dCS Bartók APEX Digital to Analogue Converter with Headphone Amplifier
Description
Bartók APEX is a distillation of our past, present, and future—30 years of innovation in a single beautiful, flexible, and futureproof chassis embodying the essence of dCS. Combining a DAC, Music Streamer, Upsampler, Pre-amp, and (optional) Headphone Amplifier, the Bartók APEX offers a singular experience for headphone and stereo listeners. Now with the APEX Ring DAC, our next-generation DAC hardware, we've once again redefined the state-of-the-art for digital audio. This upgrade allows us to take Bartók world-leading measured performance to a new level—technology that provides an even more immersive musical experience.
Arresting sound, ingenious design
The Bartók APEX retains the original's powerful, dynamic and detailed soundscape and adds elements of resolution and refinement previously only achievable with the Rossini or Vivaldi APEX. dCS engineered Bartók APEX to inform and inspire.
APEX sets a new benchmark for transparency. It organically resolves the finest details and uncovers textures and subtleties that most systems overlook. From the broadest dynamic swings in volume to the subtlest shifts in tone, Bartók APEX reveals each aspect of a recording with a sense of effortless refinement and control.
Designed and hand-assembled at our headquarters in Cambridgeshire, England, Bartók APEX is born from meticulous craft, exhaustive development, and obsessive attention to detail—a relentless pursuit of musical purity that has inspired us to reimagine the limits of sound reproduction.
Sharing the same electronics as our Vivaldi and Rossini systems, it features the latest generations of our pioneering Ring DAC™ APEX, clocking architecture, and digital processing platform —a unique combination of hardware and software unrivalled in its sonic and technical performance.
Bartók APEX combines precision engineering with an elegant and timeless aesthetic. Standard-setting build quality means Bartók APEX withstands even the most intensive use and reliably delivers superb sound quality at all volume settings and outputs. With flexible and upgradable software and hardware, Bartók can grow and evolve, providing a state-of-the-art listening experience for years to come.
Specifications:
| Type | Upsampling Network DAC with Headphone Amplifier |
| Chassis Options | Silver or Black |
| Dimensions | 444mm (17.5”) x 430mm (17.0”) x 115mm (4.6”) (Allow extra depth for cable connectors) |
| Weight | 16.7kg (36.8lbs) |
| DAC Technology | dCS proprietary Ring DAC™ topology |
| Network & USB Inputs | Ethernet network port (RJ45), USB 2.0 (B-type), USB On-The-Go (A-type), supporting up to 24-bit/384kS/s PCM, DSD/64 & DSD/128 in DFF/DSF format |
| Other Digital Inputs | 2 x AES/EBU (XLR), 1 x Dual AES pair, 1 x SPDIF on RCA Phono, 1 x SPDIF on BNC, 1 x SPDIF optical on TOSLINK |
| Balanced Outputs | 1 x pair on XLR connectors (0.2V, 0.6V, 2V, 6V rms), Output impedance: 3Ω (Max load: 600Ω, recommended 10k-100kΩ) |
| Unbalanced Outputs | 1 x pair on RCA connectors (0.2V, 0.6V, 2V, 6V rms), Output impedance: 52Ω (Max load: 600Ω, recommended 10k-100kΩ) |
| Headphone Outputs | 1 x stereo balanced (4-pin male XLR), 1 x stereo unbalanced (6.35mm / 1/4” jack) (1.4W rms into 33Ω, 0.15W rms into 300Ω, Minimum headphone impedance: 33Ω) |
| Word Clock Inputs | 2 x BNC connectors (accepts 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, or 192kHz; TTL levels) |
| Word Clock Output | 1 x BNC connector (TTL-compatible, Sync Mode as Master) |
| MQA Support | Full decoding and rendering from Network & USB2 inputs. Final rendering of unfolded MQA data from other inputs |
| Dynamic Range | 24-bit data: Better than –113dB0, 20Hz - 20kHz unweighted (6V output setting) |
| THD+N | Better than -115dB0, 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Channel Separation | Better than -105dB0, 20Hz – 20kHz |
| PCM & DSD Filters | PCM: up to 6 filters; DSD: 4 filters, plus improved transient response with Filter 5 |
| Upsampling | PCM upsampling to DXD, DSD, or DSDx2 (user selectable) |
| Software | Download and updates via dCS Mosaic Control app |
| Control Options | dCS Mosaic Control app, RS232 interface (3rd party automation system), Optional dCS Universal Remote |
| Power Supply | Factory set to 100, 115/120, 220 or 230/240V AC 50/60Hz |
| Power Consumption | 30W typical / 50W maximum |