Aavik Acoustics D-180, High End D/A Converter : Sold Out

Aavik Acoustics D-180, High End D/A Converter, PCM up to 32bit/192kHz and DSD up to DSD128

EN.

General: Excellently built and very analog-sounding D/A Converter from Aavik Acoustics from Denmark. The Aavik D-180 is the entry-level model of the D-series from Aavik Acoustics. The D-180 sits between the D-280 and the D-580 from Aavik Acoustics.

Technology: The very advanced technology in the Aavik Acoustics D/A Converters is unique. Aavik Acoustics manufactures its D/A Converters with an analog heart and focuses largely on suppressing noise, cabinet resonances and distortion in a way that does not compromise the purity of the audio signal. The power supply is very generous, powerful & stable and always up to the task. Also an important aspect is the natural housing. The chassis is made of a natural composite material. No hard and cold aluminum; Aavik Acoustics has limited the amount of aluminum used to an absolute minimum, to the point that it is only necessary for cooling inside the device. With the top model, the Aavik D-580, the interior is made of solid copper. Aavik Acoustics has put a lot of work into the resonance-free design of the housing, and this translates directly into sound quality. This is very important. Too much damping or damping that is not applied correctly can also backfire. The Aavik D-180 features a very generous dimmable display that is easy to read from the listening position. The display can also be completely turned off, for people who prefer not to look at displays. Everything has been thought of.

The technical construction is very advanced and great attention is paid to eliminating noise. They do this with techniques you also see at Aavik Acoustics' sister brands (Ansuz and Borresen Acoustics). In the Aavik D-180 you'll find different types of Tesla Coils. The principle of Tesla Coils is that a Tesla Coil consists of 2 coils, a coil and a counter coil. When the coil encounters a noise spike, the counter coil creates a counter spike out of phase. This cancels out the initial noise spike, somewhat like how a noise-cancelling headphone works, but mechanically instead of electronically/via software. The more Tesla Coils, the more effective the total amount of noise is eliminated. The Aavik D-180 has 36 Active Tesla Coils. The Active Tesla Coils operate under voltage, making them more effective than the Passive Tesla Coils from Ansuz Acoustics. Additionally, 104 Active Square Tesla Coils are used. The Active Square Tesla Coils are square coils which are integrated directly on the double-sided circuit board, on the other side of the circuit board are the square counter coils. What else the Aavik D-180 has is the unique technique: Analog Dither Circuitry, this technique originates from radar technology. The Analog Dither Circuitry lets the Tesla Coils emit pulsing signals with precisely determined frequencies. These signals are sent out of phase. The result of this technique is that the music signal is significantly amplified and the background noise floor is eliminated. All these techniques and applications together result in a reduction of noise in the music signal, which in turn provides for quieter, more refined and more detailed music playback with a blacker background.

All incoming PCM signals are resampled and reclocked to 24bit/200kHz, but upsampling can also be turned off. The high-quality galvanically isolated USB input of the Aavik D-180 also accepts DSD signals up to DSD128. There are multiple settings to adjust the sound to personal taste, so you can turn upsampling on or off, and you can adjust various filter settings.

Under the Aavik D-180 are Ansuz Darkz Feet, these are special feet designed to sit on top of Ansuz Acoustics Darkz isolation feet. Once you place a Darkz under each foot of the Aavik D-180, the Aavik D-180 suffers less from resonances, which makes the sound more natural by giving it more body and rhythm. The sound is also more dynamic and at the same time more controlled and more balanced. That's why we always recommend eventually placing Ansuz Darkz under Aavik Acoustics equipment for optimal sound quality.

Sound: The Aavik Acoustics D-180 has an enormously transparent and rhythmic sound, but the character is very organic and "analog", meaning not technical. The soundstage is deep, wide and full of detail. The space in which the performers play is very clearly audible and the atmosphere is well conveyed to the listener. The Aavik D-180 sounds transparent, dynamic and lets you hear everything, but there is also a certain calm and comfort to the sound. The sound is therefore perfectly balanced and the overall picture simply works. Of course, precision and sound quality are very important, and this is at a very high level with the Aavik D-180, but what is even more important is whether the emotion of the performers is conveyed. And conveying emotions is where the Aavik D/A Converter excels. This Aavik D-180 is pure emotional expression. We are very enthusiastic about the entire Aavik Acoustics range and the D-180 is a full member of the family. The Aavik D-180 can now be auditioned by appointment at Ohm-Audio B.V., optionally heard in comparison with one of our other D/A Converters. If it is within your means, you can also bring your own D/A Converter for comparison.

Other Aavik Acoustics D/A Converters from the D-Series: The other D/A Converters from the D-Series by Aavik Acoustics, the D-280 and D-580, are constructed according to the same principle. The dimensions of all D/A Converters from the D-series by Aavik Acoustics are the same, only the flagship model, the D-580, features an interior of solid copper and a titanium cross incorporated into the top panel which provides extra resonance control. The differences lie in the construction of the enclosure and the amount of noise reduction applied through Tesla Coils and Dither Circuitry. The Aavik D-280 has more Active (Square) Tesla Coils and Dither Circuitry on board than the D-180. The Aavik D-580 has even more Active (Square) Tesla Coils and Dither Circuitry on board than the D-180 and D-280. In terms of sonic character, the models do not differ much from each other, but in terms of sound quality you make significant progress with each step. Each model higher than the previous one provides more detail, better definition, a quieter, deeper and wider background, and a more intense and engaging listening experience.

Specifications of the Aavik Acoustics D-180:

Brand: Aavik Acoustics Denmark
Model: D-180
Type: D/A Converter
Warranty Aavik / Ohm-Audio B.V.: 24 Months
Digital Inputs: 2 x SPDIF Coax via BNC, 2 x SPDIF Toslink Optical, 1 x USB-B
Analog Outputs: 1 x Unbalanced RCA
Finish: Matte Black, Red Dot Display

Technical Specifications:

Sample Rates PCM: up to 32bit/192kHz

Sample Rates DSD (via USB): DSD64 & DSD128
Distortion (THD at 1kHz at 0dB): < 0.005%
Power Consumption Standby: < 0.5 Watts
Power Consumption Idle: < 50 Watts

Dimensions:

Dimensions: 38.4cm Wide x 40cm Deep x 10.2cm High
Weight: 5.4 kg Net

User Settings:

Up-Sampling to 24bit/200kHz: Switchable Off/On
Filter Settings: Slow Filter (soft high-frequency roll-off), Fast Filter (steep high-frequency roll-off)

Reviews and Manufacturer Website:

Website Manufacturer : Aavik Acoustics D-180