Today I will talk about a very interesting device. And it is interesting not only because of the extensive functionality and excellent sound, but also because it is made entirely in Russia, which makes it the first (as far as I know) device of this kind, which is not a piece product. We will talk about the portable DAC with the function of the headphone amplifier PortaDAC OCUB 1866 from .
I wanted to get acquainted with OCUB for a long time, thanks to the light fleet of elitism surrounding it, but somehow the case didn’t turn up until at the beginning of summer one good person sent me his PortaDAC, from the heart. After a week of listening, I was convinced how difficult it was for him, because I did not want to return OCUB back (although I had to).
A device was developed in the well-known among connoisseurs of high-quality sound from Mycroft, . The goal in creating the device was very simple - to make the device as focused as possible on sound reproduction with the highest possible quality. OCUB is built on a very good elementary base, the AD1866 multi-bit chip from Analog Device is used as a DAC, the amplifier is built on the AD8610, the OP275 is used as a filter. The remaining components are also on the level - capacitors Nichicon KZ and Sanyo OS-CON, Neutrik connectors. The device has all the inputs that you can wish for in a portable device: USB, coaxial, optical and bluetooth (there is a version without it).
The versatility and quality materials, as well as the fact that OCUB is a small-scale device and is made entirely in Russia, has led to a rather tangible price tag of 27,000 rubles for the bluetooth version and 23,000 rubles without it. But if you appreciate a good sound - the investment is worthy, and here's why.
Specifications
- Frequency range: 0 Hz - 20 000 Hz
- Signal to noise ratio: 110 dB
- Dynamic range: 95 dB
- Output power: 120 mW
- Output Impedance: 10Ω
- Mutual channel penetration: 75 dB
- DAC: AD1866
- Digital inputs: Optic, USB, Coax (miniJack), bluetooth
- Digital outputs: no
- Analog outputs: 3.5 mm TRS headphone, 3.5 mm linear TRS
- Dimensions: 125 mm x 53 mm x 25 mm
Design and management
Externally, the PortaDAC looks very restrained: an elongated aluminum case with longitudinal strips, at the ends - plastic frames of black color, which protect the case from abrasion during desktop use. By the way, in reality, OCUB looks smaller than in the photo, the oblong shape contributes to comfortable grip and comfort in use. The fit of the elements is very good, the device feels monolithic.
All controls are focused on the ends. Behind the line output is located and inputs - coaxial, optical and USB. On the front panel there is a power switch, 4 LEDs indicating which of the inputs is active, the input selection button, headphone output and volume control.
Turning on the PortaDAC is almost instantaneous, switching between inputs, no long downloads or pauses, just one click of a toggle switch works just as quickly - and you can listen to music.
Volume control - smooth, no noise and no backlash.
Due to the emphasis on functionality, it was not without some flaws, the main one being the weak indication of the device status. This is especially annoying with the battery: it is never known how much the device is charged (until it turns off) and how charged. The manufacturer simply says that the operating time is about 6 hours, the charging time is about the same. This is not to say that it is supercritical, but in the device for more than 700 dollars it is frustrating. Also, there is no support for today's ultra-high resolution and DSD / DXD, but for the most part, the sense in these technologies is purely marketing, so I can not say that their absence greatly upsets me.
Sound
- MacBook Pro Retina Late 2013 as a source
- Fiio X5 as a source
- Fidelia as a player
- Headphones Philips Fidelio X1, AKG K702, ZMF Fostex, Fischer Audio FA-003 Bog Oak Limited Edition, Fischer Audio FA-011 Limited Edition Japan, Sennheiser HD600
- Lossless Records
Actually, the sound is what distinguishes the OCUB from other devices. Solely for the sake of sound, and it is worth buying it, turning a blind eye to minor ergonomic flaws and the price is above average. The device uses a multi-bit DAC, so the sound is noticeably different from modern devices based on delta-sigma chips (I described the difference between these two technologies in this review).
The biggest strength of the OCUB, in my opinion, is the bass and the middle frequency region adjacent to it. Mainly due to the selected DAC, the bass combines whipping, vigor and detail. All percussion, acoustic and electronic bass sound articulated with a proper scale, going to such depth as the headphones allow. The first thing you want to do with OCUB is to listen to all the metal you can reach, then listen to good acoustic jazz with a double bass, then make a slant in smart electronic music and end up with something like an overture of 1812 (look for a recording with real guns). With proper selection of headphones, the wow effect is guaranteed (but about headphones - below).
The first word that comes to mind when listening to the midrange is looseness. I will try to pick up some kind of analogy. Imagine experienced rock musicians playing a concert. They have long been relaxed, they are not trying to surprise the user with their individual skills, they know that they sound good together, and it is in their combination that they are strong. Similarly, OCUB - it does not try to push out the smallest nuances to the user, he just plays them as it should, and in the way they are intended by the sound producer. Due to this, the sound is not tedious and very musical. The instruments live their lives, and the vocals pleases with physicality.
Upper frequencies are slightly different from delta-sigma devices. HF PortaDAC - not so pronounced, they are slightly less quantitative, sometimes this leads to the fact that some trivialities in separate records (not so often) are hidden, lost in the overall merging of the submission. I can not say that I consider this a big problem, I am ready to forgive it for mids and especially bass, but it’s worth considering if you are a fan of listening to the most subtle nuances of sound. Except for this, HF are good - there are plenty of them, they do not fall apart, do not cut the ear, do not roll into sibilance or cold barbs.
In general, OCUB is very genre versatile and does not have a strongly pronounced color in the sound, although there is a slight bias into the darkness. Therefore, it is revealed especially well on rich low frequencies music, so first of all I would recommend it for rock and metal (but not limited to them).
Not bad device copes with different headphones, including simple isodinami. They did not submit to him, as was to be expected, the AKG K702, which hid the low-frequency power engineering almost completely. On very sensitive headphones, a slight whistle is heard between tracks, but it does not interfere. This combine does a good job with multi-driver fittings (I doubted, based on the output impedance, but in vain). Separately, OCUB gets a point from me for the full disclosure of hybrids from Dunu and T-PEOS, since very few devices do it properly. I didn’t really like the sound of the OCUB with neutral-flat headphones, but there are fans of this DAC bundle with the Etymotic ER-4.
I will say a little about OCUB in comparison. I have, perhaps, one device that can be compared with the OCUB, this is the Centrance HiFi M8. They are close in price and functionality and, in fact, are direct competitors. I will not compare the sizes, entrances exits and other minor things, at once about a sound. HiFi M8 sounds more neutral, without an accent on low frequencies (if you do not turn on the bass), the M8 has much more power, which allows it to better control tight headphones, better resolution and micro-detail over the entire range. On the OCUB side, the smaller size, the overall power and texture of the low-frequency range. The choice is actually quite complicated, and I would just prefer to have both devices.
findings
Incredibly interesting device. Despite some ergonomic flaws, simple appearance and a very high price, the main thing in OCUB is sound. And the sound in it is laid with excellent stock. Adding to this a good set of inputs and the presence of a linear output - we get a universal device that can please any connoisseur of good music who is looking for an uncompromising quality in sound.
By the way, OCUB is now available in the European market (with a slightly different body) thanks to the German brand TENTO Engineering.
The article is based on materials .
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