Chord Electronics DSX1000 network streamer for the digital audiophile

The new DSX1000 is a high-performance digital network streamer which features Chord Electronics’ world-renowned proprietary DAC technology. Perfect for those audiophiles that are finding themselves with an increasingly large digital library.

As with all Chord products, the DSX1000 is carefully made by hand in Kent with an advanced chassis and casework machined from aircraft-grade aluminium.

The Chrod DSX1000 uses a Field Programmable Gate Array to handle digital data decoding, clocking, WTA filtering and the 5th generation Pulse Array DAC.

The player’s streaming engine is directly coupled to the DAC which re-clocks all incoming data to remove jitter, while the unit also has the same analogue volume control circuit found in the company’s CPA8000 Reference preamplifier (£25,000), allowing it be used straight into a power amplifier.

The DSX1000 features UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)/DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) access and control and is capable of transforming the sound of MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, ALAC and FLAC files, with 24-bit/192kHz support where available, and follows the success of Chord Electronics’ debut streamer, the Chordette Index.

The player also boasts both volume-controlled and line-level analogue outputs which feature both balanced XLR and RCA phono connections. The network connection is via a fixed-wired ethernet port due to the bandwidth limitations of Wi-Fi for 24/192kHz support (ethernet-over-mains connections can also be used if required).

The DSX1000 has a full-colour 3.5-inch TFT front-panel display showing album artwork, set up options etc., along with a cursor control system for manual control. The DSX1000 can also be driven by remote control, or using many of the UPnP apps available for iOS and Android devices.

Chord Electronics is also offering a custom version of SongBook for the DSX1000, which will be available to download from iTunes soon. An Android version “may also be available later on”.

Chord are currently making a review device which I hope to get my hands (and ears) on and, in the meantime, I hope to soon receive a Chordette Index streamer (as mentioned above) to review.

The DSX1000 is available now priced at £7,500 (standard finish); £7,830 (nickel).

Here’s the more technical specifications

• Harmonic distortion: < -103 dB (1kHz, 24-Bit @ 44.1kHz sample frequency), < -110dB (100Hz, 24-Bit @ 44.1kHz sample frequency)
• Signal to noise ratio: > 120dB
• Channel separation: > 125dB @ 1KHz
• Dynamic range: 120dB
• Network input: 1 x RJ45 100 base T Ethernet
• Supported formats: wma-9, mp3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, ALAC, AIFF (96KHz), FLAC, WAV (including 176.4 and 192kHz support)
• Analogue outputs: Stereo RCA phono and balanced XLR line-level direct outputs; stereo RCA phono and balanced XLR volume control outputs
• Supported sample frequencies: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192kHz
• Line level output: 6V rms balanced; 3V rms unbalanced
• Output impedance: 75W  (short circuit protected)
• Dimensions: 420mm x 355mm x 88mm  (width x height x depth)
• Power consumption: 30W
• Operating voltage: 85 – 270V AC (50-60Hz) auto switching
• Weight: 12 kg