The MOON 100D
Digital-to-Analog Converter accepts USB, S/PDIF and TosLink inputs.
Intended for use with a computer via the USB input, the remaining
inputs allow for interfacing with other source components such as a
music server, digital tranpsort, etc. All digital input signals are
processed through an asynchronous sample rate converter and then
24-bit DACs.
The 100D is housed in a compact chassis constructed of rigid
aluminium and features a 1/4” brushed and anodized faceplate. Don't
be deceived by its small footprint since trickle-down technology
dominates, thanks in no small part to its larger sibling, the 300 D
... Amazing things do come in small packages.
Using 24-bit/1.411MHz processing,
the MOON 100D will faithfully reproduce your digital music in
an effortless fashion. Accepting an input signal from 44.1 to 192kHz
with a bit-depth range from 16 to 24-bits, jitter is a virtual
non-issue thanks to the asynchronous operation of this DAC.
Sonically, it portrays all of the Simaudio hallmarks: clean,
powerful, fast, extended bass combined with an open midrange and
airy extended high frequencies.
An important
note about the USB input
The USB input on the MOON 100D accepts a digital audio
signal of up to 16-bits/48kHz. This is the native specification
of the USB input. However, if you require a higher sampling
rate, there are ways to achieve this with the 100D.
Rather than including a USB input for sampling rates exceeeding
48kHz, we opted to provide the best possible power supply, D/A
converter and analog stage in the MOON 100D at this price
level. Also, keep in mind that USB wasn’t originally intended
for use with hi-resolution audio; there are latency issues which
compromise sound quality (i.e. jitter and phase errors, etc.).
These could be minimized through dedicated costly circuitry, but
this would significantly drive up the cost of the 100D
without improving the sonic performance on any of the other
inputs.
If you intend to use the MOON 100D’s USB input, it’s very
likely that your computer is a data source for music. Today most
computers with a built-in sound card will have either an S/PDIF
(RCA connector) or Toslink (optical connector) digital audio
output, thus eliminating the need for a USB input on the 100D.
Furthermore, if you’re committed to getting the most out of the
music stored on your computer, then in all likelihood you have
installed an after-market soundcard in your computer. Virtually
all of these soundcards have at least one S/PDIF, Optical or AES/EBU
(XLR connector) digital output. At this point, USB connectivity
becomes irrelevant. The USB input is there for convenience as
opposed to performance.
In the event that you wish to use your computer’s USB connection
with files greater than 48kHz, there are several relatively
inexpensive after-market products; compact one-box USB-to-S/PDIF
interfaces that will work with USB datastreams up to 24-bit, all
the way up to 192kHz.
