DAC1 Reference DAC

With the ever-expanding market of digital audio, both files and online streaming services, more and more people are discovering the world of digital audio. Furthermore, in the past few years many of the most demanding music lovers and audiophiles have discovered the unique sound of non-oversampling DACs to make the most of their digital audio sources.

The biggest challenge for any DAC is the sound and not the ‘’numbers’’. Digital by default sounds very different when compared to analog and we at Lab12 have spent countless hours striving for the perfect voicing that resembles the very best qualities of analog. Behold, the Lab12 DAC1 Reference.

Built around a pair of 6922 tubes operating in dual triode mode, the Lab12 DAC1 Reference has a smooth and sweet sound, with surprising extension top to bottom.  The DAC complement offers a pair of SPDIF Coax inputs, a Toslink input and a USB-2.0 input. Analog output is via a high-quality pair of RCA and balanced XLR jacks.

A pair of meters on the front draw your attention as music causes them to dance to and fro. but it's the music that will truly draw you in!

• Input Sampling Rate up to 24bit/192 kHz
• Non Oversampling mode
• 8x Multibit Philips DACs network
• 2x Dual Triodes tubes I/V analog output stage
• 6 Separate Regulated Power Supplies
• Analog retro Nissei VU meters
• 6mm Aluminum face panel
• Five Years Warranty

• Power: 110-120VAC @ 60Hz
• Power consumption: 70 VA max
• Inputs: 2x Coax SPDIF (Coaxial RCA), 1x USB2, 1x Optical (Toslink)
• Outputs: RCA (Pr), 2x XLR (Pr) unbalanced (balanced version available)
• Frequency response: 20-20 KHz (+ 0dB/-1dB)
• THD: <0.15%
• Rated Output Level: 2.5Vrms
• Tube Complement: 2x 6922 (dual triode)
• Dimensions (WHD): 17x4.4x11.4"
• Weight: 16.5 Lbs

Out of the box,  Lab12 units can sound particularly disappointing. Unlike most components we've auditioned that sound at least partially acceptable out of the box, in our experience Lab12's components definitely need a fair amount of actual play-time time to come up to speed. Initially they tend to sound dull, slightly lifeless and gritty. However, in just the first hour or two of being turned on, you'll hear them start to improve. We believe this is due to the large power supplies Lab12 uses, which simply take more time to come up to speed. We recommend a minimum of 100hrs of actual play time before making any assessment of the unit's performance, any shorter and you will definitely miss out on the wonderful sonic potential of these components!