560 d/a

Philosophy

In many areas the 560 D/A-Converter is based on the same proven technical solutions used in the 745 SACD-Player. It also embodies the same principles in its design: top grade digital inter*faces for optimal reception of the music data, a super-precise master clock generator to avoid jitter, intelligent digital signal processing with over*sampling technology, and analogue output stages of top end pre*amplifier quality.

Design

As with its Series 7 sibling the 560 D/A-Converter is packed with cutting-edge tech*nology with one objective - the love of music. The parallels include a consistent dual mono design in the output stages and separate power supplies for digital elec*tronics and the analogue stages. The 560 D/A-Converter adds a digital volume control that allows direct connec*tion to a power amplifier.

Upsampling

Audio data is buffered then upsampled to 24Bit/384kHz. We believe precision of inter*polation is more impor*tant than high clock rates. Our players and D/A converters use an algorithm from the highly regarded Anagram Technologies followed by Burr Brown D/A converters in a digital symmetric configuration. As we consider the PCM conversion technology as superior, the DSD signals get converted before its final D/A conversion.

The Zero-Phase-Technology eliminates potential timing/phase errors in the analog output signal. Every D/A converter requires an analog low pass filter in its output in order to suppress high frequency noise and aliasing signals. The 560's 3rd order bessel filter, with a cut-off frequency of 120kHz, does show a phase shift of up to 15° in the audio band. Due to the Zero-Phase-Technology the phase error of the analog music signal remains below 1°, 20Hz - 100kHz! The Zero-Phase-Technology brings you even closer to the beauty of the source material! No detail gets lost.

D/A-conversion

Burr-Brown devices perform D/A conversion only. Their internal upsampling and filter stages are not used. The output currents are converted to voltage and then filtered. With an internal bandwidth of 40 MHz, this current/voltage conversion stage allows best signal-to-noise performance and maximum dynamics in the analogue domain.

Output stage

The wideband output stage of the 560 D/A-Converter has a bandwidth of 20MHz (-3dB). With such speed of response all musical details are reproduced true to life creating a three-dimensional, spatial sound to bring real listening pleasure.

Operation

The 560 D/A-Converter is operated from front-panel buttons and a rotary control. Further functions can be used to optimise and match an entire audio system around different components.

Connections

Analog outputs:
- 1 x balanced output (XLR)
- 1 x unbalanced output (RCA)
Digital outputs:
- 1 x SPDIF (RCA)
- 1 xAES/EBU (XLR)
- 1 x Optical (Toslink)
Digital inputs:
- 1 x SPDIF (RCA)
- 1 x AES/EBU (XLR)
- 1 x Optical (Toslink)
- 1 x USB
- 1 x Ethernet
LINK-System
- 2 x RJ45

**Mike** · April 29, 2014, 06:58 AM

It looks good Kev....I'm afraid to ask the cost.

I find it interesting to look at the different approaches. Soulution above says they find PCM superior and converts all DSD to PCM. PS audio has been quite busy here telling everyone DSD is superior and their new DAC converts all PCM to DSD.

**Audioseduction** · April 29, 2014, 08:36 AM

I see they used the famous Burr Brown D/A converters just like what I have in my Bel Canto dac3.5vb MKII. Smart thinking!

**socfan12** · April 29, 2014, 09:02 PM

Thanks for posting, Kev! I have a thing for Swiss gear now...

**FlexibleAudio** · September 14, 2014, 06:50 PM

Any one hear this yet?????

**VT Skier** · September 15, 2014, 05:39 PM

I think the DAC in the 541 is basically the same as the one in the 560. Leroy (Odyssey) has the 541, so he may be able to help.

I'm not sure anyone else on the forum has either piece yet.

**FlexibleAudio** · September 15, 2014, 09:22 PM

Leroy......if you can break away from those D5's give us a holler on what you think of the 541's dac. (If I had his system I probably would never stop listening to reply

.)

**Design Audio Video** · September 15, 2014, 09:35 PM

I think the 541 and the 560 definitely share the same DAC. I believe Arturo confirmed this with me last week. Also, I just found out that you could add streaming capabilities to the 541 at a significant price, of course.

**Hessec** · September 15, 2014, 09:50 PM

I'm sending my 540 in for upgrade to 541 soon. I'll be sure to report back.....
Streamer 10k addition on top of the 10k for the 541 board which is totally absurd....that doesn't mean I don't want it but you've got to draw the line at some point.

**VT Skier** · September 16, 2014, 08:37 AM

Does "drawing the line" mean that you stopped at the 541 upgrade or did you add streaming capability too?

**Hessec** · September 16, 2014, 11:18 AM

No streamer for me.

**Odyssey** · September 23, 2014, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by FlexibleAudio

Leroy......if you can break away from those D5's give us a holler on what you think of the 541's dac. (If I had his system I probably would never stop listening to reply

.)

Had a few friends over this past weekend who have piles of vinyl and hard core analogue apologists. We had a "shootout" as it were between the sound of the 541 w streaming dac and the newly delivered Bergmann TT. Out of 6 discs spinned vs matching CD's most of us had a very hard time telling the difference between the two formats. I could not tell the difference in almost all instances. This was a surprise. I'm an analogue fan. I was a hard core R2R guy years ago. I've been restocking my LP collection in anticipation of the new TT. I was expecting a different experience with the Bergmann, but...

I am pleased that I was nudged in the direction of getting the 541 spec'd the way that it is.

**FlexibleAudio** · September 23, 2014, 06:11 PM

Wow very impressive. I am trying to decide whether to do analog or digital first. I was leaning toward analog, but now............??

Thanks Le Roy

**Odyssey** · September 23, 2014, 06:54 PM

Paul, let me emphasize that there was not consensus formed on all tracks between the vinyl and digital content. I can only emphasize what I heard and the lines were more blurred w others present.

Something else strange. When I stream Spotify (and I do this when I am reading) thru the 541 DAC, it sounds fairly presentable despite the fact that the content is only coming thru at 320 kbps max. there are some cuts that sound pretty good! I think that the Swiss have figured something out!

**FlexibleAudio** · September 23, 2014, 08:17 PM

Le Roy,

Have you had a chance to compare formats: red label versus high def PCM versus DSD 64 or 128??

**sharkmouth** · September 24, 2014, 04:33 AM

Originally Posted by FlexibleAudio

Le Roy,

Have you had a chance to compare formats: red label versus high def PCM versus DSD 64 or 128??

Paul, just buy the thing....

You'll give yourself a hernia. I've been through all of this when MSB were the owners of the same real estate, Le roy has "the 5's" & a pretty decent set-up to compliment them. For us it is the now or what was, lots of great music lost in the interim in other words....

**FlexibleAudio** · September 24, 2014, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by sharkmouth

Paul, just buy the thing....

You'll give yourself a hernia. I've been through all of this when MSB were the owners of the same real estate, Le roy has "the 5's" & a pretty decent set-up to compliment them. For us it is the now or what was, lots of great music lost in the interim in other words....

Kev, I like your style. Good advice!

**wizard** · October 3, 2014, 12:25 PM

**FlexibleAudio** · October 3, 2014, 01:09 PM

Wizard,

Not into Google Blog. Can you share your thoughts here? Would love to get your findings.

**Odyssey** · June 4, 2016, 04:25 PM

http://www.soundstageultra.com/index...alog-converter

**audio.bill** · June 4, 2016, 04:42 PM

After reading that review I want one really bad, it sounds like it would be my ultimate DAC. I have to remember a bit of wisdom my father repeatedly told me when I was growing up, which is that "it's good to want". His explanation was that you should always have some things that you desire in order to keep you ambitious and hard working. My response was generally that "it may be good to want but it's better to have!" Maybe I should follow his advice in this case.

**bzr** · June 4, 2016, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by audio.bill

After reading that review I want one really bad, it sounds like it would be my ultimate DAC. I have to remember a bit of wisdom my father repeatedly told me when I was growing up, which is that "it's good to want". His explanation was that you should always have some things that you desire in order to keep you ambitious and hard working. My response was generally that "it may be good to want but it's better to have!" Maybe I should follow his advice in this case.

Cracker post, my thoughts at a young age would have been "I want you to shut up!", if my father had of said that

**sharkmouth** · May 18, 2017, 02:18 AM

It's good, very good. One of the few dacs that is accurate & detracts nothing.

**Paul** · May 18, 2017, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by sharkmouth

It's good, very good. One of the few dacs that is accurate & detracts nothing.

Didn't know you changed the speakers to Marten. Congrats.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**sharkmouth** · May 19, 2017, 03:32 AM

Originally Posted by Paul

Didn't know you changed the speakers to Marten. Congrats.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Odyssey** · May 21, 2017, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by sharkmouth

It's good, very good. One of the few dacs that is accurate & detracts nothing.

Which digital input(s) are you using on the 560?

**sharkmouth** · May 21, 2017, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by Odyssey

Which digital input(s) are you using on the 560?

Have tried the toslink & usb as didn't have a digital cable. What do you recommend?

**Odyssey** · May 24, 2017, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by sharkmouth

Have tried the toslink & usb as didn't have a digital cable. What do you recommend?

I use the ethernet connection for my NAS content. I also use AES/EBU via LUMIN. I also employ the USB connection.

To my ears in my system the ethernet connection sounds best with the 560 DAC.

**sharkmouth** · May 24, 2017, 06:27 PM

Haven't tried the ethernet yet, will do, thanks.

**jussy1254** · February 12, 2018, 03:35 PM

Soulution have just announced an upgrade for their DACs. A Leedh Processor that will transform the digital volume control. Cyril informed me that 560 with Leedh will out perform the 520. This is of great interest for me as I have a digital only system. The 560 could then suffice as both an excellent pre and digital hub..
I'm sending mine off for the upgrade
this is what Soulution has to say

soulution introduces « Leedh Processing » to its D/A converters 760 and 560

soulution is the first high end electronics manufacturer world-wide who was allowed to license «Leedh Processing» for its D/A converters 560 and 760. «Leedh Processing» is a highly innovative algorithm for increasing or decreasing the volume level of a digital music signal. The patented «Leedh Processing» algorithm does this without adding any artefacts to the digital music signal. No information will be lost while adjusting the volume. This results in revealing even thinnest details and a tremendous richness of micro dynamics otherwise unavailable from digital music playback and usually associated with analog/vinyl music reproduction. Existing units of 760 and 560 can be upgraded for the new «Leedh Processing» volume control feature.
«Leedh Processing» has been invented by Gilles Millot of Acoustical Beauty, a French niche manufacturer for high end loudspeaker systems who already holds several patents for his innovative designs and technologies. The innovative «Leedh Processing» algorithm is not limited to applications in high end audio. It will also do its magic in lower quality, mass market products or even in applications outside audio.

**sharkmouth** · February 13, 2018, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by jussy1254

Soulution have just announced an upgrade for their DACs. A Leedh Processor that will transform the digital volume control. Cyril informed me that 560 with Leedh will out perform the 520. This is of great interest for me as I have a digital only system. The 560 could then suffice as both an excellent pre and digital hub..
I'm sending mine off for the upgrade
this is what Soulution has to say

soulution introduces « Leedh Processing » to its D/A converters 760 and 560

soulution is the first high end electronics manufacturer world-wide who was allowed to license «Leedh Processing» for its D/A converters 560 and 760. «Leedh Processing» is a highly innovative algorithm for increasing or decreasing the volume level of a digital music signal. The patented «Leedh Processing» algorithm does this without adding any artefacts to the digital music signal. No information will be lost while adjusting the volume. This results in revealing even thinnest details and a tremendous richness of micro dynamics otherwise unavailable from digital music playback and usually associated with analog/vinyl music reproduction. Existing units of 760 and 560 can be upgraded for the new «Leedh Processing» volume control feature.
«Leedh Processing» has been invented by Gilles Millot of Acoustical Beauty, a French niche manufacturer for high end loudspeaker systems who already holds several patents for his innovative designs and technologies. The innovative «Leedh Processing» algorithm is not limited to applications in high end audio. It will also do its magic in lower quality, mass market products or even in applications outside audio.

... do you have any more information about the upgrade? Is it hardware based or software? I am very interested in this upgrade & will be doing it for sure!

**jussy1254** · February 16, 2018, 03:37 PM

It is both. The volume control needs to be changed. Software upgraded too. Cost is $5500
Mine is on it's way

**sharkmouth** · February 17, 2018, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by jussy1254

It is both. The volume control needs to be changed. Software upgraded too. Cost is $5500
Mine is on it's way

Thanks for the info.

**still-one** · February 17, 2018, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

It looks good Kev....I'm afraid to ask the cost.

I find it interesting to look at the different approaches. Soulution above says they find PCM superior and converts all DSD to PCM. PS audio has been quite busy here telling everyone DSD is superior and their new DAC converts all PCM to DSD.

I too prefer PCM.

**jussy1254** · February 17, 2018, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by still-one

I too prefer PCM.

I can only say that my Soulution 560 replaced my Nagra hd dac. The Soulution is PCM and the Nagra is DSD.
i find the 560 far superior in all respects

**sharkmouth** · February 18, 2018, 03:52 AM

I've had a lot of gear through my racks of late & the 560 is still there

**sharkmouth** · February 18, 2018, 03:54 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

It looks good Kev....I'm afraid to ask the cost.

I find it interesting to look at the different approaches. Soulution above says they find PCM superior and converts all DSD to PCM. PS audio has been quite busy here telling everyone DSD is superior and their new DAC converts all PCM to DSD.

Haha,... I bet you're not scared of the price now!!

Mate, you're up for a huge tax rebate this year I reckon...

**Germanchu** · February 5, 2023, 08:46 AM

Hello
Recently I can listen to 560 vs DCS Rossini Apex, on a very good system, and to my ears Soulution sounds very good, with a more realistic presentation. Because I just bought 560.
My question is which is the best option to connect 560 to 721 pre, RCA or XLR, taking into account that I only need 1 meter of cable

**audio.bill** · February 5, 2023, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by Germanchu

Hello
Recently I can listen to 560 vs DCS Rossini Apex, on a very good system, and to my ears Soulution sounds very good, with a more realistic presentation. Because I just bought 560.
My question is which is the best option to connect 560 to 721 pre, RCA or XLR, taking into account that I only need 1 meter of cable

Soulution recommends using the XLR connections in their manual (referred to as symmetrical connections), and I'd think that to be particularly beneficial when connecting two Soulution components.

**brodricj** · February 8, 2023, 07:32 AM

Really, XLR or RCA version of the same cable should sound no different. If you need to buy a new cable, buy XLR. If you already have a good RCA, use it.

**Germanchu** · February 14, 2023, 01:43 PM

Thanks a lot for your answer, I have tried some and the ones I liked the most are XLR Ansuz Diamond 2 .
I come from Linn and the control point i was using was fantastic.
I try several software with Soulution 560 ,and I didn't like them very much, which one do you recommend ?
Thanks so much for the help

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