Skip to main content

Oppo’s new Sonica DAC provides audiophile-quality sound for the connected home

Since the arrival of the CD, more and more of the music we listen to has been coming from digital sources. While the sources have changed, speakers and headphones remain analog, so you need a good DAC (digital to analog converter) to get the best sound. Oppo’s new Sonica DAC not only handles that, but can stream music from various sources directly to your headphone amp or hi-fi system.

The Sonica DAC is drafted in a similar vein to other Oppo audio products like the BDP-105 universal player or the HA-1 headphone amp (though it doesn’t include a headphone output like the HA-1) but with a boost in digital audio quality. At the heart of this lies an updated DAC chipset in the much-loved ESS ES9038PRO Sabre DAC. Thanks to this, the USB input on the player can accept PCM signals up to an insane 768 kHz 32-bit and DSD up to 25 MHz.

Recommended Videos

This isn’t going to mean much if you’re using the Sonica DAC to listen to some old MP3s or audio CDs, but it makes it a great DAC for use with high-resolution audio files. If you’re not using the Sonica DAC in a wired configuration, the player also supports wireless streaming, or playing files from computers and home servers over Wi-Fi or from your phone using the Sonica app. When used wirelessly, the Sonica DAC can decode FLAC, WAV, and Apple Lossless files up to 24-bit /192 kHz and DSD files at a 64x sample rate.

If you’re wondering why the company called this particular DAC the Sonica when it already sells a wireless multiroom speaker with the same name, it’s because the two can work together. The DAC can connect to Sonica speakers, and an auxiliary jack on the unit allows existing analog audio gear to be used in your multiroom setup.

If you would rather use the Sonica DAC with a headphone amp or power amplifier for your home stereo, it supports multiple analog output options. RCA output allows the Sonica to work with standard consumer audio gear, while a pair of XLR jacks on the back allows balanced operation for even better sound when used with higher-end amplifiers.

Coaxial and optical digital inputs allow connection from wired digital audio sources, while Ethernet provides wired network connectivity, and the built-in Wi-Fi supports both 802.11 a/b/g/n and ac standards.

The Oppo Sonica DAC sells for $800, and is available now direct from the company’s website.

A version of this article originally appeared at our “brother site,” Digital Trends.

Kris Wouk
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
A Miami Vice remake is coming from the director of Top Gun: Maverick
Kosinski will next direct F1 with Brad Pitt
Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in Miami Vice.

Miami Vice is coming back to the big screen. Almost 20 years after Michael Mann adapted the '80s series to the big screen, Joseph Kosinski is set to direct a new adaptation of the film. Universal Pictures will produce the film, which is being adapted by Dan Gilroy.

Plot details for the movie are not yet available, but the original series follows a pair of detectives who work undercover in South Florida. Mann was involved in both the original series and the first theatrical adaptation, which starred Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. That movie was a box office bomb and received mixed reviews at the time, but has since become something of a cult film in certain circles.

Read more
Everything we know about Dexter: Original Sin season 2
Get ready for another season of Original Sin: When to expect it and more
Patrick Gibson as Dexter Morgan in Dexter: Original Sin season 1

Dexter: Original Sin was announced to mixed reactions. Hearing that a Dexter prequel story was in the works with someone else playing the titular killer instead of Michael C. Hall could have been disastrous, but new star Patrick Gibson did a fantastic job of capturing the youthful version of Dexter Morgan. Dexter: Original Sin turned out to be a striking success that paints an entertaining picture of Dexter's life during early adulthood. Hall's narration of the character's inner monologues helps connect the prequel to the original and form the extended universe that SHOWTIME is trying to craft with Dexter.

While the first season of the show ended on a climactic note that would have allowed the series to be a single season if it had been cancelled, the renewal gives the writers more time to capture Dexter's story. This is everything we know so far about Dexter: Original Sin season 2, from the potential plot lines of the season to the release date on Paramount+.

Read more
Heads of State could be Prime Video’s wildest action movie yet
John Cena and Idris Elba in Heads of State

Amazon Prime Video has slowly but surely become one of the most expansive streaming services on the planet. With incredible original shows and classic hits from the past, you can count on Prime Video to provide a wide variety in its library. With the financial fortitude of Amazon backing the service, Prime Video also takes chances by making feature films starring big actors, and Amazon MGM is back again with its newest upcoming summer blockbuster, Heads of State.

Idris Elba and John Cena join forces as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States, respectively. The powerful men have to put aside their petty differences and combine their leverage to save the world from an even bigger threat than they could have ever imagined. Does it sound corny? Of course. Is it still going to be a ton of fun on a hot July night to gather with friends and family and binge? Yes again! Here's everything we know about Heads of State, from the trailer to the full cast list.

Read more