Proton

About the Proton

The Wavelength Audio Proton is a USB DAC designed for audiophiles seeking high-end digital sound with a minimalist approach. It accepts USB digital audio signals only and converts them to analog outputs via stereo RCA jacks and a headphone mini-jack. The Proton features a Wolfson XWM8721 DAC chip with integrated analog volume control and headphone amplifier, supported by low-jitter oscillators for accurate sample rates. It supports all PCM audio codecs (AIFF, FLAC, WAV, MP3, etc.) at 16 and 24-bit word lengths and sample rates of 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz. The device is powered by an internal rechargeable 3.6V lithium-ion battery, eliminating the need for an external power supply. Its analog volume control is set via USB, allowing the operating system's volume slider to adjust the internal analog volume, preserving resolution better than digital volume controls. The Proton's chassis is a compact extruded satin-silver aluminum case with black trim, measuring 4" W x 2.5" H x 5.75" D and weighing about three pounds. It outputs a maximum line-level voltage of 1.8V with 100 ohms output impedance on line outputs and 1 ohm on headphones. The Proton does not upsample or interpolate 16-bit sources to 24-bit, maintaining signal integrity. It is highly regarded for delivering ultra-high-end digital sound at a realistic price point for audiophiles.