{"product_id":"merason-dac-1-mk-ii-schwarz","title":"Merason DAC 1 Mk II D\/A Converter, Black","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Merason DAC 1 Mk II is a fully balanced reference D\/A converter that turns digital sources into music with the highest resolution and naturalness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt's the fine-tuned step up from the Reuss and has been a favourite of the specialist press for years. Handbuilt in Switzerland – available with gold-plated or pure-silver RCA jacks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy the DAC 1 Mk II?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTechnically it shares the Reuss's DNA: two Burr-Brown 1794A (one per channel), discrete I\/V stage, fully balanced Class-A output, every input galvanically isolated, twelve dedicated linear power supplies. The difference lies in the fine-tuning – a tighter frequency response (±0.3 dB), lower distortion (\u003c 0.01%) and more signal-to-noise headroom (\u003e 120 dB). You hear it as even more calm, resolution and body. Not for nothing did Part-Time Audiophile recommend it in its 2024 Buyer's Guide, and pt.audio gave it a \"Highly recommended\" in early 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat you hear\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA soundstage that puts you right in the middle of the concert, and a resolution that reveals the finest shadings – without ever turning hard or analytical. The DAC 1 Mk II stays honest rather than flattering; it's the converter that's no longer the bottleneck in a good chain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho's the DAC 1 Mk II for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the genuinely good system that deserves the right converter. Plain talk: it too is a pure D\/A converter – no volume control, no remote, no DSD (PCM up to 192 kHz\/24 bit). You need an amplifier or preamp with a line-level input. And honestly: visually and in construction it resembles the more affordable Reuss – if you don't need that last increment, the Reuss already serves you excellently. If you want it, you get it here.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eStandard or pure-silver RCA?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eStandard means gold-plated RCA output jacks – the classic DAC 1 Mk II. For a surcharge (+CHF 363) you can get the RCA jacks in pure silver, for a minimally lower contact resistance. Honestly, not a night-and-day difference, but the fine finishing touch for completists. We're happy to advise you on whether it's worth it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOur verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor most systems, the DAC 1 Mk II is already reference level – beyond that, only those who want the absolute last word, uncompromisingly, with the DAC 2 or Mountain need go further. Listen to it at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil on your own chain.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTechnical data\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e D\/A converter, fully balanced\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConverter:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2× Burr-Brown 1794A, discrete I\/V stage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChannels:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4 independent, Class-A output\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInputs:\u003c\/strong\u003e USB (Amanero), AES\/EBU, Toslink (optical), S\/PDIF coaxial (RCA)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInput formats:\u003c\/strong\u003e PCM up to 192 kHz \/ 24 bit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOutputs:\u003c\/strong\u003e XLR balanced max. 3 V RMS, RCA unbalanced max. 1.5 V RMS (standard gold-plated, optional pure silver)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequency response:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20 Hz – 20 kHz ± 0.3 dB\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDistortion (THD+N):\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c 0.01%\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSignal-to-noise ratio:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003e 120 dB\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePower supply:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12 separate linear power supplies, 230 V \/ 50–60 Hz, approx. 30 W\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions (W × H × D):\u003c\/strong\u003e 45 × 10 × 29 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.5 kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Black (standard or with pure-silver RCA jacks)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Made in Switzerland\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScope of delivery:\u003c\/strong\u003e Merason DAC 1 Mk II D\/A converter (Black), power cable, user manual\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat's the difference between the DAC 1 Mk II, the Reuss and the DAC 2?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Reuss is the entry point into the same converter philosophy, the DAC 1 Mk II follows up with better measurements and more fine-tuning – the specialist press's reference favourite. The DAC 2 goes one step further still, with true dual-mono and Class A without feedback.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat does the pure-silver RCA jack get you?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eInstead of the gold-plated standard jacks, the RCA output carries jacks made of pure silver with minimally lower contact resistance. It's the final fine touch for purists – no giant leap, but the option to capture even this detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDo I need a preamp, and does it play DSD?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eYou need an amplifier or preamp with a line-level input, because the DAC 1 Mk II has a fixed output level with no volume control. It doesn't play DSD – it's designed for PCM up to 192 kHz\/24 bit, which is enough for the vast majority of sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy buy the Merason DAC 1 Mk II from HD Zürisee?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eBecause a reference converter needs a chain that's on equal footing. As an authorised Merason dealer in Wädenswil, we'll demonstrate the DAC 1 Mk II on your own components, advise you on sources and cabling, and deliver and install it. Call us (044 680 22 00), write to us, or reach us on WhatsApp (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/41765342200\"\u003e076 534 22 00\u003c\/a\u003e, text only, no calls).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the DAC 1 Mk II to show what it can do, it needs a clean source and a chain on equal footing: \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/streamer\"\u003eStreamer\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/cd-player\"\u003eCD Players\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/vorverstarker\"\u003ePreamplifiers\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/kabel\"\u003eCables\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/en-ch\/collections\/merason\"\u003eMerason\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Merason","offers":[{"title":"Standard","offer_id":53101823951184,"sku":null,"price":7933.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true},{"title":"mit Reinsilber-Cinch-Buchse","offer_id":53101824770384,"sku":null,"price":8296.0,"currency_code":"CHF","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0932\/3262\/8048\/files\/merason-dac-1-mk-ii-d-a-wandler-schwarz-frontansicht.png?v=1786523189","url":"https:\/\/hdzuerisee.ch\/en-ch\/products\/merason-dac-1-mk-ii-schwarz","provider":"HD Zürisee AG","version":"1.0","type":"link"}