Focal arche Dac/heaDphone ampliFier

BusiSoft has launched Focal’s new Arche DAC/headphone amp in Australia. The electronics inside the Arche were developed for Focal by Micromega, another French company with which its equipment is often combined in some markets. The DAC section of the Focal Arche parallels twin AK4490 DACs operating at an extended 32-bit/768kHz, and processing PCM to 384kHz, as well as DSD up to DSD 256, from the USB-B input. The optical and coaxial, digital inputs operate to 192kHz. The converted analogue signals are then routed to a choice of two separate pure Class-A amplification circuits, user-selected as ‘voltage’ and ‘hybrid’. The ‘voltage’ option is a pure current amplifier providing an output impedance of just 0.1Ω, while the ‘hybrid’ offers a higher output impedance with which Focal says ‘ the tonal balance slightly favours the bass, midrange and extreme treble registers’.

Focal has also nicely served its existing headphone customers by including dedicated solutions for each of its Utopia, Stellia, Clear, Elegia and Elear headphone models, via presets with the products’ names. Both balanced and unbalanced headphone sockets are available.

Inputs to the Arche include one unbalanced analogue RCA, one USB-B input for computer connection, and one each of coaxial digital S/PDIF and optical digital input, both operating to a maximum 192kHz sampling rate. Focal rates the Arche’s frequency response at 10Hz to 100kHz, its THD at less than 0.001% and its signal-to-noise ratio at better than 116dB. The Arche measures 321×200×297mm (HWD) and weighs 4.65kg. Available now, it sells for $3,799 (RRP). For more information, contact BusiSoft AV on 1300 888 602 or (03) 9810 2900 or at www.busisoft.com.au