Description: Digital-to-analog converter. Tube complement: two CV181 (6SN7). DAC: ESS Sabre32 ES9018. Input formats: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384kHz; DoP at DSD64, DSD128. Digital inputs: S/PDIF (optical, 96kHz and below), S/PDIF (BNC & RCA, 192kHz and below), USB 2.0. Analog outputs: single-ended on RCA and XLR jacks. Maximum output voltage: 1.77V RMS. Output impedance: <1 ohm (see "Measurements" sidebar).
Dimensions: 15.5" (400mm) W by 8" (183mm) H by 13.5" (360mm) D. Weight: 22.22 lbs (10.1kg).
Serial number of unit reviewed: 1609…
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Sidebar 1: Specifications
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Garrard 301 turntable; EMT 997 tonearm; EMT OFD 15 & TSD 15, Ortofon SPU #1S, Shindo Laboratory SPU pickup heads; Denon DL 103 cartridge.
Digital Sources: AudioQuest DragonFly, Halide Designs DAC HD USB DACs; Apple iMac computer (late 2015) running OS 10.12.1 & Roon v.1.2, Build 165; Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Hommage T1 & T2 step-up transformers, Shindo Laboratory Masseto preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Shindo Laboratory Corton-Charlemagne (monoblocks) & Haut-Brion (stereo).
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Sidebar 3: Measurements
I measured the CanEver ZeroUno with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see the January 2008 "As We See It"), using both the Audio Precision's optical and electrical digital outputs and USB data sourced from my MacBook Pro running on battery power with Pure Music 3.0 playing WAV and AIFF test-tone files. Apple's USB Prober utility identified the CanEver as "xCORE USB Audio 2.0" from "XMOS," and confirmed that its USB port operated in the optimal isochronous asynchronous mode. Apple's AudioMIDI utility revealed that, via USB, the ZeroUno accepted 24-bit integer data…
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Of the amp, which was shown in passive display, Pass Labs' Desmond Harrington said, "We needed a smaller, lighter, and less expensive amplifier. A single human being can pick it up, and it can fit on a shelf. It's actually a little…