The E-DAC is Epiphany Acoustics’ offering of the ODAC as designed by NwAvGuy in its own stand alone, custom enclosure. As with the EHP-O2, the DAC has been designed to achieve truly remarkable specifications at an extremely attractive price. This, once again, has certainly been achieved.
The E-DAC is a stand alone USB digital-to-analogue converter which comes in a small form factor aluminium enclosure with custom front and rear panels. Input and power is supplied via the USB input on the front of the unit. There are two line level analogue outputs – via the 3.5mm mini jack socket on the front and the stereo RCA sockets on the rear of the unit. The E-DAC will take your computer audio to the next level and when coupled with the EHP-O2 provides an award winning audiophile experience far beyond their price level.
Features
This high end DAC is based on the TE7022L UAC1 engine ES9023 24 bit DAC chip. It supports CD quality 16 bit and studio quality 24 bit at sample rates of 44.1kHz, 48kHz and 96kHz. The on-board filtered power supply ensures that noise is practically non-existent. The DAC is not clocked by the USB port/computer, instead using a high quality on board crystal controlled oscillator which further improves overall performance.
- ES9023 DAC chip
- 16 bit and 24 bit
- 44.1kHz, 48kHz and 96kHz
- On-board filtered power supply
- On-board crystal controlled oscillator
- Works straight from USB
- 3.5mm and stereo RCA line outputs
Technical Specifications
Designed according to the same philosophies as the EHP-O2, the E-DAC sports some extremely high end specifications.
Technical specifications:
- Distortion: <0.005%
- Dynamic range: >110dB A-Weighted
- Audio formats: 44.1kHz, 48kHz & 96kHz @ both 16 bit and 24 bit
- Interface: USB Audio Class 1
- Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Line output: 2Vrms
In The Box
- E-DAC 24 bit USB DAC
- E-DAC instruction leaflet
- 1m USB A to USB Mini cable
- 4 self adhesive rubber feet
Reviews & Rewards
The E-DAC is a terrific DAC overall, and definitely one of our most recommended DACs. Here are what some other reviews had to say.
Hi-Fi Choice Magazine
The reviewer praised the E-DAC for its excellent level of performance, stating that the improvements in offers int he realm of computer audio were significant and not to be dismissed. The E-DAC was awarded the full 5 star rating.
Hi-Fi World Magazine
In line with the other reviews, the E-DAC was noted to have superb performance and was well worth looking into to take your computer audio set up to the next level. It was awarded the magazines highest rating, the full 5 Globes.
Hi-Fi + Magazine
Editor Alan Sircom handled the joint review of the EHP-O2 headphone amplifier and E-DAC 24 bit USB DAC and was consistently impressed by the synergy of the pairing as well as the absolute performance of each unit on its own.
He describes two sides of looking at these products – looking at these products in the context of the whole market, and also the price conscious side. He noted that when put together, they converge to give an enormous �?Wow!’.
The full review can be found in the October 2012 issue of Hi-Fi +.
AV Forums
“As far as the audio performance was concerned, the E-DAC sounded excellent with a genuine transparency to the sound, which is the sign of a good digital-to-analogue converter.”
“In listening tests the E-DAC performed admirably with a neutral tone and detailed reproduction. The dynamic range was also impressive, with a clean delivery at both extremes and a well-composed midrange”
Hifi Pig
“This is a very transparent little box of tricks and for the asking price (£99) presents very good value for money indeed.”