Clarus Coda High Resolution USB DAC

Coda - Introducing the Clarus Portable USB-DAC

The Clarus Coda is an Ultra-High-Performance USB-DAC / Headphone Amplifier that includes an MQA renderer. The Coda features the latest in USB-DAC technology that provides ultra-low distortion, more detail, greater dynamics and a bigger sound stage. Designed to be used with a smartphone, tablet or computer, the Coda is compatible with Android, iOS, macOS and Windows 7-10. The Coda will deliver higher than CD quality while listening to your favourite download or streaming Amazon Music, Spotify or Apple Music. When paired with an MQA Core Decoder (streaming with Tidal, Nugs and Xiami or when used with media players, Audirvana and Roon): the Coda’s renderer delivers the full MQA experience, letting you hear what the artist and the music producer heard during the original performance. The Coda features a USB-A input and a stereo headphone output with two-button volume control and a choice of three roll-off filters.

Key Features:

- Ultra-high-performance USB-DAC / headphone amplifier
- Plenty of volume to drive the most demanding headphones
- Gives you the best quality audio no matter whether you're streaming or listening to local files
- New ESS Professional Series SABRE® DAC provides previously unheard sound stage and clarity
- Natively handles 32-bit 384kHz PCM digital audio (most DACs process up to 24/96kHz)
- MQA technology gives you the full studio experience
- Low-noise and reduced jitter for a stable sound field
- Connects via USB-A and compatible with most operating systems
- Included USB-C adapter cable for modern laptops, smartphones, and tablets
- Volume control, LED indicator light, and three user-selectable digital filters
- Fine build quality and very portable
- Low power consumption and easy to install
- As technology changes, Clarus provides improvements for the Coda via firmware updates
- Now officially supports Audirvāna

User Manual (PDF)

 "The Verdict"

"I'm not telling you to go out and sell your desktop amplification setups. But what I can tell you with confidence is that the Clarus Coda will be a clear step-up from your built-in laptop or smartphone audio outputs. It does a respectable job with a wide range of headphones, looks the part, and comes with enough accessories to make itself useful."

Read the full review by Matthew Jens on StereoNET

"Everything I heard on my computer or tablet sounded better with the CODA."

"If you are doing a lot of listening to music on your computer or portable devices, the Clarus CODA is a no-risk purchase. If you travel, or work in your office, and want superior sound from devices that really can’t reproduce high-resolution music, then the Clarus CODA should be high on your purchase list."

Read the full review at Secrets of Home Theatre and High Fidelity

The Finest Portable USB-DAC Available

A coda is defined as a concluding musical passage that brings a sense of completeness to the music. The Clarus Coda is an ultra-high performance USB-DAC amplifier designed to be used with a smartphone, tablet or computer.

A DAC converts a digital audio signal to analog audio and the amplifier sends the signal to your headphones or your home audio system. The problem with computers and mobile devices is they don’t typically have very good DACs and the amplifiers are usually too weak to drive high-performance headphones, leaving audio dull and dampened.

The Coda by-passes the internal DAC/AMP and delivers audiophile quality sound that has more detail, greater dynamics with ultra-low distortion and provides a bigger sound stage that essentially brings a sense of completeness to your music.

Coda’s Technology

The heart of the Clarus Coda is a new legendary ESS Professional Series SABRE® DAC audio converter with Hyperstream® II modulation. The new SABRE® DAC provides previously unheard sound stage and clarity. QUAD DACTM Technology delivers superb 120dB SNR and -112dB THD+N for the ultimate in sound quality with a stable sound field. The low-power USB controller supports USB 1.1 and 2.0 and can natively handle 32-bit 384 kHz PCM and up to DoP128. The Coda has tight power supply regulation using a multi-stage, low noise, high ripple rejection CMOS based regulator, while a high-precision audio grade clock reduces jitter. The Coda’s class G headphone amplifier provides class AB performance with ultra-low power consumption optimized for mobile use. The 2.0Vrms output voltage will provide plenty of power for the most demanding headphones and class G ensures it won’t drain your battery.

Master Quality Authenticated

Coda is an MQA renderer. MQA stands for Master Quality Authenticated. MQA is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original recording. Traditional encoding discards music information to reduce size. MQA is fully authenticated in the studio and then folds the music file small enough to stream or download. MQA calls this folding “Music Origami”. When the Coda is paired with an MQA Code Decoder (available streaming with Tidal, Nugs and Xiami or when used with media players like Audirvana and Roon); the Coda’s renderer will automatically detect the MQA stream and engage the rendering process to complete the final unfold unlocking the full studio experience.

Interface

The Coda features a range of physical interface features that make operating the DAC a fluid experience.

Volume Control

The Coda supports HID (Human Interface Design) volume control via the side panel buttons; (+) for volume up and (-) for volume down. Coda’s volume control is capable of 64 steps depending on the volume rate setting of the device it is controlling. There is zero switching noise during volume control.

Three User Selectable Digital Filters

The Coda’s side panel buttons also provide a method of choosing from one of three digital roll-off filters. You can hear these features by ear; just select whichever one sounds best to you.

LED Indicator Lights

Coda’s LED Indicator lights up in different colours to indicate the audio sample rate. The sample rate is how many times per second a piece of music is sampled during the recording. Higher sample rates mean higher quality in the recording.