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KingRex UD-01 USB DAC Representing a significant step up from the Digital-Analogue Converter built into the KingRex T20-U amplifier and the tiny SuperPro DAC, the petite UD-01 delivers a strongly musical 'non-digital' presentation thanks to the (TI) Burr-Brown OPA2604 which acts as an output stage preamp and a design that completely omits coupling capacitors. The primary chip is the Burr-Brown PCM2702E mated with a large internal buffer for audio packet storage, effectively re-clocking the input stream. The UD-01 delivers everything in spades: timing, soundstage, resolution – yet never sounds dry or squeaky-clean like the majority of low-end DACs. Rather, it is weighty, mellifluous and coherent. Though it's a cliché, this DAC delivers a sense of musical 'rightness' normally associated with much more expensive converters. This really is a DAC without flaws: extremely well articulated bass, smooth and natural midrange and a detailed top end – all beautifully balanced. Though performance out of the box is impressive, there is an upgrade path, too: our unique Item Audio Special Edition upgrade can be retro-fitted (see Upgrades for details) and the DAC is sufficiently revealing to demonstrate clear differences between USB cables. It also runs brilliantly on 12V batteries or any linear PSU – the Item Audio dual output linear supply is an ideal match. Compatible with any Windows, Mac or Linux PC. RECOMMENDED BUNDLE OFFERS: TURNKEY BUNDLE OFFER 1: £525 TURNKEY BUNDLE OFFER 2: £599 REVIEWS: “The UD-01, KingRex’s mid-priced USB digital audio converter, offers a sizeable leap in sound quality over a PC’s on-board sound solution, but you’ll need an equally high-quality system to take advantage of it. To establish digital noise levels we conducted a simple test. With the system connected to our test setup of a KingRex amplifier and JohnBlue speakers, we cranked volume levels to max and listened for higher frequency hissing. Using the on-board sound system it was noticeably audible; it was less so with the consumer-level external solutions. With the UD-01 connected, however, we were pleasantly surprised by the lack of any audible hissing or interference — a testament to the high quality of the internal circuitry in the device. Sound quality was stellar. Background noise aside, we did notice a slight difference in the timbre and clarity of sound with the different systems. The UD-01 reigned supreme throughout our test, with a more expansive sound range and a slightly warm signature. The only problem with picking up a quality DAC like the UD-01 is that you’ll need to have equally high-quality components to be able to take advantage of the additional clarity and sound quality. If you’re currently getting by with a high-end system directly connected to your PC, consider this product carefully.” – Good Gear Guide “If I was beginning to think that USB DAC's were not for me as they sounded a bit 'light', the KingRex changed that idea straight away. But it's not just in the bass department that it works well, it's very impressive in all departments. The sound is a long way from the old 'digital sound' that was associated with many CDPs. I won't say it sounds like a turntable, but you would have to be very fussy to complain about it sounding 'digital'. Like the SuperPro, the sound stage is massive, and there is great detail that brings out the ambience on certain recordings. The amount of detail is fantastic! I don't recall hearing the Q -sound effects on 'Amused to Death' (Roger Walters) quite so clearly, and as 'detached' from the speakers. The music just flows from the speakers, helping you forget the equipment and enjoy the performance. The balance is very good with plenty of bass and a good top-end. No need to 'tune' your system to fit the UD-01 in! Everything that I played through the UD-01 sounded great. And it didn't get tiring with extended auditioning. I've read that some people don't rate the UD-01 very highly when powered from the wallwart PSU. However I was still quite impressed, possibly due to running the whole system through a very good power conditioner. I've found in the past that the cheaper wallwart PSU's (particularly the switched-mode type) can be affected by how good (or bad) the mains supply is. Unfortunately, I didn't come across the wallwart comments until after returning the UD-01 so couldn't listen without the conditioner. The obvious next step was adding in the KingRex power supply. The next step was to try Item Audio's 'SE' version of the UD-01. Item have replaced both the opamps in the UD-01 after auditioning as many opamps, and combination of opamps, that they could get their hands on. Their 'winning' recipe was to use two pairs of OPA627 opamps (on adaptor boards) in place of the OPA2604 (not a great opamp in my experience), and the TL072. And this is clearly an improvement on the stock configuration, sounding better in almost every department. It simply sounds more sophisticated than the stock UD-01. USB may not be the best way of getting music from a computer to a hi-fi system (Firewire is reputed to be better) but what you can get now, with items like the KingRex UD-01, and (to a lesser degree) the Devilsound, is a level of performance that is on par with CDP/DAC's costing well over a 1000 UKP. And I suspect that even those with very expensive CDP/DAC's would be tempted to buy something like the UD-01 'SE'/PSU/Polestar cable. “With the PSU, the KingRex UD-01 was actually pretty special – it was a big improvement over the USB DAC built into the Sweet-2, and much better than the UD-01 with the wall wart. With the PSU, The UD-01 provided a smooth, transparent, highly enjoyable sound. I was very impressed. Aside from the fantastic but very expensive RedWineAudio Isabella DAC, this is the best sound I personally have had coming directly from my PC. The UD-01, with the PSU, really doesn’t have a “sound” which is a GOOD thing – it simply provided a very transparent hand-off from the hard drive to the Amplifier. And that is the nicest thing someone can ever say about a DAC.” – HeadFi Reviewer |
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