Ferrum ERCO Gen 2 Fully Balanced Headphone DAC/AMP (Open Box)

What's New

With the full reprogramming of ERCO’s software in combination with crucial changes in the analog circuitry, we are introducing a newer and better ERCO. The ERCO Gen 2 will bring our entry-level DAC one step closer to the performance levels of WANDLA, our flagship converter. We even created a program for existing ERCO owners to upgrade their units to new ERCO Gen 2 specifications. So what did we improve?

• ERCO fully balanced headphone DAC/AMP
• Improved I/V converter
• Improved DSP engine
• Improved Digital Filter (HQ Apodizing)
• Improved max resolution (768kHz/DSD512)
• Proprietary IC power amp design
• Proprietary optimised-for-audio digital inputs
• Proprietary optimized MQA rendering and decoding for ARM chip
• Proprietary 4-pin Ferrum connector for HYPSOS
• Balanced 4,4mm jack and unbalanced 6,35mm jack headphone outputs
• Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA line outputs

Improvements brought to you by ERCO Gen 2

The I/V converter stage has better overall performance, and the DAC chip and DSP engine is bigger and able to emulate WANDLA performance including its DDF-preferred HQ Apodizing digital filter. Last but not least maximum resolution is now PCM 768kHz and DSD512.

Suited for high-end personal audio

Connect your favorite headphones to the balanced 4,4mm jack or unbalanced 6,35mm headphone jack outputs or powered loudspeakers on your desktop to the XLR or RCA outputs to perform to their max.

Discrete/IC hybrid design

Ultra-wideband ICs fine-tuned for audio use to achieve the best possible analog quality.

Truly Balanced

The signal path is truly balanced from the early D/A stage and becomes truly balanced using the RCA inputs.

Proprietary Technology

Industry-leading technology is applied. All digital ports are optimized for audio, MQA decoding, and rendering is optimized for use with internal ARM chip.

Clearing the path for high-end audio

The perfect mix of flagship Ferrum technology combined with high-grade in-house developed Digital to Analog conversion. Choose from three digital and one analog input.

Enhanced transparency

The whole design remains focused on a balanced and very transparent sound signature, making listening fatigue something of the past.

Ferrum Power Link

ERCO performs very, very well right out of the box. But ERCO is made to excel above and beyond when used together with HYPSOS. We use what we dubbed our Ferrum Power Link (FPL in short) to connect the two. HYPSOS then will perform to its maximum, unleashing unheard musicality from the combination with ERCO.

Unique output cable design

Two wires deliver the power and two wires provide the feedback to ensure flat voltage at every moment. We named this technique Ferrum Power Link (FPL) and it eliminates the harmful effects of the cable's resistance effectively improving transient response. The current delivery speed at the powered device's input is significantly improved.

ERCO Gen2 comes with a carefully selected DC power adapter. To get the most out of ERCO Gen2 you can connect it with HYPSOS using our proprietary Ferrum Power Link DC power cable. This FPL cable can be ordered separately.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Headphone output gain: balanced -5.8 dB, +6 dB, +17.8 dB; single ended -11.8 dB, 0 dB, +11.8 dB
• Operation: fully balanced, proprietary IC power amp
• Power inputs: 5.5/2.5 mm DC connector center positive; proprietary FPL 4-pin DC connector (FPL)
• Analog inputs: RCA (REDbook level 2V RMS recommended, PRO level supported)
• Digital inputs: USB-C (MQA, up to PCM 32-bit/768kHz, DSD512, DoP256); S/PDIF coaxial (MQA, up to PCM 24-bit/192 kHz, DoP64); S/PDIF optical (MQA, up to PCM 24-bit/96 kHz guaranteed, should work up to PCM 24-bit/192 kHz and DoP64 – depends of user’s optical cable and transmitter)
• DAC chip: ESS Sabre ES9028PRO
• PCM sample rates: 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 / 192 / 352.8 / 384 / 705.6 / 768 kHz
• DSD sample rates: 2.8224 / 3.072 / 5.6448 / 6.144 / 11.2896 / 12.288 / 22.5792 / 24.576 MHz
• DAC resolution: PCM up to 768k@32bit; DSD up to 512 (22.6 MHz / 24.6 MHz)
• MQA: decoder and renderer (USB, OPTO and COAX inputs)
• Headphone jack outputs: balanced 4.4 mm (TRRRS); unbalanced 6.35 mm (TRS)
• Line outputs: balanced XLR; unbalanced RCA (both REDbook level: 4V RMS bal./2V RMS unbal.)
• Volume control: analog with bypass option (bypass for line outputs only)
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 30 kHz (+/- 0.05 dB); 10 Hz – > 200 kHz (+/- 1 dB)
• Output power unbalanced: 300 mW into 300 Ω; 1.7 W into 50 Ω
• Output power balanced: 1.2 W into 300 Ω; 6.1 W into 50 Ω
• THD on balanced output: < 0.00018% / -115 dB, 1 mW into 16 Ω; < 0.00018% / -115 dB, 100 mW into 16 Ω
• THD on unbalanced output: < 0.00032% / -110 dB, 1 mW into 16 Ω; < 0.00057% / -105 dB, 100 mW into 16 Ω
• Dynamic range analog: 130 dB (A-weighted)
• Dynamic range digital: 120 dB (A-weighted)
• Input impedance: 47 kΩ
• Output impedance unbalanced: 22 Ω on pre-amp
• Output impedance balanced: 44 Ω on pre-amp
• Output impedance Headphones: < 0.3 Ω
• Power consumption: idle <15 W
• Power adapter: 100-240 VAC to 22-30 VDC
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 21.7 cm x 20.6 cm x 5 cm / 8.6” x 8.1” x 2.0”
• Weight: 1.8 kg / 3.97 lbs