Theta DS PRO Basic III - Old School Cool DAC

As its name implies, the Theta, DSPro Basic III is a simpler, more cost-effective version of the highly regarded DSPre digital processor/preamplifier from Theta Digital. When it was introduced, the DSPro set the standard for digital playback, making it into Class A of Stereophile's recommended components. The DSPro was, to my knowledge, the first software-based digital processor, employing Motorola 56001 DSP (Digital Signal Processing) chips.

The DSPro Basic is rather simple, with the front panel home to just (4) push button switches and two LEDs. One switch selects between CD (44.1kHz) and DAT (48kHz) inputs, while the other inverts absolute polarity, one is a tape monitor and one serves as On/Off. The left LED indicates the unit is locked onto the incoming data, while the right indicates power is applied. The rear panel contains the analog outputs, two digital inputs (CD and DAT), and a digital tape-out loop for driving a DAT machine input, all on gold-plated RCA jacks. An IEC AC power-cord jack finishes off the rear panel. No power on/off switch is provided, suggesting that the DSPro Basic should be left on continuously. Construction is a bent-steel chassis with a ¼"-thick front panel. The top panel is screwed into pem-nuts in the chassis with hex-head bolts, an improvement over sheet-metal screws into chassis holes. Overall, I found the DSPro Basic's appearance attractive and its fit and finish quite good.

All the DSPro Basic's electronics are carried on a single printed circuit board, separated into digital and analog sections. The unit has two separate power supplies, one for the digital section and one for analog circuitry. The digital supply consists of a transformer, rectifier, two 4700µF filter caps, and a large heat-sunk regulator in a TO-3 package. The analog supply is more elaborate, with a similar transformer, two rectifiers, and four 2200µF filter caps. Additional analog power-supply components are located at the other end of the PCB, next to the DACs and analog output stage. Six voltage regulators are used in the analog supply, but not the typical TO-220 type found in most digital processors. Instead, they are small round metal cans which, according to DSPro Basic III designer Mike Moffat, offer superior sound over the less expensive and easier-to-implement TO-220s.

In its time, this was considered a REALLY good DAC... there also seems to be a resurgence of these old DACs as their sonic footprint, especially in CD applications, is super warm and considered more "analog" sounding than many contemporary components. Guess one needs to be the judge of that but considering we've listened to quite a bit of these older DACs, we kinda feel there's merit to this viewpoint. We really like what these older converters offer and this Theta DS Pro is no-different. 

Come try it out here in Andover or purchase with confidence here on this site.

Theta DS PRO Basic III - Old School Cool DAC: $499 plus sales tax and shipping when applicable