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SKU
118663
SPL Director MK2 - Black
Digital to analog converter and preamplifier now supporting 32-bit and sample rates up to 768 kHz as well as DSD4 - black
MFR# 1840
Product Description
The SPL Director MK2 is the updated version of SPL's Director reference preamplifier: The high-voltage digital to analog converter now supports 32-bit and sample rates up to 768 kHz as well as DSD4. Fans of analog tape machines or external audio processing can insert their beloved gear in the Tape Monitor loop.
Additionally, there are now a total of six analog inputs. Two of which are balanced with XLR connectors. The housing has grown in height to provide space for the big aluminum volume control with marker LED and two mechanical VU meters.
Director MK2 is the heart of the stereo system to which all components are being connected: computer, player, phono preamp like the Phonos, headphone amps like the Phonitor xe or the Phonitor e, and power amplifiers like the Performer s800 or Performer m1000.
Preamplifier
Director MK2 is a full-fledged stereo preamplifier for connecting up to ten stereo input sources. Six inputs are in the analog domain offering two balanced XLR and four RCA stereo inputs. Four inputs are in the digital domain: AES/EBU, USB, COAX, OPTICAL. Power amplifiers or active loudspeakers are connected via balanced XLRs and a headphone amplifier is connected to the Direct Out.
Volume
Volume is controlled strictly in the analog domain – for good reason. Commonly volume is set in the digital domain as part of a DAC chip's functionality. The down side is that the full bit resolution is only present at maximum playback volume.
But we never listen with the preamp' volume turned up fully clockwise. As a result we always listen at a lower bit resolution and therefore with a diminished audio fidelity. An average listening level is about 30 dB below maximum (0 dBfs) and as the resolution shrinks by 1 bit per 6 dB level drop the playback will have a 5 dB lesser resolution. It does not make a lot of sense to listen to high-res audio then, does it?
Therefore SPL opted for an analog solution that gives you full bit resolution at all listening levels. To control the 120 V rail VOLTAiR volume stage SPL use an ALPS RK27 "Big Blue" potentiometer with excellent feeling and channel matching. Being motorized, Volume can be remotely controlled. Please refer to the chapter "Remote Control" for more information.
Sources:
The rotary switch selects the input source, which is then shown in the dot matrix display: IN 1 to IN 6 for the analog inputs and AES/EBU, USB, COAX, OPTICAL for the digital inputs. The detected sample rate of the selected digital input is displayed after about 2 seconds (e.g. U768 = USB input, 768 kHz sample rate). The input source selection can also be remotely controlled when the selector is set to "Remote."
Velvet Sound DA Converter
The Director MK2 is equipped with a completely new digital-to-analog converter board. It is an all new design based on the AK4490 Velvet Sound DAC chip from AKM. The new DAC supports PCM audio up to 768 kHz sample rates with 32-bit and DSD audio playback up to DSD4 or DSD256. It sports four digital stereo inputs: AES/EBU, USB, COAX, OPTICAL.
DAC with VOLTAIR
SPL have been looking at many DAC designs and have always wondered why all the innovation happens on the digital side. Almost no innovation is to be found on the analog part for the DAC. Perhaps it is because most designers have a background in digital engineering and as a result they apply standard 'cook book' designs on the analog side.
Having a 30+ year background in analog audio designs, SPL find cook book circuitries boring, inefficient and far from being superb. As already proven with the DAC in the predecessor SPL also put innovation into the analog side of the DAC with astonishing results.
The output of the DAC chip is to be filtered with a low pass filter. This stage is typically designed with the same reference voltage that the DAC chip works on e.g. 5 V. Think about this: the first stage that the analog waveform is exposed to has a headroom limited this tiny voltage. Now imagine this to be 120 V! This is what SPL have done in the Director and of course in the MK2.
The low pass filter runs on a 120 V rail - VOLTAiR technology. The incredible headroom and the enormous dynamic range lets the analog wavefront come to life and evolve without any limitation. And that is audible. Very much so.
Remote Control
Volume as well as source input selection can be remotely controlled using any existing infra-red (IR) remote control. The cool part is that the Director MK2 learns the remote commands.
Take, for example, the remote control of the CD player. Out of the many buttons there are maybe four you hardly use if at all and which do not directly trigger a function on the CD player.
Alternatively er suggest using the Apple remote control which is small, slick and offers just the buttons you need.
Assign Volume Up/Volume Down to two buttons and Next Input/Previous Input to two other buttons and let the Director MK2 learn them. The procedures are described in the manual and in the video "Learning Remote Control".
Make sure that the source selector switch is set to "Remote."
VU Meters
The two VU meters display the source's input level. It's mechanical design 'slows' the measurement, averaging out peaks of short duration, and reflects thereby more the perceived loudness or "energy."
VU means Volume Units. A typical VU meter shows a range of -20 dB to +3 dB. SPL VUs go up to +5 dB. A mastered CD can produce levels of up to +15 dB which would glue the needles to the right side.
To prevent this the VU toggle switch allows selecting either 6 or 12. Meaning that in position 6 with the needle pointing at 0 the true value is +6 dB and set to 12 means a true value of +12 dB when the needle points at 0.
With the VU switch set to +12 dB the VU meter can display levels up to +17 dB. If the needle goes beyond that it does not indicate that the Director MK2 is clipping. Thanks to the VOLTAiR technology there is still more than 15 dB headroom. The Director MK2 clips above +32.5 dB input level!
Tape Monitor
The Tape Monitor function has become part of the MK2 because many audiophiles requested it to insert tape machines or external processing gear.
In the 70s and 80s cassette recorders were very popular and a hifi preamp offered a tape monitor. Later this feature went away, but fans of recording and processing found the lack of this feature in today's preamps being a real drawback.
Well, so SPL introduced this feature in the MK2. It is now possible again to insert a tape machine and listen back while recording (tape monitoring) or to insert beloved equalizers or other processing devices to tune sound.
On the rear of the unit is a level calibration switch besides the tape send and tape return sockets. Consumer tape machines, cassette desks or consumer equalizers may clip when exposed to the levels that the Director MK2 handles. To prevent peaks and distortion this switch reduces the outgoing level by 10 dB and lifts it again by 10 dB when coming back into the Director MK2. Thereby no level difference will be audible and your gear perform on levels it is used to.
Product Specifications
| Condition | New |
|---|---|
| Chassis | Desktop |
| Channels | Dual-Channel |
| Input Connectors | AES/EBU XLR, Optical, RCA, Analog XLR |
| Computer Connection | USB |
| Maximum Sampling Rate | 768 kHz |
| Digital Format | AES/EBU |
Related Blog Posts
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Finding The Right Two-Channel Digital-To-Analog Converter For You...
12.29.2022Read More
Digital-to-Analog converters (and their Analog-to-Digital counterparts) play a vital role in the modern studio. In particular, two-channel DACs allow us to properly monitor our audio output by converting a digital signal to an analog one. The signal remains pristine, and we hear our projects as intended on our monitors.
There is no shortage of high-quality two-channel DACs for your studio. In fact, both RME and Weiss recently released new models. This got us thinking... What are some of the best two-channel DACs out there? Let's break down some of our favorites.
RME ADI-2 / 4 Pro SE
RME's ADI-2 Series has been showered with awards, and for the brand's latest release, they are building on the platform with the ADI-2 / 4 Pro SE. This half-rack enclosure actually has several different uses, as it features two analog inputs to digital outputs and four digital inputs to analog outputs.
The ADI-2 / 4 Pro SE is a multi-format unit (AES, SPDIF, ADAT) that features 32-bit / 768 kHz converters with a new circuit board and faster DSP. There are two headphone inputs on the front of the converter system and independent balanced outputs for Line and Headphones. In the past, plugging in headphones would mute the line out, but that's not the case anymore.
Weiss DAC204 and Weiss DAC205
As previously mentioned, Weiss has announced they will add a few new two-channel DACs to their lineup. The DAC204 and DAC205 were designed to bring the high-quality conversion of the DAC501 down to a more accessible price.
Both of these new products from Weiss feature stereo 24-bit/192 kHz D/A converters, but there are some subtle differences between the two. The DAC204 incorporates USB, AES, DSD, and SPDIF conversion while the DAC 205 drops the connectivity for USB and DSD. No matter what you need, Weiss has you covered.
Dangerous Music CONVERT-2
Dangerous Music is no stranger to creating highly competent converters. They've been doing it since 2002! Designer Chris Muth's CONVERT series has been a long-time favorite at Vintage King, and with the release of the CONVERT-2 in 2016, he brought elite-class conversion to the standalone DAC realm.
The CONVERT-2 features six sample rates (44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, and 192 kHz), which you can cycle through or opt to use the handy Auto Mode to select the correct rate for your source. There are five selectable input sources (USB, AES/SPDIF-1, AES/SPDIF-2, ADAT, AND OPTICAL SPDIF) with front-panel buttons for switching on the fly. Another handy tool is the bypassable volume control on the front of the CONVERT-2. We're truly just scratching the surface with this beauty.
BURL Audio B2 Bomber DAC
When you think about BURL Audio, you may think about how much bigger and bolder your projects will sound when you run the audio through a B80 or B16 Mothership. The B2 Bomber DAC is the rare exception for BURL, as this tool will allow you to assess your sound honestly without loads of colorization.
BURL has outfitted the two-channel DAC with BOPA8 discrete op-amps, passive filters, and an all-Class-A signal path. This signal chain combo paired with state-of-the-art converters offering sample rates up to 192 kHz will deliver much more pristine audio than its ADC B2 brethren. There are no transformers in the makeup of the B2 DAC.
The front panel of the B2 Bomber features all of the controls you'll need to get to work. Easily switch Sample Rate, Input Source (Dante, AES, SPDIF, and TOSLINK), Output Level and Clock Source via dedicated knobs.
Lavry Quintessence
Lavry is certainly another legend in the converter game, and the Quintessence delivers absolute accuracy and transparency with ease. The 19" rackmount two-channel DAC employs a simple push-button system and rotary knob to make things as simple as possible. Want the music louder? Turn the knob! Want a different input? Just hit the button.
Ease of use isn't all the Lavry Quintessence has going for it. There are the converters themselves. Dan Lavry's designs are top-of-the-line and can be used with three inputs (two AES and one SPDIF) and 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, and 192 kHz sources.
Crane Song Solaris Quantum
When creating the Avocet IIA monitor controller, Crane Song upped its DA conversion game with the fifth generation of the brand's Quantum technology. In addition to outfitting the Avocet IIA with these new converters, the brand also made a standalone two-channel DAC called the Solaris Quantum.
The Solaris Quantum is a tidy 19" rackmount option that features AES, SPDIF, Optical, and USB inputs for sample rates up to 192 kHz. One of the key features of the unit is its stunning internal clock. Crane Song states clock's jitter measured from 10Hz to 20 kHz is typically 0.045pS.
Apogee Symphony I/O MK II 2x6SE
Apogee's Symphony I/O MK II offers a unique modular approach to your studio's converter system. Utilizing the same basic chassis (there are Thunderbolt, HD, SoundGrid, and Dante + HD variants), you can outfit your rig with your choice of two converter cards for a completely customizable experience.
For the purposes of this blog, we'll talk a bit about the 2x6 SE. This a special edition card specifically designed for mastering engineers but will be a perfect solution for anyone looking for a two-channel DAC. The 2x6 SE offers the highest quality conversion in the Symphony series, as it features inputs with 124 dB (A) of dynamic range, THD+N of -116 dB and outputs with 131 dB (A) dynamic range and THD+N of -118 dB.
Antelope Audio Amari
The Amari is another fantastic example of a reference-grade tool that offers both DA and AD converters. Antelope Audio has gone the extra mile with its 8 x DAC architecture, as each channel features four CS43198 chips. What does that mean for you and your monitoring experience? You can expect an enhanced stereo image and loads of detail.
Antelope Audio has also paid special attention to listeners utilizing headphones with the Amari. There are two balanced XLR inputs on the unit's front panel, each with a dedicated volume control and adjustable output impedance. Finding the right impedance for your studio headphones and getting the best sound possible is super easy.
Lynx Hilo
We've got another all-in-one banger here, as the Lynx Hilo delivers class-leading AD/DA conversion, perfect for mixing with multiple speakers, mastering and recording on location. In terms of I/O, the Hilo has a basic two-In/six-Out design, but this can be expanded digitally for up to 32x32.
One of the most notable things about the Hilo's design is its gigantic 480 x 272 LCD touchscreen. It literally takes up nearly the whole front of the converter system. Utilizing Hilo's intuitive menu, it's extremely simple to get things up and running, whether it be controlling parameters or routing your signal.
Prism Sound Callia
For its two-channel DAC dubbed the Callia, Prism Sound presents a highly refined product that guarantees a premium listening experience. There aren't too many frills with the Callia, but that's completely fine when you're kicking out impressive audio with ample sample rate options and loads of connectivity options.
SPL Director Mk2
With a name like "Director," it's easy to understand how SPL intended for this DAC to be used in the studio. The Director will give you total control of your monitoring with inputs for 10 stereo sources, all of which can be controlled via a knob on the front of the unit. You can also take remote control of these sources and your overall volume by using any compatible infrared remote controller.
But what about the converters, Vintage King? SPL is utilizing its AKM AK4490 Velvet Sound DAC chip with the Director, which converts PCM audio with a resolution of 32 bits and a sampling rate of up to 768 kHz. The analog output of the DAC passes through not one, but two low-pass filters, including one for PCM audio and one for DSD audio.
If you're interested in learning more about two-channel Digital-to-Analog converters, we're here to help! Please contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160.
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