1. Digital input isolation and switching
2. Multi-stage jitter rejection
3. Linear phase digital fflters
4. Low noise D/A conversion
5. Class A analog output stage, current-to-voltage conversion and analog filtering
6. Class A analog output buffer to drive the preamplifier or amplifier stage.

DAC-3 design features:

• Ultra-wideband, class A biased, true balanced output buffer stage with select audio grade resistors
• Ultra-wideband, Class A biased, I/V conversion stage with selected audio grade resistors and capacitors with a single pole RC filter
• 100dB of digital level control in accurate 0.5 dB steps
• Dual low noise toroid power transformers for digital and analog stages
• 10 power regulation stages with ultra-wideband, low noise audio stage regulation
• 4-layer board design for optimized ground, signal and power routing
• Extremely short analog signal path with no switch contacts
• DC coupled design with no signal path capacitors
  

Our Level-1 & 2 mods make it a good bit better and allow it to compete against far more expensive DACs. The mods were developed by Chris Johnson, the founder and former president of sonic Frontiers.

Sonic improvements with the Level-1 are:

• Transparency is improved.
• Bass is more extended
• Dynamics are improved.
• Midrange is now warmer.
• Imaging and 3-dimensionality are improved.
• It is now smoother sounding and more forgiving of bad recordings.
  
  

Our Level-1 mod takes this excellent DAC and makes it a good bit better at a modest cost over the stock version. At under $3,000, the Level-1 is a wonderful value in a high-end DAC and second to none at its price. All after-market mods void the Bel Canto factory warranty. In its place we offer the same 2 year warranty thru Underwood Hifi.

Sonic improvements with the Level-2 are:

• Bass and dynamics are dramatically improved
• Midrange is now warmer and more liquid
• Transparency is improved
• Imaging and 3-dimensionality are brought to a world-class level
• It is now smoother sounding, less analytical and more forgiving of bad recordings.
  

Our mod takes this excellent DAC to a level that will allow it to compete with the few world class DACs that sell for over $10,000. At under $3,000. the Level-2 is a superb DAC and unmatched in value with any DAC that we are aware of. All after-market mods void the Bel Canto factory warranty. In its place we offer the same 2 year warranty thru Underwood Hifi.

The following details the Level-1 modifications for the Bel Canto Design DAC-3 [$600 + freight retrofit, $2,690 + freight preinstalled]:

• 1 pair of premium WBT 0210-CU next gen RCA female jacks replace the inferior stock jacks
• 5 x BlackGate FK PS and NX grade DAC PS Caps electrolytic caps
• 4 x Riken Ohm ½ and one watt "signal path" 1% carbon comp. resistors (gold-plated leads).
• 4 x IR Hexfred ultra-fast soft recover rectifying diodes inpower supply
• We replace stock inexpensive dual I-V op amps with the world's best - Burr-Brown OPA-627 in a special single DIP module - 2 pcs. total
• 2 x MultiCap PPFX-S polypropylene film and tin foil input coupling caps are added.
• 2 x 3uf AURICAP metalized polypropylene line output caps
• 4 x pieces of DH LABS 99.999% pure solid-core long-grained silver output signal wires, with foamed Teflon tape wrap dielectric
• WBT high silver content (4%) solder used throughout
• 4 hours total labor.

The following details the Level-2 modifications for the Bel Canto DAC-3 [$1,200 + freight retrofit, $3,290 + freight preinstalled]:
Level-2 is a mod for both the RCA and XLR outputs.

• 1 x pair of premium WBT 0210-CU next gen RCA female jacks
• 1 x sheet of ERS EMI/RFI suppression paper to the chassis.
• 15 x BlackGate STD and FK grade PS caps, NX grade DAC PS Caps, and N grade output coupling capacitors
• 4 x Riken Ohm ½ and one watt "signal path" 1% carbon comp. resistors with gold-plated leads
• 4 x Cree Silicon-Carbide 1A 600V Schottky Diodes ultra-fast soft recover rectifying diodes in power supply; 4 x Visghay-Telefunken SF4007 ultra-fast soft recovery diodes
• We replace the inexpensive stock I-V op amps with world's best - Burr-Brown OPA-627 in a special single DIP module - 4 OPA-627s are used in total
• 1 x Linear Technology LT1085 and 1 x Linear Technology LT1033 high current, ultra-low impedance positive and negative adjustable power supply regulators
• 1 x Acme Audio Labs cryogenically-treated silver-plated 15A IEC AC inlet
• One 5x20mm 0.5A, slo-blo pure silver HiFi Tuning fuses (German made)
• 4 pieces of DH LABS 99.999% pure solid-core long-grained silver output signal wires, with foamed Teflon tape wrap dielectric
• WBT high silver content (4%) solder is used throughout.
• 6 hours total labor.

Sonic improvements of the Level-1 mod

The modified amps are warmer in the midrange. They are more natural sounding, with a little more tube-like depth as well as better dynamics. They sound faster with better bass definition and low frequency extension. Treble response is more extended.

Micro level detail is increased across the frequency band from bass to treble. Transparency, the ability to see into the soundstage, is also increased. The amps now also have a wider and deeper 3D soundstage.

The modified design takes a very good amp and makes it world class.

• 8 x Japanese Riken ½ & 1 watt signal path carbon resistors w/gold-plated leads.
• 6 feet of DH Labs 18-gauge Revelation Series pure 99.999% silver solid core input signal wire with Teflon tape-wrap dielectric is use
• 4 premium WBT-0763 single output binding posts replace the posts of the stock machine.
• 4 BlackGate ultra-premium electrolytic capacitors are added
• One sheet of SoundCoat chassis damping material is cut & applied where applicable
• One sheet of ERS EMI/RFI suppression paper applied in critical locations
• 10' feet of TRT WonderSolder is used throughout
• 4 hours labor
  

The following details our Level-2 modifications for the pair of REF 1000s [$1,390/pr plus shipping retrofit, $4,890/pr plus shipping for new amps with preinstalled mod]

All of the Level-1 modifications plus:

• 1 pair of WBT NextGen 0210-cu copper RCA jacks
• WBT Next Gen Copper 0710-Cu binding posts
• 4 x 3 feet of DH LAabs 23-gague Revelation Series pure 99.999% silver solid core umbilical signal wire with Teflon tape-wrap dielectric
• Two additional hours of labor for a total of 6 hours.
  

Options

• Upgrade the RCA jacks and binding posts to silver WBT's w/silver wire - add $225 (0210ag & 07120ag)
  

We offer a 2-year parts and labor warranty on new amps. This is the same as the Bel Canto factory warranty. Aftermarket modifications come with a 1-year warranty on all mod work done.

• 8 x BlackGate ultra-premium electrolytic capacitors
• 2 x Auricap metalized Polypropylene output signal caps a
• 8 Japanese Riken ½ watt "ignal path carbon resistors with gold-plated leads are added to the signal path
• 2 x Mills MRA-5 non-inductive non-magnetic wirewound resistors
• 2 feet of DH Labs 23 awg Revelation Series pure 99.999% silver solid core inter-stage signal wire with Teflon tape-wrap dielectric.
• 2 feet of Connex BL-Ag pure silver shielded input cable is added to the input connectors.
• 4 feet FIM UP-OCC Copper, Teflon-insulated 14 and 18 awg output hook-up wire are installed
• 1 pair of premium WBT-0210-Cu direct gold plated over copper body RCA female jacks.
• 1 sheet of ERS EMI/RFI suppression paper is applied in critical locations
• 10 feet of TRT WonderSolder is used throughout.
• 5 hours of labor are performed to do the mod.
  

Options:

• Add 1 set of silver input connectors and WBT deluxe copper speaker terminals with silver wire - adds $225
• Add both 1 set silver input connectors and WBT silver 0710AG speaker terminals - adds $380