Inheriting all of the know-how from the C-3900, released as a 50th anniversary model in 2020, the new C-3900 features improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and distortion. The C-3900 features a new Dual Balanced AAVA architecture (equipped with eight AAVA amplifiers, each with a positive and negative left and right channel) that operates all amplifier circuits in parallel from input to output, further reducing noise and improving sound quality. The latest C-3900S achieves even lower noise by increasing the number of parallel output amplifiers, improving SNR at normal volume settings. The entire signal path, from input to output, is balanced. The ANCC IV conversion amplifiers, which combine high precision and low noise, are used, and all circuits have been completely redesigned to achieve a high level of sophistication. This dramatically improves signal-to-noise ratio, distortion, and other characteristics, enabling even purer signal transmission.
At CH Precision, every component is designed to stand alone as a class-leading achievement—musically, technically, and architecturally. But we also believe that an investment in CH should never be a dead end. Each product is built to be modular, upgradable, and expandable, allowing listeners to embark on a journey where each step builds upon the last.
The C10 Master DAC already establishes a formidable standard for time-domain performance. Pair it with the C10 Conductor, and timing precision reaches new levels of stability and control. But for those who demand absolute clarity and cohesion, the upgrade path continues with the T10 Time Reference.
In digital audio, timing isn’t just a technical detail—it’s the foundation of musical truth. Independent clock domains between transport and DAC can introduce discrepancies that blur resolution and compromise coherence. The T10 addresses this directly, providing a 10 MHz master clock of astonishing purity, engineered with ultra-low phase noise and vanishing jitter.
Highlights of the T10 include:
An oven-controlled oscillator (OCXO), thermally stabilized within a solid billet aluminum block
Unified, ultra-stable timing reference for every connected component
Designed to be most impactful in systems with a transport, such as the D1.5 or D10
Fully compatible with any DAC that accepts a 10 MHz clock input
With the T10 in place, your system behaves as a singular, coherent whole—unlocking not just better clocking, but the true integrity of the performance itself.
Currently under development, the Sentinel Amp will be one of the only amps capable of taking full advantage of the Sentinel DAC’s unique architecture. Evolving beyond the standard XLR input, it will also feature our unique Confluence connection that is able to harness the low-output impedance and vast power of all 32 Hybrid DAC MKII modules. This preserves the smallest details while improving the overall dynamics and energy of the system. Both the Sentinel DAC and Amplifier will come equipped with XLR inputs and outputs to support all system configurations.
4 Digital Input Modules configured for each owner and system
Easy-to-read system display and intuitive user controls
Chassis Dimensions: 17.5in x 17.5in x 4.3in (444.5mm x 444.5mm x 108mm)
15A IEC Power Input
The Sentinel Analog Converter
Dual Mono DAC design
Each Mono DAC receives a unique digital signal over the monaural fiber optic Sentinel-Link.
Includes 16 Hybrid DAC MKII Modules per channel.
Fully independent left / right analog preamp.
2 XLR Analog Inputs
2 RCA Analog Inputs
2 XLR Analog outputs per channel (2 per channel)
Confluence Output for The Sentinel Amp
Biamping Modes
Two XLR Analog outputs per Mono 16-DAC channel, one for each Amp.
One XLR Analog output per four 8-DAC channels, one DAC for each Amp output.
Chassis Dimensions: 17.5in x 17.5in x 9.3in (444.5mm x 444.5mm x 237mm)
Power is supplied by the Sentinel Power Supply.
The Sentinel Power Supply
Three independent Power supplies each with independent outputs
Left Mono DAC Power Supply
Right Mono DAC Power Supply
Clock Power supply
Power transmitted to the Analog Converter over three Summit Power Cables
Six Ultra-low noise custom wound shielded toroidal transformers
Chassis Dimensions: 17.5in x 17.5in x 9.3in (444.5mm x 444.5mm x 237mm)
15A IEC Power Input
A Note on Setup:
The Sentinel System is extremely high-powered compared to other DACs. These units must be placed in a well-ventilated space and out of direct sunlight. In hotter climates, air conditioning will help extend the life of electrical components. For best results, do not stack this system. Instead, place each unit on an individual shelf or surface with plenty of clearance to the sides and above each chassis to allow airflow.
Heralding a seismic shift for our industry, the Sentinel DAC breaks from the traditional to bring you an altogether-new listening experience. Crafted without limitations, this monumental masterwork was made for those whose passion for music exceeds all else. For those rarefied few, we are thrilled to offer a revelation that defies possibility.
It takes more than commitment to create a masterpiece. It requires a rare, but perfect harmony between experience, passion, and ambition to achieve the impossible—it’s rarer still for three designers to simultaneously share this vision. We’re always striving to create something remarkable, but the results exceeded even our greatest expectations. Of course, it’s only with the longstanding support from our patrons that we’re able to make the impossible possible. Your passion for music and craftsmanship encourages us every step of the way. It’s with a deep sense of gratitude and pride that we sign our names onto every Sentinel DAC we craft. For allowing us to pursue a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like this, we thank you.
More than three decades of experience crafting expert designs has carefully guided us toward this moment. To equip ourselves for such an ambitious project, we never compromised on quality or performance—instead, we embraced new technology and faced our challenges head-on. Despite the long developmental process, we knew commitment and resilience would lead us to truly innovative advances that will forever change our industry. In fact, this was such a lengthy undertaking, we also produced both Digital Director projects and the Cascade DAC while creating the Sentinel. The research and development from a constraint-free project like this has already led to many breakthroughs and will continue trickling down to benefit all of our designs in the coming years.
Guided by the simple phrase “performance above all,” we arrived at a three-chassis system that elevates the electrical synergies, allowing it to achieve its peak potential. But prioritizing performance doesn’t obstruct sleek design—with the Sentinel, they go hand-in-hand. By creating hidden and complex 3D layouts, we reduced system bloat while improving the electronic interactions. The smooth, matte exterior is as beguiling as it is elegant, concealing the complexity that lies just beneath the surface. The resulting masterpiece is only possible with a close partnership between mechanical, electrical, and software designers—a perfect harmony of engineering.
THE SENTINEL DIGITAL DIRECTOR
The Digital Director handles all the digital processes. It features a large, readable display and intuitive user controls for a clean interface that feels both natural and accessible. Acting as an intermediary between sources and the analog domain, it outputs a conversion-ready signal over the left and right fully-isolated fiber optic Sentinel-Links to the Analog Converter’s Mono DACs.
THE SENTINEL ANALOG CONVERTER
With 32 Hybrid DAC MKII modules, the Sentinel Clock, and an analog preamp, the Analog Converter’s Dual Mono DAC design makes the music come alive. Freed from the burden of any brute-force digital processing, the Analog Converter is supremely adapted for the specific task of meticulous analog conversion.
THE SENTINEL POWER SUPPLY
A completely new design, the Sentinel Power Supply features three independent power supplies. Two modules provide clean and independent power for both the left and right Mono DACs in the Analog converter. The third supply is an ultra-low noise design specifically for the Sentinel Clock’s industry-leading performance.
The Sentinel Clock
Perhaps the epitome of the Sentinel project, this clock design highlights the extremes. Completely custom and discretely built, no other company in our industry has the ambition or know-how to create a device of this complexity or sophistication. Designed in partnership with the crystal wafer manufacturer directly, each ovenized crystal produces never-before-achieved performance in audio. The mechanical oscillation of the crystal is so sensitive, we had to create a tuned, isolated energy dispersion platform for each unit. Shown to scale, we have included a leading competitor’s off-the-shelf solution.
32 Hybrid DAC MKII’s
At the heart of every MSB system is our in-house designed and manufactured DAC modules. Increasing the number of modules has always shown improvements to performance, but with many thousands of aerospace high-precision resistors, this comes at a high cost. For the Sentinel project, we quadrupled our previous designs from 8 to 32 modules, which led to increased signal accuracy as well as a flood of technological breakthroughs. Taking advantage of so many parallel DAC channels, Dustin Symanski invented and implemented the best possible version of Bit Diffusion Technology. This tech has breathed new life into the conversion process, unlocking extraordinary possibilities for the future
Elevated Precision
With our most ambitious industrial design yet, the Sentinel System features precision-machined billet components accented by new, micro level details. Leveraging brand-new CAM software purchased specifically for this project, our 5-axis machining has resulted in new levels of fit and finish. The Sentinel name badge is machined out of stainless steel with a 0.02” (1/2mm) endmill. The tool flutes are so micro, you cannot see their details without a microscope. Nothing excites us more as engineers than being able to develop in a massive design sandbox without limits. It’s thoughtful details like these that we hope will delight patrons for years to come.
MSB is thrilled to finally provide an elite solution for the modern powered subwoofer. Typically, parasitic powered sub amplifiers degrade the delicate signal quality from the DAC or preamp by back feeding noise onto the signal lines. That additional low-level noise gets magnified by the main power amplifiers and adds a significant drop in performance to the system. The genius of the Pro Sub Isolator is to tap into the signal at the speaker level where its influence is negligible. Once the delicate preamp signal has been put through power amplifiers, it becomes rugged enough to ignore feedback generated by the lower-class amplification of the powered subwoofers. The new design works by lowering the already amplified signal down to the appropriate level using an audiophile grade transformer to isolate the incoming signal. The Pro Sub Isolator offers a refined solution with improved clarity and dynamics for those pushing their listening experience to a whole new dimension.
Flexible Configurations
The Pro Sub Isolator input features a set of speaker binding posts which can be connected via banana plugs or spades directly to your speaker or power amplifier output. We recommend using the alternate style connectors of your current system. Please do not stack spade connections under a single binding post. The Pro Sub Isolator uses very little power from the speaker level signal, so light cabling can be used in lieu of high power speaker interconnects. Audiophile cables are often bulky, so we designed the input lugs to feature indexable rotations to adjust the angle at which the spades can attach to the unit. Please reach out to your local tech or to MSB directly to have yours configured.
For years, MELCO has been dedicated to delivering high-quality digital audio systems from Japan to the world.
Starting today, we unify our identity: MELCO becomes DELA globally. Our passion, product categories, and support remain unchanged — and continue to evolve.
MBL Akustikgeräte GmbH & Co. KG is restructuring for the future – search for investors has begun
MBL Akustikgeräte GmbH & Co. KG, a Berlin-based manufacturer of high-quality loudspeakers and audio electronics, filed for insolvency on 27 May 2025. The Charlottenburg Local Court has appointed restructuring expert Frank Brachwitz from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH in Berlin as provisional insolvency administrator. Business operations have continued without restriction since then. All contact persons can be reached as usual; new orders will continue to be processed reliably and with the usual high quality. The wages and salaries of the approximately 50 employees working for the company at two locations are secured by insolvency payments. The US subsidiary is not affected by the insolvency.
The company is currently being supported by lawyer Frank Brachwitz from PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH as provisional insolvency administrator. Together with Mr Brachwitz and his team, which includes Mr Nicolas Konkel, MBL is working intensively on a sustainable future for the company. As part of a structured investor process, new partners are now to be found to strengthen MBL‘s long-term growth and innovative strength.
MBL remains stable and capable of acting
‘We are very pleased that our employees remain on board with great commitment and confidence,’ says Managing Director Christian Hermeling. ‘This shows how much potential and passion there is in our company. We are looking ahead with confidence and are determined to consistently exploit the opportunities that now present themselves.’
MBL has been producing uncompromisingly high-quality audio equipment for decades. All loudspeakers and electronic devices are manufactured entirely in-house at the company‘s own factory just outside Berlin. MBL‘s Radialstrahler loudspeakers enjoy an excellent reputation among audiophiles and music lovers worldwide. The unique combination of technological precision, emotional sound and iconic design has made MBL one of the leading brands in high-end audio.
Initial talks with investors are underway
The provisional insolvency administrator, Frank Brachwitz, has initiated a structured investor process together with M&A advisor Dr Hubertus Bartelheimer (Dr Wieselhuber & Partner). Initial talks with interested parties are already taking place. ‘MBL has an excellent product portfolio, a loyal international customer base and an experienced team,’ explains Frank Brachwitz. ‘These strengths form the basis for an investor solution that will enable the company to continue and develop successfully.’
Reliability for customers and partners
Nothing will change for MBL‘s customers, sales partners and service providers: sales will continue without restriction, orders will be accepted and processed reliably. The contact persons in all areas will also remain available. MBL would like to thank all its business partners, customers and friends of the brand for their loyalty during this phase. Together, we will now chart a strong course for the future.
HIGH END VIENNA 2026: DATE POSTPONED DUE TO THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
Due to a major event taking place in Austria, the international audio trade show HIGH END Vienna 2026 will be postponed by one week to 4 to 7 June 2026 (originally scheduled for 28 to 31 May 2026). The reason for the change is the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), which will be held in Austria in May 2026 (www.ebu.ch/topics/eurovision-song-contest). Around 500,000 visitors are expected to attend this large-scale event, which will have a significant impact on traffic conditions, accommodation availability, and overall accessibility. To ensure a smooth experience for exhibitors, trade visitors, and the public, we have decided—after thorough consideration—to move the date of the trade show. An additional benefit of the new date: June 4, 2026, the opening day of the HIGH END, falls on Corpus Christi, a public holiday in Austria and several German federal states—creating ideal conditions for a relaxed and successful show
