A new, unique idea: Digital Reconstructor from AUSE Audio in Japan

[KyoichiOda]

Hello everybody.
Recently I found an unique product, Digital Reconstructor from AUSE Audio in Japan
and would like to introduce it.

If you are using network audio or PC audio, you may know the sound becomes better
with network switch, network transport, music server, LAN or USB filter, high class LAN or USB cable and so on.
Digital Reconstructor was developed to replace those items to reach higher stage.

?A sort of digital to digital converter (DDC)
?It reconstructs Inferior digital signal, for example from ordinarlly laptop PC, to high-end class one.
?USB, LAN, Coaxal, Optical, HDMI-I2S Input
?AES, Coaxial (50?/75??, HDMI-I2S Output
?Control from mobile through Bluetooth (TBD)
?Network input, Switching digital input, Digital Volume



I had a chance to listen AUSE's Digital Reconstructor, new DAC with AK4499 and Class D amplifier with NC500
comparing Mola Mola Makua (with DAC).
Despite of Digital Reconstructor and new DAC are still trial version, I was so surprised they left Makua far behind
and price will be less than third.
They don't seem having special technology, ordinarlly parts on ordinarlly circuit board,
however they sound one of the best digital playback I have ever listened.

The details of their technology are not unveiled, Mr. Tsukioka, chief engineer, told me
that he is always trying to search out and overcome the weaknesses without biased view.

Unfortunately it is not clear when these amazing products are available
due to recent lack of electric parts and devices,
I think they should be a game changer of digital audio.

 

[Addicted to hifi]

Hello everybody.
Recently I found an unique product, Digital Reconstructor from AUSE Audio in Japan
and would like to introduce it.

If you are using network audio or PC audio, you may know the sound becomes better
with network switch, network transport, music server, LAN or USB filter, high class LAN or USB cable and so on.
Digital Reconstructor was developed to replace those items to reach higher stage.

?A sort of digital to digital converter (DDC)
?It reconstructs Inferior digital signal, for example from ordinarlly laptop PC, to high-end class one.
?USB, LAN, Coaxal, Optical, HDMI-I2S Input
?AES, Coaxial (50?/75??, HDMI-I2S Output
?Control from mobile through Bluetooth (TBD)
?Network input, Switching digital input, Digital Volume

View attachment 81348

I had a chance to listen AUSE's Digital Reconstructor, new DAC with AK4499 and Class D amplifier with NC500
comparing Mola Mola Makua (with DAC).
Despite of Digital Reconstructor and new DAC are still trial version, I was so surprised they left Makua far behind
and price will be less than third.
They don't seem having special technology, ordinarlly parts on ordinarlly circuit board,
however they sound one of the best digital playback I have ever listened.

The details of their technology are not unveiled, Mr. Tsukioka, chief engineer, told me
that he is always trying to search out and overcome the weaknesses without biased view.

Unfortunately it is not clear when these amazing products are available
due to recent lack of electric parts and devices,
I think they should be a game changer of digital audio.

View attachment 81349

View attachment 81350

Beautiful

 

[KyoichiOda]

Unrotunately it is not sure when AUSE's Digital Reconstructor will be launched due to recent luck of electric parts and devices.

However I got their latest plan for new DACs:
1. AK4499EX DAC
Simple, single-function, classic high-end DAC performance-oriented,
discrete outputs, optimisation, idealism

2. AK4499EQ DAC
Multi-output, digital correction, high-function new concept DAC with emphasis on convenience and sound creation.
Supports network audio as a stand-alone unit, headphone output, multiple outputs with individual EQ and distortion adjustment functions, etc.

 

[antigrunge]

I see you running an Antelope Orion. Antelope had an amazing range of DACs. I myself run a Zodiac Platinum with associated 10m clock. A shame that they gave up on consumers, their products were really musical and analogue sounding. Their products are truly first rate. The Ause decrapifier looks very interesting, too. Do keep updating on availability, please. LHY Audio seems to work on a similar product in China

 

[matthias]

Unrotunately it is not sure when AUSE's Digital Reconstructor will be launched due to recent luck of electric parts and devices.

However I got their latest plan for new DACs:
1. AK4499EX DAC
Simple, single-function, classic high-end DAC performance-oriented,
discrete outputs, optimisation, idealism

2. AK4499EQ DAC
Multi-output, digital correction, high-function new concept DAC with emphasis on convenience and sound creation.
Supports network audio as a stand-alone unit, headphone output, multiple outputs with individual EQ and distortion adjustment functions, etc.

Thank you for sharing, very interesting
Can you provide a link to AUSE Audio?

Matt

 

[facten]

Thank you for sharing, very interesting
Can you provide a link to AUSE Audio?

Matt

Compliments of your best friend Google - https://ause--audio-com.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

 

[matthias]

AK4499EX DAC
Simple, single-function, classic high-end DAC performance-oriented,
discrete outputs, optimisation, idealism

Any info about availability and price of this DAC?
What are the inputs of this DAC?
Thanks

Matt

 

[KyoichiOda]

Any info about availability and price of this DAC?
What are the inputs of this DAC?
Thanks

It would be second half of 2023. AK4499EX has not been launched yet.
I guess the price would be 4k to 5k USD.
Currently parts supply is quite bad. Mr. Tsukioka ordered some parts to build DAC in January. Delivery will be in September!

 

[KyoichiOda]

I asked Mr. Tsukioka.

AK4499EX DAC Inputs:
Definitive
- Optical Coaxial
- HDMI I2S

Under consideration
- AES
- USB DDC
- LAN

 

[matthias]

I asked Mr. Tsukioka.

AK4499EX DAC Inputs:
Definitive
- Optical Coaxial
- HDMI I2S

Under consideration
- AES
- USB DDC
- LAN

Thanks,
fwiw, I prefer direct USB input without DDC.
BTW, if interested in international sales Mr. Tsukioka should provide an english homepage

Matt

 

[KyoichiOda]

Thanks,
fwiw, I prefer direct USB input without DDC.
BTW, if interested in international sales Mr. Tsukioka should provide an english homepage

Matt

I suggested him adding English pages, he is positive.

 

[matthias]

I suggested him adding English pages, he is positive.

Interestingly reading a blog post from June 3 on their homepage they seem to like neither DIRETTA nor ZERO LINK

Matt

 

[KyoichiOda]

The latest information of Ause's AK4499EX DAC from their blog:

New DAC is also under development. However, the main issue at the moment is not the DAC section using DAC chips, but the prototype verification of the front-end digital section. We can only give you a limited information at the moment, but we would like to provide you with as much information as possible that you may need to consider prior to purchasing the product.

As we have said before, we will be very careful with this project and will not rush to release the product. Here is what we can currently tell you about the concept.

1. We will keep the idea of simplifying the DAC section in the previous article.
2. The digital circuitry in the DAC section will be reduced and will not include DSP or DDC.
3. The DAC section will have the ability to adjust and resolve issues in the analogue domain (gain and output drive related).
4. The digital section is separated from the DAC section, with DDC, clocking and DSP concentrated in the digital section.
5. Clock-related countermeasures are significantly strengthened and the system as a whole is configured to enable essential countermeasures to be taken.

That's it in a nutshell. How the digital and DAC sections will be integrated as a product has not yet been decided, but at the moment they are being developed separately.

The DAC section is designed to eliminate as much as possible any elements that might drag down the analogue side of the product, and not having a DDC is part of that, but there are honestly a lot of problems with SPDIF, so at the very least we think additional external measures such as word clock support are necessary. However, we have not yet decided what the final specification around SPDIF will be. We would like to avoid this option as much as possible, as it would make it easier to solve the problem if we use our own interface, but it would also make it less flexible.

Perhaps the most important additional information is that it has been confirmed that the clock-related countermeasures will be fully implemented. Although various companies have proposed countermeasures for the handling of word clock and master clock, including on the transport side, we would like to include the necessary elements. Moreover, it is desirable to implement a high degree of connectivity in accordance with existing standards as far as possible (taking into consideration connectivity and expandability with many devices).

In particular, the areas that cannot be fully addressed or resolved by optical boosters are almost entirely transport-related, so it is a question of how far we can step in these areas. For this reason, it is important to link the functions of the digital section and the DAC section. Conventional ASRC stand-alone design has its limitations, so additional solutions are implemented. We hope to be able to provide more details when the development of the digital section has settled down.

 

[KyoichiOda]

Ause Audio will launch a new product, NU-DDC in 3Q or 4Q of 2023, on behalf of Digital Reconstrictor.
"NU" means Network and USB. The expected price would be around 1,000 USD.

From their blog:



Main connection capabilities.
1. USB function XMOS 768kHz/DSD512/DoP256 compatible (Roon can be supported via USB)
2. 10M external clock function 50? BNC terminal Used as low-frequency phase noise & frequency accuracy reference
3. HDMI-I2S input/output support PS audio/Gustard compatible for both input and output, 768kHz/DSD512/DoP256 compatible
4. Network support AirPlay2/DLNA/UPnP/Amazon music (non-HD)/Qubuz HD/Spotify/Tidal Hifi/Deezer
5. High-precision word clock with automatic operation rate tracking/22-24MHz clock output function 75? BNC jack
6. SPDIF output function, RCA terminals, DoP output supported
7. USB terminal for firmware updates on the rear panel, eliminating the need to open the case as before.

Distinctive features.
1. Reclocking for all inputs, including SPDIF. Improved master clock frequency accuracy to 10M clock reference.
2. DSD and PCM mutual conversion function to any rate up to PCM768k/DSD512.
3. DSDtoPCM conversion + automatic upper rate limit function (to support older DACs and optimise for SPDIF transmission), utilising the above functions.
4. Automatic DSD/DoP recognition of HDMI-I2S input without DSDFlag pin on the input side and DSD-Flag on HDMI-I2S output.
5. Support for different HDMI-I2S connection settings for input and output; improvement of compatibility issues with HDMI-I2S connections.

On request, the following functions can also be realised by firmware modification.
1. Synchronisation clock output function for special frequencies from the word clock pin.
2. Support for reference clock frequencies other than 10 MHz

The unit has a 10M clock valid for all inputs, both internal and external, but what is unique is that this 10M clock is not a full bandwidth phase noise reference, but only acts as an absolute frequency accuracy and low frequency phase noise reference.

The reason for this is that high-precision OCXOs and rubidium clocks in the readily available price range often have excellent accuracy but not so good phase noise performance above 10 kHz. That band is the area where so-called femtoclocks excel, whereas femtoclocks generally have poor frequency accuracy. Conventionally, this compatibility required very expensive clocks.

However, this product is designed to combine the best aspects of the built-in low phase noise clock and the 10M high-precision clock, and the addition of an external low-cost 10M clock does not degrade the final wideband phase noise performance of the output. Accuracy and low-frequency phase noise are more important in audio, and this design makes it easy to achieve both wideband phase noise performance and accuracy.


AKM4499EX+ 4171 new DAC is planned to be launched in 1Q or 2Q of 2024;
High-end oriented DAC products. Full-size, AK4499EX-based. Updated enclosure design. Tuning elements in the analogue domain while ensuring multifaceted and stable performance in digital and characteristic aspects. Tuning is not about easy sound creation, but optimisation for the environment.