AMI MUSIK DS5

The AMI MUSIK DS5 is the perfect Audio Music Interface for your desktop audio lifestyle.

With its digital-to-analog converter (DAC), standalone DAC and Headphone Amplifier supporting 2.8MHz (DSD64)/5.6MHz (DSD128), you will enjoy great audio experience. The AMI MUSIK DS5 supports 24bit/192kHz audio (24/192) in asynchronous mode-lossless audio of the same quality as HD audio master recordings.

Smart and compact size high end DAC and Headphone Amp implemented with the latest audio technologies.

The AMI MUSIK DS5 is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux and support both native DSD and DoP in Windows and DoP in Mac.

iPad 2 and up is supported with Camera kit and supporting App. player (eg. Onkyo HF player app)

Bundled* with Clicktronic premium grade USB cable (1.8m) from Germany. (visit Clicktronic® site for cable information)

* Clicktronic cable will be bundled subject to stock availability at time of production.

We would like to recommend the Best of Two Worlds Solution-power supply (for Europe only) from Squeeze-upgrade to get the most out of your AMI MUSIK DS5. For more information follow this link

1. Volume knob & Power button

• Volume control: Turn the volume knob for controlling the volume (up to 56 levels)
  – When turning the volume knob, the LED will instantly show the volume level (approximately 7 levels are represented by 1 LED)
  – When in fixed mode, the line out volume is set to “fixed”. The volume knob would not control the volume of the line out, but would continue to control the volume of the headphone out.
  – “The AMI MUSIK DS5 headphone digital volume use the TPA6134 headphone IC internal volume control feature, and thus is controlled independently from the DAC volume control. This is not a digital stream process and thus does not affect the bit solution and thus, no loss in audio quality”.

• On/Off power button: Push the volume knob for approximately 1 second for power on/off

2. Input (default: USB)

• Push button to select input source (USB – Coaxial – Optical)

3. Output (default: Line)

• Push button to select output source (RCA Line out – Headphone out)

4. Headphone output

• Push Output button to select headphone out mode

5. LED

• Sample rate indicator
• Input/output indicator
• Volume indicator
• Different setting indicator (fixed/variable mode, etc…)

1. Volume knob & Power button

• Volume control: Turn the volume knob for controlling the volume (up to 56 levels)
  – When turning the volume knob, the LED will instantly show the volume level (approximately 7 levels are represented by 1 LED)
  – When in fixed mode, the line out volume is set to “fixed”. The volume knob would not control the volume of the line out, but would continue to control the volume of the headphone out.
  – “The AMI MUSIK DS5 headphone digital volume use the TPA6134 headphone IC internal volume control feature, and thus is controlled independently from the DAC volume control. This is not a digital stream process and thus does not affect the bit solution and thus, no loss in audio quality”.

• On/Off power button: Push the volume knob for approximately 1 second for power on/off

2. Input (default: USB)

• Push button to select input source (USB – Coaxial – Optical)

3. Output (default: Line)

• Push button to select output source (RCA Line out – Headphone out)

4. Headphone output

• Push Output button to select headphone out mode

5. LED

• Sample rate indicator
• Input/output indicator
• Volume indicator
• Different setting indicator (fixed/variable mode, etc…)

• DSD DAC and headphone amp supporting 2.8MHz (DSD64)/5.6MHz (DSD128)
• Standalone DAC support (with coaxial and optical input)
• Asynchronous USB operation: bit-perfect digital audio and low clock jitter.
• USB audio class 2 (up to 24bit/192kHz) and high-speed asynchronous mode: Microsoft Windows® XP, Windows® Vista and Windows® 7 (32bit/64bit) with special driver compatible with WDM/Direct X, ASIO 2.2 and WASAPI exclusive. Apple OSX version 10.6.4 and above & Linux Kernel 2.6.37 and above (no driver install required).
• Suport native DSD and DoP in Windows & DoP in Mac.
• Atmel SAM3 Cortex™-M3 microcontroller to supporting 24bit/192kHz, DSD64/DSD128 audio data
• Customized AMANERO Technologies COMBO384 USB 2.0 Audio Class solution supporting PCM 24bit/192kHz and DSD64/DSD128. This solution provides Mute/DSD out enable pin allowing to safely shifting between PCM and DSD.
• AMANERO firmware update manager allows updating possible future firmware via online.
• Cirrus Logic CS4398 (120dB, 192kHz multibit DAC) 120dB dynamic range, advanced segment DAC architecture supporting DSD64/DSD128 format and automatic mute algorithm.
• Wolfson WM8804 S/PDIF transceiver supporting advanced jitter attenuating PLL with low intrinsic period jitter of 50 ps RMS providing even best audio playback experience from external signal input.
• TI TPA6130A2 Stereo headphone amplifier for superior PCM and DSD signal playback via headphone (Max 16 O 138mW)
• Over voltage protection logic. In case of AMI MUSIK DS5 reaches 5.5V, the protection logic would activate to protect the DAC, and various IC.
• 2 W 1:1 input range, dual unregulated output, 1000 Vdc isolation, DC-DC converter
• High-efficiency analog power supply circuitry for supporting secondary rectification by linear regulator for isolating +/- 12V unregulated power generated from the +5V external power thoroughly blocking external intervention from analog power and providing clean, low energy, low heat DC power
• Dual line output mode support pure DAC mode (fixed gain) and preamp mode (variable gain, digital volume control)
• 20PPR Mechanical Encoders Quadrature 20-step encoder allowing control of On/Off power, volume control, DFU mode in/output.
• Power, digital volume control and sampling rate are indicated through LED.
• Fade in/out featured for switching mode and playback for your hearing protection.
• 5T aluminum front/top for anti-vibration
• LED for sample rate, input and output status, volume level and different settings indication

Dimensions 150 x 40 x 140mm (W x H x D)

Digital inputs

• USB HS 2.0 (USB Audio CLASS 2.0 / DSD over USB PCM token FA05 / PCM, DSD Native Stream)
  – Support PCM 24bit 192kHz
  – Support DSD 64 (2.8MHz) / DSD 128 (5.6MHz)

• Optical x 1EA (50Mbps/192kHz max / WM8804)
• Coaxial x 1EA (75O/192kHz max / WM8804)

Analog outputs

• D/A converter: Cirrus Logic CS4398 (120dB, 192kHz Multi-Bit DAC)
  – Dynamic range: 120dB A-Weighted (component spec)
  – Signal noise ratio: 120dB A-Weighted (component spec)
  – THD+N: 0.0005% (component spec)
  – Supported PCM sampling rates: 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 / 192 kHz
  – Supported DSD SCLK frequency: DSD64 (2.8MHz) / DSD128 (5.6MHz)
  – Matched PCM / DSD analog level out (2.2Vrms pair)

• 2 RCA x 1EA (2.2Vrms, gold plated RCA output)

Headphone Output

• 6.3mm phone jack x 1EA (2Vrms max, gold plated 6.3 headphone jack output)
  – Supported headphone impedance: 16-300O
  – Output level: 150mW(16O loaded)
  – Frequency response 20Hz~48kHz
  – THD 0.02%@1kHz

Power Supply

• Type: 2.1mm DC Jack (external power input)
• Maximum input: 5VDC 3A
• Over voltage protection: 5.5VDC limit (shutdown operation)

Package Contents

The following items are included with the “AMI MUSIK DS5″ package:

• AMI MUSIK DS5 x 1
• 5V 3A AC-DC Adaptor x 1
• Clickronic high end USB A male – USB cable (1.8m) x 1
• 3M bumpon x 4
• Quick start guide x 1
• Driver Installation & Manual CD-ROM

REVIEW 6MOONS

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial Interests: click here
Source: 2TB iMac 27″ quad-core with 16GB of RAM (AIFF) running OSX 10.8.2 and PureMusic 1.94g in hybrid memory play with pre-allocated RAM, Audirvana 1.5.5 in direct/integer mode 1, Metrum Hex, SOtM dX-USB HD with Super-clock upgrade & mBPS-d2s, AURALiC Vega, Apple iPod Classic 160 AIFF-loaded, Cambridge Audio iD100, Pure i20, RWA-modifed Astell&Kern AK100
Preamplifier: Nagra Jazz, Bent Audio Tap-X, Esoteric C-03
Power amplifier: FirstWatt S1 monos, SIT2; Crayon Audio CFA-02, Bakoon AMP-12R, Goldmund/Job 225 Clones 25i [on loan]
Loudspeakers: German Physiks HRS-120, AudioSolutions Rhapsody 200, Zu Audio Submission
Headphones: ALO Audio recabled Audez’e LCD2/LCD3, beyerdynamic T1 & T5p, Sennheiser HD800, AKG K-702; HifiMan HE-500 & HE-6; Ortofon eQ7; Mad Dog aka modified Fostex T50rp [on loan]
Headphone amps: Eximus DP1, Burson Conductor, Wyred4Sound mINT, Bakoon AMP-12R, April Music Stello HP100MkII [on review]
Cables: Complete Zu Event loom, KingRex uArt and Light Harmonic Lightspeed split USB cables, Tombo Trøn S/PDIF, Van den Hul AES/EBU, AudioQuest Diamond glass-fiber Toslink
Powerline conditioning: GigaWatt PF-2 + Vibex Two 1R on amps, Vibex Three 11R on front-end components
Equipment rack: Artesania Exoteryc double-wide three tier with optional glass shelf, Rajasthani hardwood rack for amps
Sundry accessories: Extensive use of Acoustic System Resonators, noise filters and phase inverters
Room size: 5m x 11.5m W x D, 2.6m ceiling with exposed wooden cross beams every 60cm, plaster over brick walls, suspended wood floor with Tatami-type throw rugs. The listening space opens into the second storey via a staircase and the kitchen/dining room are behind the main listening chair. The latter is thus positioned in the middle of this open floor plan without the usual nearby back wall.

AMI Musik from Japan made quite a splash in our moon pool with their first product, the DDH-1. Our British colleagues at Hifi Pig were equally smitten and sales manager Ryu Takahashi’s email about their second model suggested the first was selling well: “I cannot thank you enough for your review. Many buyers purchased a unit from us after reading about it without hearing one for themselves first. Now we have the DS5 ready.”

To quote from my first review for a refresher, “this $549.99 component from Japan with 12V/2.5A outboard power supply is a 24/192 DAC with asynchronous XMOS-based USB input plus coax and optical digital inputs. It runs a PCM1795 converter and TI DIX9211PWR digital receiver. It works as a 24/192 DDC via its Toslink input; as ADC with an AKM AK5386VTP-E2 converter; as analog preamp with its analog 3.5mm stereo input; and as TI TPA6120A-based headphone amp. Three discrete TCXO clocks for USB and the 44.1/48kHz sampling frequency families claim less than 2.5ps of periodic jitter. Internal parts include Panasonic ECH metalized poylphenylene film and Nichicon audio-grade caps plus conductive polymer aluminum solid electrolytics. There’s also an ESD protection varistor and USB surge protection. Then there are 5 socketed opamps – 2 x National LM49860 and 3 x NJM2114D for the I/V, low-pass filter and buffer circuit (4) plus analog input (1) respectively. Quad-level LEDs indicate sample rates from 44.1 to 192kHz. 2Vrms line and 100mW/32-ohm headphone outputs may be used simultaneously. The line outputs can be configured for fixed or variable gain.”

If you’ve paid attention to the first photo you already knew that the DS5 adds DSD64/128. But that’s not the only diff. USB remains async 24/192 but replaces XMOS with a new Combo384 module from Amanero Tech which handles USB to I²S and native DSD. The Burr-Brown DAC becomes a Cirrus Logic CS4398, the Texas Instruments DIX9311 S/PDIF receiver a Wolfson WM8804. The TI TPA6120A on-chip headphone amp morphs into the newer TPA6120A2. Housekeeping chores are handled by an Atmel SAM3 Cortex-M3 micro controller.

Both models side by side at the Fujiya headphone festival, autumn 2013 Tokyo.

Like the stable mate the line-level outputs can run in fixed or variable modes to give DAC or digital preamp functionality. The on-chip digital volume control over 56 steps is associated with the sample-rate indicators whereby each 7 steps light up the next LED. Coax and optical both handle 24/192 and DSD is automatically gain-compensated to generate the same 2.2V max out as PCM. On features the DS5 eliminates the discrete 3.5mm headphone and stereo line-level input jacks but keeps the faith with visual sample rate and format confirmation. Perhaps this suggests the intended target audience is more of the audiophile persuasion than…

.. this forthcoming model whose VRK prototype—to become the DDH5 in production—shows far simpler cosmetics. It’s as though its intended punter didn’t shop with kilo or mega hertz currency but simpler wantz coin signified by that big knob.

What’s interesting about the first two models isn’t just their different cosmetics but different key parts. The recipe here doesn’t so much seem old wine in new bottles as a new and different vintage. Should one presume different flavor? Or was it primarily about DSD as the current digital craze? Hitch a ride on the fastest moving train?