computer audio dacs 

USBTD2.2 - USBchibi2 - USB.UFO.TD2.2 - USB.UFO.JFet

s/pdif dacs

TD2 .2 & Chibi

 TD2.2 and USBTD2.2                                     USB.UFO.TD2.2                 USB.UFO.JFet                                      USBChibi2                

Update 5.25.10 email:    dackit@triad.rr.com   for ordering information and questions

What's new?   Free shipping in the USA!    USBTD2.2 is BACK!     By request another batch available for those who can't deal with the ufo looks :)  All the tube dacs now use 12BH7 for the buffer and run constant current sourced.  Plus many small enhancements, as I upgrade these every 6 months or so.  I'm doing these models for a while longer, to make affordable dacs with true high end sound.  The usb models are not hi-rez, but I really think most listeners don't need it yet (or ever).  For hi-rez I recommend the s/pdif models and a pro-interface or usb/spdif dongle that will output 24/96.  The Chibi and TD2.2 will decode 24/96 and output 16/96.  There are usb hi-rez models in the works, but will be 4 to 5 times the cost of these offerings.

Kits are no more.  After 8 years of kits, the demand is too low for me to deal with.   Guess the flood/glut of cheap low end (cost and sonics) on ebay makes the correspondence support for my kits prohibitive.   However you can buy any of my dacs as assembled tested pcbs.  Complete ready to put into a chassis.  Subtract $100 for any of the tube buffered versions and $75 for any of the solid-state dacs.     

UFO versions are upscaled versions of the USBTD2.2 and USBChibi2.  The JFet version is a jfet-solid-state buffered version and is DC powered and can be SLA powered. 

Got a nice review on 6moons.com on the TubeDac+ and 3Xac  in February '04 http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/nixon/tubedac.html    It's a good read :)   Plus USBTD gets a nice little blurb on SonicFlare   http://www.sonicflare.com/archives/scott-nixon-usb-tube-dac.php   All the current offerings are greatly improved over those written about.  Also have had some less than stellar reports on a dud-dac (bad ones do happen) and other totally fraudulent  reports which are completely misleading.  Sites that have banner ads from competitors, find guys to butcher.  It's not nice out there :)    Note that all my assembled dacs are phase NORMAL, and have been for 6 years.

To place an order send an email to dackit@triad.rr.com and you will be sent contact and order information.  May take a day or so.

As a history.... I have been in full time business since 1984. Started modifying cd players with tubes! Then built digital processors with tubes in 1989  as 'anodyne', marketing the first tube analog  digital audio processor in the US and have been in full time, albeit small time audio manufacturing business 26 years.....     This non-oversampled filter-less design is built to be small, simple and affordable.  In most ways is better that most of the dacs I've built before now, at basically 1/10th the retail of the older models!    Thanks for looking !   Scott Nixon        

 Assembled Plug and Play Dacs

TD2.2 and USBTD2.2

TD2.2 is a s/pdif input non-oversampled constant current sourced 12BH7 tube buffered dac using low ESR caps and premium components, Hexfreds,  normal phase !  all wrapped in beautiful exotic ABS black plastic :) --- USBTD2.2 is the usb version for computer audio only.  Ships with a wall mounted transformer in US and Canada. $485.00 either version     Overseas orders will ship without standard power transformer      

USB.UFO.TD2.2

  USB input - direct to I2S non-oversampled - constant current sourced tube buffer stage.  A performance upgrade to the USBTD in a jet age gray or black package.  Uses a simple wall mounted 12VAC supply   $575.00   Overseas orders will ship without standard power transformer

Chibi Dac & USBchibi2

   USBChibi2

Pure Small Simple non-oversampled dac.  Now normal phase! done in the digital domain and can optionally be wired with a switch to manually change the phase (modest up-charge for that).  There is no better value in high end audio.  Total load of above 10k to work best.  Most preamps and integrated amps (particularly tubed) are fine.  Just have to be careful with passive pre/power amp combos as they can dip well below 10k total load.  Comes with a 12VDC wall mounted power supply. $290 for either version  Overseas orders will ship without standard power transformer.  

USB.UFO.JFet

USB input - direct to I2S - non-oversampled Jfet buffered dac.  No opamps. Dac directly connected to a constant current sourced JFet buffer.  Gives performance close to the USBTD of last year and runs on 12VDC.  Battery power is possible with this model.  While I don't provide SLA power supplies, use of a DC barrel connector makes hook up to battery easy.  Comes standard with a DC wall mounted transformer in US and Canada.   Available in black or gray space age ABS   $375.00    Overseas orders will ship without standard power transformer    

4Xac power supply upgrade for  TD2.2  USBTD2.2  USB.UFO.TD2.2

4Xac  12VAC 4A toroidal power supply for both TubeDac and USBTD wrapped in exotic matching ABS enclosure.  Offers better performance that the standard supplies, which are quite decent.  4Xac allows use of after-market power cables.   130.00   (there is a discount when ordered with TubeDac+ or USBTD  $100 for 115v or $125 of 230v)   Photo is of older 3Xac - new one has a power jack on rear instead of the captive cable.  4Xac supplies can be wired for 230V, but sent without power cords and extra overseas shipping with dac purchase is usually $35 for dac and supply.