Description
Our DAC32 wireless music streamer is a high quality WiFi connected music streamer built around an ESP32 microcontroller and utilising a high performance DAC in a carefully optimised ultra low-noise design. We were using our high end audio analyser to fine-tune the analogue part achieving best performance.
It comes pre-installed with a well made and highly active community open source software called Squeezelite-ESP32. Unlike many other commercial devices this ensures full transparency in the source code, often software updates and best performance.
The DAC32 wireless music streamer can be connected to a HiFi amplifier, active speakers or soundbar and it is precision engineered and manufactured in our own facility near Berlin, Germany.
Features
- Squeezelite – this enables DAC32 to act as a Squeezebox Player when used in conjunction with a LMS (Logitech Media Server). It offers a very rich experience based on your locally stored music and many common online streaming services.
- Bluetooth
- Airplay 1
DAC32 is not supplied with a power supply, but instead comes with a DC jack to USB-A cable for use with a USB power supply of choice. This should have a minimum power rating of 500 mA.
See here how we are manufacturing DAC32
Note for International Customers
Our distributor for outside the EU is Audiostore Ltd / vortexbox.co.uk.
Andrej G. –
Sound quality is great, configuration is a breeze, price is very reasonable.
The device seems somewhat hackable, being an ESP32 and having some unpopulated pin headers on the board (marked but undocumented). The source code is also available, which is a great bonus. I do wish they tracked the upstream Squeezelite-esp32 repository more closely, especially since it recently added ethernet support.
EM –
Bought the DAC32 to replace a dying Squeezebox Boom. Took a little wrangling to set it up – I updated firmware for my router and reset it to factory specs. Once that was done it has performed well. Bob at customer support with PolyVection answered all questions promptly and offered other tips. I hauled out a new pair of Klipsch speakers and I once again have my music collection at my fingertips. The sound is great, especially for flac files. Nice highs and lows. I built a standalone Ubuntu media server several years ago which runs Logitech Media Server, among other things. This works well because a key to making the DAC32 work seemlessly is to have the LMS run all the time. The free Squeezer program, which I also use, turns an Android phone or tablet into a remote control device for LMS via DAC32. I want to connect the DAC32 to my Denon amp and some speakers to see how well it does with those. So far the DAC32 meets my expedcations and it’s fun to listen to music again! I highly recommend the DAC32.
Andy Ponnaz –
See my main comments on the Core32 page. In summary, this DAC is nothing short of excellent. Either through my Sennheiser HD6XXs or Yamaha room monitor speakers, this DAC performs as well as DACs costing many more. I end up having trouble getting away from it!
Rob Wilson –
I bought this DAC32 to replace my sonos connect that after 4 years failed.
This DAC 32 is amazing and sounds just as good if not better than the £299 sonos. It also has Bluetooth 5.0 which is just amazing, sounds just as good as CD quality. I’ve connected the DAC32 through Édifier S2000 mk3. It’s better than their built in DAC. No one should be disappointed with this DAC streamer.
Joe Bama –
Waiting for SPDIF or USB. I’m fully committed to the Squeezebox system and appreciate the development of the DAC32 streamer. However, since I’ve invested in my own DAC (RME ADI-2 DAC) I need a streamer with a digital output. Hopefully this is in your development pipeline!
JRA –
Stable connection, more than Touch. Reasonably easy to set up. I think audio quality via wifi better than my Touches? Audio via Bluetooth is “OK” and no worse than other Bluetooth devices. Works seamlessly with Material Skin on PC Tablet or phone.
Can sometimes need reconnecting to correct server when first turned on, when it can be briefly stubborn: I have more than one server. You need to track down online instructions to e.g. understand the different light flash sequences.
I think I prefer this to Touch , Duet etc. Maybe optical output would be interesting? , but DAC sounds as good as Touvh feeding the DAC in my Marantaz amp.
Paweł –
Very easy to set up, good build quality, no longer worry my Squeezebox Touch will die someday. At the moment, it plays as a kitchen radio with a small amplifier and is doing very well. I recommend it to everyone.
Hugh –
Superb audio quality for an outstandingly reasonable price. The DAC beats any other streaming solution I’ve ever used.
Lewis –
I’m from the UK and purchased via a supplier. Arrived as expected and in plastic free packaging. Good stuff.
I use Roon via a NUC running ROCK and comparing my other setup which was a dedicated streamer to external DAC via USB or Coaxial I find the sound quality of the DAC32 very pleasing for a one tiny box solution. I’m not an audiophile but can tell the difference between different pieces of kit.
Cost for quality and sound quality mote importantly this is well worth getting.
D.J. –
Following on from my previous review I just spent the weekend listening to a DAC32 through my main hi-fi system and comparing it to a Transporter/external DAC. I fed the DAC32 into an Audio Research LS22 tube pre-amp balanced outputs to a Krell FPB300 powering a pair of Wilson Benesch Art 1 speakers and a pair of acoustically matched Velodyne sub woofers. The Transporter is balanced into an Audio Synthesis DAX Decade, balanced into the LS22. The whole system has dedicated 50A screened mains cables back to a pair of isolation transformers and dedicated fuse box to the meter. A pair of Isotek power conditioners are used to distribute the power in the rack. It is a very revealing lush system to listen to, even more so with vinyl.
The results were quite surprising in a good way. The DAC32 was very good to listen to with punchy bass and a forward sound stage – that is the music seemed to be in front of the speakers. Swapping between the Transporter/DAC combination and the DAC32 revealed some differences. The sound was more laid back as the soundstage was behind the speakers, bass was less punchy but more refined. On some tracks it was difficult to tell the difference between the two sources on others it was more apparent.
The DAC32 is a worthy addition to the Squeezebox family and outperforms the SB3, Touch and is on par with a Transporter. If you need an end point for your LMS this thing is the best value for money out there. You would need to spend double to get an RPi/DAC to the same level regardless of the abilities of your system.
NPais –
What a great product Polyvection 🙂
I’ve upgraded to DAC32 Streamer from a Chromecast Audio connection to my active monitors, and the difference was immediatelly noticeable: more clarity and greater soundstage and separation!
After doing some tinkering in Roon, I’ve lost connection to DAC32, but Polyvection technical support swiftly came to the rescue and helped me to solve my problem.
Thanks a lot!
D. J. –
Thanks Polyvection!
I have my DAC32 connected to a pair of Acoustic Energy AE1 Active’s with a 1m pair of Kimber Kable PBJ interconnects (which have been lying in a draw for 15 years!) and an Apple A1399 PSU. The sound is astounding and I can’t drag myself away from listening.
I do my own needle drops at 192/24 from a Koetsu/SME/Sutherland Phd/Audio Research rig and the DAC32 renders them beautifully. Sound is better than my Topping E30 so quite a tribute to the skills of Phillip and Bob in developing this product. I really want to compare it against my Transporter in my main listening room which I might get round to at some point. An afternoon of high res from Radio Blues beckons – great station.
DAC32 and the AE1’s are a match made in heaven as the resolution, precision and sound stage are sublime.
Thank you so much guys for developing this product, it really is an audiophile bargain!
https://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?113633-DAC32-low-cost-high-performance-music-streamer&p=1014450&viewfull=1#post1014450
Jean-Noël –
Ce truc, c’est un petit bijou.
Je l’ai branché sur l’entrée AUX de ma chaîne HI-FI
J’ai essayé toutes les configurations possibles : Bluetooth, Airplay et Squeezelite associé avec LMS.
Pour le mode Squeezelite, il vient en remplacement d’un Duet Logitech Receiver. Il fonctionne sans nécessité de ré-echantillonner mes musiques FLAC originales en 24/96. Le son est une pure merveille.
Pour le mode Bluetooth, sur mon smartphone et le PC Windows, le son est bien mieux que mon enceinte bluetooth. Pour mon PC linux avec Bluetooth, un petit bémol : il faut encore améliorer la connectivité.
Un ami est venu avec son Iphone, il a pu le connecter très facilement par AirPlay (un clic, ça fonctionne) . Nous avons passé la soirée à écouter la musique alternativement de son Iphone et de mon LMS. Un super son.