SW1X DAC III Special – Quick Impression

Review sample supplied by Callas Audio
Retail price in the Netherlands including 21% VAT: 13.750 euro

My first experience with SW1X dates back to 2017. That year, I reviewed the LPU 1, DAC 1, and DAC 2. One year later, George Sallit wrote a HFA guest review of the DAC II Special. Now, the brand is back in casa HFA, courtesy of Ron Ploeger of Callas Audio, who recently acquired the distribution rights for the Netherlands.

For this occasion, I will publish my initial findings in the form of a “Quick Impression” article. Look at it as an appetizer, or teaser review, if you will. The DAC was with me for only one week, but it will return, and an in-depth review will follow later.

For now, here are my first impressions.

Versions

SW1X models are available in a wide range of versions. For instance, the DAC III can be configured in 8 different versions. The version that I am listening to carries the designation DAC D3BALSP which refers to the DAC III Special in the Balanced version with all copper-wound “Super HiB” DC Core output transformers. The DAC III employs the classic Philips TDA1541 DAC in a non-oversampling, non-filtering configuration, and luxuriously decoupled using Black Gate capacitors.

Black Gate Capacitors

Especially since my initial listening session would be brief, Slawa of SW1X emphasized the importance of allowing the DAC ample running in time. This is because it contains Black Gate capacitors which are known to need some time to sound their best.

For this reason, Ron made sure to leave the DAC switched on and in use for well over a week, and I did my critical listening only after it had been switched on for several hours.

The DAC is available with a USB input but this model has only S/PDIF and AES/EBU inputs only. I used it with the Grimm MU-1 and a Jorma AES/EBU cable.

Inside, the DAC III is a thing of beauty, with an interesting selection of tubes. There are 2 x EL84, 1 x 6N6P, 1 x 5U4GB 1 x E180F, and 1 x EAA91. Where tubes are used, people can be triggered to try alternatives but it needs to be noted that Slawa creates audio components much like a Michellin-star cook prepares a meal: all the ingredients are carefully selected and applied in an ideal balance. It is therefore not recommended to swap the tubes for other types.

Preliminary Listening

Typically for the TDA1541 DAC chip, the SW1X DAC III sounds smooth and organic, but rather untypically for the TDA1541, it has a rather solid bass with good impact and impactful dynamics. Classic 1541 CD players tend to sound very round and while that can be viewed as pleasing and romantic, I am at a point in my audio journey where I find this to be less realistic. Well, that’s an aspect where the DAC III has no problems whatsoever. It offers a very natural and convincing acoustic with a good dose of smoothness, deep tonal saturation, and a gentle touch of warmth and richness but it is far from being soft, slow, or fat. Importantly, it is lively and upbeat and it passes the toe-tapping test.

While the DAC is not setting new records in detail retrieval, bass precision, articulation, or transparency and the similarly-priced Aqua Formula xHD pulls ahead in these areas, the DAC III is not far behind in terms of resolution and is actually airier, more fluid, and more refined.

But this DAC is not about excelling in certain audiophile aspects. Rather, it offers the kind of performance that draws the listener in by providing a thoroughly involving musicality. It’s an effect that is almost unconscious in that it makes you stay seated while listening track after track after track. The full extent of this becomes clear, sometimes almost ashamedly so, when switching to the Aqua DAC or even the CH C1.2 DAC, both of which sound markedly cooler, flatter, and emotionally more restrained. Of course, it’s not black and white and these DACs have other qualities. Ultimately, there are so many listeners and so many preferences. But I’ll save the fine print for the upcoming in-depth review after the DAC III has returned. For now, I’ll conclude with the unit’s official Features.

SW1X Audio Design™ DAC III Balanced Features:

• Pure & Elegant NOS (Non-oversampling – zero digital domain filtering) Design
• Balanced (& Single Ended) Signal Output Transformer de-coupled Valve Output Stage Topology
• EL84 Power Output Tubes, Zero NFB, Class A, Valve Output Stage
• Passive I/V conversion via a specially selected resistor with the shortest signal path directly connected to the tube grid
• Dynamic Element Matching (DEM) powered by an asynchronous Valve Clock with Valve Rectified & Choke Filtered Power Supply
• Discrete Transistor, Shunt Voltage Regulated Low Voltage Power Supplies
• 5U4GYB/5R4GYB Directly Heated Valve rectified CLC (choke filtered) B+ Power Supply
• Digital Input supports up to 24Bit/96kHz S/PDIF Signal Input

Specially Selected and Harmonically Matched Component & Material Quality

• SW1X Audio Design™ all Copper (Copper/Silver {Classic} or all Silver {Signature}) wound M6 EI core, Super HiB or Ultra HiB DC core Signal OPT
• M6 grain orient EI core Mains Transformers & Chokes (SHiB double C-core available as an option)
• Black Gate de-coupling Capacitors for TDA1541 DAC
• Internally wired exclusively with our SW1X Magnum, Genesis, and Opus conductors of various geometry (single strand or Litz)
• AN Copper Foil in Oil (or Silver foil on request) interstage Signal de-coupling Capacitors
• AB 2W non-magnetic Carbon film Resistors

An in-depth review will follow later.

Associated Equipment

External Links

Distributor for the Netherlands: Callas Audio
Manufacturer’s website: SW1X
www.callas-audio.nl
Lelystad 8241AK
info@callas-audio.nl

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