DAC 1 Mk II

The Merason DAC 1 Mk II is a high-end digital-to-analog converter designed around a philosophy of natural, transparent, and highly musical reproduction. Rather than relying on an overly complex signal path, Merason uses carefully selected components and a fully discrete analog stage to preserve the character and dynamics of the original recording.

At the heart of the DAC 1 Mk II are two Burr-Brown 1794A converter modules, with one dedicated to each channel. The resulting analog current signal is converted through a discrete I/V stage and buffered using Class A technology. The architecture is fully balanced, with four independent analog channels from the conversion stage through to the outputs.

Digital signal integrity is carefully addressed through galvanic isolation and jitter reduction. The USB input uses Amanero technology with two precision oscillators, while the other digital inputs are also isolated and de-jittered using transformers and capacitive components. This helps protect the sensitive conversion circuitry from external interference.

The power supply is another major focus, with each functional section receiving its own dedicated supply—twelve power supplies in total. Separate linear supplies with oversized transformers are used for the two output channels, supporting the DAC's low-noise performance and stable analog operation. The DAC 1 Mk II is manufactured, assembled, tested, and inspected entirely in Switzerland.