Reference Tube DAC
from $18,100 Made to order
Request a build slot Deposit, lead time and warrantyAll units in the photos are real. Some photos are AI-enhanced to improve image quality.
Five voices
Calliope · Persephone · Aphrodite · Artemis · Katerina
Calliope is natural and organic, Persephone fast, Aphrodite dark and velvety, Artemis large-scale, Katerina strong in bass and attack.
Red Book
The CD, as it is
CD-standard 16-bit / 44.1 kHz PCM, taken natively, with no upsampling and no DSD.
Output stage
Solid-state, or a tube stage
The stock output stage is solid-state; the optional tube output stage takes the digital edge off the signal.
Made to order
Hardwood and metal
The chassis combines hardwood and metal; transformers are galvanically isolated. Each unit is built by hand to order and numbered on its nameplate.
Reference Tube DAC
Numbered unit — Opus No. on the nameplate
- Model
- DAC with a solid-state output stage, tube stage optional — NOS multibit TDA1540, TDA1541, PCM63 and PCM1704, or the bitstream TDA1547
- In brief
- One chassis built around one of five classic DAC chips, each with its own name.
- Queue deposit
- 50% · from $9,060
- Lead time
- Seven pieces of gear a year, each built by hand to order. Current lead time: six months or more.
- Origin
- Made in Kazakhstan by Dmitriy Gubchenko
- Warranty
- 1 year (extra warranty available: +1 or +2 years)
Part of the Quinta Goddesses collection
Part of the Quinta Goddesses collection
- Music it suits
- CD and Red Book streams — acoustic, vocal, jazz, classical
- Compared with
-
- Calliope · Persephone · Aphrodite · Artemis · Katerina
From the atelier
The Reference Tube DAC is one chassis built around one of five classic DAC chips — four multibit ones and the vintage Philips TDA1547 — each with its own name: Calliope (TDA1540), Persephone (TDA1541), Aphrodite (TDA1547), Artemis (PCM63) and Katerina (PCM1704). It takes CD-standard 16-bit / 44.1 kHz PCM natively, with no upsampling and no DSD, putting all its resources into rendering it as it is (the TDA1540 in Calliope is a 14-bit chip). Calliope is natural and organic, Persephone fast, Aphrodite dark and velvety, Artemis large-scale, Katerina strong in bass and attack. The stock output stage is solid-state; the optional tube output stage, with a 5Ts4M rectifier, takes the digital edge off the signal.
Lid closedLid openDemograf Audio Aphrodite Philips TDA1547 Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)
Vintage EL8 Valvo tube input stage. Demograf Audio Galvanic Transformers. Galvanically isolated Amanero USB interface. Kenotron PSU.
Lid closedLid openDemograf Audio Calliope Philips TDA1540 Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)
Cardas Silver Wiring. Vintage EL8 Valvo tube input stage. Jensen Capacitors. Tamura Transformers. External kenotron PSU.
Lid closedLid openDemograf Audio Persephone Philips TDA1541 Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)
Toshiba transistor input stage. Demograf Audio Galvanic Transformers. EPCOS Capacitors. Galvanically isolated Amanero USB interface.
The chassis combines hardwood and metal; transformers are galvanically isolated.
- Input: S/PDIF coaxial
- Output stage: solid-state or 6Zh4 / EF14 / EL8 / AL4 / ML6
- Rectifier: 5Ts4M (5Y3 optional)
- Output 2 V, RCA; XLR optional
| Component | Manufacturer | Country of origin |
|---|---|---|
| DAC chip TDA1540 / TDA1541 / TDA1547 | Philips | Netherlands |
| DAC chip PCM63 / PCM1704 | Burr-Brown | USA |
| Output tubes 6Zh4 (option) | NOS, selected | US / EU / UK (NOS) / Other Vintage |
| Rectifier 5Ts4M | NOS, selected | US / EU / UK (NOS) / Other Vintage |
| Power transformers (galvanically isolated) | Demograf Audio (custom-wound) | or analog by Hashimoto / Tango / Tamura |
Photo {n} of {total}
Simplified diagram of the stock configuration. The exact circuit for your options is confirmed with the atelier.
Specification
Download the brochure PDF · EN · 0.8 MB
Measured on the stock configuration; options may change the figures.
- Device type
- Reference Tube Digital-to-Analogue Converter
- Digital inputs
- S/PDIF Coaxial
- Output voltage
- 2.0 V (Customisable upon request)
- Analogue outputs
- Unbalanced RCA (Optional: Balanced XLR)
- Frequency response
- 10 Hz – 20 kHz
- Supported formats
- Native PCM 16-bit / 44.1 kHz (Red Book) via S/PDIF
- DSD support
- None (pure PCM: NOS on the four multibit versions; the vintage TDA1547 bitstream chip in Aphrodite)
- Available models
- Calliope (TDA1540) / Persephone (TDA1541) / Aphrodite (TDA1547) / Artemis (PCM63) / Katerina (PCM1704)
- Rectifier tube
- 5Ts4M (5Y3 — optionally)
- Output stage tubes
- Optional tube stage: 6Zh4, EF14, EL8, AL4, ML6 or others (stock output is solid-state)
- Transformers
- Galvanically isolated
- Internal wiring
- Proprietary “RareCoreFusion” Alloy wire (other options available)
- Special features
- Ground Lift Switch (Defeatable Grounding)
- Chassis materials
- Premium Hardwood & Precision Metal
- Mains
- 100 / 120 / 230 V — set at order time, plug to match (NEMA, Schuko, BS 1363 / type G)
- Weight
- From 10 kg / 22 lb
- Dimensions (W × D × H)
- From 430 × 450 × 120 mm
Custom options
Stock items are included in the price. Every option is agreed with the atelier before the build starts.
DAC model
- Calliope — Philips TDA1540 (natural, organic presentation) Stock
- Persephone — Philips TDA1541 (fast, articulate presentation)
- Aphrodite — Philips TDA1547 (dark, velvety and melodic)
- Artemis — Burr-Brown PCM63 (large-scale, weighty presentation)
- Katerina — Burr-Brown PCM1704 (strong bass, detail and attack)
Output stage
- Solid-State Output Stock
- 6Zh4 Tube Output
- AL4 Vacuum Tube Output
- EL8 Vacuum Tube Output
- EF14 Vacuum Tube Output
- ML6 Vacuum Tube Output
- Tube-Switching Module Upgrade
Rectifier tube
- Solid-State Rectifier Stock
- 5Ts4M
- 5Y3
- Other Type (on request)
Output voltage
- 2 V Stock
- 4 V
- Other (on request)
Component upgrades
- Premium Capacitors (Duelund, Mundorf, Miflex etc.)
- Custom Transformers & Chokes
- AMRG Resistors & Cardas Wiring Kit
- Top Connectors Suite
- Multi-DAC Topology
- Upgraded External Power Supply (PSU)
- Vintage Tubes
- ALPS Volume Control
- Demograf Audio Swiss-Stepped Pre-Amp
- Integrated Class-A Amplifier
- Integrated Class-D Amplifier
- Integrated Tone Control Block Module / Filter
- One additional Digital S/PDIF Coaxial Input
- One additional Digital BNC Input
- One additional Digital AES/EBU Input
- One additional Master Clock Input
- Raspberry Pi 5 Streamer inside
- One additional Digital TOSLINK (Optical) Input
- One additional Analogue RCA Output
- One additional Analogue XLR Balanced Output
- Additional Reserve Matched Pair of low-noise Tubes
Mains inlet, outlets & contacts
- AC Input: Standard Spec — IEC C14 Chassis Input Stock
- AC Input: Heavy-Duty Spec — IEC C20 High-Current Inlet
- AC Output: European Standard — Schuko (Type F) Stock
- AC Output: US / Japan Standard — NEMA 5-15R (Type B)
- AC Output: British Standard — BS 1363 (Type G)
- AC Output: Universal Interface — Direct IEC C13 Outlets
- Contacts: Pure Copper Unplated (Organic & Balanced Tone) Stock
- Contacts: Gold Plated e.g. Furutech FI-09(G) (Warmth & Rich Midrange Texture)
- Contacts: Rhodium Plated e.g. Furutech FI-09(R) (Fast Transients & Fine Detail)
Finish & chassis
- Standard configuration Stock
- Priority build (+50% of the price)
- Precision-Milled Metal Chassis (CNC milling)
- Contoured Bent-Metal Enclosure
- Exotic Hardwood Chassis
- Glass-Integrated Aesthetic
- Premium Wood Inlays & Accents
- Solid-Billet Metal Enclosure
- Advanced Galvanic Finishing
- Custom Dimensions & Form Factor
- Parameter Status Display
- Multifunction Remote Control Suite
Regional version
- 230 V — Schuko plug (Europe) Stock
- 120 V — NEMA plug (North America)
- 100 V — NEMA plug (Japan)
- 230 V — BS 1363 / type G plug (UK · Middle East)
Pairs well with
Does the Reference Tube DAC use tubes?
Stock output is solid-state; a tube output stage on 6Zh4, EF14, EL8, AL4 or ML6 can be chosen, with a 5Ts4M kenotron rectifier. Tubes are selected and matched before fitting.
How is the Reference Tube DAC serviced?
Each unit ships with its own measurement report. The circuit is kept simple and serviceable, and Demograf Audio gear is serviced for as long as parts exist.
How is it delivered?
Shipping and insurance are paid by the buyer and shown as a separate line in your quotation. Every unit is packed for long-distance transport in heavy-duty flight cases and a wooden crate.
Which mains voltage and plug?
Each piece of gear is built for 100 V, 120 V or 230 V mains with the matching plug (NEMA, Schuko or BS 1363 / type G). The voltage is fixed at order time, so tell us where the unit will be used.
How long does the Reference Tube DAC take to build?
Build time is six months or more from the queue deposit, depending on the configuration and the queue; delivery takes from one month after completion. The atelier builds seven instruments a year. A priority build is available for an extra 50% of the price: your unit is moved ahead in the build queue.
* Photos are taken from real systems and show the specific configuration of a particular customer; your unit can look the way you want — all our equipment is fully customisable.
