Aavik Acoustics SD-880, Flagship Reference DAC/Streamer

Aavik Acoustics SD-880, Flagship Reference DAC/Streamer

Retail Price € 66.995,00

EN.

General: Flagship DAC/Streamer model from Aavik Acoustics from Denmark. The Aavik SD-880 is one of the absolute reference D/A Converters, with the added bonus of an outstanding built-in streamer.

Technology: The D/A Converter in the Aavik SD-880 is completely developed and manufactured in-house. It is what Aavik Acoustics calls the "Non-switching Continuum Processing DAC". The power supply in the Aavik SD-880 is also a special power supply called the "resonant mode power supply", which is not an ordinary switching power supply. While normal switching power supplies use square waves, the power supplies in the Aavik I-880 are driven by sine waves, which results in a lower noise floor. Additionally, the noise floor is further reduced by special ultra-low noise regulators that distribute the power signal across the circuit. Furthermore, Aavik Acoustics also uses Tesla Coil Technology and 3rd generation Dither Technology from sister brand Ansuz Acoustics. The Tesla Coils are an effective way of reducing noise and inductance, and the Dither Technology enhances the music signal. These techniques are found in all equipment from Audio Group Denmark. The Aavik SD-880 features the largest number of Tesla Coils and Dither Technology of all D/A Converters and Streamers from Aavik Acoustics.

Chassis: The chassis of the Aavik SD-880 is also something very special. The design largely comes from the founder of Gryphon Audio, Flemming Rasmussen, and combined with the pursuit of optimal mechanical stability and resonance control by designer Michael Børresen, this results in a stunning design that uses unique materials to achieve the best musical properties from the Aavik SD-880 chassis. Starting with the bottom plate, this is a sturdy sandwich design with a massive Titanium plate on the underside, topped with a solid compact laminate plate and then another massive copper plate on top of that. The Aavik SD-880 comes standard with 4 Ansuz Darkz Z2S decouplers which are placed under the bottom plate. The Ansuz Darkz Z2S are 3-layer decouplers, made of solid Zirconium with Ansuz's Signature coating layer (consisting of Zirconium and Tungsten followed by a layer of aluminum titanium nitride with an additional Zirconium layer on the outside), which is applied by means of a High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering machine. The decoupling between the 3 discs is done by solid Tungsten balls. This is by far the most optimal method of decoupling, resulting in much more dynamic, lively and natural reproduction. Back to the Aavik SD-880 chassis. The entire interior of the Aavik SD-880 is solid copper which has better musical properties compared to aluminum. On the front is a large white dot display. This display looks calm but is easily readable from very large distances. This display is also fully dimmable. The display shows the input and menu options when you navigate the menu using the supplied luxury remote control. When using the built-in streamer, the display shows the artist name and track name.

Streamer: The Aavik SD-880 also features a high-quality streamer. This streamer can be controlled with the Audio Group Denmark app, MConnect/MControl, BubbleUPnP, as well as via Airplay, Tidal Connect and as a DLNA endpoint behind an Audirvana server. The RoonReady certificate is not yet finalized, but it's coming, you can already control the Aavik SD-880 via Roon by using it as an Airplay endpoint. There are also 2 USB ports on the back which can be used for a WiFi Dongle for wireless connection, but you can also connect a USB stick or USB drive to directly play music from the connected USB storage.

Sound: The Aavik SD-880 has a sound from another world. While the Aavik SD-188/288/588 already sound dynamic, natural and very musical, the Aavik SD-880 adds considerable extra quality. What stands out is the ease with which the Aavik SD-880 plays, at any volume, connected to any amplifier. The spatial imaging is lively, super detailed but above all extremely musical and addictive. Something simply happens in the space that immediately draws you into the recording, causing you to lose yourself in a clean, organized and organic soundstage. The Aavik SD-880 is, as just mentioned, very dynamic and lively, but because this happens in a completely free, clean and unforced way, it does not cause listening fatigue. The Aavik SD-880 is a D/A Converter with streamer with an enormous range of possibilities regarding music genres and speakers. Of course, the Aavik SD-880 performs formidably with Aavik Acoustics amplifiers, but expect excellent results with many other high-end amplifier brands as well. The Aavik SD-880 is among the best D/A Converters we have heard to date. We are very enthusiastic about the entire Aavik Acoustics range and the Aavik SD-880 is by far the most premium member of the family.

Conclusion: The Aavik Acoustics SD-880 is a true flagship model in design, technology and sound. The Aavik SD-880 sounds by far the most detailed, defined, organic and spatial of all streamer/DACs from Aavik Acoustics. The controls are very simple and refined, the display is easy to read from a large distance and the SD-880 is a real eye-catcher. Welcome to the musical and emotional world of Aavik Acoustics.

Specifications of the Aavik SD-880:

Brand: Aavik Acoustics Denmark

Model: SD-880

Type: Reference D/A Converter with built-in Streamer

Warranty Aavik Acoustics / Ohm-Audio B.V.: 60 Months

Digital Inputs: 1 x USB-B, 2 x SPDIF Coax BNC, 2 x Toslink Optical

Analog Outputs: 1 x Line Out Unbalanced RCA

Finish: Black & Copper, White Dot Display

Dimensions: Width: 580mm x Depth: 510mm x Height: 155mm

Weight: 33 kg Net Aavik Acoustics

Noise Reduction:

Active Tesla Coils: 314

Active Square Tesla Coils: 663

Active Zirconium Anti Aerial Resonance Coils: 2

Dither Circuitry: 35

Manufacturer Website: Aavik Acoustics SD-880