Description
The DAP-800 preamplifier is designed as a bit of a one-stop-shop, with balanced and single-ended inputs, a built-in DAC… but no phono stage or network streaming capacity. The key sections of the preamp (analogue and digital) are self-contained, each having their own power supply voltage regulation and circuit board assemblies, to the point where the analogue stage uses a toroidal transformer while the digital section has its own E-core transformer. This means the digital power supplies are totally isolated from the analogue stage. The DAP-800’s analogue stage features what Sugden calls a ‘VCV’ (Voltage Controlled Volume) circuit, which first featured in its Masterclass amps, and is seen here in its latest and most developed form. This circuit has a high impedance input section and a current gain stage, which drives a folded cascode stage into a Class A output stage. The folded cascode circuit facilitates a wide bandwidth with maximum dynamics and low capacitive connectivity. The volume control does not attenuate the signal; instead it ‘informs’ the current gain stage of the correct volume level. This means the tonal balance is constant irrespective of the output level, as opposed to most potentiometers and even ladder resistor array active volume controls.The DAC connects to the digital outside world through inputs for USB, and optical and coaxial S/PDIF signals. The actual DAC is a non-oversampling, digital filtering-free, DAC capable of 24 bit/96kHz precision and where the digital interface transceiver is a Wolfson Micro electronics device. The DAC also includes Post Conversion Filtering in the analogue output stage. The USB signal received is converted via a circuit including a Texas Instruments Universal IC whose S/PDIF output signal is reclocked and dejittered by the Wolfson interface transceiver. This DAC configuration has been adopted for Sugden’s digital processing after many many hours of auditioning of a wide sample of DSPs. It was first used in the company’s Masterclass DAC-4 processor, and – with Sugden no longer building the CD player to match the A21 – the DAC-4 and DAC built into the DAP-800 represent the company’s main digital ‘push’. The choice of on-board DAC is intriguing. As discussed, it’s a 96kHz, 24-bit non-oversampling design, built for performance, not for the numbers. That’s an aproach more commonly seen on Audio Note and 47 Laboratory DACs and the occcasional tweaky models that periodically spring up and vanish soon after – not from a brand better known for making products that stay in production for decades. Actually, that sort of fits. Those seeking the Best Of The Moment in the numbers and acronyms arms race need not apply, as this one is for the listeners. On the other hand, those who buy in an unfaddy manner will appreciate something that doesn’t follow this arms race, and are likely to limit their music to ripped 16/44 CDs and similar-level offerings online. My concern here is that those with 24/192 files from high-res providers will not find their files supported as there is no downconversion option. So long as that’s known up-front by potential DAP-800 owners, that possibly is no big deal. Regardless, a DAC that only works to 24/96 precision will invariably result in a host of ‘No DSD… count me out’ comments, often from people who have no DSD files and no intention of owning any DSD files. Those who go searching for reasons why they don’t need to buy have found a reason without ever having to take the trouble to dig further. Consider this a service rendered to the measurebators and spec-freaks – this is not for you, and you can go about your business untrammelled by Sugden’s really rather good sounding DAP-80 The DAP-800 preamplifier is designed as a bit of a one-stop-shop, with balanced and single-ended inputs, a built-in DAC… but no phono stage or network streaming capacity. The key sections of the preamp (analogue and digital) are self-contained, each having their own power supply voltage regulation and circuit board assemblies, to the point where the analogue stage uses a toroidal transformer while the digital section has its own E-core transformer. This means the digital power supplies are totally isolated from the analogue stage. The DAP-800’s analogue stage features what Sugden calls a ‘VCV’ (Voltage Controlled Volume) circuit, which first featured in its Masterclass amps, and is seen here in its latest and most developed form. This circuit has a high impedance input section and a current gain stage, which drives a folded cascode stage into a Class A output stage. The folded cascode circuit facilitates a wide bandwidth with maximum dynamics and low capacitive connectivity. The volume control does not attenuate the signal; instead it ‘informs’ the current gain stage of the correct volume level. This means the tonal balance is constant irrespective of the output level, as opposed to most potentiometers and even ladder resistor array active volume controls. The DAC connects to the digital outside world through inputs for USB, and optical and coaxial S/PDIF signals. The actual DAC is a non-oversampling, digital filtering-free, DAC capable of 24 bit/96kHz precision and where the digital interface transceiver is a Wolfson Micro electronics device. The DAC also includes Post Conversion Filtering in the analogue output stage. The USB signal received is converted via a circuit including a Texas Instruments Universal IC whose S/PDIF output signal is reclocked and dejittered by the Wolfson interface transceiver. This DAC configuration has been adopted for Sugden’s digital processing after many many hours of auditioning of a wide sample of DSPs. It was first used in the company’s Masterclass DAC-4 processor, and – with Sugden no longer building the CD player to match the A21 – the DAC-4 and DAC built into the DAP-800 represent the company’s main digital ‘push’. The choice of on-board DAC is intriguing. As discussed, it’s a 96kHz, 24-bit non-oversampling design, built for performance, not for the numbers. That’s an aproach more commonly seen on Audio Note and 47 Laboratory DACs and the occcasional tweaky models that periodically spring up and vanish soon after – not from a brand better known for making products that stay in production for decades. Actually, that sort of fits. Those seeking the Best Of The Moment in the numbers and acronyms arms race need not apply, as this one is for the listeners. On the other hand, those who buy in an unfaddy manner will appreciate something that doesn’t follow this arms race, and are likely to limit their music to ripped 16/44 CDs and similar-level offerings online. My concern here is that those with 24/192 files from high-res providers will not find their files supported as there is no downconversion option. So long as that’s known up-front by potential DAP-800 owners, that possibly is no big deal. Regardless, a DAC that only works to 24/96 precision will invariably result in a host of ‘No DSD… count me out’ comments, often from people who have no DSD files and no intention of owning any DSD files. Those who go searching for reasons why they don’t need to buy have found a reason without ever having to take the trouble to dig further. Consider this a service rendered to the measurebators and spec-freaks – this is not for you, and you can go about your business untrammelled by Sugden’s really rather good sounding DAP-80 Get images that make Supersized seem small. THE simple solution for eBay sellers.
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