The Limetree USB-DAC is a digital-to-analog converter of the highest quality, which is also equipped with an analog volume control and a headphone amplifier. Control with a rotary knob and the standard remote control make it the ideal partner for music playback on a PC or Mac. It is simply connected to a USB port of a notebook or desktop computer with a USB cable and replaces the internal sound card of this device. This allows the sound quality of music playback to be raised to the level of the best (and usually much more expensive) hi-fi devices. The Limetree USB-DAC can be used purely as a headphone amplifier, but can also be used as a preamplifier for active loudspeakers or power amplifiers. Features Technologically, the USB-DAC is way ahead: Just like the highly acclaimed Limetree NETWORK II, it has the excellent ES9038 Hyperstream II converter, with which ultra-high resolutions of up to DSD 512 and PCM 768 kHz can be achieved – and with outstandingly open and natural sound. As an additional feature, the Limetree USB-DAC offers a volume control in the analog range, which is implemented with an integrated resistor network. The usual digital volume control is completely omitted. Especially at medium and low volumes, this solution offers more details and fullness. The included IR remote control not only allows you to adjust the volume or select the input, but also, for example, to navigate in playlists on the computer. The Limetree USB-DAC’s headphone amplifier has a powerful output stage that can drive headphones from 16 – 300 ohms. The built-in amplifier is absolutely top class in terms of measurement technology and sound! The USB-B input of the USB-DAC supports the connection of a PC or Mac via USB Audio Class II. Two digital S/PDIF inputs enable the connection of digital sources such as CD drives or TV sets. The analog high-level output enables the connection of power amplifiers or active loudspeakers. Technology The circuit and above all the selection of components of the Limetree USB-DAC have been optimized down to the smallest detail in order to be able to offer the best sound characteristics. All music files are re-clocked using a high-precision femto clock: the data processed in this way is free of “jitter”, the most common cause of poor digital reproduction. The sound is open, natural and follows the recording in the best sense of the word. One of the best amplifier components on the market is used as the output stage, which sets sound standards as a headphone amplifier. A high-quality “medical grade” plug-in power supply is used for the power supply, which ensures a particularly high level of decoupling from interference from the mains power supply. Together with the complex filtering in the device and special voltage regulators, a particularly low-interference power supply with noise levels below 10 µV could be implemented.
