Synthesis Roma 69DC DAC

Synthesis Roma 69DC DAC is designed to match the premium Roma valve audio range, but is also an excellent choice to match with other hi-fi separates. This DAC can be used as the heart of a digital system. It has two optical inputs as well as two coaxial inputs. There is also a USB port for external hard drives. It can also handle hi-res files including PCM and DSD files. 

As it features a valve output stage, the 69DAC DAC offers great musicality and a smooth output that many other DACs cannot reproduce. The DAC chip is hi-end and there are more digital inputs than is usual for a stand alone DAC. The power supply has an oversized transformer as well as hi-grade polypropylene capacitors in the signal path.

Premium DAC chip

The 69DC DAC uses the high-end Asahi Kasei AK4495S DAC chip. It is also a dual mono design with a valve output. As a result, the output impedance is low and the bandwidth massive. You get the best of both digital and analogue technologies.

Another bonus is the dedicated headphone amplifier. Rather than being an afterthought and tick on the features list, its designed to match the performance of the rest of the unit for the best possible sound.

Hi-grade power supply

The DAC uses an oversized shielded power transformer. This reduces interference and noise, for the best possible signal. Audio coupling is performed by high-grade polypropylene capacitors that have a long life and will not degrade the sound. Notably, the power supply is fully regulated so that the supply is always optimised for the load current needed.

What is a DAC?

DAC stands for Digital to Analogue Converter and they are used to convert digital audio signals back into the original audio. There are many grades of DAC. The cheapest are often used in computers and DACs are often built into integrated amplifiers – these are generally good quality, but standalone DACs like this are designed to extract every detail from your music and get the most from your digital sources.

There are three main ways of getting your digital audio signal into the DAC - coaxial, optical and USB. Coaxial uses a traditional wired connector. Optical uses a fibre optic cable with a special connector. Finally, USB can be used to connect an external drive or Laptop. More advanced DACs can have streaming support such as built-in Wi-fi and Bluetooth. There are also a complicated array of file types and formats..

File types?

The earliest digital signals came from CD players. This format is known as PCM and is sampled at 44kHz. Later hi-res CD formats came along, this type of signal is known as DSD or Direct Stream Digital. DSD is used for SACD. Most stand alone DACs can play both types.

There are also a range of file types that are used to store music, such as Mp3 and FLAC. Some of these are classed as lossless. There are also proprietary file types such as AAC, this is used by Apple. Finally the Firmware of a DAC can usually be upgraded, so that it will always be able to handle newer file types