無帰還 · No Feedback

Every sample, on time.
ZERO LINK sees to it.

The Soulnote D-3 is the reference DAC rebuilt around timing: four flagship converters run dual-mono, a 45-femtosecond clock, and a NOS mode that plays the samples exactly as recorded — zero feedback anywhere.

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Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, silver, front view
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, silver, front left angle view
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, silver, front right angle view
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, high angle left view
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, internal view, upper level
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, internal view, lower level
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, ES9038PRO DAC chips
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, femtosecond DDS master clock
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, Type-R circuits
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, dual-monaural analog section
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, ZERO LINK connection
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, NOS mode output waveform
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, FIR filter output waveform
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, rear panel
Soulnote D-3 reference D/A converter, included accessories

Vendor:Soulnote

Soulnote D-3 Reference D/A Converter

$34,990.00
Finish
Finish: Premium Silver
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.

4 ×ES9038PRO

Flagship converters, two per channel — true dual-mono, with fully separate power supplies and analogue sections for left and right.

45fs

Clock jitter, from a DDS oscillator — steady enough to drop the digital PLL entirely and hold the time axis on its own.

152capacitors

In a power supply built on three transformers and 52 SiC diodes. Reserves this deep never flinch.

Technical specifications
TypeReference D/A converter, dual-monaural, non-NFB
DAC4 × ES9038PRO (two per channel)
PCM supportTo 768 kHz (ZERO LINK/USB) · 192 kHz (coax/AES-EBU)
DSD supportTo 22.6 MHz (ZERO LINK/USB)
ClockFemtosecond DDS (~45 fs) · 10 MHz external input (SMA 50 Ω)
Digital inputsZERO LINK, 2 × USB-B, coaxial S/PDIF, AES/EBU
Analogue outputsXLR 5.6 Vrms · RCA 2.8 Vrms
ModesNOS (non-oversampling) · Non-DPLL
Signal-to-noise110 dB
THD0.008 % (NOS, 176.4 kHz)
Dimensions (W × H × D)454 × 174 × 407 mm
Weight28 kg
Finishes / Made inPremium Silver · Premium Black — hand-built in Japan
What is ZERO LINK?
Soulnote's clock-synchronous interface. A compatible transport such as the Z-3 locks to the D-3's own master clock, so the asynchronous circuits that smear digital timing are simply absent from the chain.
What are NOS and Non-DPLL?
NOS plays the samples without oversampling; Non-DPLL lets the femtosecond DDS clock run without a digital phase-locked loop correcting it. Both remove ambiguity from the time axis, which is the whole argument of the D-3.
How is it powered?
Three transformers, 152 electrolytic capacitors and 52 SiC diodes, with fully separate analogue sections and supplies for left and right. It is a dual-monaural converter from the mains inward.
About the Soulnote D-3 Reference D/A Converter

Availability: Ships in 10–15 business days.

Digital, Rebuilt Around Time: Soulnote D-3

The Soulnote D-3 is the company's reference D/A converter — a genuinely radical take on digital that throws the industry rulebook out and rebuilds around one idea: protect the timing of the music. Completely non-NFB, fully dual-monaural, and armed with a femtosecond-class clock and Soulnote's ZERO LINK interface, it's built by ex-Marantz engineer Norinaga Nakazawa's team to make digital sound as vivid and alive as the best analogue.

Four Flagship DACs, Zero Feedback

Inside sit four ES9038PRO converter circuits — two per channel — running as a true dual-monaural design, with completely separate analogue sections, transformers and power supplies for left and right. The output stage is a discrete, non-NFB balanced amplifier using Type-R circuits with ultra-high-quality naked foil resistors. There's no global feedback anywhere in the signal path, which is exactly how Soulnote likes it.

ZERO LINK and Femtosecond Timing

The D-3's ZERO LINK interface synchronises a network transport directly to the DAC's own clock, eliminating the asynchronous circuits that smear digital timing. A femtosecond-order DDS clock (LMX2594, ~45 fs jitter) enables Non-DPLL operation, and a NOS (non-oversampling) mode removes any ambiguity from the time axis. A colossal power supply — three transformers, 152 electrolytic capacitors and 52 SiC diodes — sits behind it all. Support runs to PCM 768 kHz and DSD 22.6 MHz via ZERO LINK/USB, with a 10 MHz external clock input for the ultimate setup.

Why You'll Love the Soulnote D-3

  • Quad ES9038PRO, dual-mono — two DACs per channel, fully separated L/R
  • Completely non-NFB output — discrete Type-R balanced amplifier, naked foil resistors
  • ZERO LINK — clock-synchronous transport link that eliminates asynchronous circuits
  • Femtosecond clock — ~45 fs DDS for Non-DPLL, plus NOS mode
  • Hi-res everything — PCM to 768 kHz, DSD to 22.6 MHz; 10 MHz clock input
  • Reference power supply — three transformers, 152 capacitors, 52 SiC diodes
  • Hand-built in Japan — Premium Silver or Premium Black, 28 kg

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ZERO LINK?

ZERO LINK is Soulnote's digital interface that lets a compatible network transport (such as the Z-3) lock to the D-3's own master clock, removing the asynchronous conversion stages that add jitter — for dramatically cleaner timing.

What inputs does the D-3 have?

ZERO LINK, two USB Type-B, S/PDIF coaxial and AES/EBU, plus a 10 MHz external clock input. Analogue outputs are balanced XLR (5.6 Vrms) and RCA (2.8 Vrms).

Can the D-3 drive a power amplifier directly?

The D-3 is a reference DAC; pair it with a preamplifier or a power amplifier such as the Soulnote A-3 Core or M-3 monoblocks. Ask us about the ideal configuration for your system.

Soulnote D-3 Technical Specifications

Type Reference D/A converter, dual-monaural, non-NFB
DAC 4 × ES9038PRO (two per channel)
PCM support Up to 768 kHz (ZERO LINK/USB); 192 kHz (coax/AES-EBU)
DSD support Up to 22.6 MHz (ZERO LINK/USB)
Clock Femtosecond DDS (~45 fs); 10 MHz external input (SMA 50Ω)
Digital inputs ZERO LINK, 2 × USB-B, coaxial S/PDIF, AES/EBU
Analogue outputs XLR 5.6 Vrms; RCA 2.8 Vrms
Modes NOS (non-oversampling) and Non-DPLL
Signal-to-noise ratio 110 dB; THD 0.008% (NOS, 176.4 kHz)
Dimensions (W × H × D) 454 × 174 × 407 mm
Weight 28 kg
Finishes Premium Silver or Premium Black
Made in Japan — Soulnote