RUBY2 has original ‘hi-fi Audio DAC & Headphone AMP’
which has USB input as well as Optical digital input. Using these digital
inputs. RUBY2 can be connected with DVD player or normal grade CD player and
produce fantastic audio quality.
For digital chipset combination, RUBY2 was designed with
PCM1796, Burr Brown and CS8416, Cirrus Logic. For the OPAMP part of analog
output, OPA604, Texan Instruments and OPA2134, Burr Brown are used. Total six
OPAMPs of three for left part and three for right part are designed as HEXAD
style of the isolated dual mono structure.
As before, RUBY2 also took famous audio parts from SANYO
OSCON, WIMA, VISHAY DALE, TDK, etc.. Full aluminum case, aluminum cutting knob
and 24K gold coating PCB, brass spike, TCXO 1ppm, Toshiba’s optical terminal
are used for RUBY2.
THE BEST DAC CHIPSET ?
PCM1796, Burr Brown adopted by RUBY2 is normally advertised
as ‘the best’ or ‘the highest’ like computer’s CPU and the combination of
PCM1796 and CS8416, Cirrus Logic is experienced for hifi audio components.
However we do not agree that the technical specification of digital chipset
represent the sound quality of audio components, it is rather for psychological
stability of some people who are approaching with computer knowledge, not with
hifi audio.
Styleaudio is concerned deeply what are the mostly necessary
factors which many audiophiles enjoy the music, not with technical
specification. We finally reached to the answer. It is ‘We should be faithful
to the basics.’, such as experienced parts, stable power, efficient circuit
design, analog output, etc. We are very proud that RUBY2 was born with these
basics and our upmost effort and experience.
DIGITAL (OPTICAL) INPUT
RUBY2 has digital (optical) input as well as USB port. When
you connect RUBY2 and DVD player or CD player using digital input, you may
enjoy music with the high resolution and density of high quality. RUBY2 has
Toshiba’s Fiber Optical Toslink which is well known for hifi audio compoents.
HEXAD OP AMP
RUBY2 is designed HEXAD OPAMP style which are combined with
three single OPAMP for each left and right analog out part, total six single
OPAMP. Styleaudio is using OPA604, Burr-Brown and OPA827 (different from AD827)
for HEXAD design and copper plate bock can isolate left and right for balanced
design.
However ‘combination of HEXAD OP AMP’ is recommendation of
TI, not Styleaudio’s. This recommendation is to preserve the sound signal when
designer uses their chipsets by TI. Styleaudio is following this recommendation
and rather concentrates on finding the best combination of OP AMPs which accumulated
experiences.
PLANNING
Design of the
printed circuit boards for our products is very similar to the process of
planning a
CUSTOM BRASS SPIKE, COPPER
PLATE & 24K-GOLD COATING PCB
Normally many DAC products have rubber foot or plastic foot,
but RUBY2 has custom brass spike which is used for anti-vibration for high end
audio components. Our brass spike is working double vibration prevention with
the design of two floors of brass with black nickel coating and polyurethane
foot.
Using copper plate block, it is possible to isolate between
digital part and analog part, and between left/right analog output. Also 24K
double face gold coating PCB can produce the maximized performance of each
part.
All electric condenser of Styleaudio products
are SANYO’s OSCON.
All film condenser of Styleauido products are
WIMA.
On RUBY2, there’re no mic-in and do not
support 5.1 channels, because RUBY2 is pure audio components which is designed
only for hifi stereo music.
WITH LAPTOP
It’s not possible to upgrade sound-card in the
case of laptop. For laptop users, RUBY3 is great solution possibly to enjoy
hifi audio quality and RUBY is also supporting MAC OS.
*
SUPPORT OS
Mac
OS’tm’ 9.1 or later English / Japanese 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,
MAIN CHIPSET