Speaker Shop Inc.

716-837-1557

- Reference DAC -

$54,500.00

At a Glance

The Reference DAC Establishing a new industry reference for digital playback.

Proposition 65 Warning for California Residents

Four Hybrid DACs!

With four Hybrid DACs, we yield an unmatched level of detail, reproducing the musicality, soundstage, and texture of an original performance, bringing the artist to you. A fully balanced, ultra-high precision, discrete ladder DAC architecture ensures each note tells a story. Additionally, MSB’s robust in-house design enables the finest quality playback of PCM and native DSD, while our low impedance circuitry drives your amplification directly without adding coloration or buffering noise. The end result is a digital experience defying expectations.

MSBs Hybrid DAC and Prime DAC modules are unique to MSB!

These DAC modules are a custom in-house design with over twenty years of discrete DAC development knowledge behind them. MSB has designed and manufactured discrete ladder DACs since 1999, discovering and implementing many unique and innovative improvements over the years. It’s best to think of our DAC modules as a black box: the modules take the raw digital data in and output a continuous voltage. They’re not limited by audio formats, sample rates, or even speed. We can operate our current DAC modules at up to 6 MHz for PCM and up to 50 MHz for DSD. This gives us lots of headroom for future sample rates and audio formats. The other unique characteristic about our Hybrid and Prime DAC modules is they’re fully balanced. In today’s noisy environment, having the audio signal stay balanced to the point of conversion is key for maintaining the highest amount of noise rejection and resolution. Each one of our DAC modules processes both the positive and negative phases simultaneously in synchronicity.

Highlights of MSB's Hybrid and Prime DAC modules...

Fully Balanced design down to the conversion point. No buffers, IV converter, or transistors in the signal path. No active devices after conversion at all. Dynamically configurable between a discrete native DSD, or discrete native PCM DAC. The DAC has two modes:a multibit PCM mode and a massive parallel single-bit discrete DSD mode. Based off a discrete ladder DAC design far beyond the performance of a basic R2R architecture. Each DAC module is individually shielded and thermally bonded for a stringent temperature control. Multiple DACs per channel for increased performance and lower output impedance. Each DAC module is individually tested and then hand-matched with our rigorous automated measurement system.

Femto 33 Clock...

Our clock module architecture is built with the customer in mind—we’ve made the clock module user-upgradable, ensuring future updates are simple and streamlined. Each Reference DAC comes with the our most advanced Femto 33 Clock featuring a custom oven controlled dual crystal design.

A display for your listening chair...

Equipped with high-visibility and a wide viewing angle, the display is both easy-to-read and stunning, exhibiting our love for intuitive features. The LED display, slaved to the audio clock, is refreshed between data processing to drastically reduce electrical interference. The in-house discrete design is then constructed into its own shielded CNC pocket for optimal isolation. Sit back and be immersed.

The Reference Powerbase, Take a look at the pic showing (6) toroidal power supply transformers (wow!).

You can’t underestimate the importance of a clean power supply. A re-imagined design paired with the DAC reduces the noise floor even further. We’ve equipped the DAC with a single supply for the digital side of the DAC, along with an isolated supply for the analog side, yielding an unprecedented level of performance.

Totally Modular!

Paired with performance increases, our modular design ethos increases flexibility for future updates and product support, guaranteeing a long-term product investment. As you pursue higher levels of playback, an MSB upgrade path is always available to help drive your own desire for innovation. Whether it’s a software update or a leading-edge modular component, we’re here to help the most valued aspect of MSB—our customers.

Superior streaming...

The MSB Renderer was developed using an in-house hardware design running an ultra low noise A5 processor for optimal audio playback performance. Over the air updates will ensure that your renderer always has the latest capabilities and ultimate convenience. – Up to 32 bit – 768kHz – MQA decoding – Roon Endpoint – Up to 4X DSD – UPnP Protocol – DLNA Protocol

CNC billet chassis...

Starting with an 65lb plate of ‘Kaiser Select Precision Plate’, material is machined in our own in-house CNC shop. After more than four hours of machining, 60% of the aluminum is removed, resulting in a 18lb finished product. The integration of our CNC shop allows for design optimization to create the best possible product. We use the high quality premium ‘Select’ metal, giving us the best anodized finishes on the market.

The MSB Remote...

When MSB set out to make the remote, the design was built from the ground up. Stainless steel buttons arrayed around an elegant volume wheel to optimize performance and response. California crafted in-house from an aluminum billet, the enclosure feels solid yet refined. Tailored for both the transport and the DAC’s daily use, our remote brings you closer to the music you love.

Specifications:

Technical Specifications: The Reference DAC Supported Formats (Input dependent) 44.1kHz to 3,072kHz PCM up to 32 bits 1xDSD, 2xDSD, 4xDSD, 8xDSD Supports DSD via DoP on all inputs Digital Inputs 4x Advanced isolated input module slots XLR Analog Inputs* 100kΩ Balanced 12Vrms Maximum Isolated when not selected XLR Analog Outputs 3.57Vrms Maximum (Digital Input) 12Vrms Maximum (Analog Input) 150Ω Balanced Galvanically isolated Preamp Output Module Volume Control* Purely passive constant impedance analog attenuation 1dB steps Base Output Volume Control 1dB steps Dynamic Range (20Hz to 20kHz) 143dBFS 145dBAFS Display Custom discrete LED audio clock synchronous display Adjustable brightness and auto-off feature Controls Isolated RS-232 IR Remote Knob + 3 Buttons *Optional Preamp Output Module required Chassis Dimensions Width: 17.5 in (444 mm) Depth: 17.5 in (444 mm) Chassis Height (Without Feet): 2.2 in (79 mm) Stack height: 2.85 in (92 mm) Weight: 25 lbs (11 kg) Product Feet: M6X1 Thread Shipping Dimensions Width: 25 in (635 mm) Depth: 25 in (625 mm) Height: 10 in (254 mm) Weight: 50 lbs (24 kg) Included Accessories User Manual MSB Remote USB charging cable