John Darko
A Rotel for deskhounds? The DX-3 is the Japanese company’s new DAC, headphone amplifier and pre-amplifier. From a compact chassis, it offers 6.4mm and balanced 4.4mm headphone outputs (on the front panel) and single-ended RCA and balanced XLR for connecting to a pair of powered loudspeakers (on the back).
The internal D/A converter is built around ESS silicon and is accessible in four ways: aptX/AAC Bluetooth, 32bit/384kHz/DSD256 USB, 24bit/192kHz coaxial and 24bit/192kHz TOSLINK. A pair of line-level RCA sockets keeps analogue sources in play.
From the press release: “The highest-grade components, including the exceptional ESS Sabre ES9028PRO 8-channel DAC, an ultra-low noise, custom in-house manufactured, toroidal transformer with high current drivers and high-quality capacitors combine to ensure music is delivered with the ultimate resolution, rhythm & timing and on an immersive sound stage.”
“In addition, volume attenuation is controlled by an audiophile-grade NJW1195A fully differential analog controller delivering precise steps as refined as 0.5dB. Analog and digital power supplies have been meticulously engineered and crafted, fully isolated from each other ensuring minimal noise interference.
The press release doesn’t tell us anything about the DX-3’s headphone output power but Rotel’s website comes to the rescue:
Single-ended (6.35 mm)
765 mW (16 Ω)
383 mW (32 Ω)
41 mW (300 Ω)
Balanced (4.4 mm)
2.8 W (16 Ω)
1.4 W (32 Ω)
150 mW (300 Ω)
The website also tells us that the DX-3’s circuit topology is fully-balanced and fully-differential. Headphone gain levels number three. An extruded aluminium remote control is also supplied.
Shipping on the DX-3 begins later this month with a retail price of US$1499.
Further information: Rotel
