Naim DAC-V1 Digital Audio Converter

Convert ordinary to extraordinary
The DAC-V1 is perfectly optimised for modern digital listening. It features an asynchronous USB input which is ideal for getting stunning sound quality from your computer. DAC-V1’s single-ended class-A headphone amplifier affords it added versatility. The output stages of this amplifier are kept as pure as possible, ensuring outstanding sound quality for headphone listening. The DAC-V1 is now DSD compatible and able to play 64 (2.8MHz sample rate) and 128 files (5.6MHz sample rate); the upgrade required significant optimisation of the core DSP code which has also improved sound quality.

The DAC-V1’s compact size makes it perfectly suited as a desktop companion to your Mac or PC, but its exceptional musicality means it will complement our standard-width hi-fi components just as well. Combine it with our UnitiServe hard disk music server and its matching NAP 100 power amplifier and you’ll create a stunning hi-fi system from just three compact boxes.

Technology & Craft Asynchronous USB Explained
Digital audio isn’t just about the data; 0s and 1s and ensuring that each sample value is accurately converted into a corresponding output voltage. Also vital to achieving the highest fidelity is ensuring that each successive sample is reproduced at a precise time interval from those around it. If that time interval varies, an effect known as jitter, then the output waveform will be distorted. To prevent this, the master clock that controls the process should, ideally, be placed right next to the digital to analogue converter circuitry, not remote from it. Asynchronous mode USB provides for this because it allows data to be 'pulled' from the source as required, whereas in other modes the data is 'pushed' down the interface under control of the far inferior and distant clock in the computer.

World class headphone amplifier
The single-ended Class-A headphone amplifier of the DAC-V1 cleverly uses the pre-amp output amplifier for headphone drive. The moment headphones are plugged in, the output current drive is automatically turned up five times to give dynamic drive for all headphone impedances. The amplifier runs from a high voltage power supply so has the ability to drive high impedance headphones with the voltage swing they require for open and dynamic sound. The result is the audio stages are kept as simple and pure as possible for both normal and headphone modes.