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45 femtoseconds.
Timing, taken personally.

The Soulnote D-2 ver.2 is a reference D/A converter built entirely non-NFB, down to femtosecond-level timing.

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Soulnote D-2 ver.2 reference DAC, silver, front view
Soulnote D-2 ver.2 reference DAC, front right angle view
Soulnote D-2 ver.2 reference DAC, top view
Soulnote D-2 ver.2 reference DAC, rear panel

Vendor:Soulnote

Soulnote D-2 ver.2 Reference DAC

$13,990.00
Colour
Colour: Silver
In stock
Hear it at a dealer
Popular upgrades

Pairs well with

Hand-built in Japan. Every part chosen by ear.

無 Nothing in the way

mu — nothing added

Everyone adds.
Soulnote subtracts.

The best producers know the secret: the art is what you leave out. Soulnote engineers the same way — every stage a conventional design adds to the signal path is a chance to blur the original waveform, so Soulnote removes them, one by one, and tunes what remains by ear.

Between input and output: 4 extra stages, each with a fingerprint. Between input and output: almost nothing.

Every stage does a job — and leaves a fingerprint on the waveform as it passes through.

Fewer hands on the signal. What remains was chosen by listening — part by part.

Designed by subtraction

Less circuit.
More music.

4ES9038PRO

two per channel, wired as differential complementary pairs.

45fs

phase jitter, from the internal clock — plus a 10MHz external clock input for even more.

400VA

bifilar-wound toroidal transformer, with eight independent windings.

Technical specifications
DAC4 x ESS ES9038PRO (two per channel, differential complementary)
Circuit topologyFully discrete, completely non-NFB differential amplifiers
PCM supportUSB up to 768kHz (16/24/32-bit); Coax/AES-EBU up to 192kHz
DSD supportUSB up to 22.6MHz; Coax/AES-EBU to 2.8MHz
Digital inputsUSB Type B, Coaxial x2 (SPDIF), AES/EBU x2
Analog outputsXLR (5.6 Vrms), RCA (2.8 Vrms)
ClockInternal TCXO + LMX2594 (45fs jitter); external 10MHz input (BNC, 50Ω)
NOS modeSelectable (eliminates pre/post-echoes)
Dimensions430 x 160 x 405 mm
Weight17 kg
How does the D-2 ver.2 differ from the D-1N ver.2?
Four ES9038PRO converters instead of two, wired as differential complementary pairs, a 45-femtosecond internal clock, a 10 MHz external clock input and a larger 400 VA transformer with eight independent windings. It is the reference of this pair.
Can it lock to an external master clock?
Yes. The BNC 10 MHz input takes a master clock such as the Soulnote X3, so the D-2 ver.2 runs on the same timebase as the rest of the digital chain.
What is NOS mode for?
Non-oversampling playback leaves the samples as recorded, with none of the pre- and post-echo a digital filter adds. It is switchable, so you choose by ear per recording.
About the Soulnote D-2 ver.2 Reference DAC

Availability: Ships in 10–15 business days.

The Reference Non-NFB DAC, Version 2

The Soulnote D-2 ver.2 is Soulnote's reference-class D/A converter — a fully discrete, completely non-NFB design that pursues one goal above all others: the truth of the recording. Founded by ex-Marantz engineer Norinaga Nakazawa, Soulnote voices every product "100% based on the actual sense of hearing," and the D-2 ver.2 is that philosophy at its most uncompromising. Four ES9038PRO converters, a femtosecond-class master clock, and an external 10MHz clock input combine to deliver the vivid, spacious, breathtakingly three-dimensional sound that has made Soulnote a cult name in high-end audio.

Four ES9038PRO, Differentially Complementary

Where lesser converters share one chip across both channels, the D-2 ver.2 uses four ES9038PRO circuits — two per channel, wired as differential complementary pairs — feeding fully discrete non-NFB differential amplifiers. This lavish arrangement lowers noise, cancels distortion and opens up the soundstage into something you can almost step inside. A selectable NOS (non-oversampling) mode eliminates pre- and post-echoes for a more natural, analogue-like presentation.

A Clock Obsession

Timing is everything in digital audio, and the D-2 ver.2 treats it accordingly. An internal TCXO with an LMX2594 synthesizer achieves phase jitter of just 45 femtoseconds, while a BNC 10MHz external clock input lets you slave the D-2 ver.2 to a master clock such as Soulnote's X-3 for the ultimate in timing precision. Behind it all sits a 400VA bifilar-wound, high-regulation toroidal transformer with eight independent windings — a power foundation worthy of a true reference component.

Why You'll Love the D-2 ver.2

  • Four ES9038PRO converters (two per channel, differential complementary)
  • Fully discrete, completely non-NFB differential amplifier stages
  • 45fs-class internal clock plus a 10MHz external clock input (BNC)
  • PCM to 768kHz and DSD to 22.6MHz over USB, with selectable NOS mode
  • 400VA bifilar toroidal transformer with eight independent windings

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the D-2 ver.2 differ from the D-1N ver.2?

The D-2 ver.2 steps up to four ES9038PRO converters (versus two in the D-1N), adds a 10MHz external clock input and a femtosecond-class master clock, and uses a larger 400VA transformer — making it Soulnote's reference-level DAC in this range.

Can I connect an external master clock?

Yes. A BNC 10MHz clock input lets you slave the D-2 ver.2 to an external master clock, such as Soulnote's X-3, for the highest possible timing accuracy.

What formats and sample rates does it support?

Over USB, PCM up to 768kHz and DSD up to 22.6MHz; coaxial and AES/EBU inputs accept PCM to 192kHz and DSD64 (DoP). A NOS mode is available for a more direct, analogue-like sound.

D-2 ver.2 Technical Specifications

DAC 4 x ESS ES9038PRO (two per channel, differential complementary)
Circuit topology Fully discrete, completely non-NFB differential amplifiers
PCM support USB up to 768kHz (16/24/32-bit); Coax/AES-EBU up to 192kHz
DSD support USB up to 22.6MHz (DoP / ASIO native); Coax/AES-EBU to 2.8MHz
Digital inputs USB Type B, Coaxial x2 (SPDIF), AES/EBU x2
Analog outputs XLR (5.6 Vrms), RCA (2.8 Vrms)
Clock Internal TCXO + LMX2594 (45fs jitter); external 10MHz input (BNC, 50Ω)
NOS mode Selectable (eliminates pre/post-echoes)
Frequency response 2Hz – 120kHz (+0/-1dB)
S/N ratio 110dB | THD 0.008% (NOS / 176.4kHz)
Power supply 400VA bifilar toroidal transformer, eight windings
Dimensions (W x H x D) 430 x 160 x 405 mm
Weight 17 kg