Mission LX CONNECT DAC

The Mission LX CONNECT DAC is a stand-alone digital-to-analogue converter, pre-amp and headphone amplifier, derived from the award-winning Mission LX CONNECT wireless speaker system. It fuses the Mission mantra of innovative, attractive design and class-leading performance with the latest audio technology, to enhance your audio experience.

Designed to function as a central console for all your music sources, with analogue, optical and coax digital inputs, the Mission LX CONNECT DAC also features a dedicated HDMI ARC connection to bring high fidelity, true wireless performance for TV, movies and games. It is even equipped with a Bluetooth aptX receiver for wireless streaming of hi-resolution audio from tablets and smartphones. The LX CONNECT DAC is controlled gracefully via the touch-sensitive display, or for even more convenience you can use the included remote. The versatile connectivity options and compact form factor means it can be used as the all-encompassing DAC and pre-amp interface for any amplifier, active speakers, computer audio or head-fi system.

Mission has utilised the audio electronics expertise of sister-company Audiolab, maker of many award-winning DAC and amplifier components, to create the LX CONNECT DAC interface.

It incorporates a high-performance DAC stage based around the ES9018K2M DAC chip, from the Sabre32 Reference family. For ultra-low noise performance and high dynamic range, that ES9018K2M chip is accompanied by proprietary circuitry to make the most of ESS Technology’s 32-bit HyperStream architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator.

The LX CONNECT DAC supports hi-res PCM files up to 32-bit/384kHz over USB and 24-bit/192kHz via the coaxial and optical inputs; DSD (up to DSD256) is also supported over USB. An RCA-stereo output is provided with fixed and variable output options, fed by a high-quality analogue stage.

A high-quality headphone amp is also included, again derived from Audiolab – with its current-feedback circuitry, excellent gain bandwidth and high slew rate, a dynamic and detailed performance with all manner of headphones is assured.

The Roon platform has become the standard-bearer for high-quality digital music management and streaming. The LX CONNECT DAC is officially ‘Roon Tested’, meaning it has been put through its paces rigorously by Roon and certified for use in a Roon audio environment – for example, when connected to a PC or Mac running Roon software.

As a standalone desktop DAC / headphone amp / pre-amp solution, there aren’t many single units that offer a performance and specification to match LX CONNECT DAC, in this price segment.