Products must be brand new, with a similar guarantee and in stock
Arcam irDAC II (Black)
DAC
Out of stock
£349
RRP
£499
SAVE
£150
Already a class-leader, the Arcam irDAC II is now better than ever.
Improved connectivity, including Bluetooth
With twin optical and twin coaxial digital inputs, the irDAC has always been one of the best connected DACs (Digital to Analogue Convertors). With these four inputs alone, you can easily connect up a TV, CD player, games console and DVD. Now featuring Bluetooth, it’s easy to stream music from your smartphone or tablet as well.
High resolution support including DSD128
For the highest quality sound use the asynchronous USB, connect your PC or Mac and enjoy file streaming right up to 384 kHz or DSD128 High Resolution file support.
Now with headphone and variable outputs
Other great new features with the irDAC II include a headphone socket and variable output. The headphone socket means you don’t even have to have a hi-fi system to enjoy first-rate audio. Simply connect to your computer, plug in your headphones and you’re in audio Nirvana. The variable output means you can also use the DAC as a digital pre-amp and plug it straight into a power amp or active speakers.
Better than ever sound quality
The most compelling reason for buying a separate DAC is enhanced sound quality, and it's here where the irDAC II really excels. The heart of the irDAC II now features the renowned ESS Sabre DAC. The same DAC that graces hi-fi and AV electronics costing thousands of pounds gives the irDAC II the same precise, incisive sound that doesn’t miss an ounce of detail. Other features such as an ultra-low noise power supply and isolated digital and analogue signals further improve the sound to give class-leading realism.
With all the connectivity you could ever need, including Bluetooth and a headphone socket, the Arcam irDAC II is all the DAC you’ll ever need.
Improved connectivity, including Bluetooth
With twin optical and twin coaxial digital inputs, the irDAC has always been one of the best connected DACs (Digital to Analogue Convertors). With these four inputs alone, you can easily connect up a TV, CD player, games console and DVD. Now featuring Bluetooth, it’s easy to stream music from your smartphone or tablet as well.
High resolution support including DSD128
For the highest quality sound use the asynchronous USB, connect your PC or Mac and enjoy file streaming right up to 384 kHz or DSD128 High Resolution file support.
Now with headphone and variable outputs
Other great new features with the irDAC II include a headphone socket and variable output. The headphone socket means you don’t even have to have a hi-fi system to enjoy first-rate audio. Simply connect to your computer, plug in your headphones and you’re in audio Nirvana. The variable output means you can also use the DAC as a digital pre-amp and plug it straight into a power amp or active speakers.
Better than ever sound quality
The most compelling reason for buying a separate DAC is enhanced sound quality, and it's here where the irDAC II really excels. The heart of the irDAC II now features the renowned ESS Sabre DAC. The same DAC that graces hi-fi and AV electronics costing thousands of pounds gives the irDAC II the same precise, incisive sound that doesn’t miss an ounce of detail. Other features such as an ultra-low noise power supply and isolated digital and analogue signals further improve the sound to give class-leading realism.
With all the connectivity you could ever need, including Bluetooth and a headphone socket, the Arcam irDAC II is all the DAC you’ll ever need.
6 Year Supercare £34.85
Add our Supercare to your basket when you check out. We'll cover your items for 6 years and give you your money back if unused.
Lowest price guaranteed!
We’ll beat any genuine advertised price, even from the web & give you up to £100!
We're confident that our prices are amongst the very keenest out there, so we've made it as easy as pie to qualify for our Price Beat. Richer Sounds also guarantees to beat web prices, and Price Beat is even valid for 7 days after purchase, so if you've seen a cheaper price, let us know, and we'll happily beat that price by up to £100!
Products must be brand new, boxed, carry a comparable guarantee and be in stock at time of purchase. Richer Sounds price used to compare will be net of any voucher / trade in discounts.
T&Cs apply
Products must be brand new, boxed, carry a comparable guarantee and be in stock at time of purchase. Richer Sounds price used to compare will be net of any voucher / trade in discounts.
T&Cs apply
Buy now, pay later available
on purchases over £500
We offer 6 month interest free options. Call or ask in-store for details
For purchases over £500, pay a 10% deposit now and the balance in 6 months. Pay the balance in full before the end of the 6 months and there is no interest to pay whatsoever, just a one-off settlement fee of £29. Find out more
Improved connectivity, including Bluetooth
With twin optical and twin coaxial digital inputs, the irDAC has always been one of the best connected DACs (Digital to Analogue Convertors). With these four inputs alone, you can easily connect up a TV, CD player, games console and DVD. Now featuring Bluetooth, it’s easy to stream music from your smartphone or tablet as well.
High resolution support including DSD128
For the highest quality sound use the asynchronous USB, connect your PC or Mac and enjoy file streaming right up to 384 kHz or DSD128 High Resolution file support.
Now with headphone and variable outputs
Other great new features with the irDAC II include a headphone socket and variable output. The headphone socket means you don’t even have to have a hi-fi system to enjoy first-rate audio. Simply connect to your computer, plug in your headphones and you’re in audio Nirvana. The variable output means you can also use the DAC as a digital pre-amp and plug it straight into a power amp or active speakers.
Better than ever sound quality
The most compelling reason for buying a separate DAC is enhanced sound quality, and it's here where the irDAC II really excels. The heart of the irDAC II now features the renowned ESS Sabre DAC. The same DAC that graces hi-fi and AV electronics costing thousands of pounds gives the irDAC II the same precise, incisive sound that doesn’t miss an ounce of detail. Other features such as an ultra-low noise power supply and isolated digital and analogue signals further improve the sound to give class-leading realism.
With all the connectivity you could ever need, including Bluetooth and a headphone socket, the Arcam irDAC II is all the DAC you’ll ever need.
Audio Outputs
RCA
Bluetooth
Yes
Coaxial Digital Input
2
Dimensions WxDxH
194 x 124 x 44
Headphone Output
3.5mm Headphone output
Optical Digital Input
2
Power Consumption- Normal Use
18
Pre Output
Yes, RCA
Remote Control
Yes
USB Input
1 x Type B for PC/MAC
XLR Balanced Outputs
No
Brand
Arcam
Colour
Black
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Bernie1 from
Arcam airdac 2
Fantastic dac easy set up brilliant customer service from Simon at Glasgow branch. Well chuffed. B
Date published: 2018-05-24
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Moon Rayker from
Nice sounding, but bluetooth issues.
Generally very pleased with this unit - nice sounding and a good variety of inputs.
Just a couple of niggles to mention, firstly there is no standby mode so the only option is to turn it off using the switch on the back panel. I guess the design philosophy was that it would be a core part of a system feeding a power amp. Secondly, although the bluetooth is a welcome feature, it is reluctant to fire up from cold and produce audio. You have to stop and start the stream, and connect and disconnect the bluetooth with your device a few times before it presents audio to the amp. Once running though it will carry on all day.
Otherwise happy to recommend it.
Date published: 2018-03-22
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Norman G from
Has revitalised my phone’s music collection
After much deliberation I decided to opt for the Arcam DAC. After two weeks of listening and the purchase of improved cables, I am very satisfied with my purchase.
Date published: 2018-01-31
Rated 4 out of
5
by
musicnerd from
Convenient and reliable
I've had reasonable experience with DACs - the DacMagic, the Teac UD-H01, and the Rega Dac from either owning or examining friends' units. I've also listened to some high end stuff in stores.
I chose the irDAC II for my main system as it was fully featured for what I needed with multiple input, had a remote, and contained a pretty potent Sabre DAC chip. With DACs once you get to 'very good' I feel it's very much diminishing returns when you start spending even more. And as my main components are 'middle of the road' rather than super high end, and I could perhaps use slightly better speakers, the irDAC II seemed about the right amount to spend, the right place to jump in.
In pictures the irDAC II looks more like a cheap internet router than quality HIFI gear but in person it's more impressive with a good solid metal feel. Attaching it to the headless Mac Mini that serves my big collection of digital music in 320kbps and lossless format was no problem - no drivers, picked up straight away. Just to test it I used the optical out of the Mac and, again, instantly available. Next, I tried the coaxial outfit from my higher end Sony early 2000s CD player and again, no issues. I've found some DACs to be a bit fussy when it comes to connecting to things flawlessly so this was all good. Bluetooth too seemed easy to hook up and it's good that this connection method is built-in for when friends come over with their tablets and phones and when to run sound though the system.
At first it also seemed to play nice with my Airport Express router, which also offers optical out, although it did suffer frequent drop outs and choppiness. Interestingly, I read online that the very early Airport Express (wifi G) routers had better audio handling and as I happened to have one in the house tried that - it then seemed to work fine over AirPlay too!
Ok, but surely the main thing is the sound. I find that some DACs go for huge amounts of detail, which is great but you get the feeling they are extracting every instrument and then hyping them. It sounds 'wow!' at first listen but then you feel it's all a bit forensic and clinical. The Arcam irDAC II, in true Arcam fashion, obviously aims for a more musical, luxurious representation and isn't trying to wow you with sonic party tricks.
Music sounds rich and involving and instruments are presented at the levels you would expect from the source material. Modern sounds have pleasing punch while plenty of nuance is pulled from 50s jazz recordings. I used lossless files from iTunes with and without Bit Perfect, there was perhaps marginally more oomph with the latter engaged but perhaps just imagination. Spotify streams on high quality settings are not significantly worse than digital files so you can enjoy a classic album without being annoyed by a lack of fidelity - indeed with a good DAC your £9.99 Spotify sub suddenly looks better value as you can get more out of it.
Playing CDs on the high end Sony machine via the DAC perhaps brings it home that this is a very good device. It delivers a very big, very noticeable increase in quality from a CD player that I've always thought punches well above its weight. I didn't run this CD player via my old Teac UD-H01 DAC as I liked it's own sound more. I definitely will run it via the Arcam DAC full-time to enjoy the even better sound on offer.
The only thing I had to consider with the irDAC II is that it tends toward the 'Arcam signature sound' which I would say is rich and warm more than biting clarity. That's not to say it isn't clear and detailed but my amp tends towards warm and my speakers are not especially bright (and probably overdue and upgrade too). My Teac UD-H01 DAC (abandoned as it no longer worked via USB with a Mac leaving me with no way to play my digital files at true hifi level), while not as good overall as the irDAC II was a little brighter so evened out the warmth of my amp and speakers.
While I'm not a big headphone user it also sounds very good as a headphone amp. I also haven't explored hires files or DSD, although this DAC supports these things.
All in all though I'm very happy with my purchase and it's ticked all my boxes with aplomb.
Date published: 2017-12-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Davedontshave from
The DAC to get.
I’m really pleased with this purchase. So easy to set up. Music streamed from my Innuous at high quality rip or download is precise and full. The Bluetooth input makes streaming from iTunes simple and great for parties.
Worth every penny.
Date published: 2017-12-21
Rated 5 out of
5
by
dave_the_vet from
Great sound and useful connections
This has allowed me to connect various digital devices (digital audio from TV, digital output from CD player and optical output from Chromecast audio) to my old NAD analogue integrated amplifier. The sound is now comparable to my AR EB101 turntable and Graham Slee phono preamp, and very enjoyable. The world of DAC's is quite new to me, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but it gives a clear and solid sound which is open and has good dynamic range. The number of connections (2 optical, 2 digital, USB (not used yet) and bluetooth) were part of the reason I bought this DAC.
Overall a good purchase and the local shop in Exeter were very helpful when my initial purchase from them to achieve the same outcome (a Marantz CD receiver) proved disappointing.
Date published: 2017-12-04
Rated 5 out of
5
by
MagnetLes from
Excellent upgrade for my ageing Arcam setup
I bought this excellent DAC recently as an upgrade for my ageing Arcam system. I am very impressed with all aspects of this product and now feed my cd player, wifi streaming and tv sound through it with a great improvement to the overall performance of my hifi system. Also an enjoyable listening experience from the built in headphone output. I made my purchase via the Richer Sounds website which proved to be easy, hassle free and great value.
Date published: 2017-12-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Vbak from
Arcam irdacii
I am a long time aficionado of the hi end community, I Jane been astonished by this product’s sound and overall configuration . Arcan did excell my expectations with this truly hi-end design , highly recommended . Great thanks to Richer Sounds for their overall professionalism and on time delivery .
Date published: 2017-11-18
£349
RRP
£499
Arcam DAC is rated
out of
5 by
27.
SAVE
£150
6 Year Supercare £34.85
Add our Supercare to your basket when you check out. We'll cover your items for 6 years and give you your money back if unused.
6 YEAR SUPERCARE COSTS JUST £9.99 ON ALL ITEMS UNDER £100, OR 10% OF PURCHASE PRICE ON ANYTHING OVER £100.
We think you’ll agree that our Supercare guarantee offers fantastic value. What’s more, if you don’t use our it in the 6 year period, we’ll refund the cost of it. You really can’t say fairer than that!
Plus, if we can’t fix a fault, we will give you a like-for-like replacement.
Find out full details here.
Lowest price guaranteed!
We’ll beat any genuine advertised price, even from the web & give you up to £100!
We're confident that our prices are amongst the very keenest out there, so we've made it as easy as pie to qualify for our Price Beat. Richer Sounds also guarantees to beat web prices, and Price Beat is even valid for 7 days after purchase, so if you've seen a cheaper price, let us know, and we'll happily beat that price by up to £100!
Products must be brand new, boxed, carry a comparable guarantee and be in stock at time of purchase. Richer Sounds price used to compare will be net of any voucher / trade in discounts.
T&Cs apply
Products must be brand new, boxed, carry a comparable guarantee and be in stock at time of purchase. Richer Sounds price used to compare will be net of any voucher / trade in discounts.
T&Cs apply
Buy now, pay later available
on purchases over £500
We offer 6 month interest free options. Call or ask in-store for details
For purchases over £500, pay a 10% deposit now and the balance in 6 months. Pay the balance in full before the end of the 6 months and there is no interest to pay whatsoever, just a one-off settlement fee of £29. Find out more