CH Precision C10 DAC Digital to Analogue Converter
The C10 DAC marks the beginning of your journey to CH Precision’s ultimate digital front-end. Built on our modular design ethos, this two-piece DAC redefines what’s possible for digital front ends—even in its simplest form. The C10 is a complete, stand-alone DAC for those seeking ultimate performance in a compact, self-contained configuration. For those who wish to go further, its modular, expandable architecture allows it to be precisely configured and upgraded to match each customer’s system and aspirations.
Cutting-edge from Inception
The C10 builds on the proven PCM1704 converter chip, now implemented in a sophisticated dual-differential DSQ™ Phase Array. Sixteen converters—four per polarity for each channel—are directed by our proprietary PEtER algorithm, a 32-bit fixed-point DSP engine that prepares the signal for the final 24-bit conversion. Data is fed sequentially across the array, a structure that demands impeccable clocking and algorithmic control. Following the conversion process, our Bessel filter preserves the analog signal’s temporal integrity, maintaining constant group delay to a tolerance of under two femtoseconds. With oversampling extended to 64x, the C10 achieves a new threshold of time-domain accuracy and musical refinement.
Your Journey Begins at the Peak
The C10 was conceived at the forefront of audio innovation—every element engineered to establish a new benchmark in digital playback. To achieve this performance, we redesigned the power architecture and physical construction. Housed in a separate enclosure, the C10’s power supply utilizes eleven ultra-stable DC feeds, which supply four galvanically isolated zones inside the audio unit: digital, clock, and dual DACs. A symmetrical layout places input cards at the center and DACs on either side, each with matched clock paths.
With the C10, CH Precision created a digital source that transcends measurement and specification—one that breathes life into music with effortless realism, depth, and emotional connection. The C10 reveals not just the detail in a recording but the intent behind it, drawing the listener closer to the original performance. It is the culmination of decades of refinement in digital design and the embodiment of CH Precision’s unwavering pursuit of musical truth.
Tailored for Your System. Designed for Your Future.
The C10’s modular architecture gives you the power to configure your digital front-end exactly the way you want it. Three identical input slots allow seamless customization to suit your system’s needs. Every C10 comes equipped with CH Precision’s proprietary Digital IN HD card as standard, leaving two additional slots available for easy expansion.
The C10 offers the Ethernet Streaming HD board option for superior performance with local servers (UPnP, Roon, etc.) or online services such as Qobuz, TIDAL, and Internet radio. This board also includes a USB input for direct connection to digital sources. Unlike most high-end DACs that rely on third-party streaming modules, CH Precision’s own design guarantees uncompromised streaming fidelity, ensuring every performance arrives with exceptional clarity, coherence, and emotional impact.
The C10’s optional Clock Board provides one clock input and two clock outputs via high-quality BNC connectors, allowing seamless integration with an external master clock—such as the CH Precision T10 Time Reference.
C10 DAC Mono: The Architecture of Advancement
True to the design philosophy behind every CH Precision component, the 10-Series components are inherently modular—designed to offer meaningful performance upgrades. Transitioning from the standard C10 to the C10 Mono requires only the addition of a second power supply.
Separating the power supplies ensures independent regulation for each DAC board and each analog section, fully preserving galvanic isolation between channels. This configuration maximizes the performance of the C10’s four discrete power domains, reducing noise, enhancing stability, and unlocking a new level of musical performance—greater transparency, improved dynamic expression, and a more profound sense of presence and spatial retrieval. It’s a significant step forward in sonic realism, delivered with architectural grace.
Additionally, the C10’s software-based architecture defines its extraordinary performance today and ensures its relevance for years to come. It establishes a new reference for musical realism, adaptability, and longevity—offering its owner not just a product, but a lasting partnership shaped by continual discovery and enduring musical satisfaction.
Digital Control and Analog Purity
In the pursuit of ultimate fidelity, CH Precision introduces a critical architectural innovation: the physical and functional separation of digital processing and analog conversion. By isolating these operations into two purpose-built chassis—the C10 Conductor and the C10 Master DAC—CH Precision achieves a new standard in noise suppression, timing accuracy, and musical integrity.
The Master DAC, free from DSP-generated high-frequency noise, focuses solely on digital-to-analog conversion. It receives upsampled audio data and clock control instructions from the C10 Conductor via the proprietary CH Link digital connection, transmitted in low-noise LVDS format. Acting on these precise commands, the C10 system’s temperature-stabilized master clock, integrated within the C10 Master DAC, harnesses CH Precision’s sophisticated DSQ phase-shifting technology to transform digital audio data into analog signals with unparalleled precision.
The C10 Conductor is the digital control center, managing source selection, analyzing incoming signal phase and frequency, and performing synchronous upsampling through multiple DSP modules. Based on its real-time analysis, the Conductor provides precise clock adjustment commands to the Master DAC, maintaining optimal time-domain performance.
Power to the C10 Conductor is supplied by its own dedicated PSU. At the same time, the Master DAC may be configured with either a stereo or dual-mono power supply, enabling a clear upgrade path and enhanced channel separation.
This deliberate separation of functions reinforces system stability while uncovering deeper layers of texture, nuance, and emotional truth—connecting you with the full expressive intent of the original performance