Clarus CODA USB DAC

Clarus CODA USB DAC Product Description: 

The Finest Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier Available

A “Coda” is a concluding musical passage that imparts a sense of closure to a piece of music. The Clarus CODA embodies this concept as an ultra-high-performance USB DAC and headphone amplifier designed for smartphones, tablets, and computers. A DAC, or Digital-to-Analog Converter, transforms digital audio signals into analog sound, while the amplifier delivers this sound to your headphones or home audio system.

The issue with most mobile devices and computers is that their built-in DACs are often subpar, and their amplifiers lack the power to drive high-performance headphones effectively. As a result, audio can sound flat and uninspiring. The CODA addresses these shortcomings by bypassing your device’s internal DAC and amplifier, delivering audiophile-quality sound with enhanced detail, dynamics, and ultra-low distortion. It creates a broad soundstage that brings your music to life, offering a deeply engaging and complete listening experience.

Meet the Clarus CODA Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier

The Clarus CODA is an ultra-high-performance USB DAC and headphone amplifier, featuring an integrated MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) audio renderer. Engineered for use with smartphones, tablets, and computers, CODA is compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows (7–10) devices. It includes a 3.5mm stereo jack, a USB-A connector, two volume buttons, and three selectable roll-off filters. Whether you're enjoying your favorite downloads or streaming from platforms like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Qobuz, or Spotify, CODA delivers audio quality that surpasses CD standards. When paired with an MQA core decoder—whether streaming from Tidal, Nugs, Xiami, or using Audirvana or Roon media servers—the CODA renderer ensures you experience the complete MQA playback, allowing you to hear exactly what the artist and music producer intended during the original performance.

Superior Sound Built into Every CODA

At the core of the Clarus CODA is the renowned ESS Professional Series SABRE® DAC audio converter, featuring Hyperstream® II modulation and QUAD DAC™ technology. This cutting-edge SABRE® DAC delivers exceptional sound staging and clarity, boasting an impressive 120dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and -112dB total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) for unparalleled sound quality and a stable sound field. The CODA's low-power USB controller supports both USB 1.1 and 2.0, and it natively handles 32-bit 384KHz PCM as well as DSD via DoP up to DoP128. 

Tight power supply regulation is achieved through a multi-stage, low-noise, high-ripple rejection CMOS-based regulator, while a high-precision audio-grade clock reduces jitter for improved accuracy. The CODA also features a Class G headphone amplifier, which offers Class AB performance with ultra-low power consumption, making it ideal for mobile use. With a 2.0Vrms output voltage, the CODA delivers ample power for even the most demanding headphones, and the Class G design ensures it won't rapidly deplete your device's battery.

CODA is an MQA Renderer

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an acclaimed lossless codec and technology that delivers original master recordings with bit-perfect accuracy. Unlike traditional lossy encoding methods that sacrifice music information to reduce file sizes, MQA ensures every detail is preserved. The process begins in the studio, where the music is fully authenticated. MQA then "folds" the music file, making it compact enough for streaming or downloading while retaining its full fidelity. When paired with an MQA core decoder—such as when streaming from Tidal or Nugs, or using Audirvana or Roon media servers—the Clarus CODA automatically detects the MQA stream. It then initiates the rendering process, completing the final unfold to unlock the studio-quality experience. For more information, visit mqa.co.uk.

Sixty-Four Step Volume Control

The Clarus CODA is equipped with convenient volume control buttons for effortless adjustment. These side panel buttons, marked (+) for increasing and (-) for decreasing the volume, support HID (Human Interface Device) volume control. The CODA's volume control operates in 64 precise steps, adjusting according to the volume settings of the connected device. Moreover, the design ensures zero switching noise during volume changes, allowing for a smooth and uninterrupted listening experience.

Three Color LED Indicator Provides Visual Assurance of Sampling Rates

The Clarus CODA features an LED indicator that illuminates in three distinct colors to represent the current audio sampling rate, which is a measure of how many times per second the audio is sampled during recording. Higher sampling rates correlate with higher audio quality. When using CODA, the LED provides visual feedback on the audio quality: 

• A magenta LED signals that the current MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) audio track is playing at the highest fidelity available.
• A green LED indicates that the current high-definition audio selection is playing at a quality greater than CD quality, specifically 48kHz or higher.
• A blue LED shows that the audio is at standard definition, with a sampling rate of less than 48kHz. 

These indicators help ensure you're always aware of the quality of the audio you're enjoying.