Aavik Acoustics SD-288 Reference DA Converter with Built-in Streamer

Aavik SD-288 Non DAC DA Processor / Converter with Built-in Streamer

Retail Price: € 19.995,00

(Non EU buyers and EU buyers with a valid VAT number pay € 16.524,79)

EN.

General: The Aavik Acoustics SD-288 is a unique High End DA converter, unlike any other DA Converter on the market, as it is a Non DAC DA Converter with no DA converter chip inside. Instead, it features an excellent streamer. The SD-288 sits above the SD-188 and below the SD-588.

Chassis: The new chassis of the Aavik SD-X88 series is a further development of Aavik's previous series. Audio Group Denmark continuously optimizes the positive influence of the chassis on the sound quality of their equipment. The electronics in your audio device is one thing, the chassis is another. The chassis of your device also contributes to a specific tonal character. Aavik Acoustics made the chassis of their first amplifiers from solid aluminum, as many do. Aluminum is an easy material to work with, allowing for heavy chassis with attractive designs at reasonable prices. Like all materials, aluminum has its own resonance characteristics. Aavik decided with the X80 series to switch to a natural wood composite material for their chassis, and combined with new internal electronics, this provided a more natural sound. For the new X88 series, the designers incorporated much of the design and materials from the flagship 880-series. The new chassis of the X88 (including the SD-288) are now made from thick solid copper plates. The top and bottom plates consist of a sandwich of solid copper on the inside and a stainless steel plate on the outside, with a thick wood composite plate between these two metal plates completing the sandwich. The look and feel of Aavik Acoustics' new chassis is exceptionally high-quality. What has been retained is the very legible and dimmable red dot display, easily readable even from a distance. New is the absence of buttons on the units. These are now touchscreen buttons. Also new are the large solid feet with integrated Ansuz Darkz Feet, which can be placed on Ansuz Darkz isolators. A large portion of this foot extends over the Ansuz Darkz isolator, reducing the color contrast between the device and the Ansuz Darkz isolators underneath (for example, the Ansuz Darkz S3T and S3W are polished stainless steel while the Aavik chassis is black). Additionally, the remote control has also been redesigned; it is now the same beautiful and practical remote supplied with the 880-series.

Technology: The 'SD' in SD-288 stands for 'Streamer/DAC', but in our view, this is more of a DAC/Streamer. Although the built-in streamer is fantastic, the DAC is the main focus of the SD-288. Even for those who don't plan to use the internal streamer, the SD-288 is one of the most musical and innovative D/A Converters in its price range. The new Aavik SD-288 DAC/Streamer is actually a non-DAC. It is a digital-to-analog converter that operates chipless, meaning no chips are used in the conversion. The basis for this technology is initially a custom-programmed FPGA that converts all incoming digital signals to the ultra-high DSD512 resolution. This resolution is so high that a high-quality digital filter, followed by a simple analog filter (without ICs), produces the final analog waveform without noise-generating circuits. The Aavik SD-288 DAC/Streamer is entirely single-ended in design, so you won't find XLR inputs/outputs on the SD-288. An important part of the musical quality of the new SD-288 series comes, aside from the exotic and thoughtfully designed solid chassis and Aavik Resonant Mode Power supply, from the built-in Ansuz Acoustics noise cancelling techniques. The Aavik SD-288 features the most noise cancelling techniques of the SD-X88 series. It contains no fewer than 72 Active Tesla Coils, 144 Active Square Tesla Coils and 2 Gold Anti Aerial Resonance Coils, supported by 6 Analog Dither Circuitry.

Streamer: The Aavik SD-288 features an excellent streamer. This streamer can be operated with the free Audio Group Denmark app, MConnect/MControl (iOS and Android) and BubbleUPnP (Android). One of the best options to use is JPlay (iOS only), however there are costs associated with the JPlay license. Additionally, all 'Connects' are available, including Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Qobuz Connect. For those with a server, the Aavik U-188 can be used as an endpoint behind an Audirvana server. RoonReady is not yet available, but is coming soon. There are also 2 USB ports on the back which can be used for a Wifi Dongle for wireless connection (we recommend a wired connection), and you can also connect a USB stick or USB drive for direct playback of music from the connected USB storage.

Listening: Listening to the new SD-288 streaming DAC is a true pleasure. The resolution of the SD-288 is extremely high, with the finest and smallest details easily audible. Yet the recording is not 'dissected'; the music flows and sounds very natural. Rarely have we heard such an analog sound with so much definition and dynamics from a digital source. The SD-288 simply doesn't sound like just any good D/A Converter, but rather like a very high-quality analog source, without its drawbacks. The soundstage background is enormously deep, black and silent. The music is truly presented to you, not merely reproduced. The overall listening experience is engaging and captivating. Not only is the Aavik SD-288 sound perfectionist and accurate, it is also very enjoyable to listen to—a highly addictive combination of factors. The Aavik SD-288 takes a step further in terms of detail, space and musicality compared to the SD-188.

The SD-288 is now available as a demo unit and can be auditioned by appointment at Ohm-Audio BV.

Specifications:

Brand: Aavik Acoustics

Model: SD-288

Type: D/A Converter with Built-in Streamer

Digital Inputs:

2 x BNC SPDIF (32bit/768kHz, DSD 128 over PCM)

2 x Toslink (32bit/192kHz)

1 x USB-B Fully Isolated (32Bit/384kHz, DSD 256 Native)

Analog Outputs: 1 x Unbalanced RCA Line Fixed

Digital Outputs: 1 x BNC SPDIF (32bit/768kHz)

Weight: 21 Kg

Dimensions: 440 mm Wide x 430 mm Deep x 116mm High

Finish: Black with Stainless Steel Top Plate and Copper Plates

Trade-in: We are happy to discuss trade-in of your old equipment