Audio Video News

Don’t be fooled by the ’60s-vibe of Teac’s AI-503, introduced on the eve of the Axpona Audio Expo in Chicago.

Behind the alluring metal case, aluminum control knobs, and classic VU meters lies a cutting-edge integrated amplifier/USB digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that delivers 2 x 60 watts and supports hi-res DSD playback up to 11.2MHz and 32 bit/384 kHz PCM.

Highlights include optical/coaxial digital inputs and RCA analog inputs in addition to a convenient front panel analog/digital minijack for portable player hookups. The $1,000 component also has a Bluetooth receiver based on Sony’s LDAC audio coding technology, which is said to transmit three times more data than standard Bluetooth, making it possible to wirelessly stream 96-kHz/24-bit files.

Building on technologies developed for Teac’s UD-503 dual-mono USB DAC, the AI-503 boasts a dedicated Class AB headphone amp featuring discrete push-pull circuits and op amps. The left and right channels are separately grounded in the output to increase channel separation.