Audioengine (http://www.audioengineusa.com) has announced two new computer audio interface products: the D1 Premium 24-bit DAC and D2 Premium 24-bit Wireless DAC.
The D1 (pictured) bypasses your computer’s headphone output or soundcard and sends audio through the USB port, which will improve the audio quality of all your music — even if you don’t listen to HD audio yet, says says Dave Evans, Audioengine director. It’s a computer DAC capable of converting audio files with bit depths of up to 24 bits and sample rates as high as 192KHz.
In addition to being an USB computer DAC, the D1 also includes an optical input for DVD/Blu-ray players, TVs, and game consoles. No special software drivers are needed.
The D2 is a product for computer audiophiles that offers the ability to stream “bit-perfect” 24/96 audio wirelessly from your computer right to your music system, says Evans. It will accept USB or an optical input, and the D2 Receiver will output optical or analog audio through y RCA connectors.
The system utilizes an over-the-air 24bit/96KHz PCM stereo digital stream in a “closed-system” Wi-Fi configuration. In addition, the D2 Sender can simultaneously transmit HD audio to up to three receivers. The volume control is transmitted over an entirely separate channel.
The Audioengine D1 Premium 24-bit DAC has a retail price of US$169 and the D2 Premium 24-bit Wireless DAC is $599 for a sender/receiver pair, with extra D2 Receivers sold separately. Both products are available from over 200 authorized Audioengine resellers or online directly from Audioengine.
