Aries Cerat · Kassandra
Kassandra Reference
A monumental R2R ladder DAC engineered for uncompromised analogue fluidity.
Digital conversion, stripped of manipulation and rebuilt with uncompromising analogue engineering.
The Kassandra Reference stands as a towering achievement in Aries Cerat’s digital lineup, created from a mandate to build a digital source capable of challenging the world's finest analogue rigs. By strictly avoiding the ubiquitous delta-sigma processing and oversampling filters, it preserves the incoming data stream in its absolute purest form.
Sonically, it delivers a deeply saturated, dynamically explosive presentation. It balances the massive weight and harmonic density of a reference-grade tube component with the lightning-fast transient response of a purely passive R2R network, rendering digital files with authentic texture and unrestrained scale.
Key Features
01
Parallel R2R Topology
Utilises 16 Analogue Devices AD1865N-K chips per channel to dramatically lower the noise floor and improve overall dynamic range.
02
Transformer I/V Conversion
Replaces traditional op-amp current-to-voltage conversion with a custom wideband transformer, ensuring an uncoloured and phase-correct signal path.
03
E280F Tube Output
A transformer-loaded, single-ended output stage featuring the exceptionally linear E280F super tube provides massive voltage swing and low output impedance.
04
Advanced Jitter Attenuation
An internal, bypassable super-clock with a triple-regulated power supply eliminates jitter down to the femtosecond level.
Chapter 01
Pure R2R Architecture
Instead of relying on modern delta-sigma manipulation, the Kassandra Reference operates as a massive passive resistor ladder. The data stream undergoes zero manipulation or digital filtering, preserving the precise timing, transients, and phase of the original signal without the ringing typical of oversampled digital sources.
Chapter 02
Analogue Output Stage
Because R2R chips output current, the Kassandra utilises a custom-designed, wideband transformer to convert this current into voltage. The analogue gain is provided by a single-ended tube amplifier using the E280F super tube, which is transformer-loaded and biased by heavily regulated, ultra-low-noise power supplies.
Chapter 03
Over-Engineered Power
Weighing in at 60 kg, much of the Kassandra Reference’s sheer mass is dedicated to its power delivery. It features multiple large toroidal transformers, vast capacitor banks, and 35 dedicated LC filters that completely decouple the digital circuits from the power rails to eliminate power supply induced jitter.
Specifications
TypeR2R Ladder DAC
Impedance50 ohms (12 ohms at -6dB setting)
Dimensions (H × W × D)165 × 540 × 520 mm
Weight60 kg