MoFi Electronics StudioDAC Digital-to-Analog Converter at Vinyl Sound Buffalo NY USA The MoFi Electronics StudioDAC is a digital-to-analog converter designed in collaboration with Mytek Audio founder and lead engineer Michal Jurewicz, manufactured in the USA, and voiced by the MoFi Electronics team, available at Vinyl Sound USA Inc. in Buffalo, NY. Built around the ESS9038Q2M converter chip, a low-noise precision clock generator, and a proprietary Apodizing Filter, the StudioDAC supports DSD64, DSD128, DXD, full hardware MQA decoding and rendering, and PCM at up to 32-bit/384 kHz. It connects to any streamer or computer via USB 2.0, coaxial S/PDIF, or Toslink, with LED indicators on the top panel confirming the incoming format and resolution for bit-perfect playback. Dynamic range is rated at 115 dB A-weighted, THD+N measures below 0.002%, and the external outboard power supply keeps noise well away from the analog output stage. Michal Jurewicz of Mytek Audio: Studio-Informed DAC Design Michal Jurewicz founded Mytek Audio in New York City in 1992 and has spent over three decades building professional digital audio converters used in recording studios worldwide. His work spans the development of 24-bit and 32-bit PCM recording systems, early involvement in the DSD Super Audio CD project, and contributions to MQA mastering and playback standards. Bringing that professional studio perspective to the MoFi Electronics StudioDAC meant applying the same converter design discipline used in the recording chain to an accessible home playback device. The result, after extensive listening and voicing sessions with the MoFi Electronics team, is a DAC whose transparent, engaging character reflects both Jurewicz's engineering precision and MoFi's longstanding commitment to preserving the sonic integrity captured during the mastering process. ESS9038Q2M Conversion, Low-Noise Clock, and Apodizing Filter At the core of the StudioDAC is the ESS9038Q2M, a high-performance stereo DAC chip from ESS Technology known for its 32-bit HyperStream architecture and low measured noise floor. The integrated low-noise precision clock generator addresses jitter, the timing instability that introduces audible distortion in digital-to-analog conversion, by providing a stable reference signal that the converter relies on for accurate sample reconstruction. The Apodizing Filter is a digital filter topology specifically designed to eliminate pre-ringing artifacts, the temporal distortion ahead of transient events that standard linear phase digital filters introduce, while also softening the steep roll-off behavior at the upper frequency boundary for a more natural high-frequency presentation. Together, these three elements produce the open, pure character that defines the StudioDAC's sonic identity across all supported formats. Format Support, Connectivity, and Outboard Power Supply The StudioDAC accepts digital signals via USB 2.0 Type B, coaxial S/PDIF, and Toslink optical inputs. The USB input supports the full specification including 16 to 32-bit depth, PCM to 384 kHz, DSD64 and DSD128, and full hardware MQA decoding and rendering. The coaxial and Toslink inputs handle 16 to 24-bit PCM across all standard sampling rates. A top-panel LED array identifies the incoming format and resolution in real time, allowing the listener to confirm that the source device and software are delivering bit-perfect output without navigating settings menus. The outboard power supply connects via a 5.5/2.5 mm barrel connector and accepts 100 to 240 VAC worldwide, isolating the supply transformer and its associated electromagnetic interference from the analog output stage and delivering clean 12 V DC at 3.3 A to the converter circuit. Key Features Designed by Michal Jurewicz of Mytek Audio: The StudioDAC is a direct collaboration with the founder of Mytek Audio, bringing three decades of professional studio DAC design experience to a home-oriented MoFi Electronics product. ESS9038Q2M DAC Chip: A high-performance stereo converter from ESS Technology with 32-bit HyperStream architecture, delivering 115 dB A-weighted dynamic range and THD+N below 0.002%. Low-Noise Precision Clock Generator: An integrated precision clock minimizes jitter and provides a stable reference for accurate digital-to-analog conversion across all input formats and sampling rates. Apodizing Filter: A proprietary digital filter eliminates pre-ringing artifacts and softens the high-frequency roll-off for a more natural and open sonic presentation compared to standard linear phase filters. Full Hardware MQA Decoding and Rendering: Complete MQA decode and render is handled in hardware, enabling bit-perfect playback of MQA-encoded streams from TIDAL and MQA-certified sources without software-based processing. DSD and DXD Support via USB: The USB input accepts DSD64, DSD128, and DXD alongside full 32-bit/384 kHz PCM, covering every high-resolution format in current use. Three Digital Inputs with Format LED Display: USB 2.0, coaxial S/PDIF, and Toslink inputs provide broad source compatibility, with top-panel LEDs confirming incoming format and resolution for verified bit-perfect playback. Outboard Power Supply: The external 12 V DC supply physically separates the power transformer from the DAC circuit, reducing electromagnetic interference at the analog output stage. Manufactured in the USA: The StudioDAC is custom designed and built in the United States, consistent with MoFi Electronics' commitment to domestic manufacturing standards. Technical Specifications D/A Converter Chip ESS9038Q2M Digital Inputs 1x Coaxial S/PDIF, 1x Optical Toslink, 1x USB B PCM Sampling Rates 32 / 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 / 192 / 352.8 / 384 kHz Bit Depth (USB) 16 to 32 bits Bit Depth (Coaxial / Toslink) 16 to 24 bits DSD Support (USB) DSD64, DSD128 MQA Support Full hardware MQA decode and render Analog Output 1x Fixed Level RCA (unbalanced) Output Voltage 2.5 V RMS at 0 dBFS Output Impedance 75 Ohms (unbalanced) THD+N (20 Hz to 20 kHz) 114 dB (A-weighted) Crosstalk at 10 kHz -110 dB Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20 kHz (±0.2 dB) Linearity
