Description
The Merging Technologies DA8 (up to 192kz) and the DA8P (up to DSD) have consistently shown in testing to be the quietest multichannel D/A conversion modules available anywhere.
The original design of our 8-channel DA converter board has been a great tool in setting a standard for critical listening and monitoring for all our users, and its design hasn’t seen the need for major changes for the past 7 years. Merging felt that now was the time to replace the DA converter chip from ESS with their latest offering, which means the new production Run 11 is now incorporating the ES9028PRO instead of the former ES9008.
This latest change allows our users to benefit from even more impressive specs with a typical Dynamic Range of 125 dB (> 127 dB A-weighted) and THD+N in excess of – 116 dB (this latest number is actually close to the measurement limit of our Audio Precision equipment maxing at 118 dB THD+N).
While the above improvements of 1.5 to 2 dB over the first generation won’t hurt, the design has also incorporated new refinements by adding local Low Phase Noise Oscillator circuitry to further improve the absolute transparency and stereo image of an Analog signal, essentially void of both jitter and wander.
Features:
- Auto-mute circuitry for “no-pop” power cycling
- Digitally controlled trims for line up procedures
- Dynamic range of 127dB (typ.)
- Low Phase Noise Oscillator circuitry
DA8/DA8P OPTION CARD
Specifications
| Max Line Output @ 0 dBFS (settings on +24 dBu) | +25 dBu +0/-0.5 dB |
| Max Line Output @ 0 dBFS (settings on +18 dBu) | +19 dBu +0/-0.5 dB |
| Frequency response +0/-0.3dB @ fs = 48KHz | 6 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Frequency response +0/-0.3dB @ fs = 2.8224 MHz (DSD) | NA / 6 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Frequency response +0/-3.0dB @ fs = 2.8224 MHz (DSD) | NA / 2 Hz – 50 kHz |
| Line Output Impedance (Differential) | 90 Ω |
| Dynamic Range (flat 20 Hz-20 kHz) (IOM-H-DA8) | 122 dB |
| Dynamic Range (flat 20 Hz-20 kHz) (IOM-H-DA8P) | 124.5 dB |
| Dynamic Range (A-weighted, typ) | 127 dB |
| THD+N D/A (1 kHz) @ 0 dBFS (IOM-H-DA8) | < -113dB (0.00022 %) |
| THD+N D/A (1 kHz) @ 0 dBFS (IOM-H-DA8P) | < -116dB (0.00016 %) |
| Interchannel Crosstalk @ 1kHz, typ. | -140 dB |
| Interchannel Crosstalk @ 20Hz – 20 KHz | < -115 dB |
| Output latency (Slow Roll Off) | 9 samples |
| Output latency (Sharp Roll Off) | 35 samples |
| Gain Step | 0.5 dB |
| Connector Pinout (DB-25 female) | AES59/Tascam Analog |
