SPL DIAMOND DAC

DAC D/A converter and digital preamplifier with VOLTAiR technology.

AKM AK4490 Velvet Sound 32bit/768KHz D/A converter for PCM and DSD256, PCM or DSD selectable low pass filterable.

Alps RK27 Big Blue Motorized Volume Potentiometer. Dot matrix display.

6 digital inputs: 2 coaxial, 2 optical, 1 AES and 1 USB. Variable XLR and RCA analog output (RCA also fixed).

Input for external clock.

VOLTAiR +/-60V technology with proprietary discrete operational amplifiers.

Shielded toroidal transformer.

Dimensions (WxHxD): 278x57x300mm.

Weight: 3.15Kg.

Diamond, a new jewel from SPL A high-level, versatile, performing DAC/Pre with a great sound SPL, a German company with over 33 years of history, was born from the passion for music of the two founders, Hermann Gier and Wolfgang Neumann.

There are many products in the catalogue, based on the unsurpassed musical qualities of analog technology, which for SPL are the starting point in optimizing digital products.

Many are the inventions introduced over time by Gier and Neumann, from the first discrete 5.1 Atmos surround microphone system, to that of VOLTAiR technology with 120V operational amplifier and then the exclusive and ingenious Phonitor Matrix to obtain a listening with headphones equivalent to that done with a pair of loudspeakers.

Diamond has the classic aesthetics of all SPL products, and is available in the three classic colours, black, silver and red, the latter particularly original and very popular with the public. Inside beats the heart of an AKM AK4490 Velvet Sound™ DAC, with 32/768 capacity and DSD up to 256, and adopts VOLTAiR technology, exclusive to the manufacturer, both for the low-pass filters and for the output buffer German.

Extremely sophisticated, it is based on the use of proprietary operational amplifiers that work with a power supply of +/- 60V and therefore 120V total, which means a considerable increase in dynamics, from about 124 dB obtainable with a normal operational amplifier powered by +/- 15V at over 141 dB, with an appreciable improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio.

SPL Diamond automatically detects the sample rate and resolution of the source, and displays it on an eye-catching red dot matrix LED display. In addition to the volume knob, mechanically connected to the potentiometer, there is the input selection, with 6 inputs, one USB, two optical, two coaxial, and an EAS/EBU, and finally the clock frequency selector, which can be that of the internal generator or an external third party one.

The analog outputs are XLR or RCA and a dip switch is placed on the rear panel which makes one or the other pair or variable, therefore under the volume control, or fixed, so as to possibly connect a power amp in the first case or, for example, a headphone amplifier already equipped with volume.

Technical features

- Maximum output level: 32.5 dBu

- Output impedance: 75 ohms

- Frequency response: 10Hz-300kHz

- THD distortion: 0.001%

- Signal to noise ratio: 102.3 dB

- Dynamic range: 135dB

- Inputs: AES/EBU, SPDIF optical/coaxial, USB-B

- Accepted frequencies: from 44.1 to 768kHz, DSD 256

- DAC: AKM 4490EX Velvet Sound

- Power supply: 115/230VAC

- Consumption on/standby: 40W/0.3W