The ZDAC-1 is an audiophile implementation Cirrus Logic's flagship 192kHz multi-bit CS4398 DAC Chip.  It features Coax, Optical and USB inputs via a digital receiver with 32kHz~192kHz sample frequency range and low-jitter clock recovery.  All three inputs, including USB are up-sampled to 24-bit/192kHz and are selectable from the front switches.  The output stage features high grade op amps that have been carefully voiced for each channel to handle the I/V conversion from the DAC chip to the dual-mono buffer stage for a nice low output impedance.

The ZDAC-1 6 inches wide, 10 inches deep (not including jacks) and 2.5 inches tall)
is available in 110/120V and 220/240v.

THE DESIGN GOAL

For ten years we've been hearing "When is Decware going to come out with a DAC?"  The answer has always been the same: "When we can make one as impressive for the dollar as the rest of our products".   That means it has to sound better than dacs competing in the same price window... and we don't need to tell you how many DAC's there are out there.  Admittedly this is why it's taken so long.  

The R&D was a top down process that was about reaching a cost no object reference first. After trying a multitude of different approaches we ended up with a 16 bit non-oversampling machine pictured below.  Projected cost close to $6,000.00 

From that point forward the challange became about designing something that would sonically compete in a way that people could afford.

The reference dac pictured above combined a Tube gain stage and a solid state gain stage with buffer that could be listened to in any combination.  Some nights I prefer the sound of the dac by itself, and sometimes I like to add the tube stage and most of the time I use all the stages.  Obviously since the dac sounds rather great by itself, many people suggested just building that and making the remaining stages optional.

Fast forward to the end result shown below, and it accomplishes very similar results with three separate matching components. The main component, the ZDAC-1 shown in the middle of the trio, can optionally be suplimented with a single-ended triode class A tube gain stage (left of the dac) and in some systems can benefit further from adding our SET class A tube buffer, called the ZBOX (right of the dac).  All three components together come in at or below $2000.00 and since this is a 32 bit machine that reclocks and upsamples everything you feed it to 24bit/192kHz with minimal oversampling, it actually surpassed our reference dac in several categories.

In this trio, the ZDAC-1 sounds so good that most people after hearing it will never consider adding either of the two matching stages and that is exactly what we wanted!  This is not a scenerio where you need all three units to have a reference quality playback, so you need not feel inferior for listening to just the DAC. The optional units don't bring better sound quality to the table, but rather more in-depth control of the playback giving nurotic audiophiles something they can use to manipulate recordings for more pleasing sound.

-Steve Deckert

ABOUT USB

The ZDAC-1 will accept 16/44 and 24/96 bit data from your computer on it's USB port.  16/44 and 24/96 files will be up-sampled to 24/192 automatically.  USB connectivity was not an afterthought in this dac and consequently USB will usually sound better than COAX or OPTICAL unless you have a great transport and cables. 

With a computer you can rip CD's that are checked against online databases for accuracy.  This means you can get a bit-for-bit perfect recordings with zero errors - this is difficult to achieve even with brand new CD's on the very best transports.  You can also play hi-res CD's and DVD's done at 24/96 or higher resolutions using a computer, or just fill your home with music during the day by streaming internet radio to your ZDAC-1.  Even MP3's and ITunes purchases will sound better than ever because regardless of the resolution, everything is upsampled to 24bit 192kHz for a smoother more detailed almost analog sound.

OPTIONS

Internally the ZDAC-1 is well endowed with audiophile parts.  Packed with mil spec resistors, Nichicon Muse caps, LT1361 output stages and Burr Brown buffers there isn't anything inside that you would want to change.

ZSTAGE - Matching tube gain stage for the ZDAC-1 will add some tube goodness to the picture.

ZBOX - Matching tube buffer stage for the ZDAC-1 will further bloom things up, especially with 16 bit recordings or MP3's.

DHC-1 Our power cord can be used with all of these items.

FEATURES:

SUPPORT

This unit is built in the USA by DECWARE / High Fidelity Engineering Co. It comes with a one year warranty to the original owner. 

We also have a support forum for this product.

REVIEWS

SPECIFICATIONS