Conrad-Johnson has begun shipping the HD3, its USB-connected HD digital decoder in the UK.
Conrad-Johnson_HD3 Conrad-Johnson HD3
It works with the audio drivers built into all modern Mac and PC computers, and its asynchronous interface is designed to virtually eliminate jitter.
The digital to analogue section, which can handle content up to 24-bit/96kHz, uses a high-end delta-sigma Burr-Brown DAC described by Conrad-Johnson as ‘the most musically satisfying 24/96 capable DAC presently available’.
The digital section is powered by the USB connection to your computer itself, while the analogue section of the DAC and the analogue audio stage are each powered by separate transformers feeding discrete dc voltage regulators. This isolates the analogue signal from any potential noise from the grounding and power supply sections of the digital circuits.
Made by hand in the company’s facility in Fairfax, Virginia, the analogue signal is fed to Conrad-Johnson’s own audio circuits, using high quality polypropylene capacitors and metal foil and metal film resistors.
The Conrad-Johnson HD3 is available now directly from distributor Audiofreaks for £1,995.