With the advent of SACD and DVD-Audio, the environment surrounding audio delivery has changed dramatically. High-end audio fans have been asking for this evolution to higher quality source data for a long time. There has also been pent-up demand for major changes in the playback devices needed for these new formats. The Esoteric DV-50S’ universal player was developed for CD, SACD, DVD-Audio, and DVD-Video. While satisfying the new-generation requests, the DV-50S’ (like other products in the Esoteric series) also makes your existing CDs sound even better. Rather than obsolete your current investment in CD's, the DV-50S enhances this investment through major improvements in Red Book CD playback technologies. By challenging the very limits of each of the disc formats, the DV-50S sets a new standard for digital audio and video reproduction. Not only does the DV-50S accurately reproduce the most intricate details of the recorded material, it delivers all the emotion and soul of the original performance. SUPERIOR 2-CHANNEL AUDIO PERFORMANCE High-Precision 24-bit D/A Converter Systems and RDOT (Refined Digital Output Technology) allow multiple up-conversion functionalilty to generate the highest quality audio reproduction. The DV-50S uses the same high-end components that successfully provided the beautiful and natural sound in the Esoteric D-70 DAC: including a second generation RDOT Algorithm and a FIR (Finite Impulse Response) digital filter that supports sharp high-end sampling. The algorithm and filter enable up-conversion of digital audio data read from a DVD or CD, to a maximum of 1536 kHz for DVD audio/video and 1411.2 kHz for a CD. The up-converted data is processed through a D/A converter whose advanced segmentation method provides excellent handling of dynamic characteristics. The D/A converter uses a 4-DAC configuration for L/R± differential operation, enabling more accurate D/A conversion. RDOT (Refined Digital Output Technology) When music data is recorded for CDs, the frequencies that exceed 20 kHz cannot be reproduced due to limitations of the CD standard sampling frequency. Music however, usually consists of frequency information that far exceeds 20 kHz. The effect of not being able to reproduce this additional information is that the listener cannot experience the most accurate and natural sound. As the solution for recreating sounds above 20 kHz, we use RDOT; a technology that enables interpolation by analogy based on the fluency algorithm. This highly sophisticated RDOT technology uses analogy-based principles to generate all music information likely to occur between data samples. The information is generated from source signals of all sampling frequencies up to 192 kHz, not just the standard CD frequency. As a result, data that exceeds fs/2 is generated. This results in music with natural depth, and listeners can especially feel differences in resolution and reverberation when instrument sounds overlap. The extremely natural timbres and sound fields used to reproduce a live performance are clearly superior. DSD (Direct Stream Digital) mode is used when playing an SACD so no up-conversion is selectable. The DV-50S front panel contains a digital filter mode selector switch and up-conversion frequency indicators. When a disc is played, the digital audio signal read from the disc is re-clocked using a high-precision master clock signal generated on the audio PCB by a voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO). After any jitter caused by transmission within the device is removed, the signal is input to the digital filters and then converted to an analog signal. This process produces extremely stable sound. The DV-50S uses very high slew rate operational amplifiers from National Semiconductor to perform current/voltage conversion on the current outputs from the DA converter IC. For synthesis of audio differential signals and an active low-pass filter, the DV-50S uses operational amps from Analog Devices. These Op Amps are renowned for their exceptional audio performance characteristics. 6-Channel analog outputs support SACD and DVD-Audio multi-channel content. In addition, the built in decoding processors decode all Dolby Digital or DTS signals. This enables the DV-50S to output the highest quality surround sound for all formats. For high-resolution 2-channel audio, the DV-50S provides both balanced XLR outputs and unbalanced RCA outputs. The 2-channel analog outputs are completely separate from the analog signals converted by the 6-channel D/A converter. Video OFF function is provided to shut down the unused video circuitry during pure audio operations. This operation eliminates any unnecessary digital clocking or internal noises improving the purity of the audio reproduction. Video circuits are stopped when a DVD-Audio disc, SACD, or CD is being played. Most audio/visual devices use a switching regulator type power supply. These supplies use high frequency clocks and can radiate noise within neighboring electronic circuits. The DV-50S however, utilizes a cut-core transformer built with carefully selected materials to achieve high-dimensional performance in both sound and video. In addition to eliminating the adverse effects on sound quality from switching noise, this design suppresses noise from components by using Schottky barrier diodes for power circuitry rectifiers. The highest quality components are used throughout the DV-50S to take full advantage of the strength of our precision mechanism and to bring out the full performance of the mechanical casing. All components are hand-chosen, after exhaustive listening and sound tests, to ensure that the components are of the highest quality.