The heart of the DAC III is the 2nd Generation Discrete MSB designed and built DACs. All other manufacturers use DAC chips by Crystal Semi or Burr Brown. MSB builds our own much higher performance DAC shown at left.   Separate power supplies are provided for each digital section (right).

High quality connectors are used on the back of the unit and all the digital inputs you could want are provided. Note both balanced and single ended outputs, and our unique analog pass-through feature. Below left, optional volume modules can be added that allow the DAC III to also act as a very high-quality stepped attenuator preamp, both for the decoded signals as well as the analog pass-through. The front panel knob works as an input selector when the volume control option is not installed.

The DAC III remains modular, with both input and digital filter modules new since the DAC II. These exciting modules add many new features and vastly improved sound. Note improved power supply filters at right are new on the DAC III.

A DAC III shown with full Signature Upgrades

How is the DAC III different from the DAC II?

The DAC III has a number of fundamental improvements in the mother board as well as some new features. The mother board includes a new balanced clock transmission that provides a more accurate clock to the various internal parts of the DAC. It also contains lower noise power supplies further improving our signal-to-noise ratio. On the back panel, a new clock interface has been added. This allows multiple DACs to be synchronized and other more advanced features.

The modules have also seen development, with a new input module which accepts the new AES3 192 kHz digital format, and a new very advanced MSB designed DSP digital filter. Both of these new modules are available as upgrades to earlier Platinum models. Platinum IIIs include the 2nd Generation DAC modules which were introduced late in the Platinum II series and are a must for maximum performance.