Balanced Audio Technologies REX 3 DAC USB Tube DAC Lab Report

Lab Report

High-end outboard converters featuring bespoke DAC architectures – the dCS Vivaldi One [HFN Feb '18] and MSB Premier [HFN Aug '19] being good examples – will typically exhibit a distinct technical behaviour, all of which can inform how the product will sound. This is not entirely true of the REX 3 because, although the adaptive nature of the digital filter can be examined in the lab, other 'features' of Andreas Koch's AKDAC-3 DAC module are masked by BAT's 6C19 tube-based output stage. For example, while the DAC's low-level linearity is good to within ±0.2dB over a 100dB dynamic range, the overall A-wtd S/N ratio is reduced to just 95dB because of a prominent 100Hz PSU noise component. PSU noise does influence the REX 3's jitter spectrum but the overall figures of 280psec (48kHz/24-bit data) and 155psec (96kHz data) are still very low [see Graph 2, below]. Furthermore, the sharpness of the main test signal suggests very low phase noise on the part of the AKDAC-3 design – always a good indicator of stereo focus.

The moderate 530ohm output impedance, decreasing to 315ohm/20Hz, is a function of the transformer-coupled balanced output, as is the loss in sub-100Hz bass which falls to –0.7dB/50Hz, –2.9dB/20Hz and –6dB/12Hz. With non-transient signals the response reaches out to –1.1dB/20kHz, –16.5dB/45kHz and –23.7dB/90kHz [48kHz, 96kHz and 192kHz media]. In all likelihood, the tube output pushes up (2nd harmonic) distortion uniformly higher than might be incurred by the AKDAC-3, but the unusual pattern of distortion vs. digital level is indicative of the DAC's digital processing and final bitstream mapping. At its lower-than-typical 1.55V maximum output, the tube stage incurs some 0.003-0.006% THD. PM

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Distortion vs. 48kHz/24-bit digital signal level over a 120dB dynamic range (1kHz, black; 20kHz, blue

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High resolution 24-bit jitter spectra via S/PDIF and USB inputs (48kHz sampling, red; 96kHz, black)

Maximum output level / Impedance 1.55Vrms / 315-565ohm
A-wtd S/N ratio (S/PDIF / USB) 95.1dB / 95.1dB
Distortion (1kHz, 0dBFs/–30dBFs) 0.0059% / 0.017%
Distortion & Noise (20kHz, 0dBFs/–30dBFs) 0.0025% / 0.095%
Freq. resp. (20Hz-20kHz/45kHz/90kHz) –2.9 to –1.1dB/–16.5dB/–24dB
Digital jitter (48kHz / 96kHz) 280psec / 155psec
Resolution (re. –100dBFs / –110dBFs) ±0.2dB / ±3.5dB
Power consumption 128W (W standby)
Dimensions (WHD) / Weight 483x146x394mm / 14.5kg
Price £19,995

COMPANY INFO
Balanced Audio Technology Inc.
Wilmington DE, USA
Supplied by: Karma-AV Ltd, York
01423 358846
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