Klein DAC II

[Gieseler Audio 2,470]

Soon!

Edited March 8, 2016 by Gieseler Audio

[oldrose 244]

Nice!

 

What will the pricing be?

[Gieseler Audio 2,470]

$1000

delivered

[matt200sr 396]

I was expecting an integrated preamplifier !

Or is it?

[Gieseler Audio 2,470]

Hi Matt,

no this is just a straight DAC but we will be following it up shorty with a larger version. It will have a high quality class A buffered variable line out & probably additional digital inputs.

Perfect to connect directly to a power amp.

The original plan was going to be a DAC/Pre with analogue inputs as well but I think extra digital inputs is a better way to go.

[blybo 4,620]

The original plan was going to be a DAC/Pre with analogue inputs as well but I think extra digital inputs is a better way to go.

 

Lots of us have turntables! Lack of at least analogue input rules this out for me.

[matt200sr 396]

Hi Matt,

no this is just a straight DAC but we will be following it up shorty with a larger version. It will have a high quality class A buffered variable line out & probably additional digital inputs.

Perfect to connect directly to a power amp.

The original plan was going to be a DAC/Pre with analogue inputs as well but I think extra digital inputs is a better way to go.

Matt likes this

[Gieseler Audio 2,470]

The analogue inputs could be still be retained as a option when ordering if there was sufficient interest.

[~Spyne~ 1,013]

So this is not the DAC/Pre? (as you know, I'm quite keen for this)

 

 

Either way, I still very much like this. How does this differ/improve from the original, Clay?

Also, any plans to move away from the very '80s on/off toggle?

 

Examples;

Edited March 8, 2016 by ~Spyne~

[Marc 12,409]

Yeah with @@~Spyne~ on the switch, the Billet buttons are great.

 

@@joz - another contender for you

[thewaves 273]

New AKM chippery??

[Ancientflatulence 1,572]

Vewwy Pwetty ................... well done Clay!!!!!!! ......... :)

[joz 5,642]

Hmmmm, tasty.

[Gieseler Audio 2,470]

I use the toggle switch because it is soldered directly to the PCB - so no wires

The other switches look nice but need to be fastened to the front panel & then require flying wires which is messy & a double process.

At the moment everything is on the PCB so it just slides in & then the panels go on. Good for service too so the whole thing just slides out & can be operated/tested/modded without the case.

The other option is just eliminate the switch & have remote power on/off. It would mean it would be in standby & using power even when switched off though.

Edited March 8, 2016 by Gieseler Audio

[todagt 333]

Remote on/off with 12v trigger out would be excellent!

Nice work Clay

[SamMac 9]

  looks awesome Clay, love the digital display , cant wait to see inside shots

[Gieseler Audio 2,470]

The audio circuitry is very similar to the Klein but all the digital supplies have an extra regulation stage so there is better isolation between analogue & digital supply lines. Also there is an extra filter called "super slow roll off" which is rather interesting.
Because the filters can be switched via the remote it is much easier to hear the differences. Sit it the sweet spot, crank it up a bit & flick through the filter settings. With DSD you have 64 128 & 256 - no 512 until the AK4497. Not a big deal as I've yet to find much DSD 512 content. With DSD there is also bypass mode which skirts around quite a bit of internal circuitry within in DAC chip itself. We spent a lot of time on the muting to eliminate pops/ticks but you still get the odd one say if you jump mid stream on a DSD track to a PCM track.
The good thing is it is easy to swap the chip so if we improve the software down the track I can always send out upgraded chips. Beginning to feel like Ted Smith now ha ha.
Yes I agree the toggle switch looks a bit out of place so maybe remote power on & 12v sense out - good idea todagt
The output is fixed at 2v RMS but as we have software control it would be possible to utilise the DAC's internal digital attenuator.
We may make a variable output version available with a different remote if there is enough interest. A little bit risky though as the DSD bypass mode is on the remote so you could go from low level to max with one click, anyway something to think about.

Edited March 9, 2016 by Gieseler Audio

[sleach 198]

Looks nice! Will it come with balanced outputs?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ozcall 1,416]

Hey ! , I like the toggle switches

[Gieseler Audio 2,470]

No balanced out on this one but we may make it an option on the bigger version.

OK I might need to get a toggle switch vote.

[StevenZ 23]

Looks great, Clay! I think in this case the toggle is a necessary requirement for ease of service and build. Perhaps another option for those who dont like it would be to move the toggle to the rear panel and use some sort of standby mode instead? I personally like the engaging feeling of a solid toggle. One must be careful when moving all controls to a remote especially if the user/owner happens to misplace the remote it renders the gear completely inoperable until a replacement is sourced.

[Jventer 1,667]

I have the Klein SE Dac. In the beginning looking at the the toggle switches irritated the living daylights out of me. Now I just don't look and it does not bother me. 

From a visual point of view as well as a OCD point of view I would not choose a toggle switch in the front. If it is at the back I think it would be much better.

The remote is a great idea!

[chu 126]

What are the specs?

Thanks

Chu

[A J 1,978]

. A little bit risky though as the DSD bypass mode is on the remote so you could go from low level to max with one click, anyway something to think about.

 

Having had this happen to me recently after one of the kids was fiddling with system - this is something worth avoiding !!

[Suopermanni 251]

Oh cool, a new Klein DAC!!!

 

What DAC chip does it have or is it the same as original Klein DAC?

 

Is this superseding the original Klein DAC or is it still going to be available?

[Gieseler Audio 2,470]

Specs - I will list it all properly in the next few days.

DAC chip - same as the Klein, AK4490EQ.

It is basically still a Klein but with DSD & remote control plus a few other PSU upgrades.

There is quite a bit more technology in it plus display & remote so that has bumped the price up a bit.

Also there was a fair amount of time spent on the software/firmware for the micro controller but this certainly makes it a more flexible design.

The standard Klein will continue as not everybody needs DSD or remote functions.

[steve u 1,194]

Great work Clay, can't wait to hear one of these.

[matth 134]

Soon!

IMG_2098 (Medium).JPG

Clay,

congratulations, it looks superb and I like the toggle switch too, but for sonical reasons I would vote to get rid of the switch to have the DAC always powered.

Matt

Edited March 9, 2016 by matth

[Bill125812 3,319]

Looks great clay.

Well done. Might come down soon and have a listen

[Ray H 602]

Nice looking unit !

A DAC / PRE with balanced out would definitely be something I would be interested in purchasing given the great feedback you are receiving.

I would prefer no toggles !

[Gieseler Audio 2,470]

Hi Ray,

We are currently designing a higher end unit which is a combination of this DAC plus my Preamplifer.

There will probably be a balanced out option on that model.

No toggles either - full remote.

[Grizzly 2,686]

Hi Ray,

We are currently designing a higher end unit which is a combination of this DAC plus my Preamplifer.

There will probably be a balanced out option on that model.

No toggles either - full remote.

Analogue inputs (at least one) I reckon is a must. Colour me keen if that box is ticked!

[mattjtaylor2809 406]

Ditto for me, balanced out on your DAC's plus at least X1 analogue input on any DAC/Pre model (switchable to HT bypass mode) would tick all my box's

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Gieseler Audio 2,470]

OK guys all points noted re bigger model.

Well I have been thoroughly testing the Klein II prototype for the last two weeks & have now finally ironed out the last few bugs.

We put a lot of effort into auto muting so you can play a DSD PCM mixed playlist perfectly with zero clicks or pops even with any sample rate combinations. I must admit I'm rather enjoying a playlist like that as it is a great way to compare DSD vs PCM. I have also implemented a few more PSU improvements as well. Final production won't start for a couple of weeks as the above changes required a new PCB which have now been ordered.

Edited March 24, 2016 by Gieseler Audio

[amisty 20]

Specs - I will list it all properly in the next few days.

DAC chip - same as the Klein, AK4490EQ.

It is basically still a Klein but with DSD & remote control plus a few other PSU upgrades.

There is quite a bit more technology in it plus display & remote so that has bumped the price up a bit.

Also there was a fair amount of time spent on the software/firmware for the micro controller but this certainly makes it a more flexible design.

The standard Klein will continue as not everybody needs DSD or remote functions.

will their much more sound improvement over original Klein Dac? I don't care for remote and dsd. I have the taste of great clarity with the Klein dac and I wont more!! with out getting a personal loan. Can anything compete with the Klein dac at this price point?

[Qwertyqaz 787]

will their much more sound improvement over original Klein Dac? I don't care for remote and dsd. I have the taste of great clarity with the Klein dac and I wont more!! with out getting a personal loan. Can anything compete with the Klein dac at this price point?

Never heard a Klein DAC.

Are there places one could demo in Melbourne

[joz 5,642]

will their much more sound improvement over original Klein Dac? I don't care for remote and dsd. I have the taste of great clarity with the Klein dac and I wont more!! with out getting a personal loan. Can anything compete with the Klein dac at this price point?

 

I had on loan the original for a while (from a local member), I must say for the dollar value it would be hard to beat.

I would say it was slightly better in many ways (particularily dynamics) to my old trusty 10 year old unit which cost many times more.

Hopefully soon I may be able to try this new unit and see if it can sway me.

It's going to come down to how it sounds in my system, but if it's much better it could be a winner.

[~Spyne~ 1,013]

will their much more sound improvement over original Klein Dac? I don't care for remote and dsd. I have the taste of great clarity with the Klein dac and I wont more!! with out getting a personal loan. Can anything compete with the Klein dac at this price point?

 

You could argue the new Chord Mojo is a very good competitor. Also saw a Matrix X-Sabre DAC for $999 on the website of a local retailer. I went from an Arcam irDAC to the Klein and the difference was extremely miniscule, but the Klein was ever so slightly better at fine detail and dynamics.

Edited March 28, 2016 by ~Spyne~

[Qwertyqaz 787]

You could argue the new Chord Mojo is a very good competitor. Also saw a Matrix X-Sabre DAC for $999 on the website of a local retailer. I went from an Arcam irDAC to the Klein and the difference was extremely miniscule, but the Klein was ever so slightly better at fine detail and dynamics.

Have you heard the Matrix X Sabre ?

[~Spyne~ 1,013]

Have you heard the Matrix X Sabre ?

 

Unfortunately not, only read glowing reviews for the past 3 years. However, a lot has happened in that time and the Chord Mojo, I'm led to believe from several trusted sources, is very, VERY good.

Also to note is the Matrix generally reviews as being very good with computer/streamed audio, but not quite as stellar with CD content.