The Merason frérot is a compact high-end DAC designed to deliver natural, detailed, and emotionally engaging digital playback. It follows Merason's minimalist design philosophy, focusing on a clean signal path, carefully selected components, and high-quality analog circuitry rather than unnecessary features.
At the heart of the frérot is a BurrBrown 1794A converter, followed by a discrete I/V stage and Class A output buffering. The fully balanced architecture uses four independent channels, helping provide a spacious soundstage, precise imaging, excellent dynamics, and a natural, analogue-like presentation.
The frérot accepts digital signals through USB, two coaxial RCA inputs, and two Toslink optical inputs. Merason uses galvanic isolation and jitter reduction to protect the sensitive conversion circuitry from external interference, while the USB section incorporates Amanero technology and precision oscillators.
Despite its compact size, the frérot is built to the same minimalist high-end philosophy as Merason's larger DACs. It can be upgraded with the optional pow1 power supply for improved noise performance and detail, and the DAC itself is manufactured and assembled in Switzerland.
- Component type: Compact high-end digital-to-analog converter
- DAC: BurrBrown 1794A
- Analog stage: Fully discrete I/V stage with discrete Class A output stage
- Digital inputs: 1 × USB, 2 × RCA coaxial, 2 × Toslink optical
- Analog outputs: Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA
- Maximum output level: 4 V RMS balanced / 2 V RMS unbalanced
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz ±0.2 dB
- THD+N: <0.006%
- Signal-to-noise ratio: >120 dB
- Supported formats: PCM up to 24-bit / 192 kHz
- Internal design: Fully balanced with four independent channels
- Power supply: 9 V DC / 12 W external power supply
- Dimensions: 225 × 50 × 180 mm
- Weight: 995 g (DAC) + 200 g (power supply)
- Features: Galvanically isolated inputs, low-jitter USB processing, optional pow1 power supply upgrade
- Made in: Switzerland