Amps & DACs

The CEntrance DACport is a USB-fed DAC/headphone amp that offers upscale 24-bit / 96kHz resolution via USB, a salient selling feature for any portable computer DAC unit. The DACport has a cylindrical, cigar-like shape featuring a full-size headphone output on one end, a USB connection and an LED power light on the other, and a small rubberized volume control dial on top. The design of the DACport got good reviews overall as its ease of connectivity and small size make it easily transportable for computer listening both at home and at the office, sliding unnoticed into a shirt pocket for the commute. The DACport's sound signature is slightly 'forward' and analytical sans audible harshness and delivers especially superb audio synergy with darker, more 'laid-back' headphones like the Sennheiser HD650. It's also got plenty of power to drive high-impedance cans like the Beyerdynamic Tesla T1 or Sennheiser HD800 to loud listening levels, a big plus for a tiny portable headphone amp.

What became most apparent to our HeadRoom ears using the CEntrance DACport was an extremely broad soundstage image with excellent musical separation and precise timbral accuracy. While the low bass may lack some sense of roundness or supple warmth, bass texture is beautifully apparent while the mids and highs maintain a cleanly delineated clarity that sounds strongly defined without strident grain or edge We all agreed that the CEntrance DACport holds a solid spot in our HeadRoom offerings given its uber-portability, precise musical detail, broad soundstage image, full 24-bit/96kHz capabilities and plethora of high-end headphones it can effectively drive. We think it pairs great with any cans tending towards a warmer tonality and the DACport will really bring them alive with full detail and a natural sense of ease. With more 'neutral' analytically-leaning cans like the AKG K701, Tesla T1, or HD800, you'll still get a very well-detailed, albeit slightly stringent presentation. Great engineering and design from Michael Goodman and team -- kudos, CEntrance!

'AdaptiWave' is the proprietary, driver-less USB audio technology from CEntrance allowing their products to work with any computer, anywhere in the world without the need to install custom drivers. By relying on the built-in drivers available in all versions of Windows, Mac, Linux and iPad, CEntrance DACs offer upgraded performance without hassle. So no more downloads or lost installation disks. CEntrance products are immediately ready to play and preserve bit-perfect, 24-bit/96kHz audio all the way to the DAC. This results in subtle detail, imperceptible noise, amazing definition, and no listening fatigue. This version includes a special Reserve Series 3ft interconnect fom CEntrance featuring a 1/4" male plug into stereo [Left/Right] RCA connections ideal for DACport connectivity into home or component audio sources.

Sample Rates                    

96kHz (Also: 44.1 kHz, 48kHz and 88.2kHz)                                        

Resolution                     24-bit (Also supports 16-bit)                                        

Connection                     USB1.1 or 2.0, driverless                                        

Communication                     AdaptiWave proprietary USB technology                                        

Local clock                     10 ppm precision, 1 ps jitter                                        

Compatibility                     Any computer running Mac, PC, or Linux                                                            

Analog Specs

Frequency Response                     20Hz...40kHz +/-0.2dB                                        

Dynamic Range                     113 dB, re +12 dBu, max gain                                        

THD+N                     0.0018% / -95 dB (FS, 1kHz)                                        

Noise Floor                     7 µV RMS (A-weight), max gain                                        

Audio Output                     Stereo 1/4" headphone jack                                        

Headphone Amp                     Direct Class A, no caps in the signal path                                        

Maximum Output Level                     4.4 V peak / +12 dBu                                        

Output Power                     1.5W (total), drives 600 Ohm headphones                                        

Output Impedance          10 Ohms

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