HI FI EXCLUSIVE D/ A CONVERTER

Low-res data,high-res soundReimyo’s DAP-999 EX Limited, developed by Combak CEO
Kazuo Kiuchi, is set to squeeze every last bit of sound out of
the ubiquitous CD. And then some more.

T

his sleek D/A converter presumably wouldn’t stand a commercialchance, were it not made by one of
the most highly reputed manufacturersof high-end audio gear. Its predecessor,
the DAP-999 EX—reviewed in STEREO
3/09 and recipient of high praise, as well
as a number of awards, from international audio enthusiast magazines—already made us sit up in our seats. The
new version, with a chrome plaquesaying “Limited” being the only thing todistinguish it from the previous model,
is poised to do even better than that.

So why would we be sceptical? Well,in a sense this DAC is a bit of an anachronism: not for it the USB jacks for
PC connectivity or high-bitrate capabilities of upsampling up to 192 kHz/24 bitof modern DAC competitors. The“Limited” offers hardly any features you
couldn’t have had ten years ago: its
front panel sports four input-selector
buttons for AES, BNC, coaxial, andoptical inputs up to 48 kHz. With
respect to PC connectivity and highbitrate sources, that is indeed “limited”.
Which is quite by design, too. TheJapanese sound wizard Kiuchi, who
made his name with esoteric-seeming
but effective Harmonix brandresonance control devices,
has chosen a different path. Since highbitrate files are still as
conspicuously rare as
CDs are abundant, theThe unit’s interior is well equipped
and boasts a new central multi-chip
K2 processor/upsampler board

42 STEREO 7/2013

The DAP-999 EX Limited comes with a high-quality,
phase-marked Harmonix power cord included

outspoken Kiuchi has put his mind tosqueezing the best possible sound out of
the 16-bit/44-kHz CD format.

Virtual bandwidth via K2HD

Reimyo, which translates to “miracle”,
continues to put its trust in the sophisticated algorithms of the K2 mastering process, developed by JVC in the late 1980s
and continually improved ever since.
While XRCDs had long been thecrown jewels of the CD productrange, the new K2HD format has
made considerable inroads into thatshare of the market. Its most prominent feature is to encode high frequencies such that the human ear is
fooled into detecting a higher frequency bandwidth than a CD withits 20kHz cutoff can actually deliver.
And that’s how K2HD CDs havebeen able to impress with their as-tonishing detail, musicality, and spatialresolution, while at the same time sounding homogeneous and natural. Usually,
they are head and shoulders above theirconventionally mastered counterparts.
Now, Reimyo’s thinking is, if thatprocess works in the mastering stage,
why not try to build it into DAC signal
conversion? So the DAP-999 EX Limited was furnished with specially modified K2 code optimised for D/A conversion. Admittedly, the previous model
could do that too, but the algorithms
have been honed even further and havebeen integrated into the 4x upsamplingthat e.g. converts 16 bit/44.1 kHz into
24 bit/176.4 kHz. Looking under theunit’s hood, you can’t miss the newmulti-chip board handling the complex
computations, which the previous model
didn’t have.

Perfection in every detailKazuo Kiuchi,Combak Corporation»Our K2 processor

produces higher soundquality than other manufacturersreach with high-bitrate data. We
are looking to audiophile customers
with large CD collections, which we can
now make sound so much better.«finesse that never lacks in substance andpower. The intro to “To Vals Tou
Gamou” (Sounds and Silence, ECM),
with its delicate ambience vibes, was reproduced with ethereal accuracy, lending it life-like reality. The choir in “MittHjerte Alltid Vanker” (on STEREO’s test
sampler number VII) emanates fromdeep within the nave, with perfect contours and sonic perspective.
In fact, the DAC exhibits the openness, soundstaging, and differentiation
we have become accustomed to from
K2HD CDs as well as actual highbitrate recordings, but it never descends
into analytic superficiality or harshnessof sound. Its performance is rather lifelike and, above all, natural.

Those qualities are on full display in
Arvo Pärt’s “Da Pacem Domine” (ECM),
with the choir hovering beetween thespeakers. No other DAC can produce
this feeling of spiritual transcendence ascompetently as the outwardly unimposing DAP-999 EX Limited.
But is what it does actually “real”? Or
are we being bamboozled and seduced by
the algorithms of the K2 processor? “K2brings back to life what was lost during
production and due to the restrictions ofthe format”, as Kichui argues. The similarities in his DAC’s sound to true highbitrate recordings is unmistakable, so it’sa pretty safe bet the DAP-999 EX Limited
makes your CDs sound better than theyare. Matthias Böde (tr. Peter Monnerjahn)reimyo DAP-999ex limited

Apart from that, the unit’s level of attention paid to details and build quality
are exemplary. The thing with Kiuchi is,
he just isn’t going to compromise. The
unit rests on Harmonix TU-600 feet (aset of four will usually set you backabout € 680), a high-frequency filter keeps
the power supply noise-free, and a parallel “Enacom” filter, supposed to have aWith its superb tonal performance
harmonizing effect and to be speciallycomes
a high degree of musicality,configured, is also included.
Reimyo deploys high-end fuses by too—not least thanks to its careful
HiFi-Tuning Berlin, two substantial, timing. Whether it is restraint orwell-shielded C-core transformers drive attack that is called for, this K2 DAC
the analogue and digital sections, re- handles it beautifully. The very agile
spectively, separated by opto-isolators.
“Credo” from Ariel Ramirez’ “Misa
How serious is Reimyo
Criolla” (Philips) was conGLOSSARY
about power supply? Well, a
jured in all its rhythmic shadUpsampling:
specially adapted version of Higher sampling freings and showing an excellent
the excellent-quality Harmonix quencies allow
sense of depth and placement,
X-DC2 power cord (with a narrower filters toclearly separating the choir
be used, reducing
solo price tag of a hefty € 1050) phase problems.
from the soloist. An astonishis already included.
ing and deeply moving experAnd this seriousness is showing
ience. This kind of emotionalsome impressive results: the DAP-999
competence, if you will, is very rare even
EX Limited produces a sound that is atamong top-notch DACs.
once delicate and homogeneous, with aca. € 10500
Dimensions: 440×60×370 mm
Warranty: 2 years
Contact: Sieveking Sound
Phone: +49-421-3784984
www.sieveking-sound.deThe Limited edition of Reimyo’s DAC promises to make CDs sound like high-bitrate
discs. The comparison is by no means farfetched. The new version of the DAP-999 EX
has excellent soundstaging and produces anastonishing level of detail.
SPECIFICATIONS
1,3 dB ~ 20 kHz

Frequency response


94 dB



0,7 dB

146/213 Ohms



2,65/5,3 V

0 | – | 13 W

LAB NOTES: Since the K2 processor influences measurements, we haven’t been able to reliably determine THD.
The spectrum was free of noise.

FEATURES

Four digital inputs (AES, BNC, coaxial,optical), one symmetric and asymmetric
output each, phase shift switch.

SOUND VERDICT100%
VALUE FOR MONEYVERY GOOD

Four digital inputs, Cinch and XLR outputs, phase shift switch – that’s all the back panel has to offer*7/2013 STEREO 43