Custom Precision Bulk Metal Foil Resistors Lower output impedance Less noise Differential Clock Supports sampling rates up to 3MHz  User installable Installs in all MSB Platinum DACs and CD Players.

The Signature DAC Upgrade allows the Platinum DAC to resolve 
with greater accuracy, low-level signals with very low distortion.

The MSB Signature DACs are designed specifically for ultra high resolution Audio Performance. Varying slightly in design and using tighter tolerance / lower noise components has allowed us to come up with a very precise Platinum Signature DAC that accurately reproduces audio.  How DACs Work! A 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.   These resistors are not easy to come by; as such the Platinum Signature DACs are limited in production numbers, and are basically made to order on a prepaid basis.

The Sound:

The Signature modules take the MSB Platinum DACs to a new high.   The lower noise and less distortion allow the dynamics to come to life.. More “room” for the music to fill.   The top end is much more open than with the original DAC modules, 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.

Reading the Graph: Just one of the reasons the MSB Signature DACs sound so good!

The graph below demonstrates the percentage of the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) in reference to the volume level of a recorded signal.  There are three DACs on this chart, the MP-ACD311 Platinum Signature Ladder DAC, The Burr-Brown PCM 1738  (a high performance delta-sigma DAC), and another ladder DAC by Burr-Brown, the PCM 1704.  The Delta-Sigma DACs do spec very well but they do not tend to sound as good as the Ladder DACs.  Take a look at the horizontal 0.1% THD line of the graph.  This line is the general rule of thumb for the maximum amount of distortion in a signal that is undetectable.   If you follow the red line straight down from where each of these DACs cross the 0.1% THD line you can see the signal level at which the respective DACs output will have audible distortion. Playing a 1kHz signal at ~ 48dB below 0dB (0dB being the loudest reference volume on a CD) , the PCM 1704 DACs output signal has an audible 0.1% distortion.  At -57 dB the PCM 1738 will output 0.1% of the signal distorted.  The MSB Signature DAC (MP-ACD311) is rated at more than 78dB below 0dB for the same signal,  more than 20dB quieter than the competition!  What does this all mean?  In short, it means more music! With the MSB Signature DAC, signals that are lower in volume will still have much more resolution than with any other DAC available today.  This is very important because there are many low-level signals recorded in music, and where the other DACs will start to distort these signals the Signature Platinum DACs will retain the signal integrity with out the added distortion.

The MSB Signature DAC upgrade is available to all users of all Platinum DACs from the first "Wood Front" Platinum to the Platinum Plus as well as the latest DAC III. The Signature DACs can also be installed in the Reference CD Player and the Reference CD Station II and III.   As mentioned previously these Platinum Signature DAC modules are special order, made to order. This upgrade also requires the return of the old modules to MSB Technology.