[drubrew]

Quote:

Any word on whether it'll run in both direct mode and integer mode via Mac OS? Put another way, will it run on Mac OS via USB with native drivers?
 
Also, I'm a little confused about the balanced input on the front. I'm operating with the understanding that you can have a cable termination that's either a single 4-pin XLR or a double 3-pin XLR. The images look like the only input is a single 3-pin?

 
Integer mode is actually an OSX issue, it is not a DAC issue. The DAC is compatible to the USB 2.0 audio standard, which MAC OS X is following. So it plays without the need of any additional driver. Unfortunately so far the Mac performance is the lowest of all systems in spite of the hype. This is due to the OSX core audio mixer module. Now software manufacturer's try to bypass the mixer (which ASIO on Windows does perfectly and Linux out of the box with some few settings will do). They call it integer mode, but actually this is the standard mode for directly addressing the hardware. Floating point is much better for audio proceeding like mixing. So Audirvana promises to play and transfer in integer mode which requires direct access to the hardware. Very important for MAC to get audiophile at last, pretty standard in Linux, and supported by ASIO in Windows (beware the ASIO plugins, some are junk!).
 
As for the picture with the 3 pin XLR. This picture is old. The unit has a 4 pin for balanced output for your headphones. 

 

[palchiu]

Quote:

Any word on whether it'll run in both direct mode and integer mode via Mac OS? Put another way, will it run on Mac OS via USB with native drivers?
 
Also, I'm a little confused about the balanced input on the front. I'm operating with the understanding that you can have a cable termination that's either a single 4-pin XLR or a double 3-pin XLR. The images look like the only input is a single 3-pin?

 
Just plug Pure DAC with MAC and go, no drivers need.
 
I used with Audirvana+ 1.5.4, play DSD files without any problem.
 
There's one 4pin XLR and one 6.3 on panel.

 

[ted_b]

Thanks for this thread. 
 
Among other things (SACD ripping guide, HiRez forum, reviews, etc) I update the Google Docs DSD database whenever I run across new DSD DACs (or software players, etc).  Palchiu (or other owners) could you take a look and tell me what the other columns (yes/no, anything special) should read for this DAC?  The spec sheet floating around months ago is quite out of date, as you all here know.  I'd love to get things right the first time.  Thanks
Ted
 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgVhKcl_3lHfdFVyenBBNjNpQ2lieG81WGpqQTNfVUE#gid=0
 

 

[DizzyD]

This baby has SE and Balanced out for headphones! 
 
That is sweet! Awaiting reviews for this. 

 

[JCCI]

The PureDAC runs with native drivers on MacOS and Linux. For Windows a driver is included on a disc.
 
The 4-pin XLR on the front is the balanced headphone output. 

 

[MoonAudio]

Now IN STOCK!!​

 

​

 

Free Shipping in the U.S.​

 ​

IN STOCK NOW!!​

 ​

*NEW*  The B.M.C. PureDAC delivers a DAC of the highest quality.  The PureDAC combines its DAC with a balanced preamplifier, a reference-level balanced headphone amplifier, and B.M.C.'s exclusive Digital Intelligent Gain Management (DIGM), a volume and amplification control system that calibrates gain without dividing or downgrading the input signal.
 
An advanced DAC? More exactly, a balanced DAC with reference level headphone amp and pre-amplifier.
 
The PureDAC's balanced preamp is integrated with the DAC's current-to-voltage converter, which converts and filters the DAC's current, eliminating the need for an extra stage. The Preamp  and  headphone  amp  both  employ  B.M.C.'s exclusive  Load  Effect  Free  (LEF) technology that handles current demand separately from the voltage demand, and naturally avoids distortions increasing the preamp and amp's quality of its audio reproduction.
 
The PureDAC also boasts separate volume controls for the preamp and the headphone, a high-resolution asynchronous USB  interface, digital AES/EBU, Toslink and coaxial  inputs, balanced analog outputs, RCA output jacks, and a special B.M.C. link for connecting directly to  a B.M.C.  amplifier.  Its balanced output  is ideally compatible with  amplifiers featuring B.M.C.'s exclusive Current Injection (CI) technology, which enhances signal purity and the musical presence of the PureDAC's audio reproduction.
 
See more HERE.

 

[ScuderiaHeadFi]

Partayyyyyyyyyy! 

 

[cizx]

  The PureDAC runs with native drivers on MacOS and Linux. For Windows a driver is included on a disc.
 
The 4-pin XLR on the front is the balanced headphone output. 

Is there somewhere to download the driver?  My PC doesn't have an optical drive, so I cannot read the disc.

 

[drubrew]

  Is there somewhere to download the driver?  My PC doesn't have an optical drive, so I cannot read the disc.

I have uploaded to our server HERE
 
There are a bunch of additional items on the disc so I would recommend copying files to a USB stick if you can access a optical drive on another computer.

 

[cizx]

  I have uploaded to our server HERE
 
There are a bunch of additional items on the disc so I would recommend copying files to a USB stick if you can access a optical drive on another computer.

Awesome, thanks!  Also, thanks for the assistance with the shipping change...

 

[JCCI]

Hi cizx and thanks Drew!
 
This is the actual driver (same as Drew's) which does not work reliable on Windows XP.
 
For Windows XP you need this driver.
 
Please note that the actual driver for Windows has some issues with some specific DSD128 files. Frankly I think this should be a softare maker's task to follow a clean standard but...
This is supposed to be resolved in 2.x driver versions which are already under evaluation.

 

[cizx]

Good that a 2.x driver is coming, because this one blue screened Windows Server 2012.  It worked great for a couple of songs, but then the DAC started resetting, then the PC crashed.
 
Oh well.  That's why I have a Mac, too.

 

[JCCI]

The crash issue is known when playing those specific DSD128 files and it is one of the main improvements of the 2.0 driver.
 
If you are not too excited about Windows why not trying a Linux setup? My favourite for music playback so far.

 

[cizx]

ugh.. because Linux is for people who'd rather work ON their computer than work WITH their computer.

 

[JCCI]

Our whole company works WITH Linux and since the switch in 2006 we have much less trouble and work on our computers.
Anyway, it was just a suggestion.
As long as you are happy with what you are using everything is fine.
 
But for audio the resrictive systems show their disadvantages. With Windows we are lucky Steinberg designed ASIO as a standard solution to go around the (absolutely non-audiophile) OS sound system. Even WASAPI does not deliver a result like ASIO.
For MAC unfortunately so far nobody every presented me a system that could compete with ASIO or Linux (MPD) solutions. But I can confirm that Audirvana was the best on MAC so far to me and I'm curious to test JRiver for MAC. I have to confess that my Macbook Pro got too old and consider a multiboot Hackintosh.