High Def Audio Control Center

zingo

Check out this new DAC. They claim it decodes the HD Blu-ray codexs into 2-channel analog, as well as has analog inputs and volume adjustment; all with a remote control. The claims seem great, but it seems like a lot of features for a small box with a $700 price tag.

http://www.essenceelectrostatic.com/product/high-def-audio-control-center/

If you’re an audiophile with a classic older analog preamp or receiver, you’ve got a problem. The highest resolution uncompressed audio content on Blu-ray has been out of your reach, and most Blu-ray players only have HDMI & Coaxial outputs now, no more analog except on the most expensive models on the market. The HDACC is a versatile digital preamp with HDMI, USB, Optical, Coaxial, & Analog Line Inputs coupled to a DAC with RCA and XLR preamp output that converts all your audio sources to 24 bit / 96K-192K analog stereo, including headphone out with its own amplifier.

•4 Digital Inputs, Stereo Analog Inputs
•3 Digital Outputs, 2 Analog Outputs and Headphone Output
•Full system control from IR remote or main control dial via crisp OLED display
•HDMI, USB, Optical and Coaxial digital audio inputs support LPCM stereo
•HDMI input supports LPCM stereo in all modes but can pass surround sound signal while in bypass mode
•All digital inputs support 192kHz sampling rate at up to 24-bit resolution
•HDMI, Optical and Coaxial digital outputs
•All digital inputs can be SRC (Sample Rate Conversion) to 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz via DSP Engine (Digital Signal Processing)
•Highly accurate PLL and low jitter reduction clock system
•HDMI Audio output (video is always bypassed to HDMI output) can either output the incoming HDMI (HDMI Bypass Mode) or embed the selected audio signal (HDMI Input Mode)

zingo

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eodt64A39nw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Here is their promo video:

tonyb

A high def audio control center ?

I think we call that a receiver or a processor these days.

thsmith

Fact that it is powered by a wallwart might say something.

bobrapoport

Thanks to you all for your posts. I guess skepticism is the rule of the day, cant say I blame you for that. However, this new device was designed originally for the pro av market, not for audiophiles. De-embedding HDMI audio to retrieve the LPCM 2.0 24/96K stereo soundtrack on a Blu-ray is a routine procedure in the pro market, where HDMI matrixing of multiple 1080p displays with stereo audio is common.

The outboard power supply was necessary so we could avoid a large chassis, keeping the form factor small kept the price down and allowed us to invest in better parts inside, not empty space. This same thinking applies to all your computers as well, when the form factor dictates the kind of power supply to be used. Calling a power supply a wall wart seems pejorative, judgmental, and just a bit mean spirited.

I understand this is a disruptive product for some of you, but please allow for the possibility that some of us who've been involved with HDMI and Blu-ray for many years know what we are doing. One of our customers wrote a pretty thorough report on his user experience, see what he had to say. He owns the Oppo 105 and preferred our DAC over the Oppo's built-in DAC.

Most importantly, hearing uncompressed audio (as opposed to lossless compression) is a revelation and Blu-ray is the only source for that, bit for bit identical to the original master recording for the first time in audio history. This is the best time ever to be an audiophile.

tonyb

bobrapoport wrote: »

One of our customers wrote a pretty thorough report on his user experience, see what he had to say. He owns the Oppo 105 and preferred our DAC over the Oppo's built-in DAC.

Seriously, if you want to sell a product, first don't make it sound like you write for Emotiva and profess your product to be a giant killer. Second, what does this product do that any receiver doesn't ? Any receiver can take Blu-ray audio and turn it into analog, mind you the quality of that conversion differs.

Thirdly...if your claim to know what your doing is valid, then you would know a good power supply is key to any product, hence the wall wart comment. Not saying your product is bad or good, as always the sound it produces will determine that and peoples ears of course.

tonyb

Skip,
Try the Cary Exciter dac, or Burson. I know what your saying about those older Pioneer BDP's. They actually worked better as a cdp than a BDP. I'm still using a Pioneer avi59 to spin cd's but that's not too often anymore.

zingo

bobrapoport wrote: »

Thanks to you all for your posts. I guess skepticism is the rule of the day, cant say I blame you for that. However, this new device was designed originally for the pro av market, not for audiophiles. De-embedding HDMI audio to retrieve the LPCM 2.0 24/96K stereo soundtrack on a Blu-ray is a routine procedure in the pro market, where HDMI matrixing of multiple 1080p displays with stereo audio is common.

The outboard power supply was necessary so we could avoid a large chassis, keeping the form factor small kept the price down and allowed us to invest in better parts inside, not empty space. This same thinking applies to all your computers as well, when the form factor dictates the kind of power supply to be used. Calling a power supply a wall wart seems pejorative, judgmental, and just a bit mean spirited.

I understand this is a disruptive product for some of you, but please allow for the possibility that some of us who've been involved with HDMI and Blu-ray for many years know what we are doing. One of our customers wrote a pretty thorough report on his user experience, see what he had to say. He owns the Oppo 105 and preferred our DAC over the Oppo's built-in DAC.

Thanks for your post Bob. I can assure you no one commenting on the HDACC was pejorative or mean spirited. I know many of us here have been burned with audio components when it comes to claims verses actual performance, and that was the level of conversation since none of us have actually heard the unit. A $700 dollar unit like yours that does everything it says and sound great would be very well received, but all we currently have to go on (other than the two customer reviews on the website) is speculation based on past experience.

bobrapoport wrote: »

Most importantly, hearing uncompressed audio (as opposed to lossless compression) is a revelation and Blu-ray is the only source for that, bit for bit identical to the original master recording for the first time in audio history. This is the best time ever to be an audiophile.

No one will argue with you there as many of us do have home theaters that take advantage of the newest lossless formats for uncompressed audio, there just has not been a great option yet to translated that into stereo for those of us with 2-channel preferences.