It’s great news for anyone with $2K to splurge.
TEAC has done it again with the release of the UD-507, a high-end DAC/Amp that’s sure to make audiophiles drool.
Coming with a hefty price tag of more than $2K, the UD-507 TEAC’s proprietary TRDD 5 discrete DAC promises exceptionally clear and precise audio playback. The goal here is to create an immersive soundstage that envelops the listener. And, at least on paper, TEAC seems to have hit the mark.
TEAC UD-507 Features
The UD-507 is the newest member of TEAC’s digital audio equipment family, and it’s clear that the company has pulled out all the stops.
Here’s a closer look at what makes the UD-507 so special:
- TRDD 5 DAC: This discrete DAC technology is made to deliver clarity, accuracy, and a soundstage that’s both wide and deep. This aims to give an experience that feels like you’re right there in the room with the musicians.
- Fully Balanced Dual Monaural Headphone Amplifier: The UD-507 has TEAC’s improved high current line driver, the TEAC-HCLD2. This can pump out up to 1,200mW + 1,200mW on a balanced load. That’s some serious power. And, it means the UD-507 can drive even the most demanding headphones with ease.
- High-Quality Preamplifier with Extensive Connectivity: This includes multiple analog and digital inputs. So, you can connect the UD-507 to just about any audio equipment you can think of. The TEAC-QVCS high-precision analog volume attenuator also makes sure that you’ll always have precise control over your volume.
- Advanced Digital Processing: It supports up to 22.5MHz DSD and 384kHz/32bit PCM playback, and it even has a built-in MQA decoder for handling high-resolution audio files. Plus, with the RDOT-NEO up-conversion function, you can smoothly increase PCM signals up to 384kHz.
- Improved Connectivity and Usability: The UD-507 offers Bluetooth support with high-quality codecs like LDAC, LHDC, and aptX HD for wireless audio streaming. You’ll also find both USB Type-B and Type-C inputs, along with coaxial and optical inputs for even more versatility.
Full Specifications of the UD-507
Now that we’ve covered the highlights, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty details of the UD-507’s specifications:
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Supported Formats | |
| USB input | PCM: 16/24/32 bit, 44.1k to 384k Hz DSD: 2.8M, 5.6M, 11.2M, 22.5M Hz |
| Coaxial digital input | PCM: 16/24 bit, 32k to 192k Hz DSD: 2.8MHz (supported with 176.4kHz/24-bit DoP format) |
| Optical digital input | PCM: 16/24 bit, 32k to 192k Hz DSD: 2.8MHz (supported with 176.4kHz/24-bit DoP format) |
| DAC Section | |
| USB DAC | In-house designed Discrete DAC TRDD5 |
| Up-conversion | Up to 384kHz/32-bit PCM, 22.5MHz DSD |
| Audio Inputs | |
| USB | USB Type-C x 1, USB Type-B x 1, USB 2.0, Asynchronous transfer, Bulk Pet, TEAC HR Audio Player (Windows, Macintosh) |
| Coaxial Digital | RCA pin x1 (gold-plated), 0.5Vp-p, 75Ω |
| Optical Digital | TOS-link x1, -24.0 to -14.5dBm peak |
| Analog (Balanced) | XLR x1 pair (gold-plated), 50kΩ, 5Vrms |
| Analog (Unbalanced) | RCA pin x1 pair (gold-plated), 24kΩ, 2.5Vrms |
| Bluetooth | Version 4.2, Class2, A2DP, AVRCP, supports LDAC, LHDC, Qualcomm aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Audio Outputs | |
| XLR Balanced | XLR x1 pair (gold-plated), Max 4.0Vrms, 40Ω |
| RCA Unbalanced | RCA pin x1 pair (gold-plated), Max 2.0Vrms, 20Ω |
| Headphone Outputs | 1/4” TRS x1, XLR 4pin x1, 4.4mm Pentaconn x1 (all gold-plated) |
| Max Output (Headphones) | Balanced: 1200mW + 1200mW (100Ω), Active Ground: 900mW + 900mW (32Ω) |
| Clock Section | |
| External Clock Input | BNC (gold-plated), 10MHz, 50Ω |
| External Control | 12V Trigger out: 3.5mm Mini jack, 12V, 100mA |
| Audio Performance | Frequency Response: 5Hz to 70kHz (+1/–6 dB)THD: 0.01% or lessS/N: 105dB or higher |
| Power Supply | US/Canada: AC 120V 60Hz, UK/Europe: AC 220 to 240V 50Hz |
| Power Consumption | 18W, 0.4W in standby |
| Dimensions | 290(W)×85(H)×249 (D) mm / 11.4”(W)×3.3”(H)×9.8”(D) |
| Weight | 4.9kg / 10.8lbs |
So, how does the UD-507 stack up against its predecessors?
Well, for starters, it offers a much wider range of digital and analog inputs compared to models like the UD-505-X, UD-505, UD-503, and UD-501.
The UD-507 also boasts improved up-conversion capabilities, supporting PCM up to 384kHz/32-bit and DSD up to 22.5MHz. That’s a step up from what we’ve seen in earlier models.
Perhaps most notable, though, is the UD-507’s in-house designed TRDD5 discrete DAC. This custom approach suggests that TEAC has gone the extra mile to improve audio quality and resolution capabilities beyond what we’ve heard from previous models.
Where to Buy
The TEAC UD-507 is available for pre-order on the TEAC Official Website. The DAC is priced at US$2,099, and orders are scheduled to ship in June 2024.