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Today's audiophile and music lover lives surrounded by gadgets filled with 1s and 0s, but getting them out and converted into an audio signal that sounds amazingly detailed and musical can be a feat. Not any more! Plunk down a little HeadRoom Micro DAC next to any digital audio source, whether it's your computer at work, that inexpensive portable DVD player or the SqueezeBox in the bedroom, and listen to the beautiful-sounding numbers fly by. Couple it with HeadRoom Micro Amp and enjoy a little stack of audiophile sweetness tucked into any nook on your desk or nightstand. And if you're looking for some serious 1's and 0's audiophile magic, don't forget to check out our flagship reference HeadRoom Ultra Desktop Balanced DAC [aka 'UDAC'] with ESS Sabre 9018 upsampling topology and 192kHz input sample rate.

How it Works

The Micro DAC is simplicity itself to use: just plug in your computer to the USB input, and/or other digital sources to the optical and coaxial S/PDIF inputs; select the desired source using the front panel switch and -- voila'! -- a carefully decoded and lusciously clear analog signal appears on the rear panel line-out. From there you can take that line-out and plug it into another headphone amp, pre-amp, or integrated amp. Keep in mind the HeadRoom Micro DAC is a 'stand-alone' (non-amplified) device and MUST be connected into a dedicated headphone amp stage for final amplification to your best audiophile headphones.

Electronics

Cirrus Logic engineers may scratch their collective head if they saw their flagship DAC squeezed into the tiny HeadRoom Micro DAC. The CS4398 is the best performing DAC chip in the CL line-up with numbers like 120dB dynamic range and -107dB THD+Noise. And the 4398 is not alone in there: the Micro DAC also contains fully independent power supply regulators for all analog and digital sections. Digital decoding is handled by a dedicated CS8416 digital receiver chip before passing numbers off to the DAC itself. A TI PCM2902 handles the computer USB-to-S/PDIF conversion before sending the numbers to the DAC (the analog outputs of the 2902 aren't up to the task for our sweet DAC!). The isochronous data sent via USB interface is then converted to S/PDIF signal by the 2902. S/PDIF routs to a digital receiver which converts signals to separate reclocking and data interpolation stages. The clock/data signals are then finally sent into the CS4398. Local decoupling with ultra-low ESR polyphenylene-sulfide film capacitors is provided at each active analog stage; resistors are low-drift, low-noise, 0.1% metal film parts throughout. A HeadRoom multi-layer circuit board holds it all together while keeping the signals galvanically apart... Boy, hard to believe we fit all that in there! The Micro DAC USB input handles16 bit/48kHz. Optical and co-axial SPDIF connection support 24bit/96kHz.

For a photo of the HeadRoom Micro DAC circuit board and more information about the electronics take a look at our DAC Features page linked here.

NOTE: iPod / iPhone do not have digital output. A headphone jack remains 'analog' out, so a DAC will not recognize that connection. You'll need a DIGITAL optical, coaxial, or computer USB output for Micro DAC. Apple iPad has digital output available with use of the Apple Camera Kit adapter!

Accessories

A basic external AC power-supply "wall-wart" is included with the Micro DAC. An upgraded 'international-use' (all voltages) Astrodyne Power Supply is optionally available for audiophiles wanting to maximize the sonic performance of the Micro DAC.  To utilize your standard coaxial cable with the mini 1/8" [3.5mm] coaxial input on the Micro DAC, please add this RCA Mini coax adapter to your order.

*The Micro DAC does NOT include any interconnect cabling. If using the optical digital input, you will need an optical cable. If using coaxial digital input, you'll need a 75 Ohm coax interconnect cable found here. (To utilize your standard coaxial cable with the mini 1/8" [3.5mm] coax input on the Micro DAC, please add this RCA coax mini plug adapter to your order.) To connect Micro DAC to the HeadRoom Micro Amp, you will need a 'mini-to-mini' audio cable. We recommend the superb ALO Audio mini interconnect cables. For additional cables and lengths, please browse all of our stocked cables.

The HeadRoom Micro DAC is lovingly hand-built by HeadRoom technicians in Idaho & Montana, USA to painstaking perfection. The free 2-year Micro DAC warranty is serviced exclusively at HeadRoom in Bozeman Montana.

Excellent
Posted by Chang He from San Antonio on 2011-09-30

Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Sound quality, ease of use
Cons: Coaxial input doesn't work

I have not used a DAC before, so I have no frame of reference, however I was not certain about the need for this device and bought it expecting I might return it.

I'm never returning this thing. The difference between a CD with this and a CD straight through the amp is almost the difference between a CD and vinyl. Extremely pleased with the sound quality.

My -1 star is because I couldn't get the coaxial input to work on this. Optical input works just fine, but I had to go out and buy an optical cable to test this, my coaxial cable wouldn't physically connect (at least tightly) and it works just fine on my large stereo system.

Relatively small complaint, overall I love the product.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you?

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Almost great product
Posted by hifichip76 from Bayside, NY on 2011-05-25

Recommend Product: No
Pros: excellent sound, fair price
Cons: connections constantly come loose

After years of wanting to try a Headroom amp, I got the DAC/AMP combo for Christmas from my wife.

It sounds fantastic-far and away the best I've used. I've had similar products from some other companies.

The one really annoying problem is that the wires constantly come lose, despite the fact that I never move the unit. I've tried stacking them and putting them side-by-side. Every time I listen, I have to get up because one of the cables is loose and I have to push it in...and then the glorious sound returns to both ears. I've tried a few different cables as well, with no change (except you can find a cable that snaps in better than the Cardas mini cable, but the Cardas sounds better than all of them regardless of price).

So close to being an excellent product. Maybe the other models are without this problem.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you?

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A must have for computer audio!
Posted by Chris M. from Chicago on 2011-03-17

Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Huge improvement over computer's DAC
Cons: Only one analog output

I was skeptical that quality audio could come from a computer based system. I started with the Bit-head feeding a Grado headphone amp. It sounded pretty good, but not great. So I took a chance and purchased both the Micro DAC and Micro Amp. I was blown away! The improvement was staggering! I never thought I could get any real enjoyment or satisfaction from headphone listening especially with a computer as the source. I was wrong. The sound quality is wonderful and very satisfying . The AKG K702's are amazing as well. Just make sure your computer music files are one of the lossless formats and employ some AC line filtering. I purchased this unit over a year ago and it still performs flawlessly.
Like I mentioned in my review of the Micro Amp, there is no need to ever turn this unit off. Turning most any audio equipment on and off all the time thermal cycles the components shortening their life span. This unit and the Micro Amp use about 20 watts. Same as your average night light. Plus it'll be warmed up and ready to use. So unless you're going out of town for a week or so, leave them on!

One complaint has come to mind and that is there is no way to know what frequency you're locking in at. But due to the small size of the unit, I can understand why. But as high definition computer files become more popular, I can see myself scratching my head and wondering... I guess this is one reason to consider spending the extra $$ for the UDAC.

I still wholeheartedly recommend this unit, especially for the price.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Did you?

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