AERO

The Aero is LTA’s first digital-to-analog converter, and the world’s only DAC using ZOTL technology.

After two years of development, dozens of versions and prototypes, and hours of listening tests, the result delivers crystalline realism, organic timbre, and encompassing soundstage.

Backed by LTA’s three-year warranty (one year on the tubes) and our extended 30-day in-home trial period. Learn More

"I gotta say, man, they nailed it right out of the box. This thing is impressive. It really is."

~Steve Guttenberg

“In my system, 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.”

~Herb Reichert, Stereophile Magazine

“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.”

~Michael Lavorgna, Twittering Machines

“I coined a term in a past review where I referred to a piece of gear as being a ‘disruptive product’ because it insanely snapped the cost vs. performance ratio. The Linear Tube Audio Aero DAC is such a product.”

~Terry London, Stereo Times

“The Linear Tube Audio Aero DAC is, I think, the best DAC I’ve heard short of far more expensive options…”

~Lachlan @ Passion for Sound

Roon Tested

The Aero DAC has received Roon Tested Certification from Roon.

Being Roon Tested means that LTA and Roon have collaborated to ensure you have the best experience using Roon software and LTA equipment together, so you can just enjoy the music.

In practical terms, this means that when you enable the Aero in Roon, all the settings will be properly configured automatically for easy plug-n-play use.

On the fun side, when using the Aero in Roon, a custom image of the Aero will be displayed in the Signal path and other areas of the Roon interface.

FAQs

“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

“A special piece of equipment.” ~BH

“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.

DAC Stage

Since LTA amplifiers are so transparent and known for their detail retrieval and low noise floor, we needed the D-to-A conversion to be very natural, since any artifacts would be revealed by our amps. After trying various options, we chose the Analog Devices AD1865 R2R DAC chip, which is sometimes called the “vinyl DAC,” for its organic sound. It is a non-oversampling DAC, with no digital filters, for the purest sound. The AD1865 is much-loved by audiophiles, and is used by at least one hifi company in a flagship DAC costing over $150,000.

Power Supply

The quality of a DAC's power supply is pivotal to its sound, and LTA is known for its superior power supplies. The power supply in the Aero is derived from David Berning’s iconic Pre-One, and employs separate power supplies, individually isolated for each part of the circuit. The power supply is integrated into the case of the Aero, and uses a choke-filtered circuit and high-end Belleson regulators for clean current. Combined there is over 300,000uF of storage capacitance in the Aero DAC.

Analog DAC Interface

Another major factor that determines the sound quality of a DAC is its analog DAC interface, called the I/V stage. Most high quality DAC chips output current. The current needs to be changed to voltage and is then sent to the output stage. Some DACs use passive conversion with resistors or transformers. Neither of these methods present the same load to the DAC chip across its performance band, which is problematic. We have developed a discrete, active I/V stage that solves this problem and results in enhanced speed, detail, and soundstage.

Output Stage

The output stage is where we bring in the magic of David Berning’s ZOTL circuit. The Aero uses our latest multi-stage impedance converter and a pure Class-A balanced design to generate exceedingly low output impedance from its RCA and XLR outputs, which means it plays nicely with tube or solid state preamps and integrated amps. The Aero ships with 12SN7 output tubes, but 6SN7 tubes can be used with the flip of a switch on the back panel.

Ray RESERVE 6SN7 Tube Upgrade

Elevate your Aero experience with the Ray RESERVE 6SN7 tube upgrade. This premium option comes in addition to the stock tubes.

Existing Aero owners can purchase the Ray RESERVE 6SN7 Tube Upgrade here.

“The thing that puts [the Ray RESERVE 6SN7 tubes] in first place is resolution, bass control, and an overall tighter, cleaner sound compared to any of the NOS variety while still imparting a nice sense of tone and texture.”

~ Twittering Machines

Ray Reserve 6SN7 Customer Testimonial

After more than 200 hours of burn in with the tubes, my read is that the LTA Aero DAC showcases a significant improvement in sound quality when upgraded to Ray Reserve tubes compared to the stock NOS GE 12SN7 tubes.

Ray Reserve tubes excel in delivering enhanced vocal realism, detailed treble, and extended bass. The result is a richer tonality over the stock tubes with a deep, controlled bass and a smooth, refined high end. They offer superior resolution, a tighter and cleaner sound, and a balanced tonal richness that creates an immersive and high-fidelity listening experience.

The improvements are so substantial that, if quieried, I would say that purchase of either or both of Aero Dac and Mz3 should only be made with the upgrade to Ray Reserve tubes.

~Raphael G.

Steve Guttenberg on the Ray Reserve 6SN7 tubes

“So what would the Ray tubes bring to the party? Well, definitely what I was getting was enhanced transparency. Inner detail, like the spaces between the instruments, that sort of thing. The bass had a little bit more kick to it.

Not tube-ier, not like softer, mellower. Not that kind of tube-y. This is tube-ier in terms of hearing deeper into the music.”

~Steve Guttenberg, The Audiophliac