Cipher is on the leading edge of a new wave of DACs that will bring immense pleasure to listeners of digital formats! -Doug Schroeder/Dagogo.com

Input

Stereo (2 channels)

• PCM (I2S) (up to 32-bit, 384kHz)

• DoP (DSD over I2S)

• DSD

• S/PDIF (Consumer level or TTL-level)

• Highlights

• Four layer circuit board optimized for mixed signals

• Designed specifically for the ESS Sabre PRO series DAC chips (ES9038)

• 8 channels preconfigured for 2-channel (stereo) operation

• High precision, ultra-low-phase noise clock and integrated reclocking

• Optional high precision external clock connections

• Five independent supply inputs for digital and analog stages

• Direct DSD, DoP, I2S and S/PDIF inputs supporting up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD512

• Switchable S/PDIF digital input

• Accepts both consumer level and TTL-level S/PDIF input

• Optional digital volume control

• Lock LED

• Fully balanced, dual mono symmetrical operation for ultra-low noise floor

• Four layer circuit board for optimized layout

• VOCM Servos eliminates common-mode input offset current from the balanced I/V stages

• DC Servos eliminate offset in single-ended stages

  
  Supported Sample Rates

44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHz, DSD512

new Cipher Tube DAC

Interior picture of the Cipher tube DAC

The exciting new Cipher tube DACs are currently in production. The base Cipher DAC is $5000.00usd and the state-of-the-art Cipher Level II is $13,000.00usd. We are currently taking orders.

From the dawn of the digital age in high end audio in the early 80’s digital has delivered on some promises of better sound and failed miserably on others. Early digital was clear and defined with a low noise floor in comparison to analog which may not have been as “detailed” as digital but had always captured the beauty and soul of music which was even more apparent with the abundant ability to compare the two technologies back to back. Over the coming decades great strides have been made in the improvement of digital sound but even in the present digital has failed to capture the natural magic that good analog still brings to the table. To be honest digital has gotten good enough to be listenable for extended periods and coupled with the convenience that digital provides is enough for a majority of audiophiles and in many cases the only choice. I too have always liked the convenience of digital but with the trade off of inferior sound I have been less than satisfied and always had the nagging feeling there was better adn I took it as a challenge to create a digital playback medium that combined the convenience of digital with the true magic of analog. I felt that by combining the best DAC technology that I could find with our award winning analog circuitry I could develop a DAC that had the best of everything and produce the best sounding digital playback system on the market. With digital circuitry from Twisted Pear Audio and our award winning tube output circuit from the Commander preamplifier we have created a product for the age, An unrivaled 3D resolution, an impossibly low noise floor, explosive dynamics, gorgeous tone and with an almost complete lack of artificial sonic noise that creates a natural realness that is beyond the best analog reproduction.

The Cipher Level II DAC is a considerable step up in performance from the base level Cipher DAC. Besides the full compliment of Cipher performance features the Cipher Level II has upgraded the output coupling caps to Rike’s top cap, the Copper Foil, Polypropylene, Paper-In-Oil Q-Cap. More detailed and with enhanced tonality and sweetness it is a major upgrade. Along with the change in output coupling caps are the substitution of Mundorf film and foil caps for the industry standard lectrolytic caps in the B+ supply and filament supply. This is an improvement not typically seen due to the expense and large size of the film and foil cap in comparison to the electrolytic standard cap. This is an immense upgrade in performance. Bybee AC Purifiers are added to filter and reduce noise by up to 15% on the AC power. Tubes are cryogenically treated and the IEC is upgraded to a Furutech. The digital circuitry is balanced throughout to reduce noise and last but not least the Level II has an internal re-clocker further reduce digitally introduced jitter and noise to nearly nothing. No expense has been spared to create the best sounding DAC on the market.