The new $849 LAiV Crescendo Verse DAC joins the company’s more expensive Harmony µDAC and flagship Harmony DAC.
I reviewed the µDAC and Harmony DAC and here’s what I concluded about the then LAIV entry DAC:
…the Harmony µDAC from LAiV Audio is a remarkable DAC when it comes to price, performance, and build quality.
If you’ve read either of those reviews or are already familiar with the DACs from Singapore’s LAiV, you already have a good grip on some of things the new Crescendo Verse DAC has to offer including:
- LAiV R2R ladder network architecture
- Native DSD 1-bit conversion
- NOS / SRC Mode
- Sampling rate converter
- 8 x I2S Mode with LAiV product auto-configured
- I2S clock supported
- Discrete output buffered preamplifier.
- Discrete headphone amplifier with gain selector
The Crescendo Verse’s back panel gives you the ins and outs, while the USB and I2S inputs support PCM resolutions from 44.1kHz – 768kHz and DSD64 – DSD256. More reach than you’ll likely need. You can also add an external clock like LAiV’s own HARMONY µDDC.
I appreciate the consistency in design when it comes to the anodized aluminum casework, available in silver and black, with its angled corner, a design that is also present on other LAiV products. Nice.
The front panel offers a dot-matrix LED display, two headphones jacks (4.4mm, 6.35mm), three control buttons, and a multi-function knob (volume/menu navigation). The top button up front, as we well as the included remote, provide access to the Crescendo Verse’s numerous menu options. Here’s a few:
- Input Setting (“The Verse offers four distinct inputs, each catering to different connectivity needs. Whether it’s USB, optical, coaxial, or I2S, you have the flexibility to choose the input that suits your setup best.”)
- Output Setting (“The Output settings allow you to configure the volume behavior and headphone amplifier options, including enabling or disabling the headphone output, selecting gain levels, and applying volume protection when the device powers on.”)
- Fixed or Variable Output
- Gain Levels
- DSD Processing Setting (Native/Multibit)
- NOS/SRC Mode (NOS or Oversampling)
- SRC Setting (“The SRC setting allows you to further customize your preferred sampling rate output, ensuring the unique listening experience for you.”)
- Digital Filter Option (Sharp/Slow)
- Phase
- Display Settings
- I2S Mode
Clearly there’s lots to explore. Stay tuned!
LAiV Crescendo Verse DAC
Price: $849
Company Website: LAiV Audio
Specifications
Display: 20×7 dot-matrix LED display
Chip: Intel® Altera® Cyclone® FPGA
Digital Inputs: 1 x USB, 1 x Optical, 1 x Coaxial, 1 x I2S
Supported Formats (Input dependent)
USB – PCM: 44.1kHz – 768kHz | DSD: DSD64 – DSD256
Optical – PCM: 44.1kHz – 192kHz | DSD: DSD64 via DoP only
Coaxial – PCM: 44.1kHz – 192kHz | DSD: DSD64 via DoP only
I2S – PCM: 44.1kHz – 768kHz | DSD: DSD64 – DSD256
Digital Playback Control
Supports native DSD 1-bit processing and an integrated sampling rate converter, giving users full control over PCM and DSD playback behavior.
*Note: In DSD Native mode, a brief popping sound may occur when switching between PCM/DSD or DSD tracks with different rates. For mixed sampling rate playback, DSD. Multibit mode is recommended.
Resampling Options
PCM: 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x (up to 768 kHz / 705.6 kHz)
DSD: DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512 (Only available in DSD native mode)
Preamp Outputs: 1 x XLR, approx. 4 Vrms, 82 Ω, 1 x RCA, approx. 2 Vrms, 41 Ω
Headphone Outputs: 1 x Balanced 4.4 mm jack, approx. 11 Vrms, 5.1 Ω, 1 x Single Ended 6.35 mm jack, approx. 5.5 Vrms, 2.6 Ω
Gain: Selectable headphone output gain LOW | MED | HIGH
Output Power: ≤ 1100mW (Balanced 4.4 mm), ≤ 290mW (Single Ended 6.35 mm)
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 80kHz, within ± 3 dB
THD+N: 0.0045% (Preamp), 0.008% (Headphone amplifier)
Crosstalk
≤ -100dB (Preamp Balanced)
≤ -100dB (Preamp Single Ended)
≤ -100dB (Headphone Balanced)
≤ -60dB (Headphone Single Ended)
Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR):
≥ 120dB (Preamp Balanced)
≥ 110dB (Preamp Single Ended)
≥ 110dB (Headphone Balanced)
≥ 100dB (Headphone Single Ended)
Noise:
≤ 25μVrms (Preamp Balanced)
≤ 72mVrms (Preamp Single Ended)
≤ 30μVrms (Headphone Balanced)
≤ 65μVrms (Headphone Single Ended)
Finish: Silver Anodized Aluminum, Black Anodized Aluminum
Dimensions (W x D x H): 168 x 188x 50mm
Features
Sleek & Compact design
LAiV R2R ladder network architecture
Native DSD 1-bit conversion
NOS / SRC Mode
Sampling rate converter
Positive / negative phase
Display brightness, delay dim, and delay off
8 x I2S Mode with LAiV product auto-configured
I2S clock supported
Discrete output buffered preamplifier.
Discrete headphone amplifier with gain selector
Headphone output protections
Controls: Front panel, Remote control
Power: 15VDC/2A ，DC 5.5/2.5 mm female
In the Box
Welcome card with Quick Start guide
Crescendo VERSE
Remote control
Power adapter with interchangeable plugs