Product Lines > Parasound Z > Zdac - Digital to Analog Converter

Product Lines > Parasound Z > Zdac - Digital to Analog Converter:

In a market filled with DACs, Parasound has set a new standard for performance and value with the help of acclaimed Danish
digital experts Holm Acoustics. The Zdac sounds more natural and less "digital" than DACs selling for far more because of its
innovative design and high quality parts. Its unique re-clocking system preserves the original source audio data by
eliminating jitter contamination that is picked up along the digital signal chain. This is accomplished through the synergy
of two premium parts, an Analog Devices AD1895 asynchronous sample rate converter and an AD1853 DAC IC, the same DAC
IC that Holm selected for our Halo CD 1 CD player. To further improve sound quality the signal is up-sampled to 422kHz. This
highly effective jitter-reduction system works on all inputs, not just the USB input, as in many other DACs.

Available Now!

Premium Analog Devices AD1853 24-bit/192 kHz Digital to Analog Converter IC
All inputs feature jitter reduction and are re-clocked and up-sampled to 422 kHz / 24 bit
USB input for playing music from PC or Mac (driver-less for easy setup)
Asynchronous sample rate conversion for all inputs including the USB input
Works with any format file on your computer up to 96 kHz / 24 bit
Works in variable volume mode in Windows� for connecting direct to a power amp (no preamp needed)
Optical and Coaxial digital inputs for use with any standard digital connection
RCA unbalanced and XLR balanced analog outputs
High current headphone output with volume control can drive any headphones from 32 to 600 ohms
Oversized internal toroid power transformer (not a wall wart like many competitors)
Will always power back up to the same input in the event of an AC power outage
Available in Silver or Black (Rack mount option available for Black units)

        Supports Incoming Digital Word Lengths:
         16 bit - 24 bit

        Supports Incoming Digital Sampling Frequencies:
           Opt & Coax: 8 kHz, 11.025 kHz, 16 kHz, 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz.
           USB: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz and 96 kHz

        USB Streaming Controller:
        Texas Instruments TAS1020B

        Upsampling Frequency:
        422 kHz / 24 bit (all inputs)

        Sample Rate Converter:
        Analog Devices AD1895

        D to A Converter:
        Analog Devices AD1853

        Frequency Response:
        20 Hz to 20 kHz �0.2 dB

        Channel Balance:
        < 0.05 dB, 20 Hz - 20 kHz

        Channel Separation:
        > 95 dB, 20 Hz - 20 kHz

        Signal to Noise Ratio:
        110 dB, A-weighted

        THD + Noise:
         < 0.015 %

        Audio Output Level:
        Unbalanced: 2.1 V RMS (Balanced: 4.2 V RMS)

        Output Impedance:
          Line out: 160 ohms, balanced or unbalanced
          Headphone out: 10 ohms

        AC Power Requirement: 10 watts
         110-130 VAC 60 Hz or 220-240 VAC 50 Hz, voltage is selected on the chassis bottom

        Dimensions:
         Width: 9.5" - 241 mm (black); 8.5" - 220 mm (silver)
         Depth: 10" - 254 mm
         Height, with feet: 2" - 51 mm; without feet:1.75"- 45 mm

        Weight:
         Net: 5 lbs (2.3kg) / Shipping: 8 lbs (3.7kg)

        Rack Mount Accessory (Black Zdac only):
          SBS: Side by Side Mounting bracket, purchased separately
          Zblank: Panel extender, purchased separately
        (Silver Zdacs cannot be rack mounted)

Home Theater Best Of 2013 Award (Dec. 2013)
"The Zdac is a true overachiever whose performance bests that of
much more expensive DACs."

AV Forums (Sept. 2013)
"This is a one of the most refined, controlled and above all, easy to
listen to DAC�s I have spent time with in quite a while."

Audio Fi (Sept. 2013)
"The options at this price range are plentiful but the Parasound Zdac
deserves a listen. With headphone amp bundled in, the Zdac dishes
out versatility and price bracket busting value."

Everything Audio (August 2013)
"The Parasound Zdac is a best buy D/A converter that offers
surprisingly good audio via its line outputs, considering its price."

Audio Express (July 2013)
"The Parasound Zdac is an excellent product. I think it has raised the bar for affordable digital-to-analog converters."

Home Theater Review (April 2013)
"Based on its overachieving performance, especially in its tonal richness/timbres and 3D imaging, the Zdac competes with DACs that are really priced around $3,000 to $5,000."

Hi-Fi Choice (April 2013)
"This proved to be an absolute delight with the Zdac reveling in the timbre, tone and texture, and dynamics of the guitars, percussion, brass and voices available to it. As with the classical track that preceded it, the entire presentation appeared utterly natural and rich in both musical and aesthetical terms."

Audio Stream (March 2013)
"The Zdac offers a muscular and concise-sounding presentation with a very nice amount of attention paid to pace and edge without being edgy. ...Again think concise and resolute with a very clear sense of attack and edge. A real toe tapper."

Inner Fidelity (March 2013)
"In summary, the Zdac looks, feels, and sounds like it could be a $1000 unit. It certainly didn't feel out of place in my rack with numerous competitors in that range."

David Susilo Uncensored (March 2013)
"All I can say is that if you claim to be an audiophile, you will want to hear everything as it is recorded in the studio. I can tell you for a fact that the Parasound ZDAC is the only DAC that is brutally honest and faithfully reproduce anything you put into it without adding any sweeteners or sonic enhancement for less than $500."

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Black Angle	Silver Angle
Black Front	Silver Front
Black Back	Silver Back
Black Inside	Silver Inside

KEY
	Product Manuals, Manual Appendices, Product Brochures
	Product Frequently-Asked-Questions
	Remote Control Software, RS-232 Codes
	Software Updates

The following downloads are available for the Zdac Digital to Analog Converter:

Product Information:
	Filename	File Type	Release Date	Important Notice
	Zdac Owner’s Guide	766 KB Adobe PDF	03/29/2013
	Zdac Cut Sheet	566 KB Adobe PDF	03/29/2013
	Parasound Z Brochure - Screen version	281 KB Adobe PDF	01/01/2012
	Parasound Z Brochure - Print version	1.43 MB Adobe PDF	01/01/2012