Ferrum Erco Gen2 - Fully symmetrical high -end DAC

Delivery time approx. 1 week.

Test products at home - free of charge and for up to one week

Erco Gen 2 Highlights

With a complete reprogramming of the ERCO software combined with crucial changes to the analog circuitry, we present a new and improved ERCO. The ERCO Gen 2 brings our entry-level DAC one step closer to the performance level of WANDLA, our flagship converter.

We've even developed a program for existing ERCO owners to upgrade their devices to the new ERCO Gen 2 specifications. Click here for more information about the update program. So, what have we improved?

Improvements brought by ERCO Gen 2

The I/V conversion stage has improved overall performance, the DAC chip and DSP engine are larger and capable of emulating WANDLA performance, including the preferred HQ apodizing digital filter (DDF). Last but not least, the maximum resolution is now PCM 768kHz and DSD512.

Proprietary technology

Industry-leading technology is used. All digital connections are optimized for audio, and MQA decoding and rendering are optimized for use with the internal ARM chip.

Suitable for high-end audio

Connect your favorite headphones to the balanced 4.4 mm jack or unbalanced 6.35 mm headphone outputs, or the powered speakers on your desk to the XLR or RCA outputs to allow them to deliver their full power.

Clear path for high-end audio

A perfect blend of Ferrum flagship technology and high-quality, proprietary digital-to-analog conversion. Choose from three digital and one analog inputs.

Discrete/IC hybrid design

Ultra-wideband ICs optimized for audio to achieve the best possible analog quality.

Increased transparency

The entire design is focused on a balanced and very transparent sound signature, so that listening fatigue is a thing of the past.

Completely symmetrical

The signal path is truly symmetrical from the early D/A stage onwards and becomes truly symmetrical via the RCA inputs.

Ferrum Power Link

ERCO already delivers very, very good results out of the box. But ERCO is designed to deliver even more when paired with HYPSOS. We use our Ferrum Power Link (FPL for short) to connect the two. HYPSOS then reaches its maximum performance and, in combination with ERCO, unleashes unheard-of musicality.

"The name ERCO (pronounced ˈert͡so, not airco) is Esperanto for ore. We chose the name in honor of its creator, Ludwik Lejzer Zamenhof, who lived near our office in Warsaw.

Zamenhof began developing Esperanto as a child, while still in school, striving for world peace, where one language would bring people together. We want to achieve the same thing through pure and honest musical performance. Ultimately, it brings peace to the spirit."

Founder and CEO HEM Marcin Hamerla, Founder and CEO HEM

Unique output cable design

Two wires that provide the power and two wires that provide the feedback to ensure consistent voltage at all times.We've called this technology Ferrum Power Link (FPL), and it eliminates the harmful effects of cable resistance and improves transient response. The current delivery speed at the input of the powered device is significantly improved.

ERCO Gen2 comes with a carefully selected DC power adapter. To get the most out of ERCO Gen2, you can connect it to HYPSOS using our proprietary Ferrum Power Link DC power cable. This FPL cable can be ordered separately.

Specifications

• Headphone output gain: balanced -5.8 dB, +6 dB, +17.8 dB; single-ended -11.8 dB, 0 dB, +11.8 dB
• Operation: fully symmetrical, proprietary IC power amplifier
• Power inputs: 5.5/2.5 mm DC connector, center positive; proprietary 4-pin FPL DC connector
• Analog inputs: RCA (REDbook level 2 V RMS recommended, PRO level supported)
• Digital inputs: USB-C (MQA, up to PCM 32-bit/768kHz, DSD512, DoP256); S/PDIF coaxial (MQA, up to PCM 24-bit/192kHz, DoP64); S/PDIF optical (MQA, up to PCM 24-bit/96kHz guaranteed, should work up to PCM 24-bit/192kHz and DoP64 - depending on the user's optical cable and transmitter)
• DAC chip: ESS Sabre ES9028PRO
• PCM sampling rates: 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 / 192 / 352.8 / 384 / 705.6 / 768 kHz
• DSD sampling rates: 2.8224 / 3.072 / 5.6448 / 6.144 / 11.2896 / 12.288 / 22.5792 / 24.576 MHz
• DAC resolution: PCM up to 768k@32bit; DSD up to 512 (22.6 MHz / 24.6 MHz)
• MQA: Decoder and Renderer (USB, OPTO and COAX inputs)
• Headphone outputs: balanced 4.4 mm (TRRRS); unbalanced 6.35 mm (TRS)
• Line outputs: balanced XLR; unbalanced RCA (both REDbook levels: 4V RMS bal./2V RMS unbal.)
• Volume control: analog with bypass option (bypass only for line outputs)
• Frequency response: 10 Hz - 30 kHz (+/- 0.05 dB); 10 Hz - > 200 kHz (+/- 1 dB)
• Unbalanced output power: 300 mW at 300 Ω; 1.7 W at 50 Ω
• Symmetrical output power: 1.2 W at 300 Ω; 6.1 W at 50 Ω
• Harmonic distortion at the balanced output: < 0.00018% / -115 dB, 1 mW into 16 Ω; < 0.00018% / -115 dB, 100 mW into 16 Ω
• THD at the unbalanced output: < 0.00032% / -110 dB, 1 mW at 16 Ω; < 0.00057% / -105 dB, 100 mW at 16 Ω
• Analogue dynamic range: 130 dB (A-weighted)
• Digital dynamic range: 120 dB (A-weighted)
• Input impedance: 47 kΩ
• Output impedance unbalanced: 22 Ω at the preamplifier
• Output impedance symmetrical: 44 Ω at the preamplifier
• Headphone output impedance: < 0.3 Ω
• Power consumption: idle <15 W
• Power adapter: 100-240 VAC to 22-30 VDC
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 21.7 cm x 20.6 cm x 5 cm / 8.6" x8,1" x 2,0"
• Weight: 1.8 kg / 3.97 lbs