Absolute-DAC-ε

Absolute DAC ε probably the best sounding such device in the world today.

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Absolute-DAC-ε

An Absolute revelation: bringing Music to life

• With its future-proof modular construction, built to the highest standards, the Ideon Audio Absolute DAC encapsulates what is the state of the art in digital conversion, re-clocking, signal regeneration, internal and noise elimination, linear & non-linear distortion elimination, modular board isolation, and extreme components quality not often available elsewhere.
• The heart of digital playback, transports you to the musical event itself.

HyperStream, 8-channels architecture

• The highest performing DAC to date, sets a new benchmark for audio excellence with the industry’s highest dynamic range (DNR), up to 140dB, in a 32-bit, 8-channel DAC.
• Unique 15ohm output impedance at -140dB SNR or 1W
• Discreet power through 16 separate power regulators in the circuit. Direct coupled output with no capacitors in the output stage.
• The finest details contained in the recording, come to the surface in a phase-correct manner, allowing the musical event to emerge complete.
• The sonic result is no longer a lossy simulation requiring brainpower to cover for what is not there: you “are there”.

Proprietary Triple Distillation USB input: Noise Elimination

Conceived and designed in-house, the Ideon Audio Triple Distillation USB input comprises a proprietary three-stage noise eradication circuit that eliminates digital noise from the input signal.
Figuratively speaking, we have declared war on linear & non-linear distortion and noise!

Clock Oscillators: Getting the Music in Phase

The Absolute uses three top-of-the-line femto ultra-low jitter and ultra-low phase noise clocks in a no-compromise architecture; precision and resulting phase fidelity of the signal is ensured.
Each clock has its own dedicated power line.

The Quad Analog Output Principle

The in-house designed, Absolute DAC’s balanced output has four analogue output channels, no capacitors in the signal path and dedicated power supplies.

The output energy and strength can virtually drive any load!

Absolute choice, sounds at least 10 years into the future

The Absolute’s control board is fully isolated from anything else operating in the device. It has its own power supply line and discrete circuit.

Please note the transformer used to power the Absolute’s microcontroller & display: what we use for this light task, it is found used as the main power transformer in many well-known ultra-high grade devices!

What makes the Absolute your DAC of final choice well into future, is the absolute quality of sound whichever the format you are listening to.

It is supremely revelatory, intense, and relaxing; it excites, enthuses, and comforts, all in one: in the words of one reviewer, the Absolute “plays gorgeous music”.

You are consistently transported you to the encoded musical event!

Single-block, massive aluminium chassis

The 26kg (~58lb) CNC milled chassis takes 17 hours to complete. The result is a solid mechanical base housing the most intricate and expensive electronics available at this time. Various finishes are available to order.

Future proof – modular construction

Today, the Absolute DAC is state of the art in terms of design, construction and sonic performance.

Of course, if or when a new technology becomes available or a new format takes over, the Absolute’s modular construction ensures that it will be updated without fail.

Ideon’s Massive 17-Stage ultra-low noise power reservoir

Ideon’s massive multistage power reservoir comprises of 17 ultra-low noise power supply units and individual regulation stages.

The importance of stable, abundant, and clean power is touted all over audio circles, but at Ideon Audio, we take things to another level: we use six separate stages in order to achieve unparalleled clarity and linearity.

We choose top-level componentry: 17 state-of-the-art regulators with extreme low-tolerance rating, and over 80 audio-grade capacitors (ELNA Silmic II) with silk-fibre plate separators specifically designed for audio applications.

These components display higher propagation speed and low esr * resulting in smoother sound without loss of detail.

The sonic result is unparalleled restitution in clarity, midrange richness, musical energy, and dynamics. The music flows…

SUPPORTED FORMATS (INPUT DEPENDENT) 44.1kHz to 384kHz PCM up to 32 bits , Native DSD (up to 2X DSD)
DIGITAL INPUTS 4x Advanced isolated input module slots
XLR BALANCED OUTPUTS 9Vrms at 0dB
RCA OUTPUTS RCA OUTPUTS 4.5Vrms at 0dB
THD (A WEIGHTED 20HZ-20KHZ) < – 120dB on all outputs
CHANNEL SEPARATION >130dB on all outputs
SNR (A WEIGHTED 20HZ-20KHZ) >130dB on all outputs
DYNAMIC RANGE 20HZ TO 20KHZ 147 dB (FS) . 145 dB (AFS)
DISPLAY Custom discrete LED audio clock synchronous display
DIMENSIONS (W X H X D) 490 x 350 x 120 mm (19.2 x 13.7 x 4.7 in)
WEIGHT 28kg (~58 lbs)​

HiFi+ WINNER 2023 DIGITAL – DAC – COST NO OBJECT

The Absolute ε DAC is the company’s flagship product. It is built around a ESS Sabre 9038PRO chip but features custom code developed by Tounas to unlock the chip’s full potential. It supports PCM signals up to 384kHz/32-bit and DSD up to DSD1024, making it highly capable for high-resolution audio playback. The Absolute ε DAC also features a unique quad-architecture in its analogue stage, providing a fully balanced signal path.

See the article

HiFi+ Equipment Review – Issue 215

There are several ways to make a trulyhigh-end digital device. The first – and most common – is to ‘pimp out’ an off-the-shelf chipset, usually with a fancy output stage. The path less trodden is to ‘roll your own’ DAC, either as a ladder of resistors to act as a (usually 16-bit) conversion process or the less ‘steampunk’ way that means writing a LOT of code. But there is a third way… the Ideon way.

See the article

HiFi+ Equipment Review – Issue 205

If you have a long memory for YouTube videos, you might recall the graduation documentary from a Goldsmiths College student that was all about the Athens Audiophile Society. While that documentary was more mocking than the society might have liked, anyone who thought Greece doesn’t take its audio seriously was effectively silenced by that
video. Greece also has a small, but vibrant and growing, group of audiophile manufacturers, including Athens-based Ideon.

Review: Ideon Absolute ε digital converter

Review

“I heard nuances of pronunciation and expression on familiar recordings that I’d never heard before. The Ideon’s expressiveness on vocals ranged from the most quiet and tender passages from Nora Jones, to the raw, Janis-like belting of the great blues singer Beth Hart. The Ideon engendered a visceral sense of nothing between me and the singer. I heard this quality throughout the listening on a variety of instruments, not just vocals.”
Editor Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound

Review

“…We could write a lot more about this strong and majestic DAC and how is sounds more organic and skin-close and analog fluid than any other DAC we’ve heard. Where other well-made analog-sounding DAC’s reminds makes you think of soft slightly rounded vinyl, the Absolute Epsilon is more similar to a big Reel-to-Reel tape machine playing at 76 cm per second.”
TOPKLASS” Hifi & Musik , May 2022

Review: TOPKLASS” Hifi & Musik , May 2022 – Absolute DAC ε

HIFI+ Award Winner 2021

Article Ideon Absolute ε – HiFI+ Magazine

Absolute DAC – Annual report 2018 avmentor.gr (in Greek)

Absolute DAC & 3R Master Time – Warsaw Audio Show 2018 Report – HiFi Pig

Absolute DAC – avmentor.gr (in Greek)

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