EAR YOSHINO ACUTE 4 + DAC 4

Pre owned. In good condition. Shows minor signs of wear that are not clearly visible in the photos. Supplied with the owner's manual and original packaging.

Acute 4

The EAR Acute 4 is a High-End CD/SACD transport designed to deliver outstanding digital playback by combining sophisticated electronic engineering with premium build quality. Created for discerning audiophiles, it is designed to maximize the performance of both traditional Compact Discs and Super Audio CDs, delivering exceptional detail, precision, and natural musicality.

Its appearance reflects EAR's design philosophy, characterized by elegance and meticulous craftsmanship. The precision-machined chrome-plated front panel gives the unit a refined and distinctive look. At its center is a solid aluminum disc drawer, while eight polished chrome control buttons are positioned above it, providing immediate access to the main playback functions while emphasizing the transport's robust construction.

Playback information is displayed on a vacuum fluorescent graphic display with a soft, easy-to-read illumination. In addition to standard playback information, the display also supports CD Text when available, providing a clean and intuitive interface that integrates seamlessly with the unit's understated design.

The Acute 4 is capable of playing both conventional audio CDs and Super Audio CDs (SACD), allowing listeners to take full advantage of the increased resolution and additional musical information available from the SACD format. This results in a more realistic, detailed, and immersive listening experience.

The transport is specifically designed to operate in perfect synergy with the EAR DAC 4. Through the proprietary AcuteLink connection, the digital data extracted from the disc mechanism is transferred directly to the DAC without unnecessary intermediate conversion stages, preserving signal integrity and minimizing potential degradation. This dedicated architecture ensures exceptionally transparent and faithful digital reproduction.

Completing the package is a premium infrared remote control featuring a solid construction, soft-touch rubber surfaces for improved grip, and an elegant aluminum enclosure. A single remote operates both the Acute 4 transport and the DAC 4, providing convenient and fully integrated control of the complete EAR digital playback system.

The EAR Acute 4 is therefore a reference-class digital transport that combines luxurious construction, advanced digital technology, and exceptionally detailed, natural sound reproduction. It is designed for enthusiasts seeking to extract the maximum performance from CD and SACD media within a true High-End audio system.

DAC 4

The EAR DAC 4 is a High-End digital-to-analog converter designed by Tim de Paravicini to deliver an exceptionally natural, detailed, and engaging musical presentation. Developed as the evolution of EAR Yoshino's previous digital designs, it combines advanced digital technology with a carefully engineered tube output stage to preserve signal integrity throughout the entire conversion process while extracting the full potential from every connected source.

Designed to serve as the centerpiece of a digital audio system, the DAC 4 offers an extensive range of connections for outstanding flexibility. Inputs include USB, AES/EBU, dual coaxial S/PDIF, optical Toslink, the proprietary EAR AcuteLink connection for the Acute 4 transport, and an analog input, allowing multiple digital and analog sources to be connected simultaneously with maximum convenience.

The converter supports audio files up to 24-bit/192 kHz and also provides native DSD playback via USB, making it fully compatible with today's high-resolution music libraries. Whether playing PCM or DSD material, the DAC 4 delivers consistently high performance and exceptional musical refinement.

One of its defining features is its completely redesigned analog output stage. The circuit employs four PCC88 vacuum tubes that are carefully integrated with the digital electronics, custom output transformers, and conversion circuitry as a unified system. This architecture produces a sound that is harmonically rich, smooth, and natural while maintaining outstanding transparency, precision, and resolution.

To complement the new tube output stage, EAR developed an entirely new generation of custom output transformers. Hand-wound in the United Kingdom, these transformers offer more than 30% greater internal volume than those used in previous designs, providing an exceptionally high signal-to-noise ratio and contributing to a cleaner signal path, greater soundstage stability, and improved low-level detail retrieval.

Digital conversion is handled by two Wolfson WM8741 DAC chips configured in bridged mono mode, with one dedicated converter per channel. Each channel features its own analog output stage and dedicated output transformer, eliminating the need for solid-state signal buffering or additional conversion stages. This dual-mono configuration minimizes channel interaction, improves stereo separation, and contributes to an exceptionally accurate and natural presentation.

The seamless integration of the digital circuitry, tube output stage, and custom transformers reflects Tim de Paravicini's design philosophy. Every component is engineered to work in harmony, ensuring that the converter's sonic character remains free from the artificial qualities often associated with digital processing, allowing music to emerge with remarkable realism, tonal coherence, and depth.

The construction quality is equally impressive. The precision-machined chrome-plated front panel features a matching volume control, solid machined chrome buttons, and discreet LED indicators that create an elegant, timeless appearance. Every aspect of the mechanical construction reflects the attention to detail and craftsmanship for which EAR is renowned.

Designed to operate in perfect partnership with the EAR Acute 4 via the proprietary AcuteLink interface while remaining fully compatible with virtually any digital source, the EAR DAC 4 is a reference-class converter that combines advanced digital technology, vacuum-tube circuitry, and handcrafted construction. It is intended for listeners seeking an exceptionally refined, musical, and faithful digital reproduction.

Acute 4 Specifications:

• Compatibility: Transport dedicated exclusively to the EAR DAC 4
• Outputs: 1 x 5-pin AcuteLink; 1 x 3-pin AES connector (service and support only)
• Supported formats: SACD (1-bit DSD, 2.8 MHz); CD (16-bit PCM, 44.1 kHz)
• SACD performance: Dynamic range 105 dB; frequency response 20 Hz – 50 kHz
• CD performance: Dynamic range 90 dB; frequency response 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Display: CD Text support (when available)
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 435 x 285 x 65 mm
• Weight: 7.3 kg

DAC 4 Specifications:

• Vacuum tubes: 4 x PCC88 (6DJ8)
• Supported audio formats: S/PDIF and AES 44.1–192 kHz, 16–24 bit; Toslink up to 88 kHz/24 bit; DoP v1.0 (DSD over PCM); USB 2.0 (PC/Mac) 44.1–192 kHz, 16–24 bit
• Inputs: 1 x stereo analog RCA; 1 x USB (PC/Mac); 3 x S/PDIF digital (RCA, BNC, and Toslink); 1 x AES (3-pin XLR); 1 x AcuteLink (5-pin XLR)
• Outputs: 1 x RCA line output; 1 x balanced XLR output
• Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): 0.1% (5 V, 20 Hz – 20 kHz)
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 95 dB (40 kHz bandwidth)
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 435 x 285 x 65 mm
• Weight: 8.5 kg