Oppo Digital has introduced an audiophile-grade digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that doubles as an app-based media streamer that supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay.

Built around ESS Technology’s flagship chipset—the ES9038PRO SABRE DAC—the Sonica DAC ($799) handles high-resolution PCM and DSD audio formats, decodes files directly from connected USB hard drives and thumb drives, and features a full complement of coaxial, optical, and USB connections in addition to streaming music from a mobile device, NAS drive, or computer. Both XLR balanced and standard RCA connectors are provided on the output side.

The Sonica DAC facilitates hi-res music playback and streaming via Ethernet or Wi-Fi and decodes audio files up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Supported formats include FLAC, WAV, Apple Lossless, and DSD (64x sample rate). You can even use the DAC’s aux input to add an existing analog audio source to a multi-room network of Sonica speakers.

Key features include an asynchronous USB input that bypasses the poor-quality DAC found in most computers. The input uses a high-precision clock to drive the audio signal instead of relying on the computer’s clock, and supports PCM up to 32-bit/768 kHz and DSD up to 25 MHz (DSD512).

The audio path is balanced from the ESS converter all the way to the XLR connector in an effort to reduce common-mode noise and improve channel separation by eliminating the common ground return path. Even the RCA output signal is converted from the balanced output.

For more information, visit oppodigital.com.