Canary Audio’s new reference KD-2000 DSD tube based DAC most be considered, regardless of price, as one of the most musical and emotionally engaging DACS on the market today. Historically, I have heard many DACS based on the ESS Sabre chip set, as the KD-2000 is, and found them explosively dynamic, extremely detailed, and transparent. However, all them had two shortcomings for my personal taste. First, they lacked organic and natural timbres and sounded somewhat “washed out” in tonality. Secondly, the leading edge of the different instrument’s notes were somewhat “razor sharp” which I experienced as being somewhat unpleasant and effecting the overall presentation of the music as being somewhat lean and lacking body. Not so, with the KD-2000, it’s presentation keeps the great sonic virtues of the Sabre DAC chips, great overall dynamics, explosive bottom end, crystal clear clarity/micro-details and adds on gorgeous tonality/timbres, holographic imaging and individual image palpability. My hunch is that the massive power supply and the cleverly designed tube based analog conversation section leads to a great integration of truth – what the ESS Sabre chips offer, speed, powerful macro-dynamics, transparency/micro-details and the beauty – what the power supply and tube based analog conversation section offer, density of color and timbres, three-dimensional imaging, and a overall easiness and liquidity to the music! As a final note, tube rolling was a joy to do with the KD-2000 DAC. You will hear what different tubes have to offer because the DAC is so transparent that what ever is the flavor of the tube you are using is apparent and easy to hear. My favorite tube for the KD-2000 DAC turned out to be NOS 1957 Mullard 6922 which made this Canary Audio product sing a beautiful song, indeed.

• Dual ESS SABRE ES9018 chip were used, one dedicated chip per channel, offering a true dual mono operation. Each ES9018 incorporates eight individual D/A converters in Dual Differential coupling for optimal performance
• State of the art custom designed USB chip. The USB input is compatible with following audio formats via PC/MAC. PCM: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8 and 384 kHz, up to 32 bits. DSD64 and DSD128 via USB (DoP): 2.822, 3.072, 5.644 and 6.144 MHz.
• User selectable digital filters are available, making it possible to select the optimum sound quality to suit the individual piece of music. A fast or slow finite impulse response (FIR) digital filter and a 50, 60, or 70 Hz Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) digital roll-off filter can be selected. In addition, a digital phase-locked-loop (DPLL) filer is also available.
• Sophisticated tube buffer section with the use of two carefully selected 6922 vacuum tubes.
• Built in volume control of a highly refined design wih user adjustable volume level and left and right channel output level.
• Two fully isolated and separated power supplies for the analogue and digital sections.
• Dual audiophile grade custom wound toroidal transformer (epoxy potted) were employed, one per each channel. Additional EI transformer was used for tube buffer section.
• Six digital inputs are available: 2 x Coaxial (S/PDIF), 1 x I2S, 1 x optical (TOS-Link), 1 x AES/EBU and 1 x USB.
• Two high-quality analogue outputs, 1 x symmetrical (XLR) and 1 x asymmetrical (RCA).
• Fully compatible with Apple IR remote control (not included).

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