Outboard DACs

While the Bartók's Ring DAC/analogue output is based on the Vivaldi One [HFN Feb '18], the latter still has the slightest edge in terms of distortion (0.00009% vs. 0.00015% at –10dBFs) and A-wtd S/N ratio (117dB vs. 116dB). However, the former bests the flagship in terms of jitter: both units show a minuscule correlated jitter of <10psec at all sample rates but the Bartók has eliminated the very slight uncorrelated phase noise we saw with the Vivaldi One. In market context, both units represent the state-of-the-art in technical performance.

The Vivaldi's six custom digital filters are also shared by the Bartók, all offering a flat 20Hz-20kHz response (±0.05dB) with CD inputs. Filter 5 is the only minimum phase type, and similar to Filter 6 for 192kHz data [purple impulse and response, Graph 2]. The 'NOS' Gaussian Filter 5 is reserved for >96kHz sample rates [green traces] while Filters 1-4 are linear phase for all rates [black, red, cyan and orange]. DSD Filters 1 and 2 reach out to –8.5dB and –21dB/100kHz, respectively, while Filter 3 rolls off to –3dB/60kHz and –23dB/80kHz. The DSD Filter 4 is –0.7dB/20kHz and –6dB/30kHz before dropping steeply at 40kHz.

The partnering Class A headphone amp matches the XLR output's 600mohm source impedance with sufficient current to support 1.7W/25ohm. Unlike most DAC/headphone amps, the Bartók does not clip at 0dB volume with a peak level digital input, suggesting its potential maximum power output is higher than 1.7W/25ohm. Distortion increases very slightly under load over the top 10-15dB of its dynamic range, from 0.00005% to 0.0016% at 1kHz/0dBFs [red vs. black traces, Graph 1] and from 0.00025% to 0.032% at 20kHz/0dBFs [cyan vs. purple traces]. PM