High-quality wireless audio streaming via Bluetooth®
In addition to conventional SBC and AAC codecs, the UD-505 also supports LDAC™ (24/96 Hi-Res audio transmission), and Qualcomm® aptX™ HD, a codec that uses 24/48 format transmission. These allow you to playback playlists on your smartphone and tablet wirelessly.
Dual onboard clocks for 44.1k and 48kHz, and external clock input
Instead of referencing to an unstable and noisy PC clock during USB audio playback, a more accurate and onboard clock is generated by a high-precision, low phase-noise, audio-grade crystal oscillator for USB asynchronous transfer mode. The UD-505 accommodates two onboard clocks exclusively for 44.1kHz and 48kHz sampling frequencies and applies the appropriate one to incoming digital signals – those that are multiples of 44.1k or 48k – to reproduce identical sound to the original by eliminating jitter effects on the audio signal.
In addition, an external 10MHz clock input is also provided, to synchronise with an even higher-precision master clock generator, such as the TEAC CG-10M, for yet further upgraded audio playback with excellent sound quality.
Up-conversion up to 384kHz/32-bit PCM and 24.5MHz DSD
Employing RDOT-NEO (Refined Digital Output Technology NEO), a fluency algorithm that renders digital audio signals smoothly, the UD-505 up-converts PCM digital signals up to 384kHz/32-bit PCM and 24.5MHz DSD. With the up-conversion function activated, you will hear an improvement in quality, even with music that you are familiar with.
Unique TEAC-HCLD output buffer amp circuits
At the heart of analogue section are TEAC-HCLD (High Current Line Driver) buffer amp circuits, designed to enhance current supply. Each channel employs two identical buffer amps that process differential drive for balanced output and parallel drive for unbalanced output. By increasing the current supply to the buffer amp section, the analogue audio signal is passed to the next step without any loss of dynamism.
Full-dot OLED display with excellent visibility
A high contrast full-dot OLED (organic EL display) with 4-step dimmer is employed, for excellent visibility. Even better, a highly legible, large font size allows you to easily verify the volume level, input source and other information, even when sat at a distance.
Discrete circuit design with balanced drive
The UD-505’s headphone amplifier circuit provides balanced-drive by using the TEAC-HCLD circuit, – comprised of four output transistors for each left and right channel – for headphone output. Furthermore, by driving these transistors in parallel when a single-ended headphone is connected, the UD-505 delivers stronger driving power than most ordinary single-ended headphone amps provide. When listening to conventional headphones, it also operates in Class-A (by expanding the Class-A range of operation), despite using a Class-A/B amplifier.
With challenging 600Ω high-impedance headphones, for example, the UD-505 allows you to bring out the potential of these type of headphones.
Pentaconn, a totally new single-plug connector for balanced headphone drive
In addition to the dual conventional 1/4” TRS jacks for balanced connection, the UD-505 employs a newly designed single headphone jack for balanced drive. The Pentaconn jack is a new 4.4mm 5-pole jack that has been developed by NIPPON DICS Co., Ltd, and complies the RC-8141C JEITA Standard, providing a single-jack solution for balanced headphones. More Pentaconn jack-equipped headphones and cables are expected in the near future.
Along with the Pentaconn jack, two 1/4” TRS jacks provide three driving modes: balanced, active-ground, and parallel drive (for two pairs of single-ended headphones).
*"Pentaconn" is a registered trademark of NIPPON DICS Co., Ltd.
Active-ground drive offers a new headphone drive mode
The active-ground is a new driving mode that employs the principles of balanced connection. It forcefully drives the ground, by lowering the ground level to 0V, providing an ideal ground condition (rather than just connecting to the conventional ground) This means it also suppresses hum noise from the power supply and enhances the purity of silent pauses by lowering the noise floor. Subtle detail, such as the breathing of artists and the textures of sounds, will feel even more convincing.
Full-metal body for functionality and beauty
Just as with the successful Reference 503 series, the UD-505 employs aluminium-alloy panels - including iconic side guard-bars - and a robust metal chassis with a compact A4-size footprint* that completely matches with the 500 series and the new CG-10M master clock generator. The full metal construction isn’t just beautiful, it’s also functional. It’s highly effective at isolating the internal circuits from electromagnetic noise.
*Not including connectors, knobs and other protruding parts.
Symmetrically laid out XLR and RCA output jacks
The UD-505 is equipped with both balanced and unbalanced analogue audio outputs. A pair of XLR connectors and another pair of RCA connectors – each gold-plated – are symmetrically laid out, hinting at the dual monaural arrangement inside, and allowing a wide range of possible audio configurations. A wide-spaced pitch layout for the RCA outputs accommodates professional grade plugs with large-diameter shells. The UD-505 has a total of 5 digital inputs: USB audio, coaxial, optical on the rear panel, and a combination jack on the front panel (for coaxial and optical, supporting PCM 24/192 and DSD64 in DoP format).
A pair of RCA analogue audio input connectors allow the UD-505 to function as a pre-amplifier equipped with a high quality and precision volume control (TEAC-QVCS).
Three-position, patent-registered ‘Pin-Point’ feet for perfect stability
The UD-505 employs TEAC's patented ‘Pin-Point’ feet. These ingeniously comprises two separated metal sections in integrated housing. One is has a spiked top and is attached to the bottom of the chassis, the other is a basin-shaped base that hangs down from the spiked section with a flange-shaped cup to simply installation.
Three ‘Pin-Point’ foot are used for support, two at the front and one at the rear, for excellent stability, even on an uneven floor.
As a result, the three ‘Pin-Point’ feet help improve the accuracy of clock oscillation by minimising vibrations and resonance. This, in turn, reduces mid and low-frequency muddiness, improves the soundstage and enhances fine sound detail.
* Patent numbers 4075477 and 3778108
Free TEAC HR Audio Player software for DSD512 playback on both Windows and Mac
The next-generation Hi-Res formats, DSD512 (22.5MHz) and PCM 768kHz/32-bit are supported via the TEAC HR Audio Player software for Windows and Mac. This software guarantees the best available playback quality with any combinations of audio format and computer configurations via a single USB cable. All the user has to do is choose the UD-505 from the pull-down menu showing target output devices. The TEAC HR Audio Player is available from TEAC’s website and is completely free to use.
