[Travis]

Hey there Head-Fi'ers,
 
Just posted this below to a previous thread on 'what happened to the UDAC.'  We're taking pre-orders on the re-release of the UDAC and Jorge will be getting it back up live on headphone.com shortly.  Obviously, we're very happy to have this product back in the line up!  It will be reintroduced at the price of $1,199.00.  As mentioned below, there will be a first batch of six units in late February/early March, and we expect the next batch to be ready for shipment by late March/early April.
 
 
 
Quote:

Okay guys, here’s the schtick and sorry for the delayed response.  Because the Ultra Desktop DAC does not live up to HeadRoom’s standards, we’ve discontinued the product indefinitely. 
 
In a nutshell, we’re unhappy with the UDAC because of a design flaw in the implementation of USB.  The essence of the problem when listening via USB input is a small static sound, or glitch, that can happen randomly during a listening session.  After a lot of back-and-forth with ESS, trouble-shooting and racking of brains, we’re left to conclude it is a flaw in our own engineering.
 
The UDAC still works beautifully with coaxial or optical inputs.  It is only in the USB that we’ve had issues.  To fix will require a complete redesign and new production of the board.  And with that much required, we simply won’t do it without an upgrade to at least 24/96, possibly 24/192.  Problem is, that’s a pretty big investment.
 
Yep, the economy has definitely impacted our business but we’re still working hard every day to give our customers the service and products they need.  Sometimes you gotta pull a product out of the line-up—so goes life in our business.  BTW, we discontinued the Ultra Micro line last winter due to poor sales--current sale of DACs is to blow out remaining inventory.
 
Anyway, hope that explanation helps and thanks for your continued support!
 
Best,
Travis

Latest 'schtick' update:  The UDAC is BACK and we're taking pre-orders! 

 
So, we fixed the Ultra Desktop DAC[size=11pt] and we're ecstatic that we get to put this excellent-sounding DAC back on the market!  Look for the first batch to begin shipping in late February to early March -- the first batch will be limited to six units.[/size]
 
[size=11pt]Here's the scoop:  ESS had given us a new chip as a possible solution for the problem we encountered on some of the original UDAC units.  After dropping the chip in on a few boards, we noticed improvements but not enough to call it good.  Fast forward a bit and during recent rounds of new testing, we successfully zeroed in on the issue with the new chip implementation.  It immediately worked like a charm -- after multiple rounds of testing on different boards, not one instance of the glitch described above when listening via USB.  Coax and optical remain perfect as well.[/size]
 
[size=11pt]Yes, we lament the lost time and having to pull the UDAC from the market -- it makes the re-release of the UDAC now bittersweet for us ... but definitely more sweet than bitter!  We know this is a fabulous product as a stand-alone DAC, and of course, the ultimate companion to our Balanced Ultra Desktop Amp (BUDA).[/size]
 
[size=11pt]Thanks to Mike, Jorge and Joe W. for making this happen.  Way to go guys![/size]
 
[size=11pt]Best,[/size]
[size=11pt]Travis [/size]

 

[JorgeC]

YAAAA!!!! 

 
 
The new HeadRoom Ultra Desktop Balanced DAC is now available as 'Pre-Order' on our website. Initial availability will be slightly limited so feel free to place your Pre-Order now to get into the queu for the first new UDAC run, which should be shipping in about 10 business days:
 
 
 
http://www.headphone.com/headphone-amps/headroom-ultra-desktop-dac.php
 
 
Truly, we're overjoyed that we can finally get our amazing HeadRoom Balanced Ultra DAC back on the market. Yep, the topology issues we encountered were lengthy and vexing, but huge cheers to our ol' audio engineer and good friend Joe W. for his exceptional R&D getting the UDAC sussed out and perfect. Big thanks must also be shouted out to our HeadRoom CEO Travis who never gave up on the UDAC and was always eager to listen to all of our "hey, how about if we try..." ideas floating around the lab. Many HeadRoomers never stopped loving and using the UDAC daily on our desktops & home systems, so we've been hearing lots of merry whistling in the HR hallways the past few days.
 
Hooray! 
 

 
Cheers,
jorge
HeadRoom Operations Manager

 

[jasonb]

way to go HeadRoom!!

 

[JorgeC]

Quote:

way to go HeadRoom!!

Hi Jason B,
 
Yea, many kind thanks for the support! 
 
All of us at HeadRoom are really stoked for Head-Fiers to hear this thing in its full glory. Can't tell you how many times someone here -- wearing an astonished expression on their face -- has invaded a co-workers' desk demanding they hear a certain piece of music thru the UDAC

...the warmth and depth of detail of the UDAC's signature presentation is really something else!
 
Also, in our corporate giddiness we can't forget to call out our long-time HeadRoom Technical Services Manager Big Werm (Mike Olson) and his amazingly dedicated HeadRoom manufacturing team who're executing the return of the UDAC with precision, aplomb and a deep love of great music & sound .... Thanks, guys!
 
Cheers,
 
jorge
HeadRoom Operations Manager

 

[Paganini Alfredo]

Is the UDAC designed to be paired with the UDA? Would it also be fine to use it as a standalone DAC with another amp?
 
Thanks

 

[JorgeC]

Quote:

Is the UDAC designed to be paired with the UDA? Would it also be fine to use it as a standalone DAC with another amp?
 
Thanks

Hello Paganini Alfredo,
 
The UDAC is indeed designed to synergize perfectly with our own balanced-drive headphone amp, the HeadRoom Balanced Ultra Desktop Amp ["The BUDA"] linked below:
 
 
http://www.headphone.com/headphone-amps/amplifiers/headroom-balanced-ultra-desktop-amp-buda.php
 
 
Of course, it's a true 'stand-alone' balanced DAC engineered for any reference audiophile application so it also dovetails beautifully with any amp /pre-amp or headphone amp of your choice!
 
Cheers,
 
jorge
HeadRoom Operations Manager

 

[Jalo]

Travis and Jorge:
 
I have been using the UDAC with my BUDA/DPS for about a little over year now and they worked perfectly together.  I have only used the Coax and toslink connections so I never notice any problem with my listening sessions.  So based on what you said below, I would like to know the followings:
 
1.     It sounds like the new UDAC is using a new ESS chip that is different from the ESS chip in the original UDAC, right?  If yes, are there any improvement in the capability of the new chips?
2.     If only judging from Toslink to Toslink or Coax to Coax between the new and the original UDAC, are there any different in sound?  If so, how are they different?
3.     Is there any other difference between the new and original UDAC in term processing high resolution materials?  Like 24/96 or 24/192?
4.     Please remind me if the original and/or the new UDAC can process 24/96 and 24/293 materials natively or through upsampling and are there any difference between coax/toalink and USB connection in the way they handle high resolution
        materials?
 
Thanks.
 
Quote:

Quote:

 
In a nutshell, we’re unhappy with the UDAC because of a design flaw in the implementation of USB.  The essence of the problem when listening via USB input is a small static sound, or glitch, that can happen randomly during a listening session.  After a lot of back-and-forth with ESS, trouble-shooting and racking of brains, we’re left to conclude it is a flaw in our own engineering.
 
The UDAC still works beautifully with coaxial or optical inputs.  It is only in the USB that we’ve had issues.  
 
Best,
Travis

Here's the scoop:  ESS had given us a new chip as a possible solution for the problem we encountered on some of the original UDAC units. Fast forward a bit and during recent rounds of new testing, we successfully zeroed in on the issue with the new chip implementation.  It immediately worked like a charm -- after multiple rounds of testing on different boards, not one instance of the glitch described above when listening via USB.  Coax and optical remain perfect as well.
 
 
[size=11pt]Best,[/size]
[size=11pt]Travis[/size]
[size=11pt] [/size]

 

[tnili]

I have been using the UDAC also with the BUDA and DPS for the past few months.  Here are my questions:
 
1. How does the UDAC handle 88.2 and 176.4 sample rates?  Obviously, there are no sample rate indicators on the front but does the UDAC accept them in their native format or what?
 
2. Can we send in our old UDAC so they can be upgraded with the new electronics?
 
3. Are there any visible indications that this is a new model?

 

[JorgeC]

Howdy Jalo,
 
Always great to hear from you!
 
No audible sonic differences are detected between the older ESS Sabre chipset we used to employ and the new Sabre 9018 as implemented in our HeadRoom UDAC topology.
Both sound (and measure!) amazingly great, it's just that the new 9018 allowed HeadRoom audio engineers more programming options and flexibility in application & design.
 
HeadRoom UDAC accepts S/PDIF digital audio signals at standard rates & depths (44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz, and 192kHz from 16 to 24 bit word depth) on both coax RCA and TOSLINK optical connections, and will decode 44.1/16 digital audio from your computer via a standard USB connection. The UDAC will upsample any incoming signal to 192 kHz including the USB input. The attendant upsampling does not change the incoming word length (16bit/24bit) only the sample rate [44.1kHz, 48kHz etc.]. Hence, no matter what the incoming sample rate is, the UDAC upsamples to 192kHz!
 
Hope that helps...
 

 
Cheers,
 
jorge
HeadRoom Operations Manager

 

[BenThiede]

Hello tnili,
 
The UDAC can support those incoming signals (88.2 and 176.4) on coax or optical, and will process them like any other incoming signal. The light on the front panel should display the nearest sample rate value. the UDAC can only accept up to 16bit/48kHz on USB, but any incoming signal will be upsampled to 192kHz.
 
If you have been experiencing problems on USB, you can send it in to have the board replaced. We wont be able to process replacements on the UDAC for about 2-3 months while we ramp up production, but at that time you are welcome to send it in for the revision.
 
There are no externally visible differences on the revised UDAC. In fact, there are no performance gains either. The new ESS 9018 chip merely allowed us the programming capability to fix the USB problems.
 
Thankyou,
 
Ben Thiede
Sales and Technical Service

 

[noseallinit]

oh heck yeah, this is wonderful news.
 
thank you headroom!

 

[JorgeC]

Quote:

oh heck yeah, this is wonderful news.
 
thank you headroom!

 

[Jalo]

Thank you for the info, Jorge, Travis, and Ben.

 

[JorgeC]

Quote:

Thank you for the info, Jorge, Travis, and Ben.