Teac UD-501 d/a converter demo - save $$$$$

TEAC UD-501 dual mono DSD 5.6 MHz/384 kHz pcm capable dac 
Exceptional high performing dac under $1000 with a truly capable headphone amp on board!  This demo unit is in pristine condition and comes with full warranty!

from positive feedback online:

TEAC's new UD-501 is so far the least expensive DAC that supports Direct Stream Digital (DSD) playback at both 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz rates, and PCM up to 384kHz 32-bit resolution. DSD is available with the USB connection using ASIO 2.1 (Windows) or DoP (Mac). Both 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz DSD files are processed in native mode to properly convert DSD into an analog signal without any conversion to PCM.

2.8MHz DSD is the same resolution as SACD, and 5.6MHz is double SACD's resolution, which in addition moves ultrasonic noise beyond 60kHz.

The output section of the UD-501 features two Burr Brown 32-bit DACs per channel and JRC Muses op amps. It's a dual monaural design that eliminates signal interference and maximizes performance for a purer audio signal.

Both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs are available, I used the RCA outputs to my AMC tubed preamp using Mojo Audio's Lucent Copper Ribbon interconnects. A toroidal-core power supply ensures top performance and clean transient playback, for quality that outperforms much more costly components. 

With its asynchronous transfer mode timing is controlled more accurately by ignoring the clock signal from a PC, nearly eliminating clock-noise and allowing digital data to travel un-affected.

The front, side, and top panels are each constructed of aluminum and attached to a robust steel chassis. These heavy parts eliminate vibration allowing internal circuits to perform under stable conditions.

Sonic Impressions

The Teac DAC sounds very much like honest to God real music, with a very warm analog sound like one would hear in a really good jazz club or concert hall. Music becomes very inviting. The most realistic sound so far is from the Opus 3 "double DSD" 5.6MHz samplers. As I have reported in the past, my 24/96 copies of audiophile LPs sound very close to vinyl, with the Teac DAC I seriously doubt I would be able to tell the original analog LP from the 24/96 PCM copy, my audiophile LPs sound just like LPs without the hassle.

For many years I lived with and was quite happy with the maximum resolution of 96kHz offered by my computer, although I did have DVD-Audios at 192kHz and pure DSD SACDs. This is my first time to experience 352.8kHz 24-bit PCM and 5.6 MHz DSD, and I am quite impressed with both. Both sound, and more importantly feel, more realistic than even 192kHz, and the beauty of sound fills my body with goose bumps, even with music as simple as just voice and guitar, these super high resolution music files feel so frightfully real. 

With the Teac DAC my 24-bit 192kHz music files now offer better sound than I remember getting from my 24/192 DVD-Audios. I was able to compare the same music in both 96kHz and 192kHz, and the 192kHz versions offered a much higher level of sonic realism, a more holographic sound field, and more ambiance. However, for me 24/352.8 PCM and DSD are the music files that bring me the most listening pleasure, we don't have a lot of those yet, but the selection is growing.

If you would like to compare different resolutions of the same music file I recommend free downloads from 2L's test bench http://www.2l.no/hires/ Most of their masters are DXD, which is 24-bit 352.8kHz, and you can compare a variety of resolutions and file formats from 24/96kHz PCM to 5.6MHz DSD. And on the Soundkeeper Recordings Format Comparison page, you can compare 16/44, 24/96, and 24/192kHz. In addition free software programs such as XLD allow you to convert your highest resolution music file to various lower resolutions to hear the differences for yourself.

The sonic differences in the 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz Opus 3 samplers, which are from Purist Analog Recordings, proves to me that many analog masters are superior to even high resolution digital masters, this should add more fuel to the analog-digital debate. To my memory, both 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz DSD sound better than I remember Opus 3 LPs sounding.

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thank you 
Ronald K. Buffington 
Liquid HiFi 704-953-6034 www.liquidhifi.com Authorized dealer for  Audeze headphones, Audioengine speakers, Black Diamond Racing, Cardas, Clearaudio, Dynaudio, Esoteric, Fosgate, Furutech, KEF loudspeakers, Jeff Rowland design,  Marantz, Marten design, MIT cables, Nordost, Octave, Oppo digital, Parasound Halo, PS Audio, qøl™ Signal Completion Stage, QRT, Reference Recordings, Rega, Running Springs Audio, Stillpoints, T+A, Teac Reference,  Velodyne, Vienna Acoustics, Westone in ear monitors, Wireworld & many other fine audio products.