Styleaudio

Carat-EMERALD

 

 

Styleaudio EMERALD

Hi Fi USB AUDIO DAC & HEADPHONE AMP

 

 

 

 

Styleaudio EMERALD is an affordable very high quality USB DAC and headphone amplifier and the 2^nd version of Styleaudio’s JEWEL series.. As a succeeding model of the previous versions which as the successful to be introduced as Hi Fi USB DAC & Headphone amp which was designed with professional Audio components such as OSCON and WIMA caps, 1.5ppm TCXO clock and Vishay-Dale resistors.

 

The EMERALD is a high performance portable device as it can make use of either USB bus power via its internally TDK filtered circuit, allowing it to be powered from any computer when you are on the go. Or it can be powered via the included external "wall wart", when one is near a power receptacle and desires a bit higher performance.

 

 

The headphone driver portion of the Emerald is special as well, utilizing the high performance OPA2134 and OPA2604 OPAMP's from TI. This robust headphone amplification section will drive any headphone from 32ohm to 300ohm with ease. And, the "goodness" continues into the DAC section. Utilizing the TI PCM1793 24bit/192Khz DA converter, this DAC is capable of an astounding dynamic range of 113dB with a negligible THD+N of 0.001%. The USB input is controlled by the proven TI PCM2707 USB controller, allowing use of up to 48Khz files via USB.

 

The EMERALD can work without separate power adapter and not a big size to take out easily. Or it can work with provided power 5V power adapter. The EMERALD will work "plug and play" with any Mac OS of 9.0 or later and any Windows OS of 2000, or later. Plug it in, let the drivers load, select the device (if necessary) and listen to the great sound now emanating from your computer!

Styleaudio EMERALD is also developed with the best components in higher density design and especially its audio quality and output level are upgraded much more than the previous models. It is a real “Hi Fi Audio DAC & Headphone AMP”.

 

 

 

 

1.      Like a planning new city

Our philosophy in designing the printed circuit boards for our products is very similar to the process good city planners take when planning a new city. For example, a good city planner will not put factories, industrial areas and city infrastructure close to residential areas. Similarly, we isolate each circuit of our products from one other, with four discrete and isolated sections: Input, digital conversion, main power and analog. By keeping these sections separate via dedicated DC to DC converters and ensuring that the grounds are isolated, this minimizes the possibility of interference between sections.

2.      Best solution for PC Fi

The popularity of digital music sources mean that many users want to enjoy their digital music sources with the highest quality.  They also desire to connect their personal computer to their exiting Hi-Fi audio components. To ensure the best quality sound and safety of ones existing Hi-Fi components, EMERALD has a unique “DC blocking” circuit, ensuring that any connected audio components are safe as possible when connected to a personal computer.
 

3.      Separate power adapter use optional

EMERALD can be powered via the USB bus power, so there is no need for an additional power adapter. To ensure the best sound, EMERALD has a very effective “Power Filtering” circuit which filters power from the USB power input via an inductor from TDK.

However, if users wish to utilize an outboard power adapter due to their personal computer not having stable USB power, they can use the included power adapter to power the EMERALD.
 

4.      Best components

For selecting of analog signal, EMERALD uses the proven traditional relay control method, utilizing the ultra high quality JAPAN NISE parts which are generally reserved for use in very the very highest level audio products.  We do not “IT grade components” such as selection semi-conductor chips, to select between inputs and outputs. EMERALD uses high quality parts throughout, paying attention to not only the quality of the through hole parts, but the small SMD components as well . EMERALD utilizes F-level resistors & J-level condensers; all the electric condensers are from OSCON and all film condensers are from WIMA.
 

5.      1.5ppm TCXO

EMERALD also has 1.5ppm TCXO. A TCXO (Temperature Controlled Crystal Oscillator) is normally used in much more expensive audio products, many costing thousands of dollars. We believe that our use of this key part contributes to the overall sound quality.
 

6. 24~300 ohm headphone compatible

EMERALD has a circuit which filters spurious noise from the input of the headphone AMP and was designed to the same standards an independent/stand alone headphone AMP. EMERALD is compatible with any headphone that has an impedance of 24ohm ~ 300ohm. For the OP AMP's, EMERALD utilizes TI OPA2134 and TI OPA2604 for the output. The output level is a very healthy 2Vrms, which is the same level of many separate high end Hi-Fi level CD players or Hi-Fi DAC's, so this unit can drive virtually any preamplifier stage on the market.
 

7.      Aluminum volume knob

EMERALD has a custom aluminum volume knob in place of the plastic used in most components at this price range. The unit is fitted with a green LED which reminds one that they are listening to a "precious jewel", the EMERALD.

 

8.      OS circumstance

Mac OS ‘tm’ 9.1 or later Japanese/English edition

Mac OS X 10.0 or later English edition

Mac OS X 10.1 or later Japanese edition SP

Microsoft Window 2000 Professional, XP, Vista

9.      Digital Chipset specification

- DA converter : Texas Instruments PCM1793 :   24bit / 192Khz sampling, 8x oversampling digital filter,        Dynamic range : 113dB, THD+N : 0.001%

- USB controller : Texas Instruments PCM2707 /  Full speed tranciever (Real audio 1.1) /  I2S, 32, 44.1, 48KHz / 16Bit Delta-Sigma stereo

 

10.  Contents

1 x CARAT-EMERALD

1 x USB Cable

1 x User’s manual

1 x DC 5V power adapter

 

11.  Size

75 mm (W) x 30 mm (H) x 126 mm (D)

 

 

 

contact : leetaewoo@digital-go.com

 

Carat-TOPAZ

Styleaudio TOPAZ

Hi Fi AUDIO USB DAC & HEADPHONE AMP

 

The Styleaudio TOPAZ is our highest model which is an affordable ultra high quality USB DAC and headphone amplifier and the 3^nd version of Styleaudio’s JEWEL series.. A custom designed and very dense PCB is stuffed with the highest quality parts, including: OSCON and WIMA caps, 1.0ppm TCXO clock and Vishay-Dale resistors. In addition to using top shelf parts, the designers also segregated each section of the unit, isolating the input, digital conversion, main power and analog sections from each other to ensure a very low noise floor.

 

 

 

The headphone driver portion of the Topaz is quite special, utilizing two of the high performance TI/Burr Brown OPA2134 OPAMP's, allowing the Topaz to comfortably drive any headphone from 32ohm to 300ohm. The line ouput section gets the same attention to detail as the rest of the unit and employs two of the Analog Device AD817 OPAMP's, allowing the Topaz to be at home in a high end two channel audio system. Impressively, the Topaz also use four of the TI NE5534 OPAMP's for the I/V section, a testament to their dedication to quality and good sound.

 

The impressive engineering pedigree and use of top notch parts continues into the DAC section. Utilizing the TI PCM1792 24bit/192Khz DA converter, this DAC is capable of an astounding dynamic range of 123dB with a negligible THD+N of 0.0005%. The USB input is controlled by the proven TI PCM2707 USB controller, allowing use of up to 48Khz files via USB. And, finally, the digital controller is the Crystal CS8416 with low jitter clock recovery.

The Topaz is truly "plug and play" with any Mac OS of 9.0 or later and any Windows OS of 2000, or later. Plug it in, let the divers load, select the device (if necessary) and listen to the great sound now emanating from your computer!

 

Package includes:

• Topaz DAC/headphone amp
• USB Cable
• Brass feet/couplers
• User manual
• 6VDC power adapter

Our philosophy of the building is very similar to plan new city. For example, there’s no factory in the middle of residence town. Same as this, PCB designers should consider also with this kind of view point. TOPAZ is designed with 4 different parts such as Input, Digital covert, Main Power and Analog. We designed these 4 different areas separately and also isolate ground in circuit design. This effort can minimize a possibility which could make any interference each other between different function-parts. For this, TOPAZ take independently shield DC-DC converter.

 

 

1. The best of the best, PCM 1792 by Burr-Brown

When we look the digital specification, PCM 1792 is normally said as the best chipset. And for the hight end device, the combination of PCM 1792 & CIRRUS Logic's CS8416 has a good reputation in Hi Fi Audio industry. TOPAZ has also this combination. However it is audio device, not IT device, the unit should need another factors which should have as a high end components. Styleaudio tried to add other qualified parts, enough & stable power supply, efficient circuit design and analog parts. Because we belive that audio components must by combined by all these factors, not only by digital specification.

 

2. Optical input

TOPAZ has digital(Optical) input as well as USB input. You can connect DVD player or low end CD player to TOPAZ. You can enjoy Hi Fi auido quality with these devices also.

 

3. Like a planning new city:
Our philosophy in designing the printed circuit boards for our products is very similar to the process good city planners take when planning a new city. For example, a good city planner will not put factories, industrial areas and city infrastructure close to residential areas. Similarly, we isolate each circuit of our products from one other, with four discrete and isolated sections: Input, digital conversion, main power and analog. By keeping these sections separate via dedicated DC to DC converters and ensuring that the grounds are isolated, this minimizes the possibility of interference between sections.

 

4. Separate power adapter
USB power supply maybe easy to use. However TOPAZ did not take this "easy to use". TOPAZ is designed to work with 6V DC with external power adapter. Why? We think higher model should give better things. As TOPAZ is an audio device, "better things" must be sould quality. USB power-in is easy, but we know some times its power supply is not very stable.  Everybody know the stable power supply is very important to produce very good sould. We expect TOPAZ produce very good sound qualtity with very stable stable power supply.

5. 1.0ppm TCXO
TOPAZ also has 1.0ppm TCXO. A TCXO (Temperature Controlled Crystal Oscillator) is normally used in much more expensive audio products, many costing thousands of dollars. We believe that our use of this key part contributes to the overall sound quality.

 

6. 24 ~ 300 ohm headphone compatible

TOPAZ has a circuit which filters spurious noise from the input of the headphone AMP and was designed to the same standards an independent/stand alone headphone AMP. TOPAZ is compatible with any headphone that has an impedance of 24ohm ~ 300ohm. For the OP AMP's, TOPAZ utilizes TI OPA2134 and TI OPA2604 for the output. The output level is a very healthy 2Vrms, which is the same level of many separate high end Hi-Fi level CD players or Hi-Fi DAC's, so this unit can drive virtually any preamplifier stage on the market.

 

7. Aluminum volume knob
TOPAZ has a custom aluminum volume knob in place of the plastic used in most components at this price range. The unit is fitted with a orange LED which reminds one that they are listening to a "precious jewel", the TOPAZ.

 

 

 

 

See more information about TOPAZ as below.

 

Size

75mm(W)*30mm(H)*126mm(D)

 

Spec

1) Main DAC : BURR-BROWN PCM1792

   - 24 Bit 192 KHz Highest Performance Stereo DAC

   - Dynamic Range : 127 dB / THD+N : 0.0004%

   - 8x Oversampling Digital Filter

2) Digital Controller : Cirrus Logic CS8416

   - 32KHz to 192Khz Sample frequency range

   - Low Jitter Clock Recovery

3) USB Controller : BURR-BROWN PCM2707

   - USB2.0 FS DAC / Fully Compliant with USB 1.1 Specification

   - 32Khz ~ 48Khz / 16bit delta-sigma stereo

4) OPAMP : TOTAL 8 pcs (DIP type)

   - Output : Analog Device AD817 x 2 pcs

   - I/V : Texas Instruments NE5534 x 4 pcs

   - Headphone : Burr-Brown OPA2134 x 2 pcs

5) TCXO : 1.0ppm

6) Output level : 2Vrms

7) 1 x 5.5mm Gold-coated Stereo Headphone Jack

8) 2 x selector (Power & Output selection)

9) 1 x Volume controller & 1 x orange color power LED

10) Gold-coated RCA jack (Left / Right)

11) working with DC 6V power adapter

12) USB In

13) Optical In

14) Brass metal foot

 

Features

1) Best chip : Hi Fi Audio DAC & Headphone AMP

2) USB input & OPTICAL input

3) HEXAD type OPAMP : Dual mono design

- Right 3 OPAMP / LEFT 3 OPAMP

4) Sanyo OS-CON / Wima / Vishay Dale, Silver Mica

    - all electric condenser : OS-CON

    - all film condenser : WIMA

5) 24bit, 192KHz support

2) Out sound level is 2Vrms (same level as Hi Fi CD players), so it can accept upto 300 ohm Hi Fi headphone.

4) ‘TCXO’ 1.0ppm which is specially using by the very high-end audio product and DAC.

6) 4 different block design (Input, Digital convert, Main Power, Analog)

7) Power level filtering function

8) DC6V power adapter.

9) Plug & Play without installing drivers or software.

10) MS Windows 2000 professional, XP and VISTA and Mac OS (Mac OS’tm’9.1 or later Japanese/English edition, Mac OS X 10.0 or later English edition, Mac OS X 10.1 or later Japanese edition SP)

11) Full Aluminum anodizing case & high quality brass metal foot, which can reduce any kind of external noise and resonance as much as possible.

12) Recommended aging time : 50 hours

15) Aluminum volume knob.

16) Output tuning

 

contact : leetaewoo@digital-go.com