Signature DAC IV
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" What makes the strength of the Platinum Signature is the homogeneity of the performances. Whatever the domain you want to introspect it comes like one of the best or the best DAC in the world. But this is its remarkable balance in any circumstances that makes it an incredibly musical 'soloist'."

"The performances, in terms of image, fluidity and bandwidth, have nothing to envy to the very best DACs in the market. Moreover, these objective qualities are fully serving a restitution of a rare musicality getting closer than ever to analogue with a full digital precision. This is without any restriction that I recommend this American Jewel."
Antoine Gresland, EcoutezVoir Magazine, Paris FRANCE March 2009
(click here for a computer translation) 

Simplicity

The Signature DAC IV was designed in a way that it can be used as the last component in your system before the amplifiers.  With the added convenience of having multiple digital inputs and one Analog input you can easily eliminate your preamp. You may connect your turntable through the analog input and all your digital sources directly to the DAC IV.   The Analog Output is volume controlled (if the optional Volume Control is installed).  

About the DAC

The MSB Signature DACs are designed specifically for ultra-high resolution audio. They allow the DAC to resolve with greater accuracy, low-level signals with very low distortion. Varying in design and using tighter tolerance / lower noise components has allowed us to come up with a very precise Platinum Signature DAC that more accurately reproduces audio.  (For more information on How DACs Work!   see this simple but accurate explanation.)

The Platinum Signature DACs use custom made, laser trimmed bulk metal foil resistors that are made specifically for use in the Signature DAC Module.  These custom resistors allow the DAC to convert more accurately with less distortion and lower noise.  

About the Sound

The Signature DAC IV takes your listening experience to a new high.   The lower noise and distortion allow the dynamics to come to life with more room for the music.   The top end is much more open and the bass response is more musical and more resolving.  It may be hard for owners of the Platinum DACs to believe that their Platinum can get much better, but it can.  For me, one of the best improvements are found in the little things, the ring of the cymbal that regardless of how many different instruments are playing, still rings out audibly until it is finished moving, and remains perfectly stable in the soundstage while doing so.  DACs that don't have as much resolution in the low level signals will start to replace a ringing cymbal (or any other low volume audio) with distortion, which quickly starts to sound like white noise within our hearing range.

About the Measurements

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Signature
DAC IV Specifications
preliminary

Inputs:
Coaxial (RCA and BNC), Toslink, Balanced AES/EBU, MSB Network (192k) and Balanced Analog input (<600 ohms)

RCA Outputs:
3.6V RMS (10V pp)

Balanced Outputs:
7.5V RMS (20V pp)

Output Impedance:
50 ohms at 0 dB

Optional Volume Control:
1 dB Stepped Attenuator with 1/2 or 1/4 db steps selectable
(+9 to -69 dB)

Sampling Frequency:
1.5 MHz up to 3 MHz

Digital Filter:
32x Digital Filter by MSB Technology

Slew Rate:
>1000 V/Microsecond

Settling Time:
<90 Nanoseconds

Dynamic Range:
136 dB A Measured

Noise Floor:
<-145 dB

THD+N:
.002

Signal to Noise Ratio:
140 dB

Channel Separation:
>130 dB

Control Features:
Remote
Display Dim Mode
Phase Invert
Upsampling (4x)
Volume Control
Maximum Volume
Bit-Perfect Testing
Input Selection
Filter Selection

Upgrade Options:
Volume
USB input
iLink II Upgrade
Diamond DACs

About the Signature 384 kHz Upsampler

The upsampling technology applied in this upgrade is based on years of development, experimentation and speculation. It goes beyond what should matter and has really only been enabled by the continuously improving DSP technology. This upgrade, standard on the Signature DAC offers several advancements:  

• It upsamples 44.1, 88.2 and 176.4 to 352.8 kHz at a resolution of 32 bits
• It upsamples 48, 96 and 192 to 384 kHz at a resolution of 32 bits
• Upsampling is asyncronous so all original data points are preserved
• Multiple upsampling algorithems are offered to best match your system.

About the Digital Filter

Now after years of development, we have included our own Custom 32x Digital Filter in the Platinum DAC IV.  Previous versions of the Platinum DAC used the MSB 16x filter, and before that, the Burr-Brown DF1704, which at the time was the best Digital Filter on the market.  Our new 32x Digital Filter is built to our specifications and standards, and is designed to get the most out of the Platinum DAC modules.   

The performance of this new Digital Filter is amazing.  Here is how one dealer described it:

When my client described an "uncluttered" sound, I think he is describing another commonality that people notice and talk about. They say " the music is coming from dark back grounds" or, "there is silence between the notes" . It is my contention that common digital harness (in the vocal range and above up into the harmonics), results in the human perception that there is a "continuum" or "smear" across the music that is not natural. When the digital harshness is not there, then there appears to be more discrete notes and silence between them. It is also described as organic and natural, etc. I think it crosses a threshold that makes the presentation believable and the music then gives up the emotion that the musician was trying to convey. You start to notice things like the natural sound from another room. Some other indicators in this category are: Am I thinking about the equipment or am I pulled in by the music? Am I listening to a song here and there on a disc or am I listening to more cuts, maybe whole CDs? Am I listening way too long when I should be doing other things? 

The Signature DAC IV comes with a family of digital filters for you to evaluate and best match to your system. Updates to this suite of filters will be available as tome goes on.   

The Digital Filter is a 32x oversampling, single stage filter with 32-bit input resolution, 80-bit computation, and 36-bit coefficients.  More information on this custom MSB Digital Filter can be found here.

About the Clock / Jitter Control 

Jitter control devices (and inputs on most DACs) normally re-clock the input signal in attempt to lessen the jitter of that incoming signal. The Platinum DAC III does no such re-clocking. We actually pay no attention to the clock on the input signal.  All internal clocks are generated by an extremely accurate +/- 2.5 ppm temperature compensated clock. Since the input clock is no longer related to the clock of the Platinum, an intelligent ½ second buffer is used to maintain data synchronization. 

About the Optional Attenuator 

Our Preamp philosophy is based on the belief that from the moment analog audio is created, every transition that is made degrades the quality. This is why we have used a passive attenuator within the Platinum DAC IV, to achieve the simplest, shortest possible signal path with the least possible degradation of the true music.  The Signature Volume is controlled in 1 dB steps from +9 to -62 dB.  The Volume Control is completely bypassed when at 0 dB.  

This attenuator section is also designed to serve as a way to match the naturally high output level of the Platinum DACs to any desired outboard preamp. This has proven to be extremely useful for many of our customers that are happy with the Preamp they have known and used for years. It allows the two devices to be correctly matched with each other.

About the Power Base 

The DAC IV is equipped with an outboard power supply. This remarkable power supply has separate toroidal transformers for each voltage supplied. See Power Base Comparisons for an upgraded power base.

The Signature Power Base includes a positive and negative analog supply and a digital supply to run all the digital processors. But it also contains an entirely separate extra clean digital supply of twice the power of the standard power base to run the sensitive digital clocking circuits on the DAC modules themselves, and the sensitive transition circuits, that interface to the analog world. Each of these Signature supplies is tightly regulated, filtered and shielded in the box, so no noise is introduced into the DAC chassis.

This Power Base can be upgraded. A digital only supply can be added to operate an MSB Transport. These supplies are completely independent and their combination do not degrade performance.

An optional front panel control can also be provided. This option moves the power switch from the back panel to the front panel.

This is the Signature Power Base. The optional DC transport supply is installed.