World’s Best 32-bit Audio D/A Converter offers 135dB Dynamic Range

Date: 2/3/2009

World’s Best 32-bit Audio D/A Converter offers 135dB Dynamic Range

The original Sabre Reference DAC was lauded by the audio world thanks to the superior performance and sound clarity delivered by ESS Technology’s Hyperstream™ architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator.

Twelve months later and ESS has extended the family with a new device that uses an enhanced 32-bit Hyperstream™ architecture to extend the original Sabre References from 24-bit to 32-bit music and raise its performance to 135dB dynamic range and -120dB THD.

Ranking among the ‘must see’ OEM products at the at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month ESS Technology announced an enhancement to its Sabre Reference DAC family. Launched in January 2008 the original Sabre Reference DAC took the audio world by storm thanks to its superior performance and sound clarity delivered by the manufacturer’s patented Hyperstream™ architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator.

The new device, called the Sabre32 Reference DAC, uses an enhanced 32-bit Hyperstream™ architecture to extend the original Sabre References from 24-bit to 32-bit music and raise its mind-boggling performance to 135dB dynamic range and -120dB THD.

The Sabre32 Reference DAC is available in two versions – the ES9018 8-channel DAC supports mono, stereo, 4- and 8-channel output modes, while the ES9012 2-channel DAC supports stereo output. Each part integrates an all-digital SPDIF receiver, supports digital audio in PCM or DSD formats, features click-free soft mute, volume control, de-emphasis, zero detect, customisable filter characteristics and consumes less than 100mW.

According to Robert Wong, vice-president of marketing and worldwide sales for ESS Technology, the Sabre32 Reference DAC is a perfect companion for the emerging 32-bit audio content generated by music studios and DSP up-conversion: “Together with other ESS Sabre DACs and ADCs, the Sabre32 Reference DAC will enable audio enthusiasts to enjoy their music with a performance never before possible. It is simply stunning.”

Sabre HyperstreamTM
The ESS Sabre HyperstreamTM audio digital-to-analog converter series includes the Sabre Reference and Sabre Premier, the world’s first 8-channel audio DAC solution to bring true professional digital audio to the mass consumer home entertainment market. Sabre HyperstreamTM devices have been designed into some the world’s most prestigious audiophile equipment, including Blu-ray players, CD/SACD players, and A/V preamps.

Samples of both the ES9018 Sabre32 Reference 8-channel DAC and the ES9012 Sabre32 Reference Stereo DAC in the 64-LQFP package can be requested through the more information link below.