Heed Audio Abacus S DAC Digital to Analogue Converter

Heed Audio Abacus S DAC

The abacus is one of the most recognized calculating tools of humankind. It has been used for thousands of years, for its simplicity, and for its general acceptance that connects people of various cultures and beliefs.
The Heed Abacus digital to analogue converter is an exquisite tool for the task, connecting you to the world of the musician, doing the precise calculations needed for mutual understanding. Being a gateway between the digital and analogue worlds, the Heed Abacus is not only a computing machine, it is the very source of the analogue sound amplified through your system.
This sound needs to be engaging right from the beginning.
The Abacus can present the seductive Heed sound from a great variety of digital sources, even if the music is coded in extremely highly detailed PCM or DSD signal.
PCM and DSD are the two main methods for digital recording. The Abacus can handle PCM signals up to 384 kHz and 32 bits, and natively processes the double speed DSD. Quartz based clocks and well-designed linear power supplies ensure that the resolution of digital processing is always perfect.
The analogue buffer stages of the Abacus are made of discrete components, to allow the best possible first steps for the analogue signal.

Optional Streamer Card STR 1.0A 

With an optional expansion card the Abacus S is a full-featured streamer device with Roon Ready certification, Spotify Connect, Tidal and UPnP / DLNA access capabilities.

The proverbial balanced and natural tone of Heed amplifiers is, of course, present in the Abacus S DAC.

"I have to say that the Heed offers one of the more refined DACs that I’ve come across of late for this price point and, to be honest, even at double this price. It never jumps down your throat, it doesn’t grab you by the ears and shout, “Listen to this! And now this! On the left! Right! Now this!” Which can be fine in terms of detail highlights but that sort of presentation can too often be exhausting. There is a sense of neutrality and balance from the Abacus and, in these days of digital dominance, it’s a bit of a relief I can tell you. Listening to an album through some DACs can make me feel that I’ve just watched a 45 minute advertisement. The experience has been more of a trial than a sense of enjoyment. The Heed Abacus does none of that, it allows you to come to it. And if you want to focus on detail then, sure, it’s there if you want it but if you just want to listen to music and tap away the minutes with an active foot then, hey, you can do that too". 

Paul Rigby, The Audiophile Man.

FEATURES
⦁ 5 + 1 digital inputs
⦁ native DSD128 and 384kHz/32bit capable USB connection
⦁ isolated analogue and digital sections

SPECIFICATIONS

• Frequency Response: 3 Hz – (depends on sampling frequency)
• Sample Rates: RCA/BNC - 32 / 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 / 192 kHz max. 24 bit PCM, USB - 32 / 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 / 192 / 352.8 / 384 kHz max. 32 bit and 2.8224 / 5.6448 MHz 1 bit native DSD
• Outputs: 1 x RCA (Single Ended)
• Digital Inputs: 1 x BNC (Coaxial), 1 x RCA (Coaxial), 2 x Optical (Toslink), 1 x USB-B.
• Weight - Unit: 4.50 KG
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 88mm x 220mm x 325mm

Introduction to Heed Audio

Heed Audio is far more than just another hi-fi electronics manufacturer with British roots in its DNA — it is a statement of authenticity, passion, and independent vision. Founded in Hungary, the brand stands out for its profoundly human approach to sound reproduction. In a market often dominated by numbers, measurements, and flashy tech slogans, Heed takes a different path: that of musical listening as an absolute value.

Every Heed product is designed to serve the music — not the machine. Amplifiers, DACs, and external power supplies are all built with a philosophy that places musicality, tonal coherence, and natural soundstaging at the forefront. No gimmicks, no artificial enhancements — just honest tone and an emotional balance that recalls the finest British electronics of the golden age, reimagined with elegance, craftsmanship, and a contemporary spirit.

And it all began there — with a single example:

In the 1980s, those who brought home the ION Obelisk experienced something rare and precious: the feeling of having discovered one of hi-fi’s best-kept secrets. It wasn’t flashy, nor did it shout its specifications from the rooftops. But from the very first listen, many realised something extraordinarily musical was happening.

Here’s what one might have felt:

• A sense of wonder – at how such a compact unit could drive even demanding loudspeakers with ease and refinement.

• Emotion – because the Obelisk didn’t impress with brute power, but with its ability to tell the story of music, with fluidity, dynamics, and musical timing reminiscent of valve amplifiers.

• Deep satisfaction – the kind that comes from long, fatigue-free listening sessions, drawn into a sound that makes you want to stay immersed.

• A sense of uniqueness – because owning an Obelisk meant making a choice that went against the grain, favouring musical substance over fleeting trends.

In short, those who brought home an Obelisk discovered an amplifier that didn’t try to impress with numbers or appearance, but instead won hearts listen after listen, gently but unmistakably.

And on that, Heed Audio makes no compromises. It doesn’t follow fashion. It doesn’t aim to please everyone. But those who discover it rarely turn back. Because listening to Heed isn’t a technical demonstration — it’s a return to music as a deep, living, and sensitive experience.

If you’re searching for the soul in sound, Heed is a name that deserves your attention — and your respect.