E1X DS1 Streaming DAC/Control Preamp

The DS1 DAC/Headphone Control Preamp brings our HDR-II Core technology into a compact, streamlined component designed for clarity and precision. With class-leading dynamic range, advanced digital inputs including Ethernet streaming, and a high-current headphone stage, it delivers accurate, natural, and reliable performance across your entire system.

Guide to Streaming

The E1X DS1 combines the finest quality DAC, Steaming and precision preamplifier control in a component that allows you to select between the highest quality streaming providers or digital sources. The chassis is constructed in an E1X all aluminum constrained layer chassis. The E1X DS1 Control Preamp marks entry into the E1X line of DAC/ Preamplifiers that combines our high-resolution DAC, streamer, with multiple digital inputs in a slim easily placed chassis for music lovers who want an uncomplicated, uncompromised, and exhilarating home audio experience. The E1X sonic characteristic emphasizes realistic and compelling musical expression.

 Incredible audio performance, features, and flexibility, the DS1 is musically open, detailed, and natural sounding.

  • Class Leading 126dB Dynamic Range

  • 24 Bit Volume Control

  • Ethernet Streaming Input

  • AES/SPDIF/Optical Digital Inputs

  • High Current Headphone Output Driver

  • Remote Control

The E1X DAC is designed to manage the complexity of all audio sources and control functions with ease and efficiency. The volume and system functions are controlled by manually pressing and rotating the control dial on the front of the unit, using the IR custom remote control, or with your iPhone/iPad and the custom iOS SEEK app. The E1X DS1 is also a Roon end point giving you the option to subscribe to Roon for network streaming to the Bel Canto platform. The fully programmable display is easy to read and illuminates system status indicating source and volume with auto off function when not in use. It also displays all programming functions.

All source inputs are asynchronously re-clocked into the fully balanced advanced segment DAC measuring below 0.001% distortion and 126dB of dynamic range. By stripping away the source clock and using Bel Canto’s custom Ultra Low Noise master clock circuitry we eliminate jitter and data related distortion, preserving the delicate audio signal.

Asynchronous ethernet connects you to the most compelling musical source available today. Bel Canto’s proprietary asynchronous ethernet provides the highest level of performance for high resolution files up to 24bits at 192ks/s, MQA, and DSD64. This allows you to connect to a variety of subscription streaming services or sources from your personal library that is stored on a NAS (networked attached storage) drive, all providing full server function with complete iOS wireless control using our SEEK control app. Android users can use the MConnect app.

Asynchronous Digital SPDIF AES, RCA and Toslink inputs all operate at 24/192Ks. MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. Visit mqa.co.uk for more information. The MQA logo is a trade mark of MQA Limited. © MQA Limited 2017

RS232 is designed to support easy integration with sophisticated whole house control systems. The line level analog input also can be programmed to gain match your analog sources and achieve the best performance from all analog sources. The line output can be connected to a powered subwoofer.

The front mounted headphone jack opens high quality sound for your favorite headphones. Plug in your headphones and the E1X DS1 configures itself into a superb headphone amplifier with a buffer stage that can confidently drive 32 ohms. Control the output level using the main control, allowing you to select the headphone or main speaker output while leaving the headphones in place.

The control menu also has a ‘maximum volume’ setting. This allows you to set the max volume at any level you prefer and ensures no one can inadvertently increase the volume using an App volume control or the remote and do damage to your speakers. The Max volume can be changed at any time and comes from the factory set at 85.

The Ethernet connection on the rear panel allows you to update your unit firmware to the current specification at any time the unit is connected to the internet. This can be checked through the menu by the user. If there is an update you will be given the choice to complete the upgrade ensuring that your unit is always up-to-date or decline the update and perform it at another time. If you choose to complete the update the unit will display the latest software Rev’s on the display and let you know when it is completed. The unit will reset itself (you do not have to power cycle the unit) and be ready to play after completion.

The attention to detail is founded in component selection and signal path layout drawn from years of electronic design experience that optimizes both analog and digital system performance. Each input travels an expertly placed circuit path, providing noise rejection and signal optimization along with advanced custom time optimized filters that reduce sonic blur and increase clarity and dynamic impact. The DS1 offers 2 filter choices managed through the main menu. The Standard filter comes from the factory and provides excellent sonic balance; the Fast filter focuses the audio image with slightly higher upper frequency and tighter bass. The choice is yours.

The E1X DS1 DAC/Headphone Control Preamplifier delivers precise, natural performance in a streamlined platform. Its HDR-II Core architecture, advanced digital inputs, and high-current headphone stage preserve signal accuracy and reveal clear, detailed, and musically expressive sound.

E1X-DS1

TECH

E1X DAC Technology

Rendering high levels of definition and musicality. It is the culmination of more than 20 years of audio DAC design evolution. With the HDR-II Core we have improved the dynamic range, analog output stage design and digital filters while reducing spurious signal generation and jitter related errors. Our new HDR-II Core has demonstrated that we can increase the resolution of musical detail, and improve listenability and perceived quality of the recorded music. This is in contrast where ‘transparent’ and ‘revealing’ often means ‘bright’. The HDR-II Core presents the original music with high levels of clarity and emotion. Our HDR-II Core starts with a deliberate and careful choice of DAC technology. This choice defines the ultimate achievable performance and is defined by several key specifications. Our research has directed us to the best DAC technology, confirmed through extensive testing and listening.

Bel Canto chooses the most refined CMOS digital to analog processor to provide superior dynamic range through extremely low noise, distortion and jitter sensitivity. The analog output section takes best advantage of the underlying CMOS technology to achieve the highest levels of analog purity and uncompromised performance. This Advanced Segment Technology DAC combines both multi-bit and multi-bit delta-sigma technology to deliver superb performance with a dynamic range of 132dB and transparent linear-phase digital filters. The CMOS analog conversion operates in a Constant Voltage, Class A Differential Current mode for minimal distortion and best analog performance. Through detailed FFT analysis we characterize DAC performance over the complete dynamic range, ensuring that the DAC analog outputs behave in a true analog fashion. As with the best analog circuitry our DAC technology exhibits diminishing levels of distortion and spurious signals at lower output levels where most of the audio signals live. Our HDR-II Core analog behavior is contrasted in the following figures with an increasingly popular DAC technology that looks good on paper but does not deliver true analog purity over the audio dynamic range.

It is critical that a DAC reproduce low level signals cleanly with no added distortion or spurious energy above the noise floor to color the sound. Note how clean the graph of our HDR-II Core is in Figure 1 with only the 1kHz, -40dB test signal appearing above the very low noise floor below -150dB. The extremely pure results in our Figure 1 HDR-II DAC results in a very pure lifelike sound quality. This was a major factor in our original choice of this DAC technology and our continued investment in this technology.

Pure Class A Differential Analog Output

A critical advantage of our HDR-II Core architecture is how the Class A Differential Current Mode output from our DAC operates in concert with our custom balanced analog section to best preserve the original dynamics of the recording. The large constant-bias differential currents impose pure Class A operation to every part of the analog output stages, every precision resistor, film capacitor and amplification device is biased with constant current and voltage. This constant bias keeps all components in thermal stasis and insures that all the original signal dynamics are retained. Through careful parts choices, architectural considerations and design details, refined over numerous generations, Bel Canto’s HDR-II Core has been optimized to render pure, dynamic analog signal quality from all music sources.

Headphone Output

The Headphone output is driven from a dedicated 112dB dynamic range DAC through a high current output buffer stage. It can drive 32-ohm phones to high level and provide excellent headphone sonic detail and performance.

e1X-DS1 Specifications

Maximum Data Input Rates

24bit Data to 192ks/s: AES, SPDIF, OPTICAL

24bit Data to 384ks/s, MQA, and DSD64/128: 10/100 Ethernet

Headphone Outputs

Headphone: 2.75Vrms maximum, 32ohm minimum load

Main Outputs

Balanced XLR Output and Impedance: 5.5Vrms, 100 ohms

Minimum Load: 600 ohms

RCA Output and Impedance: 2.75Vrms, 100 ohms

Performance

Dynamic Range: 126dB A-weighted

THD+N: <0.001% 1W, 1kHz, 4 ohms

IMD (CCIF): <0.001%, 1W, 18.5:19.5kHz 1:1, 4 ohms

General

Power Usage On: 20W

Power Usage Off: 0W

Internally Set Operating Voltages: 100-120VAC, 220-240VAC 50/60 Hz

Dimensions: 17.75 W x 15.75 D x 3.25 H inches, 451 x 400 x 83 mm

Weight: 14 lbs (6.4 kg)

Features and specifications are subject to improvements and changes without prior notice.