ACOUSENCE started as a professional music production company and later became active as a record label, was at the forefront of the renaissance of the Vinyl LP and with high-res audio formats. From the beginning, our standard has been the faithful reproduction of the authentic sound of instruments and the expressive power of artists in front of the microphone.

This is why audio electronics by “artistic fidelity by ACOUSENCE” means natural, genuine sound, and the intoxicating intensity of music: hence the name "artistic fidelity"!

New Products 2018

arfi-dac2xt

The arfi-dac2xt is a DA-converter with expanded pre-amp functionality. It is our new benchmark for the enjoyment of music at the highest level. Two digital inputs, modular set-up, one of which is for the "arfi-optical": our sophisticated connection to a computer or streamer via USB using optical cables. High-quality, remote-controllable volume level via IR and motor potentiometer. The analogue signal processing is continuously balanced. Executed with short and simple signal paths for true audiophiles, built with the best components. The heart of the output stage of the DAC is made up of two large high-quality transformers, fed by a total of eight converter outputs. You can opt for an additional transformer balanced analogue input that can be switched to the regulated outputs instead of the internal DAC. The analogue inputs and outputs are equipped with a balanced XLR and an unbalanced Cinch. The most important new feature in the digital section, an improvement on the arfi-dac2, is a further development of the clocking circuit. We call it arfi-femto-reclocking, which on the whole increases the clocking precision even more and is raised to similar values for conventional digital sources, which is usually only achievable with internally generated clocking.

The arfi-dac2xt focuses on one central task, just like all of our previous AD and DA converters – genuine conversion between digital and analog – and the new analog section continues this philosophy. The result is a clearly delineated image of transients and at the same time tonal purity and a full, round basic sound. Fine musical details, their ambient and emotions have seldom been so audible, but the important this is: listening to music is simply an unbelievable pleasure. This is the enjoyment of music true to artistic fidelity: natural sound, artistic, compelling and emotionally moving music playback!

arfi-muse2xt

The arfi-muse2xt (artistic fidelity music server) is the ideal source device for the arfi-dac2xt, but can also be combined with other afis or afi devices. Both devices are directly connected to each other via "arfi-optical" cables and the combination with arfi-dac2xt results in quasi a complete music system that only requires a power amplifier and loudspeakers – and possibly a turntable. The built-in CD/DVD drive can rip CDs and play them back. The integrated 2TB SSD can even store comprehensive music collections from CD quality up to high-res.

artistic fidelity has a totally different concept than most similar devices when it comes to one essential issue: through clever hardware design, even a windows operating system will fulfil the highest audiophile demands, while arfi-optical provides the perfect separation of the audio components (e.g. arfi-dac2xt) from the IT components. Thus, all applications that are usually run with this operating system can be used. One option with eight bi-directional in-/outputs, the arfi-muse8xt, is also available. The arfi-muse2xt is delivered standard with J.River Mediacenter and is directly controllable via Wi-Fi. A monitor and keyboard are not required but can be added if desired. This flexibility at this level of sound has probably never been achieved before.

Alternative version, suitable for the modular series:

Other products:

Modular series for the stepwise expansion of the music system and the "tuning up" of existing set-ups:

- purist DA converter: arfi-dac2

- reclocker / filter / signal distributor: afis

- reclocker / filter / signal distributor including digital interface for perfect audio from computer or streamer: afis+usb

- power supply: arfi-psu

- digital interface for perfect audio from computer or streamer via USB and arfi-optical to DAC:

afi+usb

external USB-FOC module

arfi-optical

The special arfi-optical connection blocks computer noise which usually plague digital audio signals. Jitter is basically eliminated by reclocking the audio signal based on an internal reference clock. At the same time, the internal reference clock is immune to external noise from the computer, because this is kept away by the arfi-optical. The digital audio signal transmitted to the DAC is thus processed in the best possible way, concerning jitter and other interference. The downstream DA converter thus no longer produces artefacts that are based on noise coming directly from the computer, so no noise from the computer will be transmitted to the analog outputs either.

In the arfi-dac2xt, the arfi-optical basic unit with its reference clocking generator is united with the DA converter in one device. The reference clock is even directly fed to the DAC. For other DA converters, the arfi-optical with afis+usb or afi+usb is compatible. A complete network streamer will also be available shortly as an alternative to the external USB module.

arfi-adc2pro

ACOUSENCE began developing its own in-house audio technology with its AD converter arfi-adc2. At the time, there were no AD converters on the market that met our high quality standards for the recordings we make. More and more, the industry trend has been towards functionality, often leaving the music by the wayside. We need no-frills, well-functioning technology for use with ensembles of acoustic instruments in well-sounding spaces that preserves the artistic workings in front of the microphone as faithfully as possible without compromise; no gimmicks, just the highest audio quality!

The 2-channel version arfi-adc2pro (above) and the large module system arfi-system193 (below) for up to 32 channels is now available; the latter either with line or microphone inputs. A special version of the arfi-adc2 for digitalizing vinyl records is also available, by directly connecting the phono cartridge to the AD converter without a phono pre-amp.