GOOGLE CAST ENABLED REFERENCE PRE-AMP FROM DENSEN
The B-250 from Danish audio manufacturer Densen has long been established as a reference level preamplifier.
Engineers at Densen have recently given the B-250 a new lease of life by adding Google Cast functionality allowing you to cast your favourite music and apps from your phone, tablet or laptop right to your stereo system via the new Densen B-250CAST.
To retain the highest possible sound quality, the B-250CAST features a dedicated power supply for the CAST which they say is an extreme low noise PSU. They’ve also developed a dedicated shielded power cord that connects CAST to the preamp.
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The digital signal from the CAST is converted to analogue using the built-in DAC, which is built upon from Densen’s experiences with DAC designs tracing back to 1996. According to Densen they “designed their first DAC as a OEM product for a well-respected European High End manufacturer”.
The B-250CAST DAC allows 192kHz/24bit resolution, higher than the maximum 96kHz/24bit resolution attainable from Google’s CAST which Densen says will allow for future upgrades.
The volume level is controlled by an extremely precise attenuator made of Vishay metal film resistors, which is switched by relays controlled by the microprocessor. Most preamps use a normal volume potentiometer. Whereas, the microprocessor controlled attenuator has virtually no self-induced noise and extremely low distortion. Densen says “this results in an unsurpassed precision and refinement, and the attenuator contains no less than 200 steps!”.
Densen told StereoNET:
As with all Densen products, sound is our top priority. As such, the B-250CAST offers a strong musical performance in line with the traditions of Densen.
Dynamics, transparency, detail, level, soundstage, precision, and musicality is outstanding, and using the B-250CAST will allow the user to delve into the music, and forget about the technology in the quest for audiophile nirvana!
The B-250CAST features 4 x single-ended RCA inputs, tape-loop, optical digital input, and four RCA pre-outs.
Densen products are designed and manufactured in Esbjerg, Denmark.
The Densen B-250CAST was unveiled at this week’s Moscow HiFi Show and will be available in Australia later this year. It will be available in a choice of Black or Silver.
Local pricing has not yet been confirmed.
For more information visit the Densen brand page.
Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After writing for print magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET in 1999.
Posted in: Hi-Fi
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