DAC 200 – DAC with Preamp and Headphone Amp By T+A HiFi

Note: Deduct $200 from the cost when you choose Wire, Check, or eCheck payment at checkout.

Introducing the DAC 200, the latest addition to a prestigious line of high-end converters, now featuring a preamplifier and headphone amplifier. Meticulously crafted for exceptional performance, the DAC 200 exemplifies an unwavering dedication to both scientific precision and musical excellence. It stands out with the remarkable capability to handle DSD 1024 files and ensures complete galvanic isolation. This state-of-the-art device converts a wide range of digital formats into rich, natural analog sound, delivering through its built-in headphone and analog outputs. Elevate your audio experience with the unparalleled DAC 200.

De-Jitter Masterclock

Experience music in its purest form with the T+A De-Jitter Masterclock. Engineered to eliminate even the slightest interfering signals, this innovative device is designed to free all T+A DACs from the common issue of jitter, especially those resulting from computer usage. Jitter, caused by tiny timing errors, can negatively affect sound quality. The T+A De-Jitter Masterclock ensures these errors are corrected before converting digital signals into analog, delivering an uncompromised listening experience. Transform your audio setup with the precision and clarity provided by the T+A De-Jitter Masterclock.

The ultimate solution to jitter with the De-Jitter Masterclock, developed in Herford. This audiophile-grade device employs a multi-stage process to meticulously examine and eliminate even the most significant jitter artifacts from incoming signals. Initially, the raw clock pulse is closely analyzed by microprocessors, and only signals meeting strict frequency and stability criteria are passed to the Masterclock. If the criteria aren’t met, the signals undergo an additional cleaning through a specialized PLL stage in a second jitterbug, reducing residual jitter by a factor of four. Elevate your audio experience with the precision of the De-Jitter Masterclock.

Experience unparalleled audio clarity with the De-Jitter Masterclock, designed to ensure the highest signal purity. Signals that meet stringent purity requirements are decoupled from input jitter and processed by precision oscillators boasting femto-clock accuracy. Each oscillator is dedicated to a specific clock family, covering the odd 44.1 kHz to 705.6 kHz clock and the even 48 kHz to 768 kHz clock. Elevate your audio performance with the exceptional precision and reliability of the De-Jitter Masterclock.

Path Separation Technology

Experience music in its purest form with T+A’s advanced audio technology. Recognizing that even the smallest interference can impact sound quality, T+A addresses these issues right from the development stage. One significant interference source is the joint processing of PCM and DSD files in a single converter. To overcome this, T+A developed the unique Path Separation Technology, which dedicates separate converters for PCM and DSD formats, each tailored to their specific needs. This ensures that both formats are free from adverse sound influences and can achieve their full potential. PCM signals are handled by a quadruple converter, while DSD files are processed using the world-exclusive True 1-bit converter. Enhance your audio experience with T+A’s cutting-edge Path Separation Technology.

Converters & Filters

The unique innovation of the T+A True 1-bit converter, a breakthrough in digital audio technology. Unlike conventional converters that process DSD signals by converting them to PCM, the True 1-bit converter maintains the integrity of DSD files by processing them in their native form. This method eliminates detrimental conversion processes, ensuring that the audio is reproduced in its purest form as a genuine 1-bit stream. Elevate your listening experience with the unmatched clarity and authenticity of the T+A True 1-bit converter.

The PCM Quadruple Converter offers exceptional audio performance through its double symmetrical circuit design, incorporating eight 32-bit Burr-Brown converters. This advanced design significantly compensates for sound non-linearities and reduces background noise by an additional 6 dB, resulting in remarkable dynamism, linearity, and freedom from distortion. For those who appreciate unadulterated music reproduction, the Bezier filters—an in-house innovation—allow listeners to fine-tune the sound characteristics to their personal taste. Using polynomials, each of the six available filters, including two NOS stages, ensures perfect timing behavior. Elevate your listening experience with the precision and flexibility of the PCM Quadruple Converter.

Galvanic Separation DASS

Achieve exceptional analog sound quality with the advanced “Digital Analogue Separation System.” This innovative technology ensures a consistent separation between digital and analog sections, utilizing ultra-fast digital isolators from Silicon Labs for galvanic isolation. To maintain this separation throughout the entire signal chain, the power supplies for both the analog and digital signal paths are also completely isolated galvanically. Experience pristine audio performance with the unparalleled precision of the Digital Analogue Separation System.

Inputs, & Pre-amp & Outputs

Enjoy unparalleled connectivity with the DAC 200, designed with versatility and high-quality performance in mind. Its inputs are both universal and of exceptional quality: featuring USB-B inputs powered by the latest Thesycon chip for processing signals up to DSD 1024. Additionally, AES/EBU, BNC, optical, and coaxial SP/DIF inputs cater to a wide range of digital sources. The T+A SYS Link ensures high-speed signal connection within the Series 200 via the SYS IN input. Standard with one analog input, expand your options with two stereo HDMI inputs available as an optional upgrade. Discover limitless possibilities with the DAC 200’s comprehensive connectivity options.

The DAC 200, a specialized pre-amplifier renowned for its exceptional performance. It features a discreet Class A pre-amplifier section and a double mono “State of the Art” output stage, ensuring pristine audio quality. Designed to meet diverse needs, it offers balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs for analog signal transfer, while a balanced 4.4mm Pentaconn headphone output delivers superior headphone amplification. Unlike conventional chip solutions, its fully discreet construction caters specifically to headphone requirements.

Additionally, the DAC 200 includes an optional HDMI board with an Audio Return Channel (ARC) for seamless HDMI signal pass-through. Elevate your audio setup with the versatility and uncompromising quality of the DAC 200’s output options and headphone amplification capabilities.

Note: There is an optional HDMI module, if you’d like to connect a Blu-ray player. The DAC 200 comes with HDMI jacks but an internal board is required to make them operational.

The Absolute Sound — Golden EAR Award Winner!
“Considering the build-quality, features, and, most importantly, the unbelievable performance that T+A has squeezed into these petite chassis, they’re actually quite the deal. You can’t touch their price with most large separates, and the full stack is even at the low end of the $20–$50k range”

https://jaguaraudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/The_Absolute_Sound_Series_200_Review.pdf

Audiophile Style
T+A has set the bar extremely high with the DAC 200. This DAC is one for the ages. It sounds fantastic, looks classic, functions seamlessly, is well supported, and is priced competitively. Based on my listening habits and experience with more DACs than I can remember, this would be my number one choice for a DAC anywhere near the DAC 200’s price. Everything about the DAC 200 is just that good. Period.

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/ta-dac-200-da-converter-review-r1135/

HiFi News
While avoiding any lame jokes about ‘German engineering’, I’m bound to say there’s a wonderful sense of synergy – and not just in build and style – between these two T+A components. The A 200 is a mature-sounding power amp with excellent driving ability, and a perfect partner for the DAC 200’s refined, insightful and light-footed approach.

https://www.hifinews.com/content/ta-dac-200a-200-dacpreamp-power-amp

Analog section

• Frequency response + 0 / − 3 dB : 0,1 Hz – 200 kHz
• Signal / noise ratio : 110/114 dB
• THD  /  Intermodulation : < 0,001 % / < 0,001 %
• THD  /  Intermodulation : < 0,001 % / < 0,001 %
• Channel separation : > 108 dB
• Pre-amplifier outputs :
  • variable : High level (RCA) 0…2,5 Veff / 22 Ohms, balanced (XLR) 0…5,0 Veff / 22 Ohms
  • fixed : High level (RCA) 2,5 Veff / 22 Ohms, balanced (XLR) 5,0 Veff / 22 Ohms discreetly designed Class A-HV-output stage in Double-Mono-Circuitry
• Volume control : Gold contact relays controlled in 1 dB steps, – 90 dB to 0 dB
• Headphone output : 4.4 mm Pentaconn, discreetly designed high-performance output stage, Class A operation up to 200 mA, 6 Ohms output impedance

Analog inputs

• High level (RCA) : 250 mVeff … 4,5 Veff / 10 kOhms

Digital inputs

• 1 x AES-EBU 32…192 kHz / 16-24 Bit
• S/P-DIF: 2 x Standard Coax, 2 x optical TOS-Link 32…192 kHz / 16-24 Bit and DoP DSD64 (0x05/0xFA Marker)
• 1 x BNC 32…192 kHz / 16-24 Bit
• 2 x USB DAC: Device-Mode 44,1 … 768 kSps (PCM) and up to DSD1024*, supports asynchronous data transfer. *DSD 512 and DSD 1024 with Windows PC and appropriate driver installed or Linux PC with Kernel 4.4 or higher only.
• Supports DoP up to DSD 256 (0x05/0xFA Marker).
• 2 x HDMI IN, 1 x HDMI OUT with ARC (as an option)

D/A converter section

• PCM : Double-Differential-Quadruple-Converter with four 32-Bit Sigma-Delta, D/A converter per channel, 705,6 / 768 kSps conversion rate
• DSD : T+A-True-1Bit DSD D/A converter, up to DSD 1024 (49,2 MHz), native bitstream
• Upsampling : T+A signal-processor – synchronous upsampling with four selectable oversampling algorithms. FIR short, FIR long, Bezier/IIR, Bezier, NOS (non-oversampling)
• Analog filter : Phase-linear Bessel filter 3rd order, switchable with 60 or 120 kHz cut-off frequency

Mains / Accessories / Dimensions

• Mains : 200 – 240 V, 50 – 60 Hz, 30 Watts
• Standby : < 0,5 Watts
• Dimensions (H × W× D) : 10 × 32 × 34 cm, 4 x 12.6 x 13.4 inch
• Accessories : Remote control FM200, power cord, USB cable
• Weight : 6,2 kg, 13.7 lbs
• Finishes : Alu silver anodized (43), Alu schwarz anodized (42)

Technical modifications reserved

User manual DAC 200