AV Shack brings you TEAC UD-301 Digital to analogue convertor /headphone amplifier/preamplifier

High-performance audio in a small, versatile package

The experts at TEAC sure packed a lot into the compact UD-301. In fact, this multi-talented little performer is actually three components in one. First, it's a capable high-end DAC ready to convert your digital music into warm, detailed analog sound. Next, it's a high-performance headphone amplifier that delivers powerful, wide-range sound to your best headphones. Finally, it's a fully functioning preamp with volume control that can connect to your favorite power amp or active speakers to create a killer desktop system. And to top it off, TEAC gave it a sleek, all-metal chassis with aluminum panels that'll look fantastic in your home or office.

Ready for high-res music

Versatile digital music handling comes courtesy of dual built-in Burr-Brown DACs that support high-resolution music, including DSD files and 24-bit/192kHz PCM files. The UD-301's asynchronous USB input allows the DAC to control the timing clock signal instead of your computer, reducing jitter to the lowest levels possible for smoother, more detailed sound. Plus this DAC gives you the option to upconvert digital signals of 96kHz and less to double or quadruple the original signal sampling frequency to reduce jitter even further. The TEAC website has the free USB driver download you'll need for computer playback available online. The UD-301 also uses a beefy toroidal transformer-based power supply and dual-mono circuitry throughout for powerful sound, optimum channel separation, and clear stereo imaging.

The ins and outs 

This DAC features three inputs: the aforementioned USB, plus two digital inputs (1 coax, 1 optical) for connecting a CD/DVD player, game console, or other audio device with a digital output. You also get unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR audio outputs for flexible connectivity with a wide range of consumer-level and pro-audio gear. A full-size headphone jack and front-panel volume control lets you take advantage of the DAC's built-in headphone amp for private listening.

Product highlights:

• plays PCM digital audio sources up to 24-bit/192kHz
• USB input allows decoding of Direct Stream Digital (DSD) files at 2.8MHz or 5.6MHz resolution natively or via ASIO2.1 or DoP (DSD over PCM)
• dual Burr-Brown (TI) PCM1795 32-bit/192kHz digital-to-analog converters for precise playback of digital music files
• built-in high-performance headphone amplifier with front-panel volume control
• preamp mode with balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs for connection to an outboard power amp or self-amplified speakers
• asynchronous USB technology for reduced timing jitter and better sound on USB input
• dual-monaural design to eliminate interference between right and left channels
• CCLC (Coupling Capacitor-Less Circuit) headphone amp circuitry ensures full low-frequency output and responsive sound
• user-defeatable upconversion option for digital signals of 96kHz or lower
• high-efficiency toroidal core power transformer with low magnetic flux leakage for stable, low-noise operation
• front-panel LED sampling frequency indicators
• compact all-metal chassis and aluminum panels minimize vibration for clean playback

Inputs:

• USB (Type B) input for connection to a computer
• optical digital audio
• coaxial digital audio

Outputs:

• line-level stereo XLR balanced audio output (can be set for fixed, variable, or off)
• line-level stereo RCA audio output (can be set for fixed, variable, or off)
• full-size 1/4" headphone jack (compatible with headphones from 8-600 ohms impedance)

Other Info & Specs:

• supported sample rates for USB input: 32/44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192kHz Linear PCM; 2.8MHz (DSD64) and 5.6MHz (DSD128)
• supported sample rates for coaxial input: 32/44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192kHz Linear PCM
• supported sample rates for optical input: 32/44.1/48/88.2/96kHz Linear PCM
• operating system requirements: Windows® XP (32-bit), Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Mac® OS X® 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or later
• TEAC HR Audio Player application required for high-resolution audio playback on Windows and Mac computers (free USB driver download available from TEAC's website)
• frequency response (with 192kHz sampling frequency input signal): 5-55,000 Hz (-3 dB)
• THD (with 192kHz sampling frequency input signal): 0.0015%