Aero Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)
Aero Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)
The Aero DAC is the first of its kind, combining revolutionary ZOTL vacuum tube technology with the much-loved AD1865 R2R DAC chip for a sound that's organic, lifelike, and truly exceptional.
Aero DAC by Linear Tube Audio
Digital music with the richness and depth of analog
The Aero DAC is the first of its kind, combining revolutionary ZOTL vacuum tube technology with the much-loved AD1865 R2R DAC chip for a sound that's organic, lifelike, and truly exceptional. Rediscover your favorite music with a DAC that brings the richness and depth of vinyl to digital playback.
What the Experts Are Saying
Herb Reichert, Stereophile Magazine
“Linear Tube Audio's Aero DAC presented recordings with connoisseur-level NOS R-2R sound, which I would characterize as naturally transparent and unstressed. But it rose above this generic R-2R aesthetic by virtue of its extreme clarity, timbral beauty, and fit, athletic boogie factor.”
Terry London, Stereo Times
“I have had vast experience with many highly regarded DACs, reviewed many, and own three highly regarded ones. Two of them exceed the price of the Aero by at least $10,000 or more, yet the LTA Aero DAC easily hangs with them regarding performance and the amount of musical pleasure I derive in listening to it.”
Lachlan Fennen, Passion For Sound
“It’s tonality, naturalness, and timbre is as good as anything I’ve heard at any price. In other words, the LTA Aero DAC is the best DAC I’ve heard short of far more expensive options.”
Steve Guttenberg, The Audiophiliac
“You are just drawn into the music because you feel the musician’s enthusiasm, their energy is coming through so well. That’s what really makes the Aero special.”
“The Aero stands out from that crowd by offering a natural sense of ease combined with a level of richness and resolution that keeps things real and exciting. If you’re looking for non-digital digital sound that won’t break the bank, LTA has designed a DAC for you.”
Why the Aero is Different
Vacuum Tube Tone and Timbre
Two vacuum tubes in the output stage provide a natural, life-like tonality and timbre that has become a hallmark of LTA products. Thanks to the ZOTL design, these tubes generate ⅓ the heat and offer 2-3 times the life of conventional vacuum tube equipment.
AD1865 DAC Chip
We chose the Analog Devices AD1865 R2R DAC chip, often called the "vinyl DAC" for its organic analog sound. This non-oversampling chip, used in other DAC products costing over $100,000, provides the purest sound without digital filters.
Power Supply
The Aero features six separate, individually isolated power supplies with over 300,000μF of combined storage capacitance. This robust power system ensures a large power reservoir, significantly enhancing dynamics and overall sound quality.
Input Stage
Instead of conventional USB and SPDIF chips, the Aero uses a powerful ARM processor for its input stage. This chipset, developed by a company with 20 years of digital frontend experience, provides superior instrument separation and plug-n-play ease of use on all platforms.
DAC Interface
The LTA-designed DAC interface - which converts the DAC’s current to voltage then passes it to the output stage - presents a consistent load to the DAC chip across its performance band. This continuously self-correcting I/V stage creates a wider soundstage and improved detail.
Output Stage
The output stage is where we bring in the magic of David Berning’s patented ZOTL vacuum tube circuit. This pure Class-A balanced design, directly coupled without capacitors, delivers a 3D soundstage, dynamic range, and musical transparency characteristic of ZOTL technology.
Features & Benefits
R2R Ladder DAC: No oversampling and no digital filters for organic sound
Class-A ZOTL Output Stage: The first and only DAC in the world to use ZOTL technology for natural tonality and 3D imaging
Zero Negative Feedback: No global or local feedback for timbral accuracy and enhanced transient response
Balanced XLR Outputs: Enhanced signal quality and crystal clear audio
Three Inputs: USB, Optical, and Coax inputs for flexible connectivity - all play 24-bit / 192kHz files/streams
Digital Galvanic Isolation: Blocks noise from music sources entering the DAC circuit
Six dedicated power supplies with advanced low noise regulation and over 300,000uF of capacitance for reserve voltage storage
Direct-Coupled Topology: No capacitors in the signal path
Advanced Protection: Circuitry to protect downstream components from tube failures
Easy Tube Swapping: Fully exposed tubes and simple toggle switch for using either 6SN7 or 12SN7 output tubes
Plug & Play: No drivers needed for Windows or Mac
Made in the USA: Designed and built in our Takoma Park, MD workshop
Roon Tested: Certified integration with Roon for easy plug-n-play setup
Testimonials from Satisfied Customers
“The Aero has unlocked that emotional involvement with the digital format. I sat down with a cup of coffee and did side to side comparison with 24/192 recordings and the LP. My vinyl system is Sota Nova/Grado/Modwright. If I didn’t pay attention when switching between formats I would have to check to see what format was actually playing.” ~MM
“LTA has hit another bases loaded home run... All of those 12SN7 tubes in the audio chain allow the operatic vocals to sound rich, luscious, liquid honey sweet, and laid back. Hall ambience is easy to hear and I feel like I'm seated in 4th row center.” ~SB
“The Aero DAC brought a fluidity to streaming high-resolution audio from Qobuz and Tidal that was truly striking. On superior recordings, brass instruments were rendered with outstanding transparency and realism, while drums exhibited a vibrant sheen. Treble extensions in all instruments were lively yet smooth, avoiding any harshness. Vocals, from artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Patricia Barber, Emmylou Harris, Diana Krall, and Frank Sinatra, were intimate and detailed, capturing every breath with clarity. In conclusion, the Aero DAC excels in delivering engaging, musical sound devoid of the typical digital artifacts often associated with digital playback.” ~RG
“I did play a couple songs I know well with my [well-known R2R DAC] and then the same tracks with the Aero, which killed my old DAC. Way more texture and richness to the music without sacrificing detail. Smooth and full sounding, plus dynamic. Fit and finish of the case is very impressive as well.” ~ CB
“I'm very pleased with the improvement over what I currently have. I have a [popular R2R DAC] The Aero just sounds better to me and the [other DAC] is no slouch having been reviewed highly and praised by many. I also was very impressed by the new look of the Aero. Great packaging btw. Overall, I think you could be asking and getting more for the unit.” ~DH
“I have had another DAC with the same chip through here and the difference in sound is startling. In fact the sound is different than pretty well anything I have had in the system period. Interesting blend of natural tonality, intensity, clarity and detail without becoming harsh. Nothing laid back about this presentation but rather engaging which is refreshing. Fit and finish are really good, though understated in looks the quality of the build is obvious. Shipping box well organized. Really well done.” ~JG
“The Aero has unlocked that emotional involvement with the digital format. I sat down with a cup of coffee and did side to side comparison with 24/192 recordings and the LP. My vinyl system is Sota Nova/Grado/Modwright. If I didn’t pay attention when switching between formats I would have to check to see what format was actually playing.” ~Mark M.
“All fancy audiophile talk aside, this thing is just a joy. It has that remarkably LTA thing about it in the way that it reveals so much while remaining warm and dead neutral. Listening, I feel like the Aero is sacrificing or compromising nothing.” ~Mike M.
“Out of the box already nothing else I have sounds better. All those positive comments are not overstated at all, and it even outperformed my [other DAC] which cost me 3x the price of Aero.” ~Toto L.
“Day three with my Aero and I will not even try to explain what I'm hearing or feeling other than say it is the greatest audio experience I've had. I hope many people can hear this DAC for themselves. In the end, I am beyond pleased.” ~Sam C.
Specifications
Inputs: USB, RCA Coax, Toslink / Optical
Outputs: RCA (70 ohm), XLR (140 ohm)
Formats: Up to 24-bit / 192 kHz PCM
DAC: Analog Devices AD1865 R2R
Output Voltage:
RCA: 2.2 Vrms
XLR: 4.4 Vrms
THD+N:
RCA: 0.54% at 1.1 Vpeak.
XLR: 0.061% at 2.2 Vpeak
Hum:
RCA: -110dB at 1.1 Vpeak
XLR: -116dB at 2.2 Vpeak
Frequency Response: -0.3dB at 20Hz and -0.8dB at 20kHz
Tube Complement: 2 x 12SN7 (6SN7 tubes can also be used)
Power Consumption: 32W (Standby: 7W)
Dimensions:
Width: 17in
Depth: 10in (10.5 in including connectors)
Height: 3in (not including tubes), ~4.5in (with stock tubes installed)
Weight: Approx 15 lbs
FAQs
The Story of the Aero: LTA’s First DAC
Engineering a Legacy of Natural Sound
LTA amplifiers are known for their natural, detailed sound and holographic presentation, faithfully reproducing the nuances of the original performance. Our goal was to create a DAC that offered the same realism.
Design and Engineering
We explored multiple output stages, various DAC output current-to-voltage conversion techniques, and different input stage designs. David Berning contributed his expertise on power supplies, interfaces, and output stages. The design team developed a new in-house ZOTL output stage—a single-ended circuit with a balanced output and direct coupling, eliminating the need for inter-stage coupling capacitors. The DAC interface is also our proprietary design, while the power supply circuits took inspiration from Berning’s flagship preamp. The digital input section uses an ARM processor running software refined over many years.
Component Selection and Sound Tuning
Every aspect of the design was meticulously voiced for sound quality. With extensive experience evaluating the sonic characteristics of parts from various manufacturers, the selection process took months of listening and comparison, always favoring a more analog sound. The analog section starts with a proprietary active discrete current mirror with a balanced output, followed by four single-ended amplification stages that form the balanced ZOTL output stage. The chosen DAC chip is the AD1865 by Analog Devices—an R2R DAC chip, no longer in production and known as the “Vinyl DAC” for its slightly creamy sound—which is used by AudioNote in their flagship DAC costing over $150,000.
Input Section
The input stage is managed by an ARM processor. We license a module that handles USB, coaxial, and optical inputs, developed by experts with decades of DAC experience. This design ensures excellent instrument separation and low noise.
Power Supply Design
The Aero features a hybrid power supply beginning with a low-noise linear section, followed by a fully discrete DC-DC converter modeled after David Berning’s Pre-One preamp. This converter produces isolated voltage rails that are then filtered and further regulated using additional low-noise linear stages. Each voltage rail undergoes at least four separate filtering stages, with a combined filter capacitance of over 300,000 µF, all contributing to the DAC’s analog sound quality.
Enhanced Board Layout and Component Integration
In line with our recent designs, including the Velo, the Aero uses higher-performance surface-mount components and an optimized board layout. Closer component placement reduces noise and improves performance, allowing for better results than some existing ZOTL designs while maintaining cost efficiency.
Mechanical Design and User Experience
The casework is a modern interpretation of classic wooden tube amplifier chassis, crafted in machined aluminum. Moving away from the typical box-with-a-faceplate design, the Aero is intended to stand alone and be viewed from all sides. This design not only enhances aesthetics but also distributes mass evenly to improve vibration control. Additionally, the layout makes the tubes more visible and allows for easy tube replacement without removing the cover. We also paid special attention to the indicator LEDs, using a warm, natural glow with a carefully chosen diffuser and filter to ensure minimal glare.
Sound Presentation and Naming
When testing the new DAC output current-to-voltage section, we noted a remarkably deep and wide soundstage with clear separation of performers. The natural presentation of tone and timbre led us to name the product the Aero—Greek for “air.”
Final Thoughts
The Aero is a significant step forward in DAC design for LTA. It integrates high-performance components and advanced design techniques while remaining true to our commitment to analog-like sound and realistic musical reproduction—all in a design that complements LTA’s existing amplifiers and overall philosophy.