dCS is set to debut its first 16-channel DAC at High End Vienna 2026, where it will join Trinnov Audio and Perlisten Audio for an immersive playback showcase presented by Audio Reference GmbH.
Best known for its two-channel digital front ends, dCS is now moving into immersive audio with the MCD 16, a new multichannel digital-to-analogue converter built around the company's Ring DAC architecture.
As the brand's first dedicated 16-channel DAC, the MCD 16 opens up a new category for the British manufacturer and signals a broader push beyond traditional stereo playback.
Ring DAC Upscaled
According to dCS, the MCD 16 uses eight individual Ring DAC circuits to deliver 16 channels of digital-to-analogue conversion. The company describes Ring DAC as the core technology behind its existing range, citing low distortion and noise as key characteristics.
dCS says the design aims to maintain integrity across the dynamic range, with a discrete Class A output stage on each channel and switchable 2V or 6V outputs to suit a variety of partnering equipment.
Premiere in Vienna
The MCD 16 is scheduled to make its public debut at High End Vienna 2026, which runs from 4 to 7 June at the Austria Centre Vienna. It will be demonstrated in a joint immersive-audio room developed by Trinnov Audio and Perlisten Audio.
The demonstration system brings together Trinnov's AltitudeCI Audio-over-IP platform and spatial optimisation technologies, dCS conversion hardware, and a large-scale Perlisten loudspeaker array with distributed bass management. The stated aim is to present immersive music reproduction in a controlled environment rather than as a conventional effects-led show demo.
Perlisten's system for the room includes S7t models across the front stage and wides, S4 loudspeakers for the overhead channels, S7i models for surround duties, and multiple D215S subwoofers. The overall configuration is described as a 15.8.8 immersive setup.
Daily sessions during the show will be led by Grammy Award-winning producer Justin Gray, who is set to present and break down selected immersive recordings.
dCS expects the MCD 16 to begin shipping in autumn 2026. Pricing and full technical specifications have yet to be confirmed.
For more information visit dCS
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Posted in: Hi-Fi | Home Theatre | StereoLUX!
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