Brick USB DAC v2 with 12AU7/ECC82 reactor follower output
Gordon Rankin first thought of the Brick as a way to bring greater attention to the idea of computer audio. It turned out to be much more than that as indicated in Art Dudley’s Stereophile Listening #33. This review gave the Brick the Stereophile Class A rating. The Brick uses similar technology as the Cosecant. The Brick uses custom code developed by Wavelength Audio to support USB Asynchronous mode. The Brick has a very low jitter central clock that runs the entire audio section. The Brick comes with Transcendental 16/44.1 DAC Module. The output 16/44.1K of the TDA1543N2 (5% top selected) multibit dac chip and passive I/V is directly connected to the 12AU7A/ECC82 output tube which in turns drives the reactor follower output for excellent drive and sound.
Opinion on Brick, by Dr. Jules L. Coleman, a senior high end audio reviewer:
The Brick is very good. The sound is extremely smooth and relaxed. The soundscape is enormous. The presentation is seductive, relaxed and natural. The midrange is glorious. There was nothing at all digital about the sound. In short, the Brick was as easy on the ears as any DAC I have owned. (...) The Brick is a terrific value and renders digital playback relaxed, unrushed, warm, full bodied and a relative joy to listen to it.
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I purchased the Brick after reviewing it... To my ears, the Brick represented a genuine value. It presents music in a relaxed, engaging, entirely inoffensive and non-fatiguing way.
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And another by Ian White:
The bottom line on the Brick is that it should be considered one of the best solutions for anyone looking to assemble a High Fidelity music server in their home with the least amount of effort and fuss. There are a lot of USB-based products coming down the pike right now, but they are going to have to be very special to best this little guy.
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Brick comes with Transcendental 16/44.1 DAC Module.
Package includes the converter itself, Mortar power supply unit and high grade USB cable.
