{"product_id":"t-a-sdx-3100-hv-streaming-preamplifier-dac","title":"T+A SDX 3100 HV Streaming Preamplifier DAC","description":"\u003ch1\u003eT+A SDX 3100 HV Streaming Preamplifier DAC\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe SDX 3100 HV is the digital heart of T+A's HV range — a preamplifier, digital-to-analogue converter and network streamer in one chassis, built to the same standards as the amplifiers it is designed to sit alongside. The HV designation refers to the high operating voltages T+A use throughout the range: run the amplifier stages at high voltage and they behave more linearly by nature, before any correction is applied. It is an expensive way to build electronics and the reason these units weigh what they do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhat separates the SDX 3100 HV from most one-box digital sources is that it does not treat PCM and DSD as the same problem. T+A build two entirely separate converters and route each format to the one designed for it. You can hear the thinking in the presentation — there is no sense of a single chip being asked to be adequate at everything. See the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.martinshifi.co.uk\/collections\/t-a\"\u003efull T+A range\u003c\/a\u003e we stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTwo Converters, Not One\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePCM is handled by a \u003cstrong\u003eDouble-Differential-Quadruple-Converter\u003c\/strong\u003e using four D\/A converters per channel, running 32-bit Sigma Delta conversion at 705.6 \/ 768 kSps. Running four converters per channel in a double-differential arrangement cancels a great deal of the noise and distortion that a single converter generates, and it is the reason the measured figures are what they are.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDSD takes a completely different path through T+A's \u003cstrong\u003eTrue-1Bit DSD converter\u003c\/strong\u003e, which handles the bitstream natively up to DSD 1024 without converting it to PCM first. Native means native — the signal is not resampled on the way through.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFour oversampling algorithms are selectable for PCM — FIR short, FIR long, Bezier\/IIR and Bezier — followed by a phase-linear third-order Bessel filter switchable between 60 kHz and 120 kHz. These are worth experimenting with rather than leaving at the default; the differences are audible on a resolving system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eConnections\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDigital inputs run to AES-EBU at 192 kSps\/24-bit, six S\/P-DIF inputs across coaxial, BNC and optical, two HDMI inputs, and two USB inputs accepting up to 768 kSps PCM and DSD 1024. Analogue output is balanced XLR, 1.45 Veff nominal and 19.6 Veff maximum into 50 ohms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a proper headphone stage built in, on both 6.3 mm jack and 4.4 mm Pentaconn, running in Class A up to 200 mA into 6 ohms. It is not an afterthought output taken off the preamp bus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eStreaming\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe network side handles MP3, AAC, OGG Vorbis, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, DFF and DSF. Services covered are Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Deezer, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music HD, Apple AirPlay 2, Roon and Audirvana. Roon users get a full endpoint, which for most people in this price bracket is the deciding factor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePCM converter\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDouble-Differential-Quadruple-Converter, 4 D\/A converters per channel, 32-Bit Sigma Delta, 705.6 \/ 768 kSps\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDSD converter\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eT+A True-1Bit DSD D\/A converter, native bitstream, up to DSD 1024\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUpsampling\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFour selectable oversampling algorithms (FIR short, FIR long, Bezier\/IIR, Bezier)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnalogue filter\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePhase-linear Bessel filter 3rd order, switchable 60 kHz or 120 kHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u0026lt; 0.001%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSignal-to-noise ratio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e117 dB (weighted)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChannel separation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e110 dB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequency response (PCM 44.1 kHz)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 Hz – 20 kHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequency response (PCM 768 kHz)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 Hz – 120 kHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital inputs\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAES-EBU (192 kSps\/24-bit), 6 x S\/P-DIF (coaxial \/ BNC \/ optical), 2 x HDMI, 2 x USB (to 768 kSps PCM, DSD 1024)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnalogue output\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXLR balanced, 1.45 Veff nominal \/ 19.6 Veff maximum at 50 ohms\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeadphone output\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.3 mm jack and 4.4 mm Pentaconn, 6 ohms, Class A operation up to 200 mA\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFile formats\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMP3, AAC, OGG Vorbis, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, DFF, DSF\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStreaming services\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTidal Connect, Deezer, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music HD, Apple AirPlay 2, Roon, Audirvana\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions (H x W x D)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e170 x 460 x 460 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e26 kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinishes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSilver lacquer or titanium lacquer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho Is It For?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe SDX 3100 HV is for someone building an HV system and wanting the entire digital front end in one box — source, DAC and preamplifier — feeding a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.martinshifi.co.uk\/products\/t-a-pa3100hv\"\u003ePA 3100 HV\u003c\/a\u003e or a power amplifier directly. If you already own a separate preamplifier you value, the streaming DAC duties overlap and you should talk to us about how the range splits up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt suits large libraries and mixed formats particularly well. If you have accumulated DSD alongside high-resolution PCM and resent the compromise most converters force on one or the other, this is the machine built for that problem. It is also a serious headphone source in its own right, which is worth knowing before you budget for a separate amplifier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eBuying from Martins Hi-Fi\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe HV range is not something to buy unheard — the units are heavy, the investment is significant, and system matching genuinely matters at this level. We can arrange a demonstration in Norwich and talk through how the SDX 3100 HV sits against the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.martinshifi.co.uk\/products\/t-a-psd-3100-hv\"\u003ePSD 3100 HV\u003c\/a\u003e for your system and your library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris and Tim at \u003ca href=\"mailto:info@martinshifi.co.uk\"\u003einfo@martinshifi.co.uk\u003c\/a\u003e, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.martinshifi.co.uk\/about-us\/why-martins\/\"\u003eWhy Martins page\u003c\/a\u003e. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"T+A","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58434208006518,"sku":null,"price":29500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0810\/1147\/files\/24120_TA_HVSerie_SDX3100_Silver_front-wide-scaled.webp?v=1786454748","url":"https:\/\/shop.martinshifi.co.uk\/products\/t-a-sdx-3100-hv-streaming-preamplifier-dac","provider":"Martins Hi-Fi","version":"1.0","type":"link"}