SPL Director Mk2 preamplifier with DA converter, black

Milled from solid

is the big 45mm Volume control. Its mass together with the  motorized Alps RK27 “Big Blue” potentiometer enhances the “spoon in the honey” feeling even further.

The red marker LED makes the setting visible even in darkened environments.

Volume RC

The volume can be remote controlled with any infrared remote control, that the Director Mk2 simply learns.

"With its 120 Voltair technology, SPL offers a perfect nest for one of the best DA converter chips currently available. This results in excellent dynamic characteristics, but especially in a highly precise, finely staggered sound stage".
Nick Mavridis
Fair Audio

Source of joy

Up to ten (10 !) stereo sources can be connected to the Director Mk2. Six of them are for analog and four for digital input signals.

The source selection is shown in the dot matrix LED display: IN 1 through IN 6 for the analog inputs.

AES, USB, COAX, OPTI for the digital inputs, where the detected sample rate is displayed after about two seconds. For example U768 = USB input with 768kHz sampling rate.

The source selection can also be operated remotely if the rotary switch is set to the “Remote” position.

The Director Mk2 offers two pairs of balanced inputs with XLR connectors and four standard inputs with gold-plated RCA connectors.

On the digital side there are four additional inputs. PCM audio is received in S/P-DIF format via coaxial Cinch, optical Toslink and balanced XLR (AES). Both PCM audio and DSD audio can be converted via USB.

The DAC768

The highly acclaimed AKM AK4490 Velvet Sound™ premium DAC chip is used as the converter chip in the digital-to-analog converter, which thanks to its new architecture reproduces the finest sound details.

It converts PCM audio with a resolution of 32 bits and a sampling rate of up to 768kHz, which is equivalent to 16 times CD resolution. Direct Stream Digital is also supported up to a resolution of DSD4 or DSD256.

The DLP120

The analog output of the DAC chip must be filtered by a low pass filter. Director Mk2 has two of them: One for PCM audio and one for DSD audio, since different roll-off frequencies are required.

And in contrast to all other DACs in the world, the low pass filters here are built using VOLTAiR technology, which provides a plus in dynamics and headroom.

"Director Mk2 controls, takes nothing away, adds nothing, doesn't gloss over anything. An honest contemporary in the role of asset manager, blindly trusted."
Falk Visarius
HiFi-IFAs

Good ol' times

Two mechanical VU meters visualize the input levels for the left and right audio channel.

With the VU switch you can optimize the display for different signal levels.

"Frankly, the sound of the SPL even startled me. Because it replaced the ... preamplifier and my... Directstream DAC... and I liked it better at first sight than this almost ten-thousand-euro duo. The Director Mk2 impressed from the first bar."
Wolfgang Kemper
HiFi Statement

Tape Monitor

A tape monitor circuitry is quite retro. Who still owns a cassette recorder or a tape machine? Who still has an equalizer?

To put it another way: Who would like to do it and cannot do it because no manufacturer offers a tape monitor circuit anymore?

Well, those who want can again.

Today’s audio levels are much higher than in the past and many recorders will be overloaded by them.

In that case simply press the switch and the level to the recorder is lowered by 10 dB.

To compensate, the level from the recorder is increased by 10 dB. Et voilà.

"The SPL Director Mk2 in its double function as DAC and preamplifier is an excellent director in the sound chain and proves to be a high-end conductor for the HiRes orchestra".
Volker Frech
Lite Magazin

Preamp & Direct Out

On the output side, power amplifiers or active loudspeakers can be connected to the preamp output sockets using XLRs.

The Direct Out via RCA picks up the output signal before the volume control and thus offers the possibility to connect a headphone amplifier.

AMP CTL

Practical are the AMP CTL sockets to which power amplifiers with 12 V trigger inputs can be connected in order to remotely switch them on and off together with the Director Mk2.