Ferrum Audio ERCO Gen 2 fully balanced headphone DAC/AMP
Ferrum Audio ERCO Gen 2 fully balanced headphone DAC/AMP
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2-year-warranty
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£1,795
Features
- ERCO Gen 2 fully balanced headphone DAC/AMP
- Improved I/V converter
- Improved DSP engine
- Improved Digital Filter (HQ Apodizing)
- Improved max resolution (768 kHz / DSD 512)
- Proprietary IC power amp design
- Proprietary optimised-for-audio digital inputs
- Proprietary optimised MQA rendering and decoding for ARM chip
- Proprietary 4-pin Ferrum connector for HYPSOS
- Balanced 4.4 mm jack and unbalanced 6.35 mm jack headphone outputs
- Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA line outputs
Specifications
| Headphone output gain: | balanced -5.8 dB, +6 dB, +17.8 dB; single ended -11.8 dB, 0 dB, +11.8 dB |
| Operation | fully balanced, proprietary IC power amp |
| Power inputs | 5.5/2.5 mm DC connector center positive; proprietary FPL 4-pin DC connector (FPL) |
| Analog inputs | RCA (Red Book level 2V RMS recommended, PRO level supported) |
| Digital inputs | USB-C (MQA, up to PCM 32-bit/768kHz, DSD512, DoP256); S/PDIF coaxial (MQA, up to PCM 24-bit/192 kHz, DoP64); S/PDIF optical (MQA, up to PCM 24-bit/96 kHz guaranteed, should work up to PCM 24-bit/192 kHz and DoP64 – depends of user’s optical cable and transmitter) |
| DAC chip | ESS Sabre ES9028PRO |
| PCM sample rates | 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 / 192 / 352.8 / 384 / 705.6 / 768 kHz |
| DSD sample rates | 2.8224 / 3.072 / 5.6448 / 6.144 / 11.2896 / 12.288 / 22.5792 / 24.576 MHz |
| DAC resolution | PCM up to 768k@32bit; DSD up to 512 (22.6 MHz / 24.6 MHz) |
| MQA | decoder and renderer (USB, OPTO and COAX inputs) |
| Headphone jack outputs | balanced 4.4 mm (TRRRS); unbalanced 6.35 mm (TRS) |
| Line outputs | balanced XLR; unbalanced RCA (both Red book level: 4V RMS bal./2V RMS unbal.) |
| Volume control | analogue with bypass option (bypass for line outputs only) |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz – 30 kHz (+/- 0.05 dB); 10 Hz – 200 kHz (+/- 1 dB) |
| Output power unbalanced | 300 mW into 300 Ω; 1.7 W into 50 Ω |
| Output power balanced | 1.2 W into 300 Ω; 6.1 W into 50 Ω |
| THD on balanced output | < 0.00018% / -115 dB, 1 mW into 16 Ω; < 0.00018% / -115 dB, 100 mW into 16 Ω |
| THD on unbalanced output | < 0.00032% / -110 dB, 1 mW into 16 Ω; < 0.00057% / -105 dB, 100 mW into 16 Ω |
| Dynamic range analog | 129 dB (A-weighted) |
| Dynamic range digital | 117 dB (A-weighted) |
| Input impedance | 47 kΩ |
| Output impedance unbalanced | 22 Ω on pre-amp |
| Output impedance balanced | 44 Ω on pre-amp |
| Output impedance Headphones | < 0.3 Ω |
| Power consumption | idle <15 W |
| Power adapter | 100-240 VAC to 22-30 VDC |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 21.7 cm x 20.6 cm x 5 cm / 8.6” x 8.1” x 2.0” |
| Weight | 1.8 kg / 3.97 lbs |
Description
ERCO Gen 2
With the full reprogramming of ERCO’s software in combination with crucial changes in the analogue circuitry, we are introducing a newer and better ERCO. The ERCO Gen 2 will bring our entry-level DAC one step closer to the performance levels of WANDLA, our flagship converter. We even created a program for existing ERCO owners to upgrade their units to new ERCO Gen 2 specifications.
Improvements brought to you by ERCO Gen 2
The I/V converter stage has better overall performance and SERCE’s DSP engine provides oversampling using DDF preferred HQ Apodizing digital filter, which gets the most out of the DAC chip almost emulating WANDLA performance. Last but not least maximum resolution is now PCM 768 kHz and DSD 512.
Proprietary Technology
Industry-leading technology is applied. All digital ports are optimised for audio, and MQA decoding and rendering are optimised for use with an internal ARM chip.
Ferrum Power Link
ERCO performs very, very well right out of the box. But ERCO is made to excel above and beyond when used together with HYPSOS. We use what we dubbed our Ferrum Power Link (FPL in short) to connect the two. HYPSOS then will perform to its maximum, unleashing unheard musicality from the combination with ERCO.
Unique output cable design:
Two wires deliver the power, and two wires provide feedback to ensure a flat voltage at every moment. We named this technique Ferrum Power Link (FPL) and it eliminates the harmful effects of the cable’s resistance effectively improving transient response. The current delivery speed at the powered device’s input is significantly improved.
The name ERCO (not pronounced airco but ˈert͡so)
The name ERCO (not pronounced airco but ˈert͡so) is Esperanto for ore. We took to Esperanto for the name inspired by its creator Ludwik Lejzer Zamenhof, who used to live around the corner from our offices near Warsaw. Zamenhof started developing Esperanto in his childhood while still in school, pursuing peace around the world where one language would bring together humankind. We want to do the same through pure and honest music reproduction. In the end, it brings peace to the mind.
Marcin Hamerla
Founder and CEO of HEM
ERCO Gen 2 DC power adapter
ERCO Gen 2 comes with a carefully selected DC power adapter. To get the most out of ERCO Gen 2 you can connect it with HYPSOS using our proprietary Ferrum Power Link DC power cable. This FPL cable can be ordered separately.
Discrete/IC hybrid design
Ultra-wideband ICs fine-tuned for audio use to achieve the best possible analogue quality.
Truly Balanced
The signal path is truly balanced from the early D/A stage and becomes truly balanced using the RCA inputs.
Ferrum Power Link
ERCO performs very, very well right out of the box. But ERCO is made to excel above and beyond when used together with HYPSOS. We use what we dubbed our Ferrum Power Link (FPL in short) to connect the two. HYPSOS then will perform to its maximum, unleashing unheard musicality from the combination with ERCO.
Warranty
Backed within 2 – Year Manufacturer Warranty
Delivery Info
Delivery Information
As a company our primary goal is to provide a seamless service that results in customer satisfaction. We aim to deliver within 3 working days. Unfortunately, there may be occasions where this time frame may not be met due to unforeseen circumstances; in this instance, we deliver product/s as soon as we can. All delivery charges are included within the prices quoted, unless otherwise specified.
All small items are usually delivered between 9am and 6pm, on a Monday to Friday, unless a Saturday delivery is requested. Follow My Parcel is an industry-changing innovation from DPD Local, which will give your customers unparalleled levels of information and peace of mind.Not only will your customers receive a one hour delivery timeslot, but they’ll now also be able to track the progress of their parcels on a map as our drivers make their way to the delivery addresses. Follow My Parcel will:
