Ferrum ERCO DAC evolves to Gen 2

With the full reprogramming of ERCO’s software in combination with crucial changes in the analog circuitry, we are introducing a newer and better ERCO. The ERCO Gen 2 will bring our entry-level DAC one step closer to the performance levels of WANDLA, our flagship converter. We even created a program for existing ERCO owners to upgrade their units to new ERCO Gen 2 specifications. Click here for more information on the update program.

✔ Improvements brought to you by ERCO Gen 2

The I/V converter stage has better overall performance and SERCE’s DSP engine provides oversampling using DDF prefered HQ Apodizing digital filter, which get the most out of the DAC chip almost emulating WANDLA performance.. Last but not least maximum resolution is now PCM 768kHz and DSD512.

✔ Proprietary Technology

Industry leading technology is applied. All digital ports are optimised for audio, MQA decoding and rendering is optimised for use with internal ARM chip.

✔ Suited for high end personal audio

Connect your favourite headphones to the balanced 4,4mm jack or unbalanced 6,35mm headphone jack outputs or powered loudspeakers on your desktop to the XLR or RCA outputs to perform to their max.

✔ Clearing the path for high end audio

Perfect mix of flagship Ferrum technology combined with high grade in house developed Digital to Analog conversion. Choose from three digital and one analog input.

✔ Discrete/IC hybrid design

Ultra-wideband ICs fine tuned for audio use to achieve the best possible analog quality.

✔ Enhanced transparency

The whole design remains focussed on a balanced and very transparent sound signature, making listening fatigue something of the past.

✔ Truly Balanced

The signal path is truly balanced from early D/A stage and becomes truly balanced using the RCA inputs.

✔ Ferrum Power Link

ERCO performs very, very good right out of the box. But ERCO is made to excel above and beyond when used together with HYPSOS. We use what we dubbed our Ferrum Power Link (FPL in short) to connect the two. HYPSOS then will perform to its maximum, unleashing unheard musicality from the combination with ERCO.

Combine ERCO Gen 2 with HYPSOS to unleash unheard of musicality. Together they will excel above and beyond.

The same stylishly understated looks exactly like our flagship models. Just to camouflage our industry leading technology which house inside ERCO Gen 2.

Fully balanced from A to Z, even right after the RCA inputs, and packed with industry leading digital technology. Brightness of the logo on ERCO’s front can be dimmed.

With the full reprogramming of ERCO’s software in combination with crucial changes in the analog circuitry, we are introducing a newer, better ERCO. ERCO Gen 2 will bring our entry-level DAC one step closer to the performance levels of WANDLA, our flagship converter. We even created a program for existing ERCO owners to upgrade their units to the new ERCO Gen 2 specifications.

The name ERCO (not pronounced airco but ˈert͡so) is Esperanto for ore. We took to Esperanto for the name inspired by its creator Ludwik Lejzer Zamenhof, who used to live around the corner from our offices near Warsaw. Zamenhof started developing Esperanto in his childhood while still in school, pursuing peace around the world where one language would bring together humankind. We want to do the same through pure and honest music reproduction. In the end it brings peace to the mind.

Marcin HamerlaFounder and CEO HEM

Unique output cable design: two wires delivering the power and two wires providing the feedback to ensure flat voltage at every moment. We named this technique Ferrum Power Link (FPL) and it eliminates the harmful effects of the cable's resistance effectively improving transient response. The current delivery speed at the powered device's input is significantly improved.

 ERCO Gen2 comes with a carefully selected DC power adapter. To get the most out of ERCO Gen2 you can connect it with HYPSOS using our proprietary Ferrum Power Link DC power cable. This FPL cable can be ordered separately.

News items

Erco reviewed by hi-finews.com – Outstanding product!

Andrew Everard recently reviewed our ERCO and Paul Miller Lab tested our latest product! ERCO. This Polish hotshot brand broke onto the audiophile scene with its programmable DC

Read More »

July 1, 2022

Erco review from Audio magazine Poland

Radosław Łobanowski from audio.com.pl did a detailed review on ERCO in the May 2022 Edition of the print magazine in Poland. Please find the PDF with the

Read More »

June 10, 2022

THE ERCO reviewed by HVT

NEE, JE SPREEKT HET NIET UIT ALS AIRCO! Review by Dutch Hifi Video Test magazine. – Try to find something better in that price range first. That’s

Read More »

May 27, 2022

• Headphone output gain: balanced -5.8 dB, +6 dB, +17.8 dB; single ended -11.8 dB, 0 dB, +11.8 dB
• Operation: fully balanced, proprietary IC power amp
• Power inputs: 5.5/2.5 mm DC connector center positive; proprietary FPL 4-pin DC connector (FPL)
• Analog inputs: RCA (Red book level 2V RMS recommended, PRO level supported)
• Digital inputs: USB-C (MQA, up to PCM 32-bit/768kHz, DSD512, DoP256); S/PDIF coaxial (MQA, up to PCM 24-bit/192 kHz, DoP64); S/PDIF optical (MQA, up to PCM 24-bit/96 kHz guaranteed, should work up to PCM 24-bit/192 kHz and DoP64 – depends of user’s optical cable and transmitter)
• DAC chip: ESS Sabre ES9028PRO
• PCM sample rates: 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 / 192 / 352.8 / 384 / 705.6 / 768 kHz
• DSD sample rates: 2.8224 / 3.072 / 5.6448 / 6.144 / 11.2896 / 12.288 / 22.5792 / 24.576 MHz
• DAC resolution: PCM up to 768k@32bit; DSD up to 512 (22.6 MHz / 24.6 MHz)
• MQA: decoder and renderer (USB, OPTO and COAX inputs)
• Headphone jack outputs: balanced 4.4 mm (TRRRS); unbalanced 6.35 mm (TRS)
• Line outputs: balanced XLR; unbalanced RCA(both Red book level: 4V RMS bal./2V RMS unbal.)
• Volume control: analogue with bypass option (bypass for line outputs only)
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 30 kHz (+/- 0.05 dB); 10 Hz – 200 kHz (+/- 1 dB)
• Output power unbalanced: 300 mW into 300 Ω; 1.7 W into 50 Ω
• Output power balanced: 1.2 W into 300 Ω; 6.1 W into 50 Ω
• THD on balanced output: < 0.00018% / -115 dB, 1 mW into 16 Ω; < 0.00018% / -115 dB, 100 mW into 16 Ω
• THD on unbalanced output: < 0.00032% / -110 dB, 1 mW into 16 Ω; < 0.00057% / -105 dB, 100 mW into 16 Ω
• Dynamic range analog: 129 dB (A-weighted)
• Dynamic range digital: 117 dB (A-weighted)
• Input impedance: 47 kΩ
• Output impedance unbalanced: 22 Ω on pre-amp
• Output impedance balanced: 44 Ω on pre-amp
• Output impedance Headphones: < 0.3 Ω
• Power consumption: idle <15 W
• Power adapter: 100-240 VAC to 22-30 VDC
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 21.7 cm x 20.6 cm x 5 cm / 8.6” x 8.1” x 2.0”
• Weight: 1.8 kg / 3.97 lbs

User Reviews