Periodic Audio has introduced its new Rhodium ultra-compact high-resolution DAC, which sells direct through the company in Canada for US$49.
The device is small enough to fit in a pocket and can be used to enhance music from mobile devices. Ideal for devices lacking a 3.5mm output, the Rhodium provides signal conversion up to 32-bit/384kHz, to directly feed a high-power amplifier output stage for wired headphones.
“The Rhodium is a no-brainer for anyone looking to seriously boost their digital music’s sound quality,” says Periodic Audio co-founder Dan Wiggins. “Its simple plug-and-play design and tiny size make it perfect for music lovers working from home who may not have the space to dedicate to a full-size audio system.”
“Creating an audio-signal path comprising a Rhodium DAC, Nickel analog power amp, and a pair of our IEMs was no accident,” adds Periodic co-founder Ben Webster. “We saw an opportunity to emulate the highly successful and logical signal-path architectures represented in the high-end audio component space. The Nickel’s high-input impedance effectively turns the Rhodium into a precision DAC-preamplifier, and the pristine signal feeding the Nickel’s analog input stage does wonders for the sound quality of the high-efficiency IEMs we build.”
The Rhodium incorporates precision audio-grade passive components in all audio pathways. High-stability power supply bypasses guarantee low noise and minimize distortion. It incorporates proprietary, high-strand, oxygen-free copper (OFC) wire inside a robust woven textile jacket and molded aluminum shells.
In addition to handling hi-res files of up to 32-bit/384kHz, the Rhodium delivers a frequency response of 2Hz-192kHz at +0/–3dB, a dynamic range of 113dB, and a signal/noise ratio of 108dB. All of that comes with less than 0.007% total harmonic distortion in a device that, out of the box, is compatible with Android, iOS (with an Apple Lightning camera adapter), MacOS, and Windows operating systems, and weighs less than a nickel.