Outboard DACs

First impressions usually set the mood. In the case of Luxman’s new flagship CD/SACD player and DAC, the D-100C (£15,995) with ‘C’ for Centennial, it’s the weight. I have no idea how many high-end digital front-ends tip the scales at 25kg, but it told me that this unit must have one chunky chassis, accounting for dimensions of 440x154x420mm (whd). If you’re a ‘tyre-kicker’ – and I admit to succumbing to the notion that ‘massive’ equals ‘better’ – then this player impresses even before you’ve opened the triple-layer carton.

Although Wattson Audio has a relationship with fellow Swiss manufacturer CH Precision (more on which later), its products couldn't be further removed from the latter's monster-sized amplifiers [HFN Sep '25 & Mar '26]. Reviewed and tested here is the Madison Streamer, a network-attached DAC with fixed/variable output, priced at a not-inexpensive £4700 but measuring a positively bijou 175x52x185mm (whd).

The Mark Levinson N^o30 can be regarded as the ultimate exposition in digital decoding design at the present state-of-the-art. A matching transport, called the N^o31, will soon be made available, for the designers are anxious not to be found wanting in any department – save, it must be said, that of economy.

Has there been a single defining hi-fi story in the last 20 years? Some might say the rise of streaming services deserves to be the subject of Chapter One when the history books are written. Others may argue for the unexpected resurgence of the vinyl format, or the birth of multiroom audio. And then there’s the arrival of ‘disruptor’ brands that have challenged the status quo with units – typically focused on digital playback – that combine leading-edge functionality with affordable pricing. The likes of Eversolo, FiiO and WiiM all fit this category, and so does Topping, manufacturer of the D900 DAC.

The miniature hi-fi trend continues – those short of space or simply seeking an inconspicuous yet high-performance set-up can rejoice. The new arrivals here come in the form of the £4200 DSS 2 network transport and £4300 DSC mini DAC from French company Métronome, as part of its ‘Digital Sharing’ range that also includes the £4400 DST CD transport.

Swooping down into iFi Audio’s ever-expanding line-up, the £1699 iDSD Valkyrie stakes its claim as the new flagship portable. The brand typically excels at offering oodles of functionality at very reasonable prices, although the £3749 iCAN Phantom desktop headphone amp [HFN Sep ’23] shows it also has form when it comes to high-end head-fi. Nevertheless, and despite boasting a lot of familiar iFi Audio features and technologies, the iDSD Valkyrie is a very different beast – not least because it boasts a gargantuan 20,000mAh battery for extended mobile use.

This DAC, to reveal its full name, is the La Scala MkIII Optologic, the third generation of a design from the Milan-based company whose name has nothing to do with water, but instead stands for ‘Acoustic Quality’. Said to be ‘more than a simple upgrade of our La Scala DAC’, this latest version sells for £7850 in grey Nextel powder-coated aluminium casework with either a black or silver finished aluminium fascia.