 16 per channel |
| Regulators: | Eight discrete ultra-low-noise regulators for the 4 converter banks |
| PSU: | Over engineered power supplies, power input filters. |
| Current to Voltage Conversion: | Transformer I/V conversion with custom wideband transformers, balanced current to single ended voltage conversion. |
| Additional Clock: | Internal Super-Clock by-passable on the fly, triple regulated supply |
INPUT & OUTPUT SECTION
| PSU: | Over engineered power supplies, power input filters, large toroid transformer & capicitor banks |
| Gain Stage: | Transformer loaded super tube output stage using the E280F tube. 5:1/10:1 step down transformer & double choke filtered supply |
| Output Range: | 30Vpp output @ 0db 10Vrms (5Vrms on -6db setting) |
| User Selectable Output: | 10v @50ohms or 5v @12ohms |
| Output: | 2 x RCA, 2 x Balanced. True Balanced output standard. Floating RCA output switchable (ground loop resolver) |
| Output Impedance: | 50 ohms (balanced and SE output), 12 ohms at -6db setting |
| USB input: | Data rates up to 24/384KHz |
| Jitter attenuation: | Down to femtosec level |
| Dimensions: | 540mm W x 520mm D x 165mm H |
| Weight: | 60kg |
Hi-End Audio / NOS parts / Valve Amplifiers / Valve R-2R DAC / Made to Order
If you are looking for Modern iteration of vintage technology, Aries Cerat is the ultimate brand.
As a hardcore new-old-stock (NOS) and vintage valve collector, Aries Cerat had created modern valve amplifier with touches of vintage elegance.
