DAC64 mkII

About the DAC64 mkII

The Chord DAC64 mkII is a groundbreaking digital-to-analog converter introduced by Chord Electronics, featuring advanced digital processing technologies developed by Rob Watts. It uses a radically new Watts Transient Aligned (WTA) filter with 1024 taps implemented in Xilinx Virtex series FPGAs, providing highly precise transient timing and a smoother, more focused sound. The DAC employs a fourth generation Pulse Array DAC with 64-bit, 7th order noise shaping and 2048 times oversampling, delivering outstanding natural sound quality with improved detail resolution. The 64-bit filter and DAC architecture ensures no loss of detail or degradation during digital filtering and volume control. It includes a new all-digital receiver chip with a RAM buffer that retimes incoming data to reduce jitter and improve error tolerance. The DAC64 mkII has multiple digital inputs including BNC, AES/EBU, and optical TOSLINK, selectable by toggle switches, and offers both balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs. It weighs approximately 7 kg and runs hot due to its processing power, requiring good ventilation. The mkII version adds a rear power switch and an extra BNC input compared to the original, with enhanced capability for handling high jitter from older transports. The outputs are phase inverted, so care must be taken when integrating with non-Chord systems. This DAC is highly regarded for its warm, smooth, and polished sound character and remains a sought-after model for audiophiles.