dCS Unveils the Lina DAC X Network Music Player

You can think of the new dCS Lina DAC X as a full width Lina Network DAC with its own volume control. Just add amplifier & speakers.

As you can see, the Lina DAC X includes balanced and single-ended analog outputs along with a host of digital inputs and in typical dCS style the ability to add an external (dCS) clock.

The Lina DAC X also looks the part of playing lead in a simple, lovely hifi.

Linda DAC X highlights (from dCS):

Built in streamer supports hi-res streaming from all major platforms – including Spotify, Qobuz, TIDAL & QQ Music
Extensive range of digital inputs supports playback from TVs (via TOSLINK), computers, servers, CD transports & more
Flexible output voltages and volume control allow connection to any type of amplifier, including directly to power amplifiers or active speakers
Flexible architecture provides unlimited scope for new features, upgrades and enhancements
Single flex-rigid PCB design – unique to dCS in audio, and also seen in the dCS Varèse Music System – ensures clean signal path and optimal performance
dCS Ring DAC™ preserves all aspects of musical signal – including low-level detail – whilst reducing noise and distortion to vanishing levels

The new Lina DAC X is coming in June 2025 with a retail price of $15,500.

Here’s the press release:

LINA DAC X
The new network music player from dCS

Lina DAC X is the latest addition to the dCS product range: a network music player that offers outstanding sound and effortless hi-res streaming and playback.

Lina DAC X is designed for listeners who want the convenience of digital playback combined with a deeply natural and immersive listening experience. It delivers the same range of features as the award-winning Lina Network DAC, along with some additional benefits, including a physical volume dial and IR Remote Control.

A full featured network player, Lina DAC X supports hi-res streaming from all major platforms including TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify and QQ Music, as well as music management software such as Roon, Audirvana and JPLAY. It also features a range of physical inputs to support playback from numerous sources, including TVs (via TOSLINK), computers, CD transports, dCS SACD Transports, and servers. The DAC X can be connected to any amplifier, including directly to power amplifiers or active speakers, to create a complete music playback system.

Its flexible architecture provides huge scope for future upgrades, allowing us to enhance performance and add new features over time. This is a core part of the dCS experience, with listeners receiving free of charge product upgrades through simple internet updates.

Sonically, it offers exceptional clarity and detail retrieval, bringing listeners a profoundly natural and deeply musical sound. This is made possible with unique dCS technologies including the Ring DAC – our bespoke Digital-to-Analogue conversion system – and Digital Processing Platform.

The DAC X is encased in a full-width chassis machined from solid billet aluminium, which serves to further enhance performance, and uses flex-rigid circuitry for optimal audio quality and reliability. Its understated aesthetic complements all manner of spaces and setups, from family living areas to dedicated listening rooms, whilst its superb build quality and meticulous craftsmanship reflects our uncompromising attention to detail.

As with all dCS products, Lina DAC X is hand-assembled and tested at our Cambridgeshire headquarters, so we can ensure it is built to exacting standards and performs to the highest specifications. Lina DAC X provides a new addition to a product range that has won numerous awards worldwide for its sound, design and performance.

The DAC X builds on our vision with Lina to create a versatile range of separates that can be used alone or together, allowing listeners to build the system and setup that best suits their needs.

Lina DAC X is available to order from dCS retailers and distributors worldwide, with shipping to commence in June 2025.

Company Website: dCS

Specifications

Product Dimensions:122mm / 4.80″ (H) x 444mm / 17.48″ (W) x 356mm / 14.02″ (D). Allow extra depth for cable connectors.
Weight: 14KG / 30.86lbs

Analogue Outputs

- 1 stereo balanced pair on 2x 3-pin male XLR connectors (pin 2 = hot, pin 3 = cold). These outputs are electronically balanced and floating, the signal balance ratio at 1 kHz is better than 40dB. Output impedance is 3Ω, maximum load is 600Ω (a 10kΩ – 100kΩ load is recommended)
- 1 stereo unbalanced pair on 2x RCA Phono connectors. Output impedance is 52Ω, maximum load is 600Ω (a 10kΩ – 100kΩ load is recommended)
- Output levels are 0.2V, 0.6V, 2V, or 6V rms for a full-scale input, set in the menu.

L-R Crosstalk: Better than –115dB0, 20Hz-20kHz

Streaming

Supports the following platforms and services:

- UPnP
- Internet Radio
- Qobuz
- Spotify
- Deezer
- Tidal
- Roon Ready
- QQ Music

Upsampling: Multi-stage DXD oversampling with switchable DSD Upsampling (1-bit 2.822 or 3.07MS/s) and DSDx2 Upsampling (1-bit 5.644 or 6.14MS/s).

Digital Inputs

- 2 x AES/EBU on 3 pin XLR 44.1-192kS/s
- Used as a Dual AES pair (1+2), supports sample rates up to 384kS/s
- 1 x S/PDIF BNC Coax 44.1-192kS/s
- 1 x S/PDIF on RCA 44.1-192kS/s
- 1 x Toslink 44.1-96kS/s
- 1 x USB Type B 44.1-384kS/s PCM and DSD, DSDx2 in Asynchronous Mode
- 1 x USB Type A connector for mass storage devices (navigated using Mosaic)

Frequency Response (set to filter 1)

- Fs = 44.1 or 48kS/s +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz
- Fs = 88.2 or 96kS/s +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >38kHz
- Fs = 176.4 or 192kS/s +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >67kHz
- Fs = 352.8 or 384kS/s +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >100kHz
- DSD64 +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >90kHz
- DSD128 +/-0.1dB, 10Hz-20kHz -3dB @ >100kHz

Residual Noise (6v output setting)