dCS Scarletti DAC - Made in UK

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General:
The Scarlatti DAC a unique piece in terms of design and functionality.

It features state-of-the-art dCS technology including the dCS Ring DAC™ Digital Processing Platform and Clocking System so that, as the hub of a digital audio system, it guarantees amazing performance from any digital source.

This particular unit is in presentable condition overall, and is working perfectly. It would make a great addition to an existing dCS stereo stack.

From dCS:
The unique design of the legendary dCS Ring DAC™ combines exceptional linearity with very high speed operation enabling it to deliver true 24-bit performance even at low signal levels. The powerful digital processing platform of Scarlatti DAC is based around Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) chips, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chips and a microcontroller system. All of these use code developed and maintained in the UK by dCS.

The optimised DSP filters available to Scarlatti DAC ensure you can extract every last nuance of musical detail by tuning the system to suit your personal preference.
Scarlatti DAC features standard AES3, S/PDIF and SDIF-2 inputs in addition to the recently enhanced Dual AES or IEEE 1394 interface for DSD. The digital volume control allows direct connection to a power amplifier; there is no need for a preamplifier. Maximum output can be either two or six volts to suit different amplifier and loudspeaker combinations.

The unit can be used in Master mode to provide a clock for the source or be locked to an external Word Clock signal generated by a dCS Master Clock – this produces a substantial performance improvement.

dCS pioneered the use of external clocks in digital audio systems and the multi-stage Phase-Locked-Loop (PLL) system used in Scarlatti DAC sets reference standards for accuracy and control of troublesome jitter from the incoming audio stream.
To realize the very best performance, Scarlatti DAC should be used with the matching Scarlatti Upsampler, Scarlatti CD/SACD Transport and Scarlatti Master Clock. Alternatively Scarlatti DAC can be used with any industry-standard CD transport, digital streamer or music server.

All Scarlatti products benefit from our ‘soft’ approach to programmable logic that allows new software to be loaded from a dCS update disc to add new features and adapt to changes in digital formats.

SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:
Some scratches can be seen on the front selector knob, some marks on the front faceplate. Overall condition is good.

Ownership:
Second Owner

Connections:
XLR, BNC, RCA,

General Sound:
Accurate to the recording

Cosmetic Condition:
8/10 = Very Good. Excellent front faceplate, one minor flaw on chassis side or top. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested on our bench with both CD and DVD. XLR and RCA working as they should.

Included:
Unit, BNC cable, Firewire cable, IEC power cable.

Packing:
Will be packed using our highly developed in-house process and custom packing materials.Dimensions:
465mm/18.3” x 405mm/16.0” x 75mm/3.0”

Weight:
25 lbs.

Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Better

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Best

Kimber Kable - Coaxial Digital Interconnect

Kimber Kable - Optical Digital Interconnect

Kimber Kable - Digital AES/EBU Interconnect

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Good

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better

Kimber Kable - 14AWG (Gauge) Power Cords - Best

Testing Process:
We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect resistors and other passive components for signs of overheating. 

After the visual inspection we connect the DAC's RCA outputs to our Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which simulates a real world input impedance and allows us to monitor the output on an oscilloscope. We are equipped to test optical, coaxial, and USB inputs at Redbook CD Quality.

We start with a test signal to verify signal lock and proper output on both channels. If the DAC has balanced outputs these are also tested at this time. If the DAC has multiple Optical and Coaxial inputs they are all checked for proper lock. USB inputs are tested with a MacBook Pro. 

After proper function is verified, we setup the DAC for a listening test to evaluate general audio reproduction quality and monitor for clicks, pops, or any other audible signs of issues related to dropped signal lock or failing audio output stages. We often connect the DAC under evaluation to our long term test rig for a long test stint to verify stability under real world operating conditions.