Overview
Prominent designer Peter Madnick has teamed up with ELAC to offer a synergy of enormous value, cutting-edge technology, smart topology, and solid manufacturing destined to set the high-end audio ablaze with the new Alchemy Series. Witness the Alchemy DDP-2 preamplifier/DAC/streamer, a captivating three-in-one device that delivers riveting sound, sensational clarity, enormous flexibility, and stunning all-around performance.
Able to to play up to ultra-high-resolution 768kHz PCM and DSD x4 – and offering configurable up sampling to 384kHz – DDP-2 features cutting-edge digital processing and Madnick’s hallmark jitter control. And you won’t need to go far to access Spotify Connect, Bluetooth, or Apple AirPlay – they’re all here, along with Wi-Fi and Ethernet streaming inputs. DDP-2 also serves as a Roon endpoint. Most importantly, you’ll hear your music take on coveted analog-like properties that make it more involving, incredibly lifelike, finitely detailed, and endlessly enjoyable. Augmented with SHARC DSP power that can run Alchemy resolution enhancement and digital filters at all DAC sample rates, DDP-2 produces smooth tones, velvety textures, warm character, and rich responsiveness.
Housed in a sleek chassis (2 x 17.5 x 15 inches, HWD) and driven by a super-low-noise toroidal transformer, DDP-2 is built like a champion inside and out. On the digital end, two balanced DACs complement a dual-core ARM Linux engine, high-efficiency switching power supply, and galvanically isolated transformer. For the linear power supply-equipped analog stages, a discrete all-FET input/output stage, discrete FET DC-coupled output buffer stage, passive rate-dependent L-C anti-aliasing filters, a resistive-ladder analog volume control, and hermetically sealed relays for precise signal routing attest to DDP-2’s sonic brilliance. Six digital inputs (including HDMI and USB), a pair of analog inputs (single-ended or balanced), fixed and variable output, a home-theater bypass mode, and a 12V trigger control with pass-through accommodate practically any connectivity need. Lest we forget, there’s even a first-rate headphone amplifier.
