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Today we are going to take a look at two new products from Silverstone which are quite a departure from the cases, power supplies and storage accessories we have seen from them in the past.
The Silverstone Ensemble EB01-E is a USB DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) which promises excellent reproduction of audio from digital signals. It is essentially an improved version of the EB01 which was released back in 2006.
The Ensemble EB03 is a headphone amplifier which has been designed to work in conjunction with (or independently from) the EB01-E, delivering more than adequate power and quality for high-end headphones.
Silverstone EB01-E Features:
- High quality DAC with improved performance
- Classic SilverStone Ensemble exterior design
- Easy one touch button for USB, optical or coaxial input
- Support highest format of up to 24-bit/192kHz
- Utilizes premium XMOS XS1 TQ128 USB decoder for accurate sound reproduction
- Includes TI PCM1798 D/A converter for producing high quality analogue signal
- Includes TI NE5532 OP amp for optimal analogue output
Silverstone EB03 Features
- Premium amplifier designed to deliver full sound to headphones
- Classic SilverStone Ensemble exterior design
- Extra RCA bypass connection included for easy pairing with additional device
- Studio-quality IC with THAT 1646W16-U & 1512S14-U
- Independent volume control knob
The EB01-E and EB03 are supplied in very similar packaging, consisting of medium-sized cardboard boxes decorated in a black and purple livery.
Both display details of the key features on the front, alongside an image of the products.
Turning the boxes over reveals more details of the products’ features and specifications, repeating them in a number of different languages. Both boxes also feature images of the connections on their respective units so you can ensure compatibility before buying.
Inside the EB01-E box we find a USB cable and a RCA (2x male) to 3.5mm (female) adapter which will ensure compatibility with most headphones and speaker systems. Retail versions will also include a software CD containing the required drivers.
Moving on to the EB03, we find a power adapter, an RCA (2x male) to RCA (2x male) cable and an RCA (2x male) to 3.5mm (male) adapter in the box. The latter should ensure compatibility with most audio cards.
It is quite clear that Silverstone have put the expertise they have gained building PC cases into the enclosure of the EB01-E. The enclosure is crafted from brushed aluminium and has a curved front fascia which both contribute to the generally sleek design. The only items worth noting on the front of the unit are two blue LED indicators unit which are labelled ‘Power’ and ‘Play’.
Moving around to the rear of the unit, we find all of the input and output connections. From left to right we find RCA L and R outputs, a coaxial input, an optical input and a USB connection. There is also a small switch which switches between the available inputs, indicated by the blue LED lights above each connection.
Those who wish to use the coaxial or optical inputs should note that a USB connection is still required to power the device and that cables are not provided.
The underside of the unit features four substantial rubber feet which are very similar to those we have seen on Silverstone’s cases in the past. These prevent the unit from slipping around on the desk.
The Silverstone EB03 has a very similar form to the EB01-E despite being around 50% taller. It has a similar brushed aluminium construction, contributing to its quality feel and sleek aesthetics. The similar design of the units means they don’t look uncomfortable when stacked.
There is a large volume dial on the top of the unit which has a very smooth and refined action.
Like the EB01-E, the EB03 features a blue LED power indicator in the front of the unit although in this instance it is located next to a 6.3mm headphone output jack.
Moving around to the back of the unit we find the input and output connections. From left to right we find L and R RCA inputs, L and R RCA outputs and a DC-in connection. The RCA outputs act as a pass-through so you don’t have to unplug your headphones to use speakers. There is also a power switch on the back of the unit, although this doesn’t deactivate the pass-through.
On the underside of the unit there are four sizable rubber feet identical to those on the bottom of the EB01-E.
Setting up the EB01-E is a fairly simple task. The drivers can either be installed directly from the included CD or can be downloaded from the Silverstone website. We would recommend the latter as it ensures that the most up-to-date version is being installed. The manual also suggest we tweak a few audio settings once the driver has been installed for optimum results.
Connecting up the two devices is fairly simple and all the necessary cables are provided. We connected the EB01-E to our computer via the supplied USB cable, and the EB03 to the EB01-E using the supplied RCA cable. We tested the EB01-E and EB03 with two pairs of headphones, the Sennheiser G4ME One and the SteelSeries Siberia V2.
We commenced our testing with the EB01-E on its own, connecting our headphones via the RCA to 3.5mm (male) adapter. There was a noticeable improvement in sound quality when using the EB01-E, especially in terms of detail and clarity. This was more noticeable with the cheaper SteelSeries Siberia V2 headphones. While there was no distortion at higher volumes, we found the volume levels to be lacking themselves so decided to hook up the EB03 amplifier and see how performance compared.
There was another noticeable improvement in sound quality when adding the EB03 into the mix. We tested the devices with both high quality FLAC audio files and lower quality MP3s across both pairs of headphones.
When comparing with our computers onboard audio, we found that there were more significant improvements in quality with the inferior SteelSeries headphones than the Sennheisers. Similarly, there was a greater improvement in quality with both sets of headphones when playing lower quality MP3 tracks.
We found the neutral sound balance to be favourable to all types of music that we tried. The EB03 can facilitate ridiculous volume levels should you get too ambitious with the volume control which we couldn’t even push to 50% without it being far too loud. Perhaps even more impressive than the sheer volume levels achievable with this combination is the lack of any distortion at any volume level.
It is clear that Silverstone has put a great deal of effort into developing the Ensemble EB01-E and EB03 and they show how the brand can excel out of their comfort zone.
The build quality of both products is exceptional, both in terms of the materials used and the level of finish achieved. Short of a bomb going off, they feel indestructible! They are also both very attractive aesthetically thanks to the curved design and the extensive use of brushed aluminium in construction. The only area in which we are not 100% convinced in terms of build quality is the included cables which feel a little cheap and flimsy compared to the units themselves.
We imagine that most of those who buy the EB01-E or EB03 will buy them as a pair rather than in isolation. We were blown away by their performance in our tests, especially when using our fairly poor quality SteelSeries Siberia V2 headphones.
When we tested the EB01-E independently we found volume levels were lacking, despite producing impressive sound quality. So it is only really suitable for use with amplified speakers or with the EB03 as well.
The Silverstone Ensemble EB01-E and EB03 cost £156 each from Overclockers UK, totalling £312 as a pair. At this price they represent quite good value for money compared to other high-end DACs and amplifiers from the likes of Audiolab and Arcam. They offer great performance for the money, and are a great option for audiophiles who have a restricted budget.
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Pros:
- Excellent sound quality.
- Solid build quality.
- Attractive aesthetics.
- Simple installation procedure.
Cons:
- Included cables feel cheap.
KitGuru says: An excellent DAC and Amplifier combo for discerning enthusiast users or audiophiles on a restricted budget.
