Audiocounsel sets Audio Note DAC 4.1x IZVOR Balanced for UK debut

Audiocounsel is preparing the Audio Note DAC 4.1x IZVOR Balanced digital-to-analogue converter for its first public UK outing at North West Audio Show 2026. The demonstration is scheduled for the Curie Suite during the 27 and 28 June 2026 event.

The DAC 4.1x IZVOR Balanced is a current Audio Note UK DAC model built around the company’s IZVOR conversion architecture. Audio Note design engineer Darko Greguras began exploring the IZVOR DAC concept in 2014. The design dispenses with a conventional digital-to-analogue converter chip and uses a discrete R2R ladder DAC architecture with large hand-soldered resistors rather than surface-mount components.

The converter uses an 18-bit IZVOR DAC module and accepts 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz and 96 kHz inputs. It has a 3.2 V RMS reference output, a 600-ohm output impedance and less than 0.2 dB channel balance variance. The design uses Audio Note copper/copper filter-interface transformers and copper/copper SHiB-core output transformers.

Digital inputs comprise RCA 75-ohm S/PDIF and XLR 110-ohm AES/EBU. Analogue outputs are provided on single-ended RCA and balanced XLR connections. The chassis measures 145 mm high by 450 mm wide by 425 mm deep and weighs 22 kg. Fascia options include anodised aluminium and black acrylic.

Audio Note’s DAC range index places the DAC 4.1x IZVOR Balanced above the DAC 3.1x/II Balanced and below the DAC 5 IZVOR. Audiocounsel’s North West Audio Show 2026 system is also described as including Audio Note AN/E loudspeakers, the TT3 turntable, CDT-Four CD transport and Meishu 300B integrated amplifier.