The Apogee DA-1000E-20 is a professional portable digital-to-analogue converter that set a new standard for reference-quality digital monitoring in the 1990s. Designed for critical listening and mastering applications, it delivers transparent, uncoloured sound reproduction from a wide range of digital sources including CD players, DAT recorders, hard disk recorders, and digital workstations. With 20-bit resolution and Apogee’s renowned filter technology, the Apogee DA-1000E-20 provides exceptional low-level accuracy, clarity, and depth, making it ideal for studio or mobile production environments.
Equipped with multiple digital interfaces—AES/EBU, SPDIF, Optical, Sony SDIF, and SDIF-II—the DA-1000E-20 ensures full compatibility across professional and consumer systems. Its high-speed, custom-configured digital processing extracts maximum performance from the dual 20-bit converters, which feature 8x oversampling for ultra-smooth response and precise stereo imaging. Apogee’s proprietary filters eliminate the high-frequency imaging problems that plague many converters, delivering a pure and natural sound.
Like its companion, the Apogee AD-1000, the Apogee DA-1000E-20 employs Apogee’s C768 Low Jitter Clock system, which locks to external sync sources and regenerates the clock signal to minimise timing errors. The result is a rock-solid digital performance with vanishingly low jitter. Its analogue output stage is built around a gold pin matrix for selectable output configurations via high-quality XLR connectors, ensuring pristine signal integrity without compromise.
Compact, rugged, and powered by 12 V DC, the Apogee DA-1000E-20 combines portability with reference-grade performance. Released in 1994, it remains one of Apogee’s most respected designs, embodying the company’s commitment to sonic precision and reliability.
Features
- 20-bit digital-to-analogue conversion with 8x oversampling
- Professional reference-grade sound for CD, DAT, and DAW monitoring
- Multiple digital inputs: AES/EBU, SPDIF, Optical, SDIF, and SDIF-II
- High-speed custom digital processing for optimal converter performance
- Apogee’s award-winning filter design eliminates high-frequency imaging
- C768 Low Jitter Clock regenerates clock signal for stable sync
- Selectable analogue output matrix with gold pin XLR connectors
- Automatic and manual de-emphasis control with LED indication
- Compact 12 V portable operation for studio and mobile use
- Transparent, uncoloured sound ideal for mastering and monitoring