02-06-02

The Millennium DAC II is now discontinued. The information will remain on the site for reference. Please see the EVS modified SACD/DVD-A players page for more info.

Millennium DAC II

(Discontinued)

 

Update: Most people know that op amps have sonic limitations. We have always favored discrete fet and tube circuits for their palpable sound. I could not stand it any longer that I was using an op amp in the output stage of the Millennium, so guess what? The Millennium DAC II now has a discrete class A fet stage (designed by us) for its output circuit! No more Op amps!!!!! The Millennium DAC II is now incredibly palpable and much more real sounding. Inner detail is scary. Because of the cost of these circuits and the extra labor in assembly of the DAC we need to raise the price of the Millennium II to $1050. The difference in price barely covers our cost of the fet circuits and labor. We now have a couple of pictures of the insides at the bottom of this page.

Some of the other features of the Millennium DAC II are:

 

1. Upsampling to 96K via the Crystal upsampling chip. This is the same chip used by Perpetual Tech, Bel-Canto, Assemblage, etc. We use a very low jitter clock on the output of the upsampler to keep the jitter very low. We lower the jitter by further tricking this part out. We then reclock the word clock after it leaves the digital filter to lower jitter even more. The Millennium II can accept any frequency or word length up to 24 bits and 96K. It upsamples all sources to 24/96, then sends the signal to the digital filter which oversamples 8 times to 768K. This high speed info is sent directly to the DACs. The upsampling is not defeatable.

 

2. The EVS Millennium II features the mono Burr-Brown PCM 1704 24bit/768K capable DAC chips (premium "K" version/$25 each). This DAC chip has true current output. Many DACs, like the three dollar Burr-Brown PCM 1716 used in the MSB, have an op amp built in the DAC chip that runs on +5 volts. By having true current output, we can use our own outboard discrete fet current to voltage converters (running at plus and minus 15 volts) for much better sound.

 

3. Super parts and execution: The total parts cost on the $1050.00 Millennium II is over $540. This would generally sell for about $2160-$2700 retail and wholesale for $1296-$1620 (60% of retail). Some of the parts we use are Caddocks resistors, Vishay resistors, AuriCaps, Elna Cerafines, Harmonic Tech hook-up wire, the world's best DACs, 12 regulators, 6 soft recover diode bridges and OFC (oxygen free copper) jacks. Two different types of damping material are utilized in damping many parts, the chassis and the circuit board. The digital chips are shielded with grounded copper foil.

 

4. One hardwired (no switching-for best sound) digital input: either a coax, BNC or AES/balanced (as requested). Sorry, no Tos-Link or Glass.

 

5. One 56 watt split bobbin transformer for the digital section and one 56 watt split bobbin transformer for analog stages and DACs. Transformers are located inside DAC chassis. No separate power supply needed.

 

6. IEC connector for using super power cords. Internal power line filtering using premium parts. DAC comes with an inexpensive power cord. We can sell you a better power cord as an option. Please call for details.

 

7. Standard output voltage is 2 volts RMS. The voltage can be raised to as much as 7 volts RMS for use in a passive preamp system at customer request.

 

8. Output impedance is 100 ohms. Optional extra set of single ended OFC output jacks are $25.00 (useful for bi-amping, subwoofers, driving two separate systems, or having one set of output jacks with attenuators and one set non-attenuated/fixed output).

 

9. Optional rear mounted passive volume control (our Ultimate Attenuators, natch) $100.

 

10. Rear mounted Switchable phase.

 

11. Black Anodized Aluminum chassis measuring 14" by 11" by 3.25".

 

 

Millennium DAC II price: $1050.00

 

Options:

Second set of output jacks: $25.00.

(rear mounted only) volume control: $100.

 

Note: There are no balanced outputs on the Millennium II.

 

 

 

 

Question: I saw somewhere that there was a Millennium DAC 1, 1A and 1B. What are the differences? Are these still being made? How are they different from the II? Are you going to keep changing the DAC II as well?

 

The Millennium DAC I was conceived as inexpensive killer DAC. I had plans at the time to bring out a DAC II that would have upsampling.

 

The DAC 1A was not planned. I could not get the Analog Devices DAC chips that I used in the first DAC 1s, so I used the more expensive Burr-Brown chip set that allowed a super simple output stage. The DAC 1A was $25 more but noticeably better than the 1.

 

The DAC 1B was created to see how far I could take the basic 1A circuit in case the upsampler did not work as well. The 1B added two levels of jitter reduction, by-wiring the transformers and brass screws for the transformers and circuit board. There are only a handful of DAC 1Bs.

 

The DAC II takes all what I did in the 1B and adds the upsampler, two more regulators, tri-wiring the analog diode bridges, discrete Class A fet output stage, built-in line filter and blackgate bypass caps.

 

The Millennium I series is discontinued.

The Millennium II is now discontinued (2-5-02).

 

You can tell what Millennium DAC you have by the circuit board. The Millennium DAC 1 has "revision A" on the board. The DAC 1A and 1B has "revision B" on the board. The 1B has a little perf. board with the reclocking circuit on it. The Millennium II has "DAC II" on the board and looks like the pictures on this page.

 

 

Question: I own a Millennium DAC 1/1A/1B. How much is the upgrade to the Millennium II and when can I get it?

 

 

We don't recommend upgrading the DAC as we can make almost any SACD/DVD-A player sound better playing CDs than using a great transport/Millennium II combo. Please see the EVS modified SACD players page for more info.

 

7-21-2002 update/new policy:

We have parts for only 5 more upgrades from the Millennium I/I a/b to the II. After these parts are gone we will not upgrade Millennium DACs. We may have a universal DAC someday, but it will be at a whole different price point (at least $3000). So far, Sony/Philips is not allowing a universal DSD send and receive circuit, so a universal machine might have to be a proprietary system. We shall see. In the meantime, a modified universal, SACD or DVD-A player will give you years of great sound.

 

The upgrade for original owners is as follows: We will send you a new DAC II for the upgrade price and if you like it and want to keep it (30 Day trial), then you send us your old DAC. We will then sell your old DAC as a used unit.

 

DAC 1 upgrade to DAC II= $550 plus shipping and tax (if within CA.).

DAC 1A, 1B upgrade to DAC II= $475 plus shipping and tax (if

within CA.).

 

If you are not the original owner of a DAC 1, 1A or 1B you can also have the upgrade/trade in but the price is more as we make very little on the upgrade to the original owners (Only the chassis and jacks are the same on a 1 or 1A compared to a 2). Non-original owners do not get the 30 day trial or return privilege. You would send in your old DAC and a check for the upgrade and you will be sent a new DAC II. The new DAC II will have a 3 year transferable warrantee but will not be returnable, except for repairs.

 

For non-original owners the price is:

DAC 1 upgrade to DAC II= $600 plus shipping and tax.

DAC 1A, 1B upgrade to DAC II= $525 plus shipping and tax.

 

If you have any other questions, please e-mail them to us.

 

 

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