Blacknote DAC 30 DAC
Italian DAC30 is made in a simple, even rude way. It has simple steel chassis, enclosed by stamped cover with slots, surfaces painted in black powder enamel, simple buttons with the fixation on the faceplate... But in spite of external primitive, the device causes a lot of respect. On the narrow 240-mm "facade" there are LCD display with purple-white backlight, selection buttons of inputs, mute and volume level. Commutation possibilities of the model are very wide. You can connect two devices through USB, one source through optics, even four sources through coaxial cable and one through AES/EBU studio interface.Outputs in basic construction are presented by digital coaxial and simple linear stereo pair. Optionally the converter can be complemented with balanced analog, linear and optical outputs for the connection of the recorders. Thus, the functionality of DAC30 rises almost to the level of pre-amplifier.
We don't know much about the filling of the "Italian" and I, personally, don't regret about it - sometimes even specialists can't puzzle out what the electronic engineers of Blacknote invent and create. I will only note that DAC30 is able to receive audio files of 32 bit/192 kHz format from computer sources and even without special software. Analog section is also remarkable. The output of the exemplar, which came to us, was implemented on three tubes, but a version DAC SS with transistor cascade exists too. It, by the way, is a bit cheaper.
The devise slightly makes a loud screeching sound and seems to be sensitive to the shielding quality of output cable. In addition, it is very responsive to the power phase. Either you get a wide, bright sound with volumetric scene and large images or ...Here the most interesting things begin! To be honest, I can't remember when I've heard so neutral grey and at the same time delicate and vivid sound from our tested system. You start to listen to everything, getting purely aesthetic pleasure from the process.
DAC30 opens unknown details, amazes by naturalness and musical balance. In bass and mid registers it shows incredible harmonic clarity. Upper range fascinates with naturalness and the finest signature - the ability to show the smallest differences in the sound of trebles, sibilants, and air plumes. Everything becomes clear: the origins of the sound, what is the nature of its origin ... As a result - the strongest presence effect.
At switching to USB musical materialization doesn't decay. Even MP3 tracks are sounded vitally. And when you begin to listen to files with the quality of 24 bit/192 kHz, you don't notice how hours are flying. DAC30 is just some kind of time pirate! However, it has minor bugs. A slight tint always presences in the upper middle (looks like MIC effect). And subsonic component of this converter is weak so the playback sometimes needs more depth.
