denon da-300usB daC

The Denon DA-300USB DAC may be the company’s first standalone USB DAC but Denon is hardly a stranger to the technology, since its DAC technology has been embedded within its CD and SACD players (which have included USB DACs) for many years, as well as featured in its amplifiers and AV receivers.

Despite the ‘USB’ in its name, there’s more to the DA-300USB than its asynchronous USB replay from computer. It also offers two optical digital inputs and one coaxial digital input, while providing line-level analogue outputs and, rather usefully, a headphone stage which is more than an afterthought. This makes it a versatile little unit for office or home, able to sit vertically or horizontally (a switch rotates the OLED display to match its orientation), linking your computer and other digital components (TV output, games console, AppleTV etc) to your hi-fi—or, as Denon suggests, just add a pair of active speakers… though this option is limited since the front volume knob controls only the headphone level, not the line outputs.

The DAC inside the DA-300USB has a 32-bit capability—of which Denon’s implementation uses only 24-bits for increased accuracy— and supports MP3 and AAC files, ALAC to 24-bit/96kHz, WAV and FLAC HD up to 24-bit/192kHz, and DSD 2.8/5.6MHz. ‘ The Advanced AL32 processor upconverts and upsamples all input signals except DSD to a 32-bit/192kHz data stream,’ says Ralph Grundl, of Qualifi, which distributes Denon in Australia, ‘ after which the signal is interpolated, using a highly advanced proprietary algorithm to provide a full-scale, accurate reproduction of the original sound recording to the same astounding standard as Denon’s top-of-the-range Super Audio CD players.’ Available now, the Denon DA-300USB sells

for $799 (RRP). For further information, please contact Qualifi on 1800 242 426 or visit the website at www.qualifi.com.au