Theta Digital - Generation VIII Series 3 - DAC/Pre-amplifier
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Theta Digital - Generation VIII Series 3 - DAC Pre-amplifier
Theta Digital has been a pioneer in the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) category, and the Generation VIII Series 3 is the latest and greatest product in this line. This DAC preamp delivers the most accurate, defined, and natural sound that digital technology can offer. With custom-designed software-programmable digital filters feeding into two digital-to-analog converters per channel, this DAC preamp represents over twenty years of Theta Digital’s research and development in this field.
Theta Digital’s journey began in 1986 with the DS Pre, which was the first outboard digital-to-analog converter offered to the public. It was an instant success and received recognition for its superior sound quality. Since then, Theta Digital has made tremendous improvements in processing power, balanced operation, improved digital filter accuracy, enhanced resolution, better power supplies, faster digital and analog devices, and other advancements that have been incorporated into new Generations. These developments culminated in the Generation VIII Series 3.
Theta Digital's Generation VIII Series 3 provides a number of technologies that result in an unparalleled sound quality. One of the most significant improvements is the absence of noise, degradation, or distortion, thanks to the use of a fully balanced differential circuit design. This technique ensures that each channel is two mirror-image signal paths that stay separate until they are united at the end of the signal path, which results in the cancellation of noise. Additionally, Theta Digital’s proprietary Jitter Jail technology virtually eliminates jitter. The circuitry stores all digital audio in a buffer, aligning the signal perfectly, and then reclocks it to the DACs using a high-precision crystal oscillator and DSP algorithm, resulting in stable digital audio with none of the problems associated with ordinary, jitter-prone processors.
Theta Digital has produced a no-compromise DAC preamp that uses sophisticated software-programmable digital filters, which bring the signal up to 192 kHz. With the benefits of upsampling without the drawbacks, the Generation VIII Series 3 is a breakthrough in sound quality. Its balanced differential circuit design and Jitter Jail technology provide noise-free and distortion-free audio, ensuring that Theta Digital’s latest product delivers the highest levels of sonic performance possible.
FEATURES:
- 24 bit / 192 KHz digital to analog converter
- Up to 132 dB dynamic range (a 15 dB improvement over the original Generation VIII)
- Over 3X differential output current
- Stop-band attenuation of 130 dB (a 48 dB improvement over the original Generation VIII)
- Pass-band ripple ±0.00001 dB (a 200X improvement over the original Generation VIII)
- Fully differential DAC follower op-amp with 150 MHz bandwidth (a 70 MHz improvement over the original Generation VIII)
- Four new discrete analog, digitally controlled volume cards with zero offset nulling
- New input card now accepts 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz signals
SPECIFICATIONS:
Digital Input Section (32KHz, 44.1KHz, 48KHz, 88.2KHz, 96KHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz)
Main digital input board inputs
6: 3 coaxial (2 RCA and 1 BNC), 1 AES/EBU (XLR), 2 optical (1 TosLink, 1 open for optional AT&T).
Analog Input Section
Inputs
1 stereo pair on single-ended RCA jacks,
1 stereo pair on balanced XLR jacks.
Maximum Input Level
Single-Ended: DC to 10VRMS.
Balanced: DC to 20VRMS
Input Impedance
10 KW.
Frequency response
DC – 20KHz, ±.2dB
THD+Noise
<0.0005% @3VRMS in and out, balanced.
Dynamic Range
124dB ref 18VRMS Bal
Signal to Noise Ratio
124dB ref 18VRMS Bal
Processing (DSP) Section
All DSP processing is 24bit with 56 bit accumulator.
Analog Audio Outputs
2 balanced XLR (L/R) and 2 Single-Ended RCA jacks.
Balanced Output Specifications
Output Impedance
25 Ohms.
Maximum Output Level
18 Vrms balanced (6.4VRMS balanced if Fixed Volume option installed).
Frequency Response
20 Hz-20 kHz, ± 0.01 dB, Ref. 1KHz.
THD+Noise
Less than 0.0007% (Digital), 0.0005% (Analog) @ 1KHz, at 3V output level.
Dynamic Range
>120dB minimum, 20KHz bandwidth, Ref. 1KHZ, A-weighted.
Signal to Noise Ratio
>120dB typical, idle channel, A-weighted.
Crosstalk
>140dB.
Single-Ended Output Specifications
Output Impedance
12 Ohms
Maximum Output Level
9 VRMWS (3.2 VRMS if Fixed Volume option installed).
Frequency Response
20 Hz-20 kHz, ± 0.01 dB, Ref. 1KHz.
THD+Noise
Less than 0.0015% (Digital and Analog) @ 1KHz, at 3V output level.
Dynamic Range
115dB minimum, 20KHz bandwidth, Ref. 1KHZ, A-weighted.
Signal to Noise Ratio
115 typical, idle channel, A-weighted.
Crosstalk
130dB.
D / A Conversion
24-bit Ladder (8x oversampling). 2 DACs per channel for true differential operation.
Volume Control
Theta proprietary switched resistor network in the analog domain.
Digital Filter
8x oversampling Theta proprietary FIR filter running on Motorola 56362 DSP.
Control Section
RS232
Complete ability to control and read status of every operational parameter of unit.
IR Receiver
3.5mm stereo phone jack (rear panel), unmodulated
IR Receiver
Front panel IR window for hand-held remote control.
Remote Trigger
One 3.5mm mono phone jack: +12VDC triggered (Can be set to Pulse or Continuous DC), pulse time variable from 50 to 250 mSec. Trigger jack can be set as an input (receiver) or output (transmitter).
External Volume Data
Receives digital volume information from Theta Casablanca.
Miscellaneous
Power Requirements
117 VAC, 50-60 Hz, 50 watts maximum, with all options installed; 220 VAC, 50Hz (Export). Fuse @ 100 & 110V = 630mA, Fuse @ 220V = 3/8A.
Dimensions
17 5/8″ W x 5″ H x 17 3/4″ D (448 x 127 x 451 mm)
Weight
29 Lbs (10.8 Kg) Stand alone, 35 Lbs (13.1 Kg) Boxed with accessories
Environment
Operating Temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C)
Storage Temperature: -22° to 167° F (-30° to 75° C)
Relative Humidity: 95% maximum without condensation
Remote Control
1 hand-held, battery powered control unit uses 2 AAA batteries.