“The SPL Diamond is absolutely awesome.”
On the online platform Lowbeats you can find the first review of our new premium DAC with VOLTAiR technology – the SPL Diamond. The complete review is available online – here we provide a short summary.
“SPL expands its range of high-quality and highly specialized audio components with a DAC preamplifier. The SPL Diamond is not only an ideal partner for SPL’s headphone amplifiers and power amplifiers, but also offers an enormously superior sonic potential when used in combination with other devices.”
First impression:
“The controls are clear and can quickly be listed: volume, switch for external word clock, source selection and power switch.”
“The design of Diamond, especially of its front panel with the handy controls, is extremely appealing.”
“A look at the rear of the device reveals a great variety of connections. As the source switch already shows, Diamond offers digital inputs, including two electrical and two optical S/PDIF inputs, as well as AES/EBU and USB. On the analog side, there are RCA and XLR inputs.”
Sound:
“After extensive listening comparisons, my sound verdict is clear. Within its price range, the Diamond is a real treasure as a DAC preamplifier.”
“Common for SPL is, that the design of the circuit is mainly realized with Through-hole technology. The advantage of this is that components can be exchanged relatively easily during development for sonic optimization and the circuit can be optimized by ear, which SPL says they intensively practice.”
“As a DAC chip, SPL uses the AKM AK4490, which supports PCM up to 768 kHz and DSD up to 256. Basically, Diamond can handle everything that is used today in digital (2-channel) audio signals.”
Conclusion:
“Music lovers who exclusively use digital sources and are looking for a DAC/preamplifier that is as easy-to-use as it is versatile and, above all, has a powerful sound, have come to exactly the right place with the new SPL Diamond.”
“Complemented by one of the manufacturer’s awesome power amplifiers, the Diamond forms a visually fascinating team as well. Not only if you opt for the front panels in red. And it is a cost-saving, but sonically uncompromising alternative to the Director Mk2, if the focus is exclusively on digital sources.”
