SPL Diamond Desktop DAC and Preamplifier (Black, Silver, Red)
Description
DIAMOND - Premium DAC with VOLTAiR technology
Diamond is the perfect DAC and preamplifier for everyone who plays music exclusively from digital sources. Diamond offers connectivity for six digital sources and an external word clock. The superior VOLTAiR technology and the premium DAC with the unequalled DLP120 combined with an analog volume control allowing for highest resolution at any volume makes the Diamond an one-of-a-kind DA converter that delivers finest soundstages with an unrivalled analog feel.
Everything under control
The volume is adjusted with a solid, milled aluminum, rotary knob. The Alps RK27 “Big Blue” potentiometer gives a pleasant “spoon in the honey” rotary feel.
Source of joy - Up to 6 (!) digital stereo sources can be connected to Diamond
Diamond offers each a stereo USB and AES input as well as each two optical and coaxial stereo inputs. Via USB, both PCM audio and DSD audio can be converted. PCM audio is received in S/PDIF format, both coaxial (RCA), optical (Toslink F06) and balanced (AES/EBU).
The source selection is done via the selection control on the front. The selected input is also shown in the dot matrix LED display: USB, COA1, COA2, OPT1, OPT2 or AES.
After approximately two seconds, the display shows the type of clock source and the detected sampling rate.
Always in time
Diamond can not only synchronize to the clock integrated in the digitally fed source signal. As a specialist for digital players Diamond offers a word clock input. The source of the
clock signal can be selected via the CLOCK switch.
Well Informed
The DAC automatically picks up the sampling rate and resolution of the digital playback source, regardless of whether a streamer, computer, CD player, or an external word clock is connected. The detected sampling rate and the selected clock source are shown in the dot matrix LED display. For example, U768 is an acronym for a clock signal in the USB stream with a sampling rate of 768 kHz.
All Variable or Slave Thru
Diamond provides two stereo output pairs for connecting power amplifiers or active loudspeakers. One pair of outputs utilizes XLR 3-pin connectors while the other uses RCA outputs. Both have the same output signal, which is controlled by the volume control on the front panel.
The volume control for the RCA outputs can be switched out of the signal path via DIP switch on the back of the device. For example, a headphone amplifier with its own volume control can be connected to one of the outputs.
The DAC
The highly acclaimed AKM AK4490 Velvet Sound premium DAC chip is used as the converter chip in the digital-to-analog converter, which thanks to its architecture reproduces the finest sound details. It converts PCM audio with a resolution of 32 bits and a sampling rate of up to 768 kHz, which is equivalent to 16 times CD resolution. Direct Stream Digital is also supported up to resolution of DSD4 or DSD256.
The DLP120 (Dual Low-Pass)
Every signal that is passed from a DAC chip into the analog world must be filtered be filtered by a low-pass filter. Two of them are implemented in the DLP120: One for PCM audio and one for DSD audio, since different roll-off frequencies are required. In contrast to all other DACs in the world, the low-pass filters here are built using VOLTAiR technology, which provides a plus in dynamics, headroom, and sound.
Sounds Great
With all devices of the Professional Fidelity series, we develop not only according to plan, but also by ear. Many important components are installed on the circuit boards using Through-hole technology. This way, SPL can ensure that they use the best sounding components.
Diamond in Trends HiFi Magazine
Diamond in HiFi Test Magazine