ECdesigns PowerDAC-R

The simple and slightly retro look of the PowerDAC-R appeals to me but may not please everyone. It is surprisingly small but heavy for its size, sitting firmly on its round base. The back of the unit has two RCA analog outputs, a Toslink digital input, and a USB-B plug for the power supply (5v) and firmware updates.

The PowerDAC has a single Toslink input (max 24/192kHz) but runs on an independent master clock. The method devised to re-clock the SPDIF data in the PowerDAC is proprietary. Here are ECdesigns explantions:

The PowerDAC-R -only- collects the data from the incoming signal and places it in RAM (Random Access Memory). Next, the incoming sample rate is measured with a software-based frequency meter. So now the data is available, and the playback rate is determined.

Low jitter master clock (Vectron, Pletronics, -85 ... -90dB phase noise @ 10Hz) is used to generate a clean latch signal for the Fractal D/A converter. So we are -not- re-clocking a jittery clock signal and creating said radio transmitter. We are generating a new, clean clock from scratch that will be used to latch the data (we stored in RAM) into the Fractal D/A converter.

The Fractal D/A converter does not work with I2S or other serial data interface and requires no clocks to clock in serial data because there is no serial data. All problems related to high frequency clocks and high frequency serial data are eliminated this way.

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