Ideon Audio Absolute DACε
Ideon Audio Absolute DACε
Ideon Audio Absolute DACε
Ideon Audio Absolute DACε
Ideon Audio Absolute DACε
Ideon Audio Absolute DACε
Ideon Audio Absolute DACε
Ideon Audio Absolute DACε
Ideon Audio Absolute DACε

Ideon Audio Absolute DACε

CHF 44,000.00 Normal price
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The device is specially manufactured to customer specifications.

The new Ideon Audio Absolute DAC ε: currently the best-sounding DAC.

hi-fi+ Award



COST NO OBJECT DAC OF THE YEAR


An absolute revelation: bringing music to life

With its future-proof, modular design built to the highest standards, the Ideon Audio Absolute DAC embodies the very latest in digital conversion, re-clocking, signal regeneration, internal and noise reduction, linear and non-linear distortion reduction, modular board isolation and extreme component quality that is otherwise rarely found.
The heart of digital playback that transports you to the musical event itself.


HyperStream, 8-channel architecture

The most powerful DAC yet sets a new benchmark for audio excellence with the industry's highest dynamic range (DNR) of up to 140dB in an 8-channel, 32-bit DAC.

  • Unique 15 ohm output impedance at -140dB SNR or 1W
  • Discrete power supply 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 surface in phase so that the musical event is fully revealed.
  • The sonic result is no longer a lossy simulation where you have to use your brain to compensate for what's not there: You're "in".


Proprietary USB input with triple distillation: noise reduction


Designed and developed in-house, the Ideon Audio Triple Distillation USB input includes a proprietary three-stage noise reduction circuit that eliminates digital noise from the input signal.

Figuratively speaking, we have declared war on linear and non-linear distortion and noise!


Clock Oscillators: phase the music

The Absolute uses three top-of-the-line femto clocks with ultra-low jitter and ultra-low phase noise in a no-compromise architecture; Precision and the resulting phase accuracy of the signal are guaranteed.

Each clock has its own supply line.

The quadruple analogue output principle


The balanced output of the in-house developed Absolute DAC features four analog output channels, no capacitors in the signal path and dedicated power supplies.

The output energy and power can power virtually any load!


Absolute is a choice that sounds at least 10 years in the future

The Absolute's control board is completely isolated from all other components of the device.It has its own power supply line and discrete circuitry.

Please note the transformer used to power the Absolute's microcontroller and display: what we use for this easy task is found as the main power transformer in many popular ultra high grade devices!

What makes the Absolute your DAC of choice in the future is the absolute sound quality, no matter what format you listen to.

It is highly insightful, intense and relaxing; it excites, excites, and comforts all rolled into one: in the words of one reviewer, the Absolute plays "great music."

You will be transported throughout to the encoded musical event!


One piece solid aluminum chassis

The 26 kg CNC machined chassis takes 17 hours to manufacture.The result is a solid mechanical base that houses the most complicated and expensive electronics currently available.Various finishes are available to order.


Future-proof - modular structure

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

Of course, thanks to its modular design, the Absolute can be updated at any time as a new technology becomes available or a new format is introduced.


Ideon's massive 17-level ultra-quiet performance memory

Ideon's massive multi-stage power storage consists of 17 ultra-low-noise power supplies and individual control stages.

The importance of stable, rich and clean power is always emphasized in audio circles, but at Ideon Audio we take it a step further: we use six separate stages to achieve unparalleled clarity and linearity.

We select top-class components: 17 state-of-the-art regulators with extremely tight tolerances and over 80 audio-quality capacitors (ELNA Silmic II) with silk fiber plate separators specially designed for audio applications.

These components feature a higher propagation speed and a low ESR value*, resulting in a smoother sound without loss of detail.

The sonic result is an unparalleled restoration of clarity, midrange richness, musical energy and dynamics.The music flows.

Highlights

  • New, specially developed software for the ES9038PRO DAC chip
  • Balanced operation, balanced and single-ended outputs
  • Ideon Audio's proprietary triple distillation USB input and S/PDIF input
  • Three new noise-free proprietary active bridges - an ultra-high-end design that reduces rectification noise to zero.A unique Absolute ε technology
  • Next-generation analog stage, with balanced, ultra-low-noise power supplies.Another unique Absolute ε technology
  • Extreme Ideon Audio linear power supply configuration with many different local power supplies and two exceptionally large main power supplies.
  • Consistently selected audiophile components
  • Two custom designed main transformers with extreme cores that operate at more than three times the required current.Handcrafted specifically for audio applications
  • ESS ES9038PRO 32-bit 8-channel, Hyperstream Dac
  • Industry's highest dynamic range (DNR), up to 140 dB
  • Three of the most exotic ultra-low jitter clocks

    Technical data

    SUPPORTED FORMATS (INPUT DEPENDENT) 44.1kHz to 384kHz PCM up to 32 bits , Native DSD (up to 8X DSD)
    DIGITAL INPUTS 3x Advanced isolated input module slots (USB, XLR, RCA)
    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) .145dB (AFS)
    DISPLAY Custom discrete LED audio clock synchronous display
    DIMENSIONS (W X H X D) 490 x 350 x 110 mm (19.2 x 137x43 inches).
    WEIGHT 28kg (~65 lbs)​

    Reviews

    "...I've never seen anything like it - fascinating..."

    “…incredible resolution and three-dimensional sonority, which is particularly surprising in the high pitches…””This is great class and for me absolutely unique, very far from the usual…”

    WOLFGANG KEMPER Wolfgang Kemper, HIFI STATEMENT, Dec 2022

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    “…The Absolute Epsilon DAC, Absolute Stream music server, and Absolute Time master clock are in the upper echelon of today’s best digital playback.The trio has some remarkable musical attributes, including stunningly lifelike reproduction of music's dynamics.The sense of immediacy and presence—the impression of nothing between you and the music—was equally impressive.”

    Robert Harley, The Absolute Sound, June 2022

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    ” …Absolute Ɛ reminded of a large, 2-track master tape recorder with 76 centimeters per second speed… Like so often in these stratospheric price ranges, a warning must be issued: listening to the Absolute Ɛ is very much at your own risk! “

    TOPKLASS” Hifi & Musik , May 2022

    Read Review (PDF)


    “…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 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

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