DAC 5 vs DAC 5 Special
The DAC 5 Special matches the DAC 5 on bit depth (18-bit), max sample rate (96 kHz), output voltage (3.2V RMS), and output impedance (600Ω).
AI-generated product photo — not official manufacturer imagery.
DigitalDACsPre-AmplifiersDiscontinued
About the DAC 5
The Audio Note (UK) DAC 5 Special is a Level 5, non-oversampling digital-to-analogue converter using an 18-bit Analogue Devices AD1865N converter and accepting 44.1, 48 and 96 kHz signals. Its analogue output stage is derived from the M6 line preamplifier and uses 5814A (ECC82/12AU7A) and 6463 dual-triode valves. The design uses transformer coupling, valve rectification and separate power-supply filtering for the digital and analogue sections, with Audio Note silver wiring and selected passive components. It provides 75-ohm coaxial RCA S/PDIF and 110-ohm balanced XLR AES/EBU inputs, together with balanced and single-ended analogue outputs. Output impedance is 600 ohms, with a reference output of 3.2 V RMS. The DAC 5 Special is a hand-built flagship-level Audio Note digital source component.
Specifications
Digital Audio
DAC capabilities and digital audio processing
- Bit Depth
- 18-bit
- Max Sample Rate
- 96 kHz
- MQA Support
- No
- DAC Chip
- Analog Devices AD1865N
Analog Output
Analog signal output specifications
- Output Voltage
- 3.2V RMS
- Output Impedance
- 600Ω
Connectivity
Input and output connections
- Digital Inputs
- 1x RCA 75 Ohms SPDIF, 1x XLR 110 Ohms AES/EBU (switchable)
- Analog Inputs
- 1 pair RCA (single-ended), balanced XLR or LEMO
Physical Dimensions
Size, weight, and appearance
- Dimensions
- 450 × 145 × 425 mm (W × H × D)
- Weight
- 22 kg (49 lbs)
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions