John
PS Audio have announced the replacement to the outgoing Digital Link III DAC. The thousand-buck NuWave DAC will be the first in a new series of digital audio processors from the Colorado company.
Based on the PerfectWave unit, the NuWave DAC (NWD) offers USB (24/192, asynchronous, XMOS chipset) and S/PDIF inputs plus either single ended (RCA) or balanced (XLR) outputs. Borrowing terminology from the PerfectWave, the NuWave will process all sample rates bit-perfectly using new “Native Mode”. Otherwise, switchable up-sampling to 24/192 is available for those that want it.
Notice that isn’t “Native X” mode (as found in the PerfectWave) so the NuWave most likely doesn’t feature the Digital Lens technology found in its bigger brother.
There are no op-amps in the output stage. The NWD features a 100% class A discrete, high voltage, direct-coupled FET based output stage with low noise bipolar transistors for the gain and output stage.
Physically it’s similar to the DLIII – it’s a half width box. Measurements are 8.5″ (W) x 14″ (D) x 2 1/4″ (H). Oh yeah, it’s built in Boulder, Colorado (not China).
The NuWave DAC will begin shipping in November for US$995.
Further Information: PS Audio
