Asynchronous USB 2 DACs
USB Audio class 1 is limited to 24 bits/ 96 kHz maximum.
This is what fits into USB Full Speed mode so 12 MHz (USB 1).
To play higher sample rates the High Speed mode (USB 2, 480 MHz) is needed.
From mid-2010 on both OSX and Linux supports USB audio class 2 natively.
If the DAC is USB audio class 2 compliant it will play up to 32/384 on these systems without the need to install additional drivers.
Microsoft doesn't have a native mode USB Audio class 2 driver. You need to install a third party Class 2 Audio driver at the PC side.
All DACs listed in this section requires USB 2 (High Speed).
The fact that they do need USB 2 (High Speed) does not necessarily imply they are also USB audio class 2 compliant.
Using High Speed might have an unexpected consequence.
Some audiophile USB cables are of such a low build quality that they will fail you the moment you switch to high speed mode.
The higher band width simply requires a digital cable build to close tolerances.
A lot of USB audio class 2 compliant DACs use the XMOS chipset.
Sagittarius has compiled an overview.
The information below is as supplied by the manufacturers website.
XMOS XS1-L1 USB Audio 2.0 US$ 149.00
- USB endpoints use the asynchronous synchronization
- 500 MIPS, 8 threads, XS1-L1 processor
- 2 Channel analog input
- 2 Channel analog output
- USB 2.0 high speed interface - supports multiple 24 bit, 192kHz channels with extremely low latency (3ms round trip)
- Plug-and-play with Audio Class 2.0 enabled computers (native Mac OSX support, Thesycon Windows drivers available)
- Audio Class 1.0 compliant - native Mac OSX and Windows support
- Asynchronous clocking - complete control of the audio master clock

Basically a USB to I2S converter. Optional support for SPDIF/ADAT/MIDI
DSD: XMOS supports the open DSD standard.
A beta is available.
24/192kHz Asynchronous USB Audio Class 2.0 (XMOS)
| Thermionic Electron Valves amplification stage: |
2 x 6H1n-EV / 1 x 6H11P fitted
ECC88, E88CC, 7308, Cca, 6DJ8, 6922, 6H23n-EV optional |
|
Total Harmonic Dist. + Noise (THD+N):
|
<0.3% |
|
>90 dB |
| Digital Audio Inputs: |
2 x XLR/BNC with HD Valve Digital Input technology
2 x RCA/Toslink SPDIF Interface
1 x 24/192 Asynchronous USB |
Aesthetix Pandora DAC USD 5,000.-
- Card-based DAC with three digital input slots.
- AES/EBU, RCA Coax, Toslink standard on digital input 1 slot.
- USB standard on digital input 2 slot.
- USB capable of class 1 audio (96KHz, 24bit) and class 2 audio (192KHz, 24bit).
- 2nd USB input optional.
- Asynchronous USB, (Streamlength ™)
- DSP based digital section using Motorola DSP56362 for digital filters.
- DAC section based on Burr-Brown PCM1792A.
- Analog section featuring four vacuum tubes in differential configuration.
- Zero global feedback.
- Balanced and single-ended outputs.
- Volume control optional, allows DAC to drive a power amplifier directly. Switched resistor design.
- Remote control of all functions.
- Multiple stainless steel faraday cages isolate critical digital, analog and power supply sections.
- Two transformers, one for digital circuits and one for analog circuits.
- All aluminum chassis construction.
- RS232 control.
- 12v trigger.
- Unit Weight: 35 Lbs
- Dimensions: 18" width x 4 3/8" height x 18" depth
Anedio D2 DAC US$1470
Pre-amp / DAC with various digital inputs and headphone out.
Asynchronous USB using the XMOS receiver, Thesycon driver for Win.
Inputs:
USB: 24 bits, 44.1K, 48K, 88.2K, 96K, 176.4K, 192KHz
SPDIF 75-ohm BNC + RCA: 24 bits, 44.1K, 48K, 88.2K, 96K, 176.4K, 192KHz
SPDIF 75-ohm RCA: 24 bits, 44.1K, 48K, 88.2K, 96K, 176.4K, 192KHz
Tosllink Optical: 24 bits, 44.1K, 48K, 88.2K, 96KHz
Outputs:
RCA and XLR
Headphone
DAC/Pre/Headphone amp
Digital Input:
1 USB 2.0 + driver for Win
USB receiver: XMOS
1 I2S 100 Ohms TTL Level,
2 SPDIF coax 75 Ohms,
1 AES/EBU, 110 Ohms,
1 Toslink
Analog Input:
1 RCA, 1 MINI JACK
Analog Output:
1 RCA, 1 XLR, 1 Headphone
Receiver: Cirris Logic C58416
ASRC: TI SRC4192 (can be bypassed)
DAC: TI PCM1794A

Analogue Audio Output
- Conversion 2x Burr Brown 24-bit 192kHz Advanced Segment Delta-Sigma
- Signal to noise ratio > 110dB CCIR (unweighted)
- Harmonic distortion (1kHz) 0.0008% (20Hz — 20kHz, unweighted)
- Frequency response (+0.1dB, -0.5dB) 10Hz–20kHz
- Filtering User selectable, fast or slow roll-off
- Output level (0dB) 2.2Vrms
- Output impedance 47Ω
- Minimum load 5kΩ
Digital interfaces
- USB Class 1 electrically-isolated USB 1.1
- Class 2 USB 2.0 High Speed (480 Mbit/s)
- AES/EBU Up to 192kHz sample rate
- Coaxial S/PDIF x 2 Up to 192kHz sample rate
- Optical S/PDIF (TOSLINK) x 2 Up to 96kHz sample rate
Computer compatibility
- PC Windows 7, Vista & XP (driver required for 24/192 material)
- MAC OSX (no driver required)
Physical
- Dimensions W433 x D370 x H110mm
- Weight 6.2kg nett/10.0kg packed
- Power consumption 30W maximum
- Analogue output connection RCA Phono x 2, Balanced XLR x2
Remote control.
Price: £2000
ATOLL DAC200 €1500
Pre-amp with various digital inputs and headphone out

Inputs
- 1 AES/EBU
- 2 SPDIF coaxi
- 3 SPDIF optical
- 1 USB : 24bits/192kHz (XMOS, driver for Win)
- 1 wireless dongle
Outputs:
- 1 coax
- 1 optical
- 1 RCA
- 1 XLR
- 1 headphone
DAC: BURR BROWN PCM1792 (24 bits/192 kHz)
Ayre QB-9 USD 2750.-
- Asynchronous USB (Streamlength ™)
- 16/24 bit/192 kHz.
- TheSycon USB Audio class 2 driver for Windows
- XMOS USB audio class 2 converter
- Minimum phase digital filter.
- Single-pass 16x oversampling.
- zero-feedback, fully-balanced discrete circuitry.
- Equilock circuitry for active gain devices.
- Ayre Conditioner (patent pending) power-line RFI filter.
- AyreLink communication system.
Frequency Response: DC - 20 kHz, ± 0.25 dB
Signal/Noise: 110 dB (unweighted)
Output Level: 4 volts balanced, 2 volts single-ended
The USB receiver section is isolated from the
rest of the audio circuitry with high-speed opto-isolators. This means that the RFI generated by the multitude of clocks operating inside the PC and its noise-generating switching power supply is completely kept out of one’s music system.
Ayre White paper
- Accepts data up to 24 bit/192 kHz
- USB powered
- Asynchronous USB transfer, re-clocking with a fixed low jitter crystal clock
- Galvanic isolation between USB and the analog circuits,
- Super low noise power supply with multistage regulation and filtering
- For low out of band noise we use low order modulator
- Digital filter with minimum phase
- The analog output stage is a high performance stage with high drive capability
- Distortion < 0.001%
- Thd Noise -126db
- Output Level 2.5v @0db
B.M.C. DAC1 Pre HiRes USBII - € 3.248
DAC with preamp.
Asynchronous USB (24/192) with driver for Win.
| Twin Wolfson WM8740 24bit DACs used in dual differential configuration |
| New Anagram Technologies ATF2™ 24-bit/384kHz audio up-sampling / jitter reduction |
| Optional Digital Preamp mode allowing connection directly to power amp or active speakers |
| 24-bit/96kHz driverless USB Audio 1.0 |
24-bit/192kHz USB Audio 2.0 with ASIO or kernel streaming modes.
USB class 2 driver for Win |
| Asynchronous USB transfer |
| Selectable digital filters - linear phase, minimum phase and steep |
| Balanced XLR audio output and RCA phono output |
| Two 24 bit digital inputs (with optical or coaxial for each) |
| External input for optional BT100 Bluetooth receiver - allows audio to be streamed and up-sampled from any paired Bluetooth device |
CYP AU-D160 £150.00
USB DAC with analogue out (RCA), headphone out and Toslink.
- Supports standard sampling rates - 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 192kHz
- Supports Bits : 16 Bits / 24Bits
- Power supplied by USB BUS Power
- The Headphone, R/L and Optical ports will simultaneously support audio output
- ASIO driver supported
- USB Audio Class 2.0 with asynchronus mode and driver for Win
- 500 MIPS, 8 threads, XS1-L1 processor (XMOS)
D/A Converter IC ESS Technology ES9018 Sabre Reference 32-bit DAC
THD+N 0.0005% @ 1KHz, 0dBFS
SNR 125 dB, A-weighted, 2.2 Vrms
Channel Separation 140 dB @ 1KHz, 130 dB @ 20KHz
Digital Input Resolution
and Sample Rate
USB : 24 bits / 44.1K, 48K, 88.2K, 96K, 176.4K, 192KHz
COAX : 32 bits / 44.1K, 48K, 88.2K, 96K, 176.4K, 192KHz
Line Output
Unbalanced stereo, RCA jacks with gold-plated contacts
Balanced stereo, XLR jacks with gold-plated contacts
Output Level 2.2 Vrms (unbalanced), 6.8 Vrms(balanced)
Output Offset 2 mV max
Comes with a ASIO driver for Win
It claims to do 24/192 on OSX without a driver so probably USB class 2 audio.
XMOS USB audio class 2 converter
Reviews
http://www.digitalaudioblog.com/2011/02/review-calyx-dac-24192.html
http://www.digital-highend.de/start/wp-content/bildupload/EN111_S.64-67.pdf
DAC with volume control and headphone out.
- ES9018 SABRE32 Reference DAC
- 8 channels at up to 32bit/384kHz (USB only)
- Asynchronous USB interface
- Ultra low jitter
- Galvanic isolation
- Bit-perfect ASIO Driver Reference-class specifications
- Automatic sampling rate switching
- Plays DXD 352.8 kHz
Firestone ILoveTW 299,00 EUR
DAC supporting both adaptive and asynchronous mode
Amplifier Structure : Low pass filter with 2Vrms output
|
Power Structure : High frequency switching DC-DC regulator
|
USB Support Format :
|
16/24 Bit : 44.1kHz / 48kHz / 88.2kHz / 96kHz / 176.4kHz / 192kHz
|
Digital Interface : Direct I2S data format transmission (MAX support up to 192kHz-24bit over 1 meter CAT-5E cable)
|
Operation Mode : Support Adaptive and Asynchronous mode for audio stream transmission
|
DAC Chip : WOLFSON - WM8740
|
USB Chip : TENOR - TE8802
|
LPF OP : NS - LM4562
|
dB-Weighed Frequency response (From 40Hz to 15kHz) : 40Hz +0.02dB, 15kHz -0.12dB
|
Noise level (1kHz, A-Weighted) : -106.7dB
|
Dynamic range (1kHz, A-Weighted) : 106.7dB
|
THD% : 0.012%
|
Stereo crosstalk : -102.7dB
|
Housing dimensions : 117 x 80 x 50 mm (D x W x H). Housing only without parts 'sticking out' like connector parts, swithes, etc.
|
Weight : 286 gram (without the external power supply)
|
Headphone amplifier, DAC, monitor controller
- Balanced and unbalanced analog inputs
- 24bit/192kHz digital stereo inputs- AES3, S/PDIF, TOSLINK and USB
- High speed asynchronous USB interface
- Driverless operation on Windows & Mac up to 96kHz/24bit
- Supports USB Class 2 audio specification for 192kHz/24bit operation on Windows & Mac (drivers needed for 192kHz operation under Windows)
Portable USB DAC with volume control and headphone out.
- True 24Bit/192K USB-DAC, supports bit for bit decoding.
- Asynchronous USB transfer
- WM8740 DAC chip
- Up to 24Bit/192K coaxial output
- RCA output and Line out.
- Built-in +/- 5V class A headphone amplfier that run off of USB power
- Full aluminum case
- Measures 60W*93L*22H (mm), and weights 108g
- Comes with USB Cable, and Leather pouch
Lindemann USB-DAC 24/192 € 690,-
- Asynchronous USB interface (USB audio class 2 compatible) based on an XMOS-DSP with 500 Mips. Resolution up to 24 bits and 192 kHz. Three separate clocks for USB, 44.1 kHz (and multiples) and 48 kHz (and multiples).
- USB class 2 driver for Windows
- Digital interface controller (WM8805WM8805
with efficient jitter reduction due to buffer storage and adaptive PLL. Guaranteed jitter level < 50 ps.
- High-precision master clock with < 2.5 ps timing jitter.
- DAC WM8742WM8742
- Minimum phase digital filter with apodizing behaviour.
- Fully-balanced, analog output stage (ADA4927ADA4927
Linnenberg udc 1 €1260.-
USB 2.0 compatible input
- Jitter free asynchronous data transfer (udc1 as master)
- Bit transparent drivers for Mac and PC operating systems
- Precision master 3ps crystal oscillator
- 24bit/192kHz Burr Brown digital - to - analogue converter
- True class A, fully discrete analogue circuits with zero negative feedback
- Ultra short signal path
- Balanced analogue outputs with PCB-mounted gold-plated Neutrik XLR sockets
- High current output stage
Specifications:
Frequency response 1Hz - 24kHz +0.1dB -0.5dB
Distortion and noise <0.01% 10Hz - 20kHz at -10dB
Output level 4V rms balanced
Output impedance 150 Ohms
Mains voltage 115V, 230V factory set
Dimensions (H x W x D) 55 x 165 x 224 mm
- XMOS USB 2.0 High Speed Interface: 16, 24 bit
sampling rate up to 192kHz
Thesycon USB audio class 2 driver for Win
- Available Digital Inputs:
• 1x USB
• 1x AES/EBU (XLR)
• 2x SPDIF (RCA)
• 2x TOSLINK (Optical)
- Word lengths up to 24bit, and sample frequencies up to 192kHz are
supported on all digital inputs.
- Analog Outputs:
• Balanced (XLR)
Output Line Level (0dBfs signal on AES/EBU input): 4.6Vrms
Output Impedance: 300Ω
• Un-Balanced (RCA)
Output Line Level (0dBfs signal on AES/EBU input): 2.3Vrms
Output Impedance: 150Ω
Musiland MD30 DAC/Headphone amp
- USB 2.0 High Speed Interface: 16, 24, 32Bit sampling rate up to 192kHz
- Coaxial RCA, BNC coaxial, fiber optic, AES: 16, 24Bit sampling depth up to 192kHz. Support MMDI instruction
- MULINK high-definition digital interface (proprietary i2s): 16, 24, 32Bit sampling depth up to 192kHz. Support MMDI instruction.
- Clock jitter (44.1kHz): S/PDIF less than 30PS, USB, MULINK less than 20PS
Mytek Stereo192-DSD-DAC USD $1,695.00
- Asynchronous USB2 with driver (Rigisystems )up to 192 kHz
- Asynchronous Firewire 400/800 (TC Electronics)
- Conversion: 32bit, PCM up to 192k, 64xDSD, 128xDSD.
- Dynamic Range: 128dB (ESS Sabre chipset in 8 mono to 2 stereo config.) THD DAC: -110dB.
- Digital Audio Inputs: SPDIF, AES/EBU, Toslink all up to 192k single wire.
(64xDSD and 128XDSD SDIF DSD interface on Mastering Version).
- Clock: Internal Clock Generator (10ps jitter), Wordclock In and Out, or sync to incoming digital audio input with low jitter JET (tm) PLL.
- Internal Async Hardware Upsampling- 16bit 44.1k etc. can be optionally upsampled prior to conversion to 192k/24bit with clock jitter eliminated.
- Transparent, 1dB stepped programmable analog attenuator, separate for main out and headphones.
Various models including one with headphone and pre-amp function.
A tread on a forum including Michal from Mytek.
Onkyo DAC-1000 £599.00
At the moment (January 2011) only available in Japan.
| Frequency |
2Hz-48kHz ±0.5dB
2Hz-48kHz ±0.5dB |
| Total harmonic distortion |
0.003% |
| DAC |
PCM1795 - 32bit/192kHz |
| SN ratio |
116dB(USB→LINE OUT IHF-A) 116dB |
| input |
24 bit /96kHz Optical
24 bit / 192kHz AES/EBU - SPDIF
24 bit / 192kHz asynchronous USB
Unclear if USB is class 2 compliant |
| Digital output |
24 bit /96kHz optical)
2ch PCM formats |
| Analog out |
XLR + RCA |
USB audio class 2 compliant DAC with USB receiver by XMOS.
Inputs: SPDIF (optical/coax) / asynchronous USB
Outputs: AES/EBU, ciax, I2S
Word sync out.
Price: Yen 249,900
Peachtree Audio Grand Pre control center US$2995
DAC/preamp/headphone amp with volume control and defeatable tubed output.
Manufacturers description:
- Reference ESS Sabre32 DAC knocks jitter down to <1 picosecond for accurate sound reproduction
- Galvanic Isolation eliminates noise generated by switching power supplies in source components
- New asynchronous I2S 24/192 USB input provides the best connection between computer and DAC
- VCA gain control for minimal noise and cross talk replaces the commonly used potentiometer
- New Bascom King tube buffer rejuvenates poor recordings and compressed audio

- ESS SABRE32 24/192kHz DAC chip
- Digital filtering DSP and controls via Xilinx MicroBlaze FPGA soft processor cores
- Ultra-low phase noise oscillator master clock
- 1 x Toslink input and 1 x Toslink output
- 2 x BNC digital input
- 1 x AES/EBU input
- USB - asynchronous mode, high speed so probably USB audio class 2 compliant but no drivers for Windows available. USB firmware by Cypres Semiconductor.
- All digital inputs are transformer coupled, galvanically isolated
- 2 x headphone outputs on front panel, simultaneous drive and levels can be independently set
- SD card (WAV format only, up to 24/192)
- Low noise OLED screen
- Firmware upgradeable (FPGA)
- High quality AD797 J-FET operational amplifier output stage
The manual contains a lot of measurements.
Each measurement is accompanied by a short explanation, very instructive.
This DAC is linear up to 130 dB. An excellent values allowing for minimal full 22 bits resolution.
Rasteme Rudd14 56,700- Yen
24/192 asynchronous USB DAC.
USB receiver XMOS.
Teac UD-H01 DAC £299.00
Main Features
- USB Audio Class2 High-speed Input from PC/MAC (Tenor 8802)
- 32-bit/192kHz Dual D/A Convertors (BurrBrown 1795 x 2)
- Up-conversion to 32bit/192kHz
- Supports Asynchronous Transfer Mode
- Toroidal-core-Power Transformer
- Detachable AC Socket
- Headphone Out with Volume Control
- Aluminium Front Panel
General Specifications:
- USB Input: x 1 (USB2.0)
- Digital Audio Inputs: x 2 (Coaxial, Optical)
- Balanced Audio Output: x 1 (XLR, 1-GND, 2=Hot, 3=Cold)
- Audio Output: x 1 (RCA)
- Headphone Out: x 1 (6.3mm)
- Input Signal Sampling Rate: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz
- Operation:230V AC, 50kHz
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 215mm x 55mm x 215mm
- ESS Reference audio (ES9018) 32 bit DAC
- Automatic oversampling for precise output filtering
- Fully balanced design with balanced and unbalanced outputs
- Upgradable Digital, Output, and USB boards (designed for future improvements)
- VFD display for input, sample rate, volume control, and configuration viewing
- Remote control
- Defeatable - 32 bit volume control
- 2x Coax inputs
- 2x Toslink inputs
- 1x AES/EBU input
- 1x Balanced I2S input via HDMI cable (not standard HDMI cable format)
- 24-bit 192kHz Asynchronous USB input
- Proprietary drivers for 32/64 bit Windows XP, Vista, 7 and Mac OS 10.4, 10.5 ,10.6