Owner`s manual

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Features
The e18 is based on the ES9018 Sabre
32
reference DAC chip. It delivers 32-bit precision capable of
resolving the smallest signal details. The chip features patented 32-bit Hyperstream™ architecture and
Time Domain Jitter Eliminator. ES9018 delivers the industry’s highest performance levels that will
satisfy the most demanding audio enthusiasts.
Mac OS X High-Performance Drivers
We offer two high-performance OS X drivers supporting standard sampling rates from 44.1kHz to
384kHz at full 32bit resolution. The 8-channel driver delivers a 3D soundstage experience and requires
significant CPU resources. The 2-chanel driver requires less CPU resources and can be used with less-
powerful hardware. Our drivers are compatible with OS X Lion and Mountain Lion.
Automatic PCM / DSD Switching
Audio data is always streamed in its native format. e28 switches automatically between PCM and DSD
modes. DSD streams are processed in their native format without conversion to PCM.
Asynchronous USB mode eliminates jitter caused by the computer and the USB interface
Asynchronous USB is a two-way communication method between a computer and an external USB DAC.
In this method, the DAC is running as a master, and the computer is acting as a slave that delivers data
only when requested by the master.
In the case of the e18 DAC, sound data is requested by the FPGA core and stored in the device FIFO
memory buffer. The FPGA core makes sure that the buffer never gets empty during playback. Data from
the buffer is streamed to the DAC chip. The precision of the timing of the output stream is determined
only by the DAC oscillators and it is not degraded in any way by the computer clocks or by delays caused
by the USB interface.
Hardware Volume control
The e18 volume is controlled by the ES9018 DAC chip. It is completely independent from the Mac
software volume control and it preserves the maximum possible signal to noise ratio.