SPL Director Mk2 DAC Preamplifier

Milled from solid

The massive 45mm volume control knob milled from aluminum is a haptic highlight. Its mass together with the motorised Alps RK27 “Big Blue” potentiometer enhances the “spoon in the honey” feeling even further. The red marker LED ensures good visibility of the volume parameter even in darkened environments.

Remote control

The volume control can be remotely controlled with any infrared remote control. The Director Mk2 learns to communicate with it with the simple push of a button.

Source of joy

Up to ten stereo sources can be connected to the Director Mk2. Six of them are for analog and four for digital input signals. The source selection is shown in the dot matrix LED display: IN 1 through IN 6 for the analog inputs. AES, USB, COAX, OPTIC for the digital inputs, where the detected sample rate is displayed after about two seconds. For example U768 = USB input with 768 kHz sampling rate. The source selection can also be operated remotely if the rotary switch is set to the “Remote” position.

The Director Mk2 offers two pairs of balanced inputs with XLR connectors and four standard inputs with gold-plated RCA connectors. On the digital side there are four additional inputs. PCM audio is received in S/P-DIF format via coaxial Cinch, optical Toslink and balanced XLR (AES). Both PCM audio and DSD audio can be converted via USB.

Well informed

The DAC automatically picks up the sampling rate and resolution of the digital playback source. No matter if a streamer, computer or CD player is connected. No further settings on the Director Mk2 are necessary. The detected sampling rate is shown in the dot matrix LED display. For example, U768 is an acronym for the source “USB” with a sampling rate of 768 kHz.

The DAC768

The highly acclaimed AKM AK4490 Velvet Sound™ premium DAC chip is used as the converter chip in the digital-to-analogue converter, which thanks to its architecture reproduces the finest sound details.

It converts PCM audio with a resolution of 32 bits and a sampling rate of up to 768 kHz, which is equivalent to 16 times CD resolution. Direct Stream Digital is also supported up to a resolution of DSD4 or DSD256. In contrast to the DAC 768xs, the DAC768 not only offers an AES/EBU digital input, but also the SPL DLP120 with VOLTAiR technology.

Tape Monitor

A tape monitor circuitry is quite retro. Who still owns a cassette recorder or a tape machine? Who else loops in an equaliser? To put it another way: Who would like to do it and cannot do it because no manufacturer offers a tape monitor circuit anymore? Well, those who want can again.

Today’s audio levels are much higher than in the past and many recorders will be overloaded by them. In that case simply press the switch and the level to the recorder is lowered by 10 dB. To compensate, the level from the recorder is increased by 10 dB. Et voilà.

All variable – or Slave Thru?

The Director Mk2 provides two stereo output pairs for connecting power amplifiers or active loudspeakers.

One pair of outputs with XLR, the other with RCA outputs. Both have the same output signal, which is controlled by the big volume control. Thus, a pair of speakers can be fed via one stereo output and a subwoofer via the second stereo output. The playback volume for both stereo outputs is adjusted together via the volume control on the Director Mk2.

With a DIP switch on the back of the device, the volume control for the RCA and XLR outputs can separately be switched out of the signal path – this makes the respective output a “Slave Thru” output to e.g. connect a headphone amplifier with its own volume control. The volume control of the Director Mk2 no longer affects the playback volume of the connected headphone amplifier when a stereo output’s Slave Thru mode is active.

Home Theater Bypass

Since the hardware revision 2.2, the Director Mk2 features a Home Theater Bypass function. This allows the Director Mk2 to be used in combination with a multi-channel home theater system. The L and R channels of the home theater system can be simply connected to Input 6 of Director Mk2. When the Home Theater Bypass is active (DIP 4), Input 6 is no longer affected by the volume control of the Director Mk2.

Everything under control – AMP CTL

The standby mode of devices with 12V trigger input, can be switched on and off via AMP CTL, together with the Director Mk2. This allows, for example, the SPL Performer s800, Performer m1000 or Performer s1200 power amplifiers to be ideally integrated into the set-up.

The VOLTAiR Technology

The 120V technology is SPL's reference technology. The 120V technology is unique in the world. It operates at a DC voltage of 120 volts. This is four times that of IC-based semiconductor op-amps. In SPL's Professional Fidelity series, we refer to this unsurpassed technology as VOLTAiR technology.

The 120V technology works with +/-60 V. To be able to handle such a high voltage, we have developed special proprietary operational amplifiers that can operate with a DC voltage of +/-60 V: the SPL 120V SUPRA operational amplifiers. This high voltage would destroy conventional components and operational amplifiers.

The 120V technology achieves exceptional technical specifications and sonic benefits. Technically, in terms of dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio and headroom. Sonically, in terms of richness of detail and an absolutely relaxed listening experience. 

By the way, the “120V” in the name of the technology has nothing to do with the local mains voltage from the mains power socket. This is about the operating voltage inside the device with which the audio signals are processed.

The mains voltage from the mains power socket is transformed to the required secondary voltage in the device’s internal linear power supply with toroidal transformer. Rectifiers convert this AC voltage into DC voltage required in the audio device.

We endeavour to despatch same day for orders placed up to 1pm on available stock items (items with stock message "Usually dispatched within 24 hours"). Please remember to check with us first for a physical stock check if next day delivery is important to you. Any items with stock message "Usually dispatched within 72 hours" are items that we do not hold in stock but order in from the importer or manufacturer as soon as a customer order is received. Occasionally these may be delayed beyond 72 hours due to importer/manufacturer stock levels but we will inform you as soon as we can if this is the case.

UK Orders

We despatch the bulk of our UK mainland items on a 24 hour service – Free of Charge.  Non Mainland locations - Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, the Scilly Isles, the Scottish highlands and Islands, the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland may take a day or so longer and are not Free of Charge. Smaller items are delivered using Royal Mail 24 or special delivery. Larger items are delivered using a courier service such as DPD or UPS.

International Orders:

Due to the nature of our products and brand restrictions we are only able to send certain items internationally. Smaller items are delivered using Royal Mail Small Packets Airmail with International Tracked and/or Signed depending on value of item and availability of the service. Larger International shipments are sent by insured and tracked services using UPS. If there are any delays due to specific customs regulations, etc, you will be contacted by Hifisound or by the courier with a request for any further information required. Customs duties can apply for shipments to any countries outside of the UK depending on where the product you have bought is made. Customers are responsible for all taxes and duties incurred when the items enter their country.

Collect in Store or Home Install

At the request of the manufacturer some items cannot be supplied by mail order but you can click and buy them and then elect to collect them from our store or arrange a home install (if applicable). Applicable items clearly state that they are Collect in store or home install. Once ordered you will receive a message prompting you to contact us by phone or email to arrange for us to deliver and install or to reserve and collect from our store at your convenience, you will also be advised of the delivery time / stock availability as not all Home install / collect in store items are held in stock.