Parasound is now shipping its new Zdac V.2 Digital Audio Converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier.
Zdac V.2
The Parasound Zdac V.2 follows on the success of the original Zdac, adding enhanced preamplifier features, a new headphone amplifier with increased gain, and dual output jacks, and improved system integration with 12-volt triggers. Lightning jack equipped Apple iOS devices can now send digital audio directly to the Zdac V.2’s USB port (Apple Lighting to USB adapter required).
Zdac V.2 adds a high-slew-rate headphone amplifier to prevent the odd-order distortions that contribute to listening fatigue. Its low 10 ohm output impedance combined with higher gain allows it to drive phones up to 600 ohms. There is a dedicated headphone volume control, and dual 1/4- and 1/8-inch phone jacks to avoid added adaptor contact noise.
The DAC is configured to drive a power amplifier directly without need of a preamplifier. Its balanced XLR and RCA line outputs can be variable, or fixed level for maximum signal-to-noise. Twelve-volt triggers are now provided for automatic on and off.
Like it’s predecessor, Zdac V.2 has optical and coaxial digital inputs that support up to 192-kHz/24-bit sources, and a USB input for up to 96 kHz/24 bit sources. It provides asynchronous sample rate conversion of all inputs, which are re-clocked and up-sampled to 422 kHz/24 bit.
The Parasound Zdac V.2 is available in silver or black finish with a $549 MSRP.
