CEntrance DACmini PX DAC Headphone Amp/Integrated Amp/DAC

Description

PREOWNED – FULLY TESTED – INCLUDES ORIGINAL BOX/PACKING, MANUAL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER CABLE

What can the DACmini PX do? It’s a 3-in-1 DAC, class A head amp and 25wpc class D integrated which the maker quite fittingly dubs audio hub. There are four inputs starting with USB which digests signal up to 24bit/96kHz. Here the DACmini eschews asynchronous transfer to champion the company’s proprietary ‘JitterGuard’ solution. That’s a two-stage PLL reclocker inserted between USB transceiver and DAC chip. S/PDIF is supported with coax and Toslink sockets and both handle 192kHz. To not give analog sources the cold shoulder there’s a classic RCA input too.

Unpacked and fired up the DACmini PX conveyed a solid impression – which it should for €1.475. For a triplet of class D amp, head amp and DAC that’s neither highway robbery nor chicken feed. I was impressed with the careful fit & finish which carried on beneath the bonnet. Here the mini sports galvanically isolated chassis-mount inputs which particularly with computer sources should suppress potential hum and ground loops. The SMPS power supply is external (audiophiles rejoice) and the machine itself isn’t directly grounded (a subject close to the designer’s heart). Input selection is via noise-free small knob disguising a +/-45° switch which shuttles through sources in both directions.