CEntrance is quite predictable, in the good sense of the word, of course. With them, it's always almost clear what sound is to be expected, and time after time, releasing new products, they justify these expectations. Today it was the turn of their new DAC with Bluetooth support, which they called BlueDAC.
The evolution of the company's new line is evident enough. Starting with a cover-DAC for iPhone HiFi Skyn and a small compact DAC Port HD, the company managed to find the "right approach" to the AK4490. Having made a high-quality "harness" and a good amplifier, they offered a surprisingly powerful device with a proprietary neutral sound. Since many customers wanted to use the new DACPort with mobile phones, a version with a battery (and a slightly modified sound) was released, called DACPortable. The next, also obvious step is the addition of a wireless interface, in the role of which Bluetooth made with aptX, and a balanced 2.5 mm output, so, in fact, it turned out BlueDAC. Traditionally, the model first appeared on Indiegogo, after the completion of croweding, the price for the novelty is $ 400.
Specifications
- DAC: AK4490
- Frequency range: 20 Hz - 40 kHz (-0.2 dB)
- Signal to noise ratio: 110 dB
- Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise: 0.001%
- Output power (total): 750 mW @ 32Ω
- Output Impedance: 1Ω
- Output voltage: 4.1Vrms
- Maximum resolution: up to 384 kHz / 32 bit, DSD to DSD128
- Dimensions: 110 mm × 57 mm × 18 mm
- Weight: ~ 125 g
Packing and delivery kit
As usual, CEntrane professes the principle of sound minimalism in packaging. BlueDAC is sold in a compact box made of black cardboard, which pleases the fingertips with a soft-touch effect. Inside, in the antistatic package there is the BlueDAC itself, except for it you will get a MicroUSB-wire and instruction manual.
Of course, not densely, but asceticism in accessories is a characteristic feature of CEntrance.
Design and management
Around the appearance of BluDAC has already broken a lot of copies, and many more heated arguments ahead, so I will express my personal, subjective opinion. The case of BluDAC is made of high-quality plastic with a pleasant rough texture, similar plastic is used in some models of "DSLRs". Thanks to this, the device has turned out to be strong, but easy enough. Of course, it would be foolish to expect an all-metal casing from a device that works with Blutooth, but I'm glad that the developers did not invent any bicycles with a metal casing equipped with plastic inserts for the antennas, this would look more lurid, and on reception quality could tell. In addition, I like this plastic purely tactile. From the drawbacks of this solution I can note only small slots in the places where the BueDAC panels are fastened, through which the LEDs shine through. Well and still, perhaps, it is possible to name this DAC nefotogenichnym, in photos it looks worse, than in a life, it is necessary to consider fans of a guessing on a photo.
The interface and control in this combine are simple and understandable. On the front panel are both output sockets, gain switch (almost always remaining in the low position) and volume control. As with other devices of the company, a hybrid circuit is used - you rotate the analog potentiometer, its resistance is digitized, and this data is used to adjust the volume "in the digital", this provides an ideal balance of channels and no noise when adjusted.
On the rear panel are the main controls (as many as two buttons), LED indicators and a microUSB-connector for charging and connecting the source. The right button is used to turn on and off, above it are two LEDs showing the status of Bluetooth (their values are detailed in the instructions), the left button switches between the wireless and USB interfaces, the indicators above it indicate the status of the connection via USB. The BlueDAC itself is implemented smart enough, and always "de-energizes" the currently unused interface to save battery power. There are two LEDs on the MicroUSB-connector, showing the status of the battery and charging.
Of course, the main BlueDAC connection scenario is wireless, in this mode it can delight the listener for more than 15 hours, but connoisseurs of the beautiful, suffering from aptX compression, can use a wired connection (although, in my opinion, this does not make much sense, but about this is slightly below). It should, however, take into account that with a smartphone BlueDAC can begin to charge, planting the battery of the device. To avoid this, you can fully charge the BlueDAC before connecting to Smart, then it does not start charging. However, I prefer to just use Bluetooth.
BlueDAC is distinguished by a good implementation of the wireless module, so I did not encounter communication problems, the connection with the iPhone 6 Plus is kept at a distance of 10 meters with one medium wall thickness on the path without stuttering and steeps, although I think a lot depends on the source.
Sound
To listen to the device used the following headphones: iBasso IT03, Meze 99 Classics, Audio Zenith PMx2, Noble Kaiser Encore, Campfire Audio Andromeda, 64 Audio U12, HUM Pristine and others.
BlueDAC, like no other device, helps to understand the fact that lossless formats and different high resolutions in most cases are greatly overestimated. It is well known that aptX is a codec using lossy compression, so venerable audiophiles treat it with poorly concealed contempt. But in reality there are two considerations. First, a lot of records initially do not lose much because of compression, lossy-algorithms are now quite good. Secondly, a high-quality amplifier (and DAC) still play a much larger role in the path than the quality of the original signal. I conducted a series of blind tests with BlueDAC, testing wireless and wired connection, on the quality recorded material the difference is audible, but I would not call it significant, this is what I, perhaps, is willing to sacrifice for the rejection of wires (apparently, I'm not fit audiophiles). On the bad records, which are almost more than recently good, it's very difficult to catch the difference.
To overestimate the degree of freedom that Blutooth adds is difficult. The target audience here is wide, starting with fans of streaming (Tidal from the phone is quite good) and ending with the owners of the MacBook 12 "with its only port.
Of course, "in the name of higher justice", I describe the sound of BlueDAC with a wired connection, but with Bluetooth everything will be pretty similar.
Bass, traditionally for the company's solutions, assembled, slightly dryish and biting. Fine detailing, separation of tools and reliable transmission of textures - are attached. What is missing in the filing of BlueDAC is an attempt to add LF massiveness, accenting them quantitatively, or soften them, giving the sound warmth, so fans of constant massage of the eardrums with bass should choose slightly accented to bass headphones. Naturally, to say that the bass is "not enough" here, is silly, when necessary - BlueDAC plays out the "bottom" powerfully and vigorously, it's just that he does not try to add anything from himself.
Medium frequencies are also "traditional", neutrality and reliable transmission of everything that is put into the record, without attempts at decoration or change. The review hero does not try to add emotions, does not move the vocalist forward to create an "effective" imaginary scene, you will hear strictly what is in the track, no more and no less. Naturally, this imposes some demands on the quality of the material, but this is typical of any class source. ZApoupilitel has an enviable detail, both at the micro- and "macro" -level. The imaginary scene is built up to be expected - it is much larger than the average in both directions, with an absolute separation of plans in depth and width.
HF is also fed without trying to mask them or somehow mitigate, which, of course, will upset the RF fobs. The upper frequency range also contributes to the demand for records, but this is generally obvious. On high-quality material, HF here are close to the reference: detailed, extended, with excellent working out of attacks and damping, there is everything that distinguishes top sources: supersonic, high overtone and other pleasant ears trivialities.
Comparisons, I especially do not see the point, because "in general" BlueDAC is better than almost all players in the middle segment, and only the tops can compete with it (and then not in terms of power). Speaking exclusively about sound, the only reason not to choose BlueDAC can be the habit of one or another coloring of the feed.
Compatibility
Given the excellent power reserve, BlueDAC does not experience the slightest problems with almost any headphones, without problems even coping with fairly tight models (of course, there will be exceptions that everyone knows), for example, the HE-1000v2 is not a problem for it (although they still it is worth picking up the source even better). On the reverse side, with a low gain, BlueDAC practically does not make noise even with sensitive IEM.
Stylistically, this ZAPoupilitel is suitable for any genre, if, of course, the owner is willing to listen to them in an uncomplicated form. To the quality of the material, the sensitivity is high, somewhere by 9 points on a 10-point scale.
Traditionally a few tracks in the role of examples
Nat King Cole - Orange Colored Sky . This track allowed me to draw two conclusions. Firstly, the soundtracks for games are sometimes full of unexpected surprises (who recognized the game in which this track appeared - that's a fine fellow). Secondly, the old jazz orchestral recordings are a wonderful test of high frequency, where all these pipes and sub-singing come in, many sources fail. But, of course, not BlueDAC, acting out everything at an excellent level.
Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song . Yes, forgive me lovers to find something new in my compilations, skip this track and its potential for demonstrating the quality of LF, I could not. The recent (relatively) remaster, the one with the inverted cover, makes it possible to say that now the LF is recorded beautifully, and further only depends on the source how clearly and separately you will hear the bass part. Products from CEntrance are strong in this, and, of course, BlueDAC confidently keeps the level of the company - LF textural, not painted and perfectly controlled.
Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun. Frankly, before I met Soundgarden, I did not particularly like grunge as such, and even Soundgarden became interested only after the death of Chris Cornell (Eddie Vedder, who does not hold back tears, is a spectacular sight). But it's better late than never, and, perhaps, the Black Hole Sun is a perfect demonstration of the quality of midrange in BlueDAC. A very emotional track in itself, with sources tinting MF, often breaks into a real hysterics, so it is the hero of this review with its neutral filing that is suitable for such records.
conclusions
I do not even know what to write in custody. CEntrance made another device from CEntrance - a very technical, traditionally detailed, habitually unvarnished sound with an impressive power reserve, everything, as you would expect from this company. Well, the addition of wirelessness in the form of Bluetooth improves the usability with mobile devices (and not only with them). So, maybe, it's banal, but before us is one of the best decisions of the outgoing year.
The article is based on materials .
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