Reference DAC by MSB Technology

$100,000.00

The MSB Technology Reference DAC, featuring four Hybrid DACs and the advanced Femto 33 clock, delivers precise, natural sound reproduction. Paired with the Digital Director, it offers enhanced noise isolation and digital filtering, making it an ideal choice for audiophiles seeking top-tier performance in a flexible, upgradable package.

Description

MSB Technology Reference DAC: Precision in Digital-to-Analog Conversion

Note: MSB DAC’s are available with additional analog output’s and input modules. Enquire to discuss pricing.

The MSB Technology Reference DAC represents a culmination of advanced engineering and modular design, delivering a detailed and immersive listening experience. Equipped with four Hybrid DAC modules, the Reference DAC excels in reproducing musicality, soundstage, and texture with a level of precision that brings the artist directly to you. The DAC’s fully balanced, ultra-high precision, discrete ladder DAC architecture ensures that each note is conveyed with depth and clarity, free from coloration or buffering noise.

Four Hybrid DACs for Unmatched Detail

Central to the Reference DAC’s performance are its four Hybrid DAC modules, which work together to produce an extraordinary level of detail. This configuration captures the full scope of the original performance, delivering a rich and textured sound that is both dynamic and lifelike. MSB’s robust in-house design also ensures the finest quality playback of PCM and native DSD formats, making this DAC an essential component for any high-end audio system.

Femto 33 Clock: Precision Timing

The Reference DAC is equipped with MSB’s most advanced Femto 33 clock, which features a custom oven-controlled dual crystal design. This clock module is user-upgradable, allowing for future enhancements with minimal hassle. The Femto 33 clock provides ultra-precise timing, drastically reducing jitter and ensuring that digital signals are converted with the highest accuracy, contributing to the DAC’s exceptional sound quality.

Display for the Listening Chair

MSB’s attention to detail is evident in the Reference DAC’s display, which is designed for easy readability from any listening position. The high-visibility LED display, synchronized with the audio clock, minimizes electrical interference by refreshing only between data processing. The display is enclosed in a shielded CNC-machined pocket, ensuring that it does not affect the DAC’s sound quality, allowing you to be fully immersed in your music.

The Reference Powerbase

A critical aspect of the Reference DAC’s performance is its power supply, provided by the Reference Powerbase. This redesigned power supply offers separate isolated feeds for the digital and analog sections of the DAC, effectively reducing the noise floor and enhancing overall performance. The result is a cleaner, more detailed sound, with greater dynamics and a quieter background.

The Digital Director: Elevating Performance

For those seeking to push the performance of their Reference DAC even further, the Digital Director is a highly recommended addition. This device manages all digital audio sources externally, providing enhanced noise isolation and digital filtering. Utilizing MSB’s proprietary ProISL laser fiber optic connection, the Digital Director eliminates noise coupling into the DAC, resulting in a cleaner signal path and more accurate analog reproduction. This enhancement significantly broadens the soundstage and improves detail, particularly in complex musical passages, making the Digital Director a valuable upgrade for serious audiophiles.

Craftsmanship and Modular Design

The Reference DAC is crafted with precision from a 65lb plate of ‘Kaiser Select Precision Plate’ aluminum, which is meticulously machined down to an 18lb finished product. This CNC billet chassis not only provides exceptional durability but also allows for optimal design integration, ensuring that every aspect of the DAC contributes to its performance. The modular design of the Reference DAC allows for easy upgrades, ensuring that it remains a future-proof investment as digital audio technology evolves.

Dynamic Headphone Amplifier: Perfect Pairing for Personal Listening

The MSB Technology Dynamic Headphone Amplifier is the ideal companion for the Reference DAC, designed to bring out the best in both dynamic and planar magnetic headphones. This amplifier is built to match the Reference DAC’s ultra-low-noise outputs, ensuring that the exceptional detail and clarity provided by the DAC are fully realized in a headphone setup. Whether you’re using electrostatic or dynamic headphones, the Dynamic Headphone Amplifier offers a powerful, detailed, and immersive listening experience, making it an essential part of any high-end personal audio system.

Trade-In Program: Evolving with Your Audio Journey

MSB Technology recognizes that audio systems are constantly evolving, and they offer a generous trade-in program to support this. When upgrading to a higher-performing series, MSB provides up to 100% trade-in value for existing MSB products. This program allows you to keep your system at the cutting edge of audio technology, ensuring that your investment continues to deliver exceptional performance. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your DAC, amplifier, or other MSB components, this program offers a seamless transition to the latest innovations without losing the value of your current setup.

Conclusion: A Long-Term Audio Solution

The MSB Technology Reference DAC is designed for audiophiles who demand the highest level of sound quality and flexibility. With its advanced clocking, modular design, and the option to enhance performance with the Digital Director, the Reference DAC offers a comprehensive and future-proof solution for high-end digital-to-analog conversion. It stands as a testament to MSB’s commitment to precision, innovation, and excellence in audio engineering.

Additional information

Weight 53 kg
Dimensions 63.5 × 63.5 × 50.8 cm
Finishes

Available in matte black or matte silver anodized finishes

Supported Formats (Input dependent)

44.1kHz to 3,072kHz PCM up to 32 bits
1xDSD, 2xDSD, 4xDSD, 8xDSD
Supports DSD via DoP on all inputs

Digital Inputs

4x Advanced isolated input module slots

XLR Analog Inputs

100kΩ Balanced
12Vrms Maximum
Isolated when not selected

XLR Analog Outputs

3.57Vrms Maximum (Digital Input)
12Vrms Maximum (Analog Input)
150Ω Balanced
Galvanically isolated

Preamp Output Module Volume Control

Purely passive constant impedance analog attenuation
1dB steps

Base Output Volume Control

1dB steps

Dynamic Range (20Hz to 20kHz)

143dBFS
145dBAFS

Display

Custom discrete LED audio clock synchronous display
Adjustable brightness and auto-off feature

Controls

Isolated RS-232
IR Remote
Knob + 3 Buttons

Chassis Dimensions

Width: 44.4cm
Depth: 44.4cm
Height: 7.9cm (without feet) 9.2 (with feet)

Chassis Weight

11kg

Product Feet

M6X1 Thread

Included DAC Accessories

User Manual
MSB Remote
USB charging cable

Powerbase AC Voltage

100V (Fixed)
120/240V (Auto switching)

Powerbase Power Consumption

90 Watts with fully configured Reference DAC
Less than 2W standby

Powerbase Chassis Dimensions

Width: 44.4cm
Depth: 44.4cm
Height: 7.9cm (without feet) 9.2cm (with feet)

Powerbase Weight

20kg

Included Powerbase Accessories

2X Hybrid power cables
Ground cable
IEC power cord

About MSB

MSB Technology, a California-based leader in high-end audio, offers an extensive range of products designed for audiophiles who demand precision, modularity, and state-of-the-art performance. Their lineup includes not only world-class DACs but also powerful amplifiers and accessories, all crafted with a focus on delivering unmatched sound quality and long-term upgradability.

The S500 Stereo Amplifier is a cornerstone of their amplifier range, offering 500 watts per channel. Known for its fully discrete current feedback design, the S500 delivers a dynamic and controlled sound, characterized by tight bass, detailed midrange, and clean highs. Its ability to handle complex speaker loads with ease makes it a versatile option for high-end systems, ensuring both power and finesse​.

MSB is also at the forefront of digital innovation with their Digital Directors, which enhance the performance of their DACs by separating digital and analog processes. The Digital Directors, which include models like the Reference Digital Director, are designed to improve signal processing by minimising interference and jitter. These units work in tandem with MSB’s ProISL (Isolated Synchronous Link) interface to ensure the cleanest possible digital signal transmission, further elevating the already impressive performance of MSB’s DACs​.

For personal audio enthusiasts, the Select Headphone Amplifier offers the same precision and transparency that MSB is known for. With its fully discrete Class A amplifier topology, it drives high-end headphones effortlessly, providing a detailed and engaging listening experience. Paired with MSB’s renowned DACs, this headphone amplifier brings out the best in personal audio setups​.

MSB’s product lineup spans a wide range of audio solutions, including the Reference DAC, Discrete DAC, Digital Directors, and amplifiers like the S500. Their commitment to modular design allows users to customise and upgrade their systems over time, ensuring superior sound quality and future-proof versatility. Whether through their advanced DAC technology, powerful amplification, or digital accessories, MSB continues to lead the high-end audio market by delivering clarity, dynamics, and emotional depth across all listening formats.

Reviews

Hudba & Zvuk – Audio Rom (March, 2023)

“The MSB The Reference DAC coiled slowly around me (and my ears), minute by minute, not to suffocate, rather to leave me breathless. It is as if the equipment and the room became weightless and the air remained the only medium to carry the sound. The experience was truly transcendent.”

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Dirk Sommer – Hi-Fi Statement (November, 2020)

“I have wrested a lot of pleasant sound from my digital playback chain with an upscaler, a battery power supply and one or two linear power supplies. The lucky owners of a Reference DAC don’t need to go to the trouble: they connect it to the mains and to the power amplifier with two balanced cables, connect a digital source of their choice via USB or network and enjoy music at the highest level. I am already looking forward to working with the MSB mono power amplifier. How nice that the Reference DAC has to stay in my listening room for the time being.”

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Matej Isak – Mono & Stereo (Februrary, 2019)

“There is no doubt, that MSB Technology deserves a special highlighting and for remarkable and stand out performance. For what it represent technically and musically, I’m wholeheartedly already giving out the Mono & Stereo Upper Echelon Product Award!”

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Jonathan Valin – The absolute Sound (December, 2018)

“It’s a little scary to think that the Reference is MSB’s penultimate product, that there is another DAC above it (The Select), which supposedly outdoes it in every way. I’d have to hear that to believe it. But in the nonce the Reference DAC and Transport have set a new standard of realism from digital sources (both physical media and streaming) chez Valin. If you’ve got the dough, you’d be silly not to give these exceptional components a long, long listen.”

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