Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
d1-sublime
reviews
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Analog Output Level: 3.5Vrms max RCA, 7Vrms max XLR
- Supported Sample Rates: 44.1KHz, 48KHz, 88.2KHz, 96KHz, 176.4KHz and 192KHz
- Bit Depth: 16 to 24 bit
- Power Consumption: 45W
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 110mm x 360mm x 290mm (per box)
- Weight: 32kg (total)
- Digital Inputs: 192KHz asynchronous Xmos USB, 192KHz coax RCA, 192KHz AES-EBU, 96KHz optical
- R2R Components: 600 pieces of 0.01% VAR Bulk Metal® Foil resistors Vishay Foil
Description
The d1-sublime benefits from the new Totaldac "unity" DAC architecture, with about 680 components upgraded or added to the electronic boards. The d1-sublime is a new DAC and it also includes several accessories, so it becomes a 4-box DAC composed of: -2 monobloc DACs with live-clocking option (without live-clocking option before December 2024) -1 d1-digital-live reclocker (d1-digital-sublime before December 2024) -1 3-output large-box live-power power supply -a custom BNC clock cable -a remote control cable -a pair of Totaldac black AES-EBU cables
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Totaldac's DACs employ a discrete R2R resistor ladder design, utilizing meticulously chosen, high-precision Vishay Bulk Metal Foil resistors (typically 100+ per channel), rather than integrated DAC chips, for its digital-to-analog conversion.
- The brand stands out for its highly natural and "analogue-like" sound, often described as possessing tonal density, harmonic richness, and a realistic presence that some find lacking in many other digital sources.
- Totaldac products offer a unique level of customizability, allowing users to select options such as DSD playback, bass boost, and even the material of the front panel to tailor the sound to their preferences.
- They have designed their digital volume control to minimize negative impact, offering the flexibility to connect directly to a power amplifier, but recommend the use of an external preamplifier.
Select products
Select product comparisons
D1-core
- Positioning: The entry-level model in the Totaldac lineup.
- Description: Offers a natural and musical sound, using the same ladder resistors and FPGA as higher-end models, making it a great performer for its price. It is ideal for those with a smaller budget who still want high-quality sound, but it lacks some of the advanced features and components found in more expensive models like the D1-unity.
D1-unity
- Positioning: A mid-range model that introduces the new "unity" DAC architecture.
- Description: Enhances sound presence and clarity with its upgraded clock distribution and lower jitter, making it suitable for users seeking a more realistic and dynamic sound. Compared to the D1-core, it offers improved component quality and a new output stage.
D1-biunity
- Positioning: A step above the D1-unity, featuring dual R2R ladders per channel.
- Description: Provides a lower noise floor and more accurate instrument scale, making it perfect for audiophiles who prioritize sound detail and precision. It builds on the D1-unity's architecture with additional components.
D1-triunity
- Positioning: A high-end model with three R2R ladders per channel.
- Description: Delivers exceptional detail and tonal precision, ideal for users who demand the utmost in digital playback quality. It surpasses the D1-biunity by further reducing noise and enhancing sound realism.
D1-sublime
- Positioning: The flagship model, incorporating multiple components and accessories for ultimate performance.
- Description: Offers outstanding 3D sound and body, making it the top choice for those who want the best audio experience possible. It includes monobloc DACs and a reclocker, setting it apart from the D1-triunity with its comprehensive setup.
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Avg. Product Price
$40,001-$75,000
Used For Sale
2
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
379
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
12
Founding Year
2010
Our take on the brand
Totaldac is known for using R-2R ladder DAC technology with discrete resistors and high-precision Vishay metal foil resistors, aiming to provide a more natural, analog-like sound without oversampling or digital filters. The brand appeals to audiophiles who prioritize listening experience over measurements, with their products delivering a rich, dense tone that many compare to live performances.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
From our interview with
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Used
Totaldac
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What if you spend more?
MSB
Cascade
95000
95000
/
2
Reviews
MSB Technology builds their own discrete ladder DACs in-house instead of using off-the-shelf chips, with modular designs that let users upgrade input and output modules over time. Their DACs are made with in-house CNC-machined chassis and proprietary Femto clocks, delivering an analog-like sound that's often described as natural and organic.
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Product Strengths
- Smooth, natural sound signature with impressive depth in the 3D soundstage.
- Allows music reproduction closest to a private performance in the listening room.
- Delivers a natural, smooth, and organic sound, reproducing every detail with maximum resolution.
- Exceptional clarity and black background of the sound.
- Performs excellently even with lower-quality content because of its smooth, clean playback and three-dimensional soundstage.
Product Considerations
- The price is far beyond the reach of most audiophiles.
- Comes with only one digital module as standard.
- For optimal performance, it's recommended to place the units on separate shelves.
- The reviewer only tested it as a DAC and did not evaluate its functionality as a preamplifier or streamer.
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs MSB Reference DAC—the Cascade represents a significant upgrade.
Takeaway: The MSB Cascade DAC sets new standards for sound quality and is a digital marvel, providing a unique and powerful listening experience. It offers incredibly smooth and natural sound, creating a live music sensation.
Video review
Our take on the brand
MSB Technology builds their own discrete ladder DACs in-house instead of using off-the-shelf chips, with modular designs that let users upgrade input and output modules over time. Their DACs are made with in-house CNC-machined chassis and proprietary Femto clocks, delivering an analog-like sound that's often described as natural and organic.
Product Page
Product Page
What competes at this price?
CH Precision
C1.2 Mono
71813
/
Released
2022
Digital signals carry stereo information in a single data stream. That means that we cannot follow our normal approach to scalable system architecture, using independent C1.2 DAC Controllers for left and right channels, as we have to have a single input connection. Instead, to deliver improved performance we retain the C1.2 input architecture but then split the digital information into left and right channels for routing to dedicated external DACs, with a single chassis for each channel. This allows us to retain the exceptional functional flexibility of the C1.2 and the scalability of the system, while delivering a genuinely significant upgrade in performance.
CH Precision is known for its modular design philosophy that lets customers tailor and upgrade their units over time without replacing the entire component, with sophisticated controls accessible via tablet from the listening position. Their amplifiers offer five different operating modes (stereo, bridge, passive and active bi-amplification, and monaural) and allow users to adjust specific audio parameters like global feedback ratio and input gain settings for optimal speaker matching.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Retains all the music's delicacy, refinement, and fluidity, being revealing without becoming clinical
- Offers a wide and deep soundstage, is timbrally spot-on and very natural, well-focused, richly textured, and well-endowed in terms of transient attack and dynamic impact
- Is significantly more revealing, without introducing any negative by-products, and is still the superbly musical and emotionally involving DAC that the C1 was, only better
- Capable of being more discerning of differences in sources and source material
Product Considerations
- Precise calibration is of paramount importance for any multi-bit DAC chip
- Files played directly from the Swiss device have a slightly contoured character
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The C1.2 is even more neutral and even more revealing than the C1, without sacrificing even the slightest hint of refinement, delicacy, fluidity, decay, or flow
- The original C1 DAC has always sounded fuller and more sonorous than other CH Precision products, for instance, the L1 preamp, with the C1.2 upgrade, the DAC has become more neutral and now sounds more in line with the L1
- The CH Precision device combines the opening of the sound with the lack of brightness better than the Ayon player
- The CH Precision delivers recordings in an uncommonly precise manner than the Weiss DA502 D/A converter
Takeaway: The C1.2 is a DAC that retains all of its virtues while becoming more neutral and revealing, and it is still superbly musical and emotionally involving. It is worth buying because of the overall enhancement in audio quality.
Video review
Our take on the brand
CH Precision is known for its modular design philosophy that lets customers tailor and upgrade their units over time without replacing the entire component, with sophisticated controls accessible via tablet from the listening position. Their amplifiers offer five different operating modes (stereo, bridge, passive and active bi-amplification, and monaural) and allow users to adjust specific audio parameters like global feedback ratio and input gain settings for optimal speaker matching.
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