Naim Audio DAC-V1

The DAC-V1 is a compact digital-to-analog converter with volume control. It features an asynchronous USB input, five digital S/PDIF inputs, analog output (fixed or variable), digitally controlled analog volume control and a front-panel headphone jack. It provides the highest quality sound for music from your computer and can act as a digital hub that handles a wide range of sources.

“Digital” becomes musical

When connected to a computer via USB, the DAC-V1 is integrated into the operating system and provides audio playback with characteristics determined not by the computer’s hardware, but only by the quality of the audio data. And thanks to the power of the DAC-V1, audio data quality can be incredibly high, up to 24-bit/384 kHz.

Powerful and versatile

The DAC-V1 is ideal for placement on a desk next to your computer and is extremely versatile. It can easily be integrated into a traditional hi-fi system or used with any other two-channel digital audio source (eg games console, satellite receiver, etc.) via one of the five S/PDIF digital inputs. Combining the DAC-V1 with a power amplifier (eg NAP 100) and Naim UnitiServe music server allows you to build a compact, high-end music system with the ability to handle all new music sources and delivery formats.

Our latest DAC model is perfectly adapted to modern digital music. The DAC-V1 features an asynchronous USB input, which is ideal for getting great sound from your computer. The Class A single-ended telephone amplifier is very versatile. The output circuits of this amplifier are carefully designed and deliver amazing quality sound to your headphones.

The DAC-V1's compact size makes it easy to place close to your computer, and its amazing musicality makes it a perfect match for our standard hi-fi components. When you connect it to a UnitiServe hard drive music server and a matching NAP 100 amplifier, you can create a stunning hi-fi system from just three compact units.

Asynchronous USB input

The digital signal transmitted through the asynchronous USB input is not just a stream of information (0s and 1s). Each bit of this information must be carefully processed to produce the appropriate output signal. It is also important to achieve absolute accuracy so that each sample is transmitted within a strictly defined time period. If this time period is not constant (this effect is called jitter), then the output waveform will be distorted. To prevent this effect, the main master oscillator should ideally be placed in close proximity to the D/A converter circuits. Asynchronous USB mode allows this to be achieved because it allows information to be "pulled" from the source in the desired form, whereas in other modes information is "pushed" under the control of a rather low-quality generator in the computer.

Premium Headphone Amplifier The DAC-V1's single-ended Class A telephone amplifier cleverly uses the line output to drive headphones. Once headphones are connected to the output, the output current is automatically increased by a factor of five to apply dynamic load to the headphone impedance. The amplifier is powered by a high-voltage power supply and is therefore capable of driving high-impedance headphones with the current they require, producing clear and dynamic sound. Throughout, the sound signal undergoes minimal processing and remains clear both in normal mode and when working on headphones.

High-speed asynchronous USB input (signal up to 24bit/384kHz)
Five S/PDIF inputs for connecting to a variety of devices (game consoles, satellite/cable receivers and HDD players)
Ability to select preset or variable analog outputs (DIN or RCA)
Proprietary digital volume control, filtering and resampling powered by SHARC's high-precision 40-bit DSP
Single-ended Class A amplifier headphone output

What to connect to...

As well as being able to play virtually all your computer's music files, the DAC-V1 can also convert audio from a variety of different digital sources and integrates seamlessly into modern and traditional hi-fi systems.

PC/Mac/Laptops

Play virtually all music files from your computer via asynchronous USB input

Hard disk players

Build a compact yet powerful Hi-Fi system with DAC-V1, NAP 100 and UnitiServe

CD players

Lighten your CD player's responsibilities by letting the DAC-V1 handle the preamplification and digital-to-analog conversion

Blu-ray/DVD players

Play soundtracks from movies, live concerts, etc.

Gaming consoles

Immerse yourself in the multimedia sound of your favorite console

Traditional Hi - Fi systems

Add a new dimension to Hi-Fi by connecting the DAC-V1 to a free analogue amplifier input

Satellite receivers / TVs

Improve the sound quality of your TV or satellite receiver

Headphones

Listen to music by connecting headphones to the front panel jack of the DAC-V1

Key Features

High-speed asynchronous USB input with up to 24-bit/384 kHz resolution
5 x S/PDIF inputs up to 24bit/192kHz resolution
5 x S/PDIF inputs up to 24bit/192kHz (1 x BNC, 2 x RCA, 2 x TOSLINK)
Switchable fixed or variable analog outputs (DIN or RCA)
Circuitry provides zero jitter on S/PDIF inputs
Naim proprietary digital filtering with 16x oversampling
SHARC ADSP21489 Signal Processor for Digital Filtering and Jitter Elimination
Classic Naim discrete preamp stage using select components
High quality Burr Brown PCM1791A DAC (same as used in NDX and SuperUniti)
Single Ended Class A Headphone Amplifier
Single ended Class-A headphone amplifier.
Headphone output (¼" jack) on the front panel
Optical isolation of digital and analog sections
Naim analogue volume control with digital control provides the best sound and precision settings
Linear power supply with 210 VA transformer and separate windings for digital, analog and conversion stages
Works with computers running Mac OSX, 10.7 and higher, Windows XP, 7 and 8
Ground switch (indirect ground or ground) for optimal sound in any system
Possibility of self-updating firmware
OLED display to check settings and incoming sample rate
Control via IR remote control or from the front panel
Ability to control playback and computer volume
Compact non-magnetic anti-resonance housing
Designed and manufactured in Britain

Naim Audio DAC V-1

Digital-to-analog converter, preamplifier, headphone amplifier. Digital inputs: asynchronous USB (24 bit / 384 kHz), 5 x S/PDIF (24 bit / 192 kHz). Frequency range: 10 Hz – 20 kHz. Distortion: 0.002%. Headphone output 6.3 m. Remote control. Dimensions 87 x 207 x 314 mm. Weight 4.3 kg. Black color.

DAC-V1 is a compact digital-to-analog converter with volume control. It features an asynchronous USB input, five digital S/PDIF inputs, analog output (fixed or variable), digitally controlled analog volume control and a front-panel headphone jack. It provides the highest quality sound for music from your computer and can act as a digital hub that handles a wide range of sources.

“Digital” becomes musical When connected to a computer via USB, the DAC-V1 is integrated into the operating system and provides audio playback with characteristics determined not by the computer’s hardware, but only by the quality of the audio data. And thanks to the power of the DAC-V1, audio data quality can be incredibly high, up to 24-bit/384 kHz.

Powerful and versatile, the DAC-V1 is ideal for placement on a desk next to your computer while being extremely versatile. It can easily be integrated into a traditional hi-fi system or used with any other two-channel digital audio source (eg games console, satellite receiver, etc.) via one of the five digital S/PDIF inputs. Combining the DAC-V1 with a power amplifier (eg NAP 100) and Naim UnitiServe music server allows you to build a compact, high-end music system with the ability to handle all new music sources and delivery formats.

Peculiarities

What to connect to... As well as being able to play almost any music file on your computer, the DAC-V1 can also convert audio from a variety of different digital sources and integrates seamlessly into modern and traditional hi-fi systems.

PC/Mac/Laptops Play virtually all music files from your computer via asynchronous USB input

Hard Drive Players Build a compact yet powerful Hi-Fi system with DAC-V1, NAP 100 and UnitiServe

CD Players Lighten the load on your CD player by letting the DAC-V1 handle the pre-amplification and D/A conversion

Blu-ray / DVD players Play soundtracks from movies, live concerts, etc.

Game Consoles Immerse yourself in the multimedia sound of your favorite console

Traditional Hi-Fi Systems Add a new dimension to Hi-Fi by connecting the DAC-V1 to the free input of an analog amplifier

Satellite Receivers / TVs Improve the sound quality of your TV or satellite receiver

Headphones Listen to music by connecting headphones to the front panel jack of the DAC-V1

Key Features

High-speed asynchronous USB input with resolution up to 24bit/384kHz 5 x S/PDIF inputs with resolution up to 24bit/192kHz 5 x S/PDIF inputs up to 24bit/192kHz (1 x BNC, 2 x RCA, 2 x TOSLINK) Switchable fixed or variable analog outputs (DIN or RCA) Circuit design provides zero jitter on S/PDIF inputs Proprietary Naim digital filtering with 16x oversampling SHARC ADSP21489 signal processor for digital filtering and jitter elimination Classic Naim discrete preamp stage using select components High quality DAC Burr Brown PCM1791A (same as used in NDX and SuperUniti) Single ended Class-A headphone amplifier Headphone output (¼" jack) on front panel Optical isolation of digital and analog sections Naim analog volume control with digital control provides the best sound and precision settings Linear power supply with 210 VA transformer and separate windings for digital, analog and conversion stages Works with computers running Mac OSX, 10.7 and higher, Windows XP, 7 and 8 Ground switch (indirect ground or ground) for optimal sound in any system Self-updating firmware OLED display to check settings and incoming sample rates Control via IR remote control or front panel Control playback and computer volume Compact, non-magnetic, anti-resonance housing Designed and manufactured in Britain

Technical details

Asynchronous Digits Digital audio is not just about bits (the ones and zeros) and accurately converting each discrete value into a corresponding output voltage. To achieve the highest audio fidelity, it is necessary that each successive sample is played back at an accurate time interval. If this time interval varies—an effect known as jitter—the output waveform of the signal is distorted. To prevent this, the control clock should ideally be located as close as possible to the D/A converter circuitry. USB asynchronous mode is used because it allows data to be "pulled" out of the computer, whereas in other modes the data would be "pushed" into the device under the control of the computer's much less advanced and far removed clock.

World-class headphone amplifier Naim has a long tradition of using discrete, transistorized, single-ended Class A amplifiers in all preamp stages. We followed this approach when creating the headphone amplifier in the DAC-V1. In such amplifiers, the pre-amp output is used to load the headphones. An important feature is that when headphones are connected, the output load current is automatically increased fivefold to ensure dynamic loading of all headphone impedances. The amplifier is powered by a high-voltage power supply, making it easy to drive high-impedance headphones, and the large voltage swing provides open and dynamic sound. As a result of this solution, audio stages are as simple as possible, both for normal mode and for mode with headphones.

Most headphone amplifiers operate in class AB using a push-pull circuit, which is characterized by step-type distortion. Single-ended Class A amplifiers are renowned for their natural sound and lack of center cutoff distortion. Their Achilles heel - low efficiency - is insignificant when loaded with headphones, but the advantages can be fully used.