dCS Bartók DAC Streamer
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- Official Hi-Fi Retailer since 1973
- Usually in stock and dispatched in 1-5 working days
We offer free delivery on all orders over £100 to mainland UK. Orders under £100 are subject to a £6.50 shipping charge.
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We aim to dispatch in-stock items as soon as possible provided that we physically have the stock - but please note that sometimes we have to order from our supplier for certain products, in which case delivery should take place within 1-5 working days of the order being placed.
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You can cancel your order within 14 days of receiving your goods, in line with UK distance selling regulations. Once you’ve notified us, you have a further 14 days to return the item. Please contact us by email, phone or in writing before sending anything back.
Items must be returned in original condition and packaging, including all accessories, manuals and any promotional items. The cost of return is your responsibility and we strongly recommend insuring the goods, as refunds cannot be issued for damaged or incomplete returns. If items show excessive handling, are missing components, or cannot be resold as new, a reasonable deduction may be made.
Please note that used headphones (for hygiene reasons) and custom or special-order items cannot be returned. If you need assistance arranging a return, we’re always happy to help.
Product Summary
The dCS Bartók APEX DAC Streamer is a high-end digital music source designed for listeners who want exceptional streaming, DAC and pre-amplifier performance from a single beautifully engineered component. Built around the dCS Ring DAC APEX platform, Bartók APEX brings technology developed for dCS’s reference-level systems into a more compact and flexible design.
As a network DAC and music streamer, Bartók APEX can play music from network storage, online services and a wide range of digital sources. It supports high-resolution PCM, DSD and MQA playback, with Ethernet streaming, USB, AES/EBU, Dual AES, S/PDIF and optical digital inputs giving excellent flexibility for modern and traditional digital systems.
The APEX hardware upgrade brings a revised Ring DAC analogue stage designed to lower distortion, improve linearity and reveal more musical detail. The result is a sound that is highly resolving and precise, while remaining natural, spacious and engaging over long listening sessions.
With adjustable analogue output levels, balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs, Bartók APEX can connect directly to a power amplifier or active speakers, or operate as a source in a traditional pre-amplifier-based system. Control is handled through the dCS Mosaic Control app, with software updates allowing the product to evolve over time.
Key Benefits
- Combines high-end DAC, network streamer, upsampler and digital pre-amplifier functions in one component
- dCS Ring DAC APEX technology delivers exceptional detail, clarity and musical resolution
- Streams music from network storage, internet radio and compatible online music services through dCS Mosaic
- Supports high-resolution PCM, DSD and MQA playback for a wide range of digital music formats
- Multiple digital inputs make it easy to connect streamers, transports, servers and other digital sources
- Balanced XLR and RCA analogue outputs allow flexible connection to pre-amplifiers, power amplifiers or active speakers
- Adjustable output levels make system matching easier
- User-selectable upsampling and digital filters allow fine-tuning to suit system and listening preferences
- Software updates through dCS Mosaic help keep the product current over time
- 3 years manufacturer's warranty
Technical Specifications
DAC & Streamer Type
- Type: Upsampling network DAC, music streamer and digital pre-amplifier
- Converter Type: dCS proprietary Ring DAC™ APEX topology
- Control App: dCS Mosaic Control app
- Upsampling: User-selectable PCM upsampling to DXD, DSD or DSDx2
- Filters: User-selectable PCM and DSD filter options
- MQA: Full decoding and rendering from Network and USB2 inputs; final rendering from other compatible inputs
- Finish Options: Silver or Black anodised aluminium
Digital Inputs
- Network Input: Ethernet RJ45, supporting 24-bit 44.1 – 384 kS/s PCM, DSD64 and DSD128 in DFF/DSF format
- USB Audio Input: USB 2.0 Type-B, supporting 24-bit 44.1 – 384 kS/s PCM, DSD64 and DSD128 in DoP format
- USB Storage Input: USB Type-A, supporting 24-bit 44.1 – 384 kS/s PCM, DSD64 and DSD128 in DFF/DSF format
- AES/EBU Inputs: 2 × AES/EBU on 3-pin female XLR, supporting 24-bit 44.1 – 192 kS/s PCM and DSD64 / DSD128 in DoP format
- Dual AES Input: 1 × Dual AES pair, supporting 24-bit 88.2 – 384 kS/s PCM and DSD64 / DSD128 in DoP format
- S/PDIF Coaxial Input: 1 × RCA, supporting 24-bit 44.1 – 192 kS/s PCM and DSD64 in DoP format
- S/PDIF BNC Input: 1 × BNC, supporting 24-bit 44.1 – 192 kS/s PCM and DSD64 in DoP format
- Optical Input: 1 × TOSLINK, supporting 24-bit 44.1 – 96 kS/s PCM
Analogue Outputs
- Balanced Output: 1 × stereo pair on XLR
- Unbalanced Output: 1 × stereo pair on RCA
- Output Levels: 0.2 V, 0.6 V, 2 V or 6 V RMS for a full-scale input, menu selectable
- Balanced Output Impedance: 3 Ohms
- Unbalanced Output Impedance: 52 Ohms
- Recommended Load: 10 kOhms – 100 kOhms
Clocking & Performance
- Word Clock Inputs: 2 × BNC, accepting 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192 kHz word clock
- Word Clock Output: 1 × BNC TTL-compatible word clock output when set to Master mode
- Residual Noise: Better than -113 dB0, 20 Hz – 20 kHz unweighted, 6 V output setting
- L/R Crosstalk: Better than -115 dB0, 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Spurious Responses: Better than -105 dB0, 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Power & Control
- Power Supply: Factory set to 100 V, 115/120 V, 220 V or 230/240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
- Power Consumption: 25 W typical, 50 W maximum
- Software Updates: Download and update functionality via dCS Mosaic Control app
- Local Control: Front-panel controls, dCS Mosaic Control app and RS232 interface
- Remote Control: dCS Universal Remote available separately
Physical
- Dimensions (W × D × H): 444 × 430 × 115 mm
- Weight: 16 kg
- Note: Allow extra depth for cable connectors
What’s in the Box
- dCS Bartók APEX DAC Streamer
- Mains power cable
- Product documentation
