Halide Design Devilsound V.2.1 Snowflake USB DAC

The devilsound DAC is a high quality 16-bit, non-oversampled (NOS), audio digital to analog converter. Audio playback occurs at the recorded frequency (32, 44.1, 48 kHz), with no resampling, upsampling, or oversampling.

In addition, the DAC contains special circuitry to regenerate clean power from the USB port. This combines the convenience of USB power with the performance of an external power supply.

The Devilsound is a simple solution for getting a clean, clear audio signal from your computer. The DAC brings sound quality normally found only in the audiophile world to your home computer, with single-cable, plug and play simplicity, and blurs the line between an audiophile quality USB sound card, and a high end external DAC (digital to analog converter) for your computer.

Cryogenic Treatment
Building on the solid foundation of the v2 DAC, the v2.1 features clear improvements in tonality. Cryogenic treatment results in smoother, cleaner presentation, with greater instrument detail and a more realistic sound stage. For technical details on the DAC, see the devilsound DAC design page.

Changes in Version 2

• Increased capacitance on power supply lines, with fast tantalum capacitors and "flip-type" ceramic bypass capacitors.
• Revamped power implementation of the USB receiving chip (PCM2706) results in additional jitter reduction in the recovered digital audio signal.
• To accommodate these changes the enclosure is slightly large than the previous version, however, the connecting USB cable is thinner and has strain relief.
• Enclosure < 2 cubic inches

A merger between the computer audio and audiophile worlds, the DAC brings the highest quality components and advanced audio circuitry to your home computer (PC or Mac), giving you amazing audio play back with plug and play simplicity.

Through clever design and meticulous engineering, the entire sound card circuitry has been engineered to fit into a single USB to RCA cable. Simply plug one end into your computer, and the other into your stereo for clean, clear sound.

The devilsound DAC bypasses your computer's built-in sound card, bringing the benefits of an audiophile grade digital to analog converter to your computer, with single cable simplicity.

The non-oversampled (NOS) output stage puts minimal processing between you and your music. By eliminating the harsh digital filtering used in most commercially available audio devices, the devilsound DAC creates exceptionally open, natural sound. The DC-coupled output insures exact reproduction of low frequency notes, with no time-smearing.

The result is clear, detailed audio, with deep, articulated bass.

Features

• Careful design and meticulous engineering allows the entire circuit to fit within a beautiful aluminum enclosure, less than 2 cubic inches in size.
• USB, plug and play. Compatible with virtually any computer (PC, Mac, and Linux).
• Built-in high quality RCA cables complete the devilsound DAC. The analog output is carried by pure silver interconnects, terminated with Eichmann silver bullet plugs.
• The double-sided circuit board inside combines the highest quality components with a proven audio architecture for incredible sound. Click here for more details.
• Cryogenic - new for v2.1. A long kept secret in the audiophile world, cryogenic treatment results in a dramatic improvement in sonic clarity and detail.
• The devilsound difference is in the non-oversampled (NOS) output stage. The result is greater separation between instruments, truer transient response, and well-defined bass lines.
• Manufactured lead-free, RoHS compliant in the USA.

Learn more about the Devilsound DAC

Customer Reviews:

That leaves us with perhaps the ultimate "winner" of the bunch, Devilsound's USB DAC. Clever as the boys from SoCal are, this could be that breakthrough product the iTunes adopting audiophile generation has been waiting for. For less than the cost of that shiny new 64GB iPod Touch you can now get in the mix and own a terrific piece of music making history. So fine is the performance of this little thang, that I instantly decided to keep it...The Devilsound is definitive no brainer.

The Devilsound DAC is perfectly capable of delivering high-quality sound from a computer to most audio systems. It’s tonally accurate, has a satisfying degree of resolution, and reproduces musical subtleties with surprising nuance and focus, particularly in the midrange. What impresses me is that such an inexpensive device can get so many things so right.

It looks as if I need to get one of these. It really made listening on my vintage system a pleasure, and I’m even thinking about taking this on the road with my headphone amplifier when I have to travel; it’s certainly small enough. And not having to worry about batteries or AC adapters is a big plus when traveling overseas. For just under US$400, the devilsound DAC is a great piece of digital hardware. If you’re still holding out for a reason to use a laptop as a source, here’s the ticket. Highly recommended.

Even when compared to a much higher-priced DAC, such as the Bel Canto DAC3, the Devilsound ranks very well. TheDAC3 has a blacker background with no hint of noise, as well as a slightly more dynamic overall presentation. But the Devilsound is its equal in terms of depth, soundstage width, and even low-level inner detail. I was especially impressed with how well the Devilsound matched the DAC3 in terms of three-dimensionality and imaging palpability. Well-recorded lossless music files retained all their spatial information when played through the Devilsound...If I were on an extremely tight budget, the inclusion of both USB and RCA cables with the Devilsound would probably push me in its direction.

The Devilsound DAC is certainly a must hear for many audiophiles. Sound quality and simplicity are surely strong points of this DAC...I've spent time with more than a few DACs below and well above this price. I think you'd be foolish not to consider the Devilsound when looking for a DAC under $1k. I promise you won't be disappointed...