An increasing number of music lovers use their computers to store and play music, yet still want better sound and more flexibility. The new Alpha Design Labs Esprit, aimed at audiophiles who wants “higher performance and increased flexibility”  offering as it does 24 bit/192 kHz, a digital preamplifier and a headphone amplifier.

The Esprit is designed around the 24 bit/192 kHz Wolfson WM8716 DAC and the CIRRUS LOGIC CS5361 24/192 analogue to digital converter.  It features optical, coaxial, USB and 2 analogue inputs.  The USB output can be used for recording to hard disk and the S/PDIF output will support digital surround sound formats from allowing surround material stored on a hard drive to be played through a suitable digital surround decoder.

There is also the inclusion of a high quality headphone amplifier, capable of driving any headphones with impedance of 16 to 600 ohms.

The Esprit, internally wired with Furutech’s own cables and fitted with Furutech connectors, brings the Furutech signature sound of “smooth detailed clarity” to desktop systems especially with high resolution 24-bits/192kHz files, but even 16-bit/44.1kHz files are claimed to sound impeccable and very musical.

Price is £835 and it will be available from May1st.