MSB TECHNOLOGY

POWER DAC

Born a little over 20 years in 1986, the firm MSB Technology is dedicated to the design and the
implementation of CD players and analog-digital converters "unusual" while doing research and
product development as "firm" for
many other manufacturers. MSB Technology is the source of many products and technologies
original (digital filter DSP with 80-bit DAC III of platinum, for example). Converter Power DAC is no
exception. With its battery power, the converter N / A "house" and its filter suréchantillonneur 16
times the original design, it does converter as a "part", original, extremely powerful and superbly
musical.

TERMS OF LISTENING

We used the Power DAC in conjunction with ( "1" and "0") is a source of errors at
the release "Drive" of our readers' point of conversion (with a flow of information more
reference. " We than 4.3 Megabits per second in the case of
used a digital coaxial cable quality, because CD, a gap time may have minimal adverse
converter is very sensitive to the quality of consequences). The system errors are then
the connection approached and more or less important
which connects the carriage. Indeed, the information "Calculated" by the system
pairing is more serious ", the greater the risk replaces the information actually recorded on
of occurrence of jitter are eliminated. We the CD (it is easy that this can not be
recall in this connection that the jitter, beneficial to the quality of restitution sound).
creating small time lags between the digital Before proceeding with our hearing, we
information Power left the DAC connected to its power to
ensure a good load for the battery (switch on noted at the expense of batteries. Autonomy
the diode witness "full load"). During use, we is
connected and disconnected without finding large, very well, and it seems difficult, if
food for major changes in the listening. It can impossible, to discharge the battery in use
therefore leave the connection established "Normal" (obviously, if we listen to music all
between two devices without no ulterior day and all night without stopping, it may
motive. We listened to the Power DAC for come to after this autonomy).
several hours without the slightest weakness
The output should not hesitate to use a cable of good quality to connect to the MSB a
preamplifier. This converter transparency exceptional merit to be associated with a preamplifier
of the same ilk, "which means to treat all especially the connection between two devices. At this
level of quality, less defects are very much and may quickly become intolerable. For connection
to a preamplifier, the manufacturer a choice between a balanced XLR connection or cinch
unbalanced pairing. The choice of one or the other opportunities depends on the preamplifier we
use. If the latter is based on a scheme real symmetric, it is recommended to use this type of
connection. As against, if the entries of the symmetric preamp are "désymétrisées by an
operational amplifier before attacking the input stage, it is preferable to use an asymmetrical link
with the RCA converter (the signal follows a more direct route, without crossing operational
amplifier désymétrisation).

LISTENING prolonged in time so remarkable. A relatively

high level
sound, there is still the effect of resonance
when the second shot rings bell. At the level
of compliance of phase, the Power DAC is a
prime example. Just after the first stroke of a
On our test drive "The Pulse" 5th bell, not the walker describe a clear path,
track, you realize very quickly that we are with a
dealing with a "great" converter. This device regular shift, without saccade. The sound
is a extraordinary transparency. The system gradually an enclosure to another without
battery power is certainly for "a lot". The giving the impression to "jump" abruptly left
breath of the registration spread over a wide to right.
spectrum, without giving the impression to
"shoot" the sound to the medium acute. This
breath is detached information perfectly,
very low inlevel, which is clearly perceived
in the distance. From the first seconds, we
think that we feels listening to a turntable
where the noise friction and do not breath
On the extract "Julsang" of
the hearing. The plans sound spread in space
"Cantate Domino, the Power DAC is different
with ease uncommon. The sound offers a
from many of its competitors by an image
perspective astonishing realism in widely
stereo stable, concise, very realistic. The
open behind enclosures, to the bottom and
organ "moves" on him up, down, while the
sides of the room listening. Between two
singer is positioned in a much closer with a
different but sounds the same noise, a dog
redoutable accuracy. The timbre of the voice
barking in the distance and songs of birds
is a smooth remarkable. This softness does
much closer, the Power DAC returns in a very
not translate into a feeling lack or "sail" in
realistic feeling of closeness or removal of
the upper medium acute, but rather by a
sources. This is mainly due to a great respect
lack of hardness in spite of the significant
for the phase associated with a very good
noise level at the top of the spectrum. We
control of reverberation time and
can push the sound volume without feeling
depreciation sounds. On the first stroke of a
attacked or frustrated by a lack of
bell, the tone characteristic Bronze is
information at the top medium. On the
perfectly reproduced. It is property of a
chorus, the voice form a unit perfectly
bronze bell, large size, not gamelle a scrap
consistent, but can be easily placed in
as can sometimes believe with some
the tenors, bass voice, soprano, and so on.
converters. Immediately after impact, the
The ability analysis of this converter is a very
effect of resonance tournament is clearly
high level, but
felt, with a compelling in the serious and
Listening is never surgical, peeled to the
effect "Leslie" very well restored. This
extreme. The MSB is far from rigor a little
resonance decreases gradually and is
cold and inhuman
certain converter, while remaining extremely the organ which, with great other converters,
precise to return the smallest details is totally overwhelmed by the density, the
recorded. So, despite the sound of the choir, mass of audio information.
we can easily to follow the melodic line of
 the introduction of the song, the voice of the
singer is Simply beautiful. The stamp is very
beautiful. We really appreciate the great
capacity for analysis Power DAC that
provides a readable copy of the lyrics.
Despite the significant reverberation added
to the recording, Artist materializes in a very
Upon the dynamic Una concrete between
Lagrima Furtiva "Donizetti interpreted by enclosures, with a human and not ghostly as
Luciano Pavarotti, the voice of singer is sometimes the case when the voice walks
emerges with a particularly "Human". The "In the air, appearing to float in space (a
timbre of the voice s'entache not any phenomenon which occurs systematically
hardness or acidity medium in the upper when the converter does not rigorously the
treble. At the peak modulation extremely phase of the signal).
high level, the tone remains well structured,
without any change in the organization SUMMARY OF THE SOUND AESTHETICS
harmonics. With some converters, the "The more you listen, the more you love" ...
dynamic this exceptional sample leads to the This converter MSB was particularly
distortion by a very odd harmonics fascinated by its sound design with two
embarrassing to listen. The sound becomes faces, with a capacity copy analysis, a real
hard, aggressive, no can help reduce the eye for detail and a return stamps still warm,
volume of the amplifier to relieve the with an "analog" is particularly attractive.
eardrums stretched. With the Power DAC, the Transparent and Natural Power DAC is a
sound level does not require correction. It is music converter that really knows how move
really benefiting from the great dynamics of the emotions with ease. A device we urge all
this registration without feeling any effect of audiophiles and music lovers still
saturation level converter. unconvinced, today, including digital
technology.

On "Too rich for my blood"

by Patricia Barber, piano sounds with a
particular stamp warm. Attacks notes are
free but free from all violence, of any
hardness, and resonance of the instrument
acquires a remarkable extent. The piano has
"body" of the mass, which is not always the
case with converters less "structured" as
serious as the Power DAC.
This magnitude in the grave is all the more
remarkable it does not involve any heaviness
in the lower medium. The MSB is an
exemplary sobriety, with a generous serious,
profound, and perfectly medium low fat. This Spectrum and noise floor of -70 dB
is confirmed by a little further by follow up Weighted noise floor below - 120 dB.
on outstanding melodic bass, with excellent No trace of distortion reading a recorded
separation of notes that emerged as isolated, signal
well separated from one another. Just after to - 70 dB (1 kHz).
 Noise floor: <145 dB.
Manufacturer specifications Disto. Total Harmonic: 0.002%
Conversion: 24 bit / 32 kHz to 384 kHz. Report Signal to Noise Ratio:> 130 dB.
Digital Filter "Slew rate: 2 500 V / s.
suréchantillonneur to 16 x the base Dimensions (W x H x D): 45 x 5 x 36.5 cm
frequency. Weight: 6.5 kg
Dynamic Range: 136 dBA.
TECHNOLOGY BY IMAGE

Internally DAC POWER

1 - Set of batteries to achieve the different power of the device (digital section, analog section,
etc.).. With batteries, the autonomy Listening is about 10 hours (batteries are replace when the
time falls below 6 hours).
2 - Floor load management control with batteries and stabilization of tension.
3 - Regulation to avoid falling or changes in tension power according to load.
4 - Section with digital receiver circuit stereo AKM AK 4113, 24-bit 192 kHz. Automatic detection
the active input (coaxial, optical, AES / EBU XLR, MSB Network 192 kHz).
5 - Section of digital / analog filtering / Oversampling isolated by a radiation metal shielding. The
manufacturer does not use circuit electronic filter or converter of the "trade". Treatment signal is
performed using components programmed
MSB by, inter alia, the circuit microcontroller
(6) Analog Devices ADSP 21262 (32-bit 200 MHz).
Principle of conversion:
The converter MSB "Magnitude DAC Ladder" based on the principle of multi conversion "R-2R"
entirely by MSB (see article "understanding" in this issue). The configuration is symmetrical with,
for each channel two 24-bit converters. Digital filtering is also done by MSB (filtrage16 Fs with
oversampling x16). It implements the DSP Analog circuit
Devices (6) associated with memory containing algorithms calculations developed by MSB.

Rear View:
1 - balanced XLR outputs and (2) unbalanced RCA.
3 - Digital inputs: AES / EBU XLR, "MSB" Network
(for a liaison with other brand products),
Coaxial RCA S / PDIF, Optical Toslink and specific connector
input an external clock.
4 - connecting to external power for
charging batteries.