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Aero DAC

Why doesn't the Aero DAC have oversampling?

Oversampling is a technique to increase the sample rate of digital audio in an attempt to improve certain aspects of the signal, including antialiasing and noise.

To do this, the file is converted to a higher resolution (e.g. from 16-bit/44kHz to 24-bit/192kHz), converted to analog, and in the process one or more filters is used to correct for various issues inherent in the upsampling process.

This might make something sound better or not.

Oversampling has three big issues:

No new information about the recorded performance is added or created. Its chopping the original digital into lots more pieces only.

Upsampling creates imaging artifacts, frequency spectrum contraction, interpolation, aliasing and other issues. Various filters are used to help correct for these issues, but these affect the sound. Select a different filter, and the music sounds different.

The realism is compromised by these artifacts and other issues. Your ear is a magnificent instrument that can detect subtleties that affect the perception of realism. With the Aero DAC (and most R2R DACs), they have better realism, sound more "analog," and are less fatigue without using oversampling.

How do I play my DSD and SACD files on the Aero DAC?

Roon, jRiver, and many other music player software applications can decode DSD files to high-resolution PCM. All the advantages of DSD that higher resolution brings are preserved. And with the tonality, richness, and detail that the Aero’s ZOTL output stage provides, SACD and DSD are gorgeously reproduced.

Can I update the firmware on my Aero DAC?

LTA releases new firmware for the Aero periodically to address software bugs and optimize performance. Aero DAC owners can update the firmware on their Aero DAC via an easy-to-use software application available for MacOS and Windows.

Download the Serce Updater app below for each platform:

Updating Firmware on the Aero DAC

Once you have the app downloaded and installed, follow these instructions to update your Aero DAC:

  1. Connect the Aero DAC to your computer via USB.

  2. Turn on the Aero DAC.

  3. Launch the Serce Updater application. The Aero DAC should show up automatically (see screenshot below).

  4. If a new firmware version is available, click the “Update” button.

  5. Allow installation process to finish (should take less than a minute). Do not power down or disconnect the Aero DAC until the process is finished.

  6. Installation progress will be shown and you will be alerted when the process is complete.

Troubleshooting

If the Aero DAC does not show up in the updater app:

  • Confirm the Aero DAC is connected via USB to the computer on which you are running the updater app

  • Confirm that the Aero DAC is powered on

  • With the Aero DAC on, close and re-launch the updater app

Is the Aero DAC an R2R DAC?

The Aero DAC is an R2R DAC, otherwise known as a resistor-to-resistor ladder DAC.

We employ the Analog Devices AD1865 R2R DAC chip, which is a highly regarded R2R DAC chip. One well-known audio brand uses this same chip in their $153,000 flagship DAC.