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The myth of the asynchronous DAC

Paul's Posts — 08 May 2012

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The myth of the asynchronous DAC

Synchronous and asynchronous are two buzz words manufacturers realize gets people’s attention.  We may not understand what they mean but we’ve figured out asynchronous is better than being synchronous.  So a new class of DAC has been born, the Asynchronous DAC – only it’s mostly a myth and a misleading one at that.

Here’s the deal.  When you connect a transport or CD player’s digital output to a DAC’s input, the DAC is in synchronous mode with the player.  This means the player or transport is the master clock that runs the whole shooting match inside the DAC.  That’s standard on just about every input on your DAC, all of which are running in synchronous mode.

Over the last couple of years we’ve seen an influx of USB inputs on DACS,  The first of these inputs were synchronous, meaning the computer was the master clock that ran the DAC – just like the example we cited of the player.

Since players, transports and certainly computers were never designed to be great, low jitter stable clock sources, if we had our druthers we’d rather not have them controlling the audio quality and timing of our DACS – and when we provide our own controlling clock, that’s what’s known as asynchronous.

Then a few pioneers like Genesis, PS Audio, Gordon Rankin and XMOS started introducing the world to asynchronous schemes that sounded better.  Genesis was the first when Bob Stadtherr and I invented the Digital Lens in the mid 90′s – an asynchronous source for anything plugged into it, followed by our PerfectWave Transport Memory Player – an asynchronous transport, then Gordon in his great Wavelength products and lately XMOS a chip manufacturer making it easier for DAC manufacturers to add asynchronous USB.  Now, many DACS have asynchronous USB inputs, but that doesn’t mean they are an asynchronous DAC.

To qualify as an asynchronous DAC, every input of the DAC (not just the USB) would be asynchronous – where the designer would throw away the source clock and rely only on the DAC’S internal clock.  There are scarce few of these around.

Not to toot our horn but the PerfectWave Mark II is one of but a very small handful of true asynchronous DACS where every input is run through our Digital Lens and output with an independent asynchronous low jitter clock.

So the next time someone tells you they have an asynchronous DAC, you’re now armed with the info you need to ask the right questions.

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About Author

Paul McGowan

Paul McGowan is the CEO and co-founder of PS Audio Inc. a Boulder Colorado design and manufacturing company of high-end audio products and services. McGowan has been designing and building high-end products for nearly 40 years. Hobbies include skiing, music, hiking, artisan bread baking, kick boxing and cooking. He lives in Boulder Colorado with his wife Terri and his 4 sons.

(5) Readers Comments

  1. billleebens

    May 8, 2012 at 7:59 pm

    The Light Harmonic DaVinci DAC is asynchronous on all inputs, and has received a lot of attention in show-reports for its sound quality–most recently, check the coverage of the NY Audio Show, where numerous writers mentioned the LH room as one of the show’s best.

    BTW: I have worked with the Light Harmonic crew (who are all long-time PS owners), and I was one of the organizers of the NY Show– in the audiophile world, I suppose that makes me doubly suspect!

  2. May 9, 2012 at 6:47 am

    I can see it is using asynchronous on USB but there seems no mention of this on the other inputs. I’ll take your word for it and thanks for the info. It’s a cool looking DAC and I like their direction.

  3. billleebens

    May 10, 2012 at 8:07 pm

    Time to update their website!

    Thanks for the props, Paul! And happy birthday!

  4. May 10, 2012 at 8:24 pm

    Hi, Paul & Bill

    Thanks for the tips. Will let them update Light Harmonic web site.
    As a long time user of PS Audio products, I’m often amazed by how informative this web site is.

    And…….. Happy Birthday, Paul!

    Larry

  5. Pingback: Paul myth | Wishka

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