Havana

About the Havana

The MHDT Labs Havana is a flagship non-oversampling (NOS) tube DAC from Taiwan, designed for purist digital-to-analog conversion with minimal signal processing. It employs dual 16-bit Burr-Brown PCM56P-J (or PCM56PK) R2R multibit DAC chips, a filterless design, and a single vacuum tube buffer stage using a GE5670 tube (with alternatives like 2C51, 396A, etc. for tube-rolling). The DAC avoids op-amps in the signal path, using the DAC's internal op-amp for voltage output or discrete I/V conversion, prioritizing analog-like musicality, natural timbre, deep soundstage, and resolution over hi-res support. Inputs include USB (via CM102AS+ or C-Media CM102+, max 16-bit/48kHz), coaxial SPDIF (CS8414 receiver, max 24-bit/96kHz), and Toslink optical. Outputs are single-ended RCA at 2.6V with 32 ohms impedance. Housed in a compact aluminum chassis with smoked acrylic faceplate, it was praised in reviews from 2008-2011 for its bold, detailed, musical presentation rivaling more expensive units, though now appears discontinued as it's absent from current MHDT lineups and only available used.