Heed Abacus S DAC Digital to Analogue Converter [ex-demo]

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

Heed Audio at a glance

Heed Audio is not just another hi-fi electronics manufacturer with British audio heritage in its DNA — it is a manifesto of authenticity, passion, and independent vision. Founded in Hungary, the brand stands out for its radically human approach to sound reproduction. In a market so often dominated by numbers, measurements, and technological catchphrases, Heed chooses a different path: that of the listening experience as an absolute value.

Every Heed product is designed to serve the music, not the machine. The amplifiers, DACs, and external power supplies are built according to a philosophy that places musicality, tonal coherence, and natural soundstaging at the very centre. There are no gimmicks — just tonal integrity and emotional balance that recall the finest British electronics of the golden era, reimagined with elegance, craftsmanship, and a modern spirit.

And that’s exactly where it all began — with one defining example:

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

Here’s what it felt like:

• A sense of wonder: at how such a compact device could drive even demanding speakers with such ease and refinement.

• Emotion: because the Obelisk didn’t impress through brute power, but through its ability to tell the story of music — with fluidity, dynamic range, and a sense of timing reminiscent of valve amplifiers.

• Deep satisfaction: the kind that comes from extended listening sessions, free of fatigue, drawn into a sound that keeps you there.

• A sense of uniqueness: because owning an Obelisk meant making a choice that went against the grain — a commitment to musical substance over passing trends.

In short, those who welcomed such a device into their home discovered an amplifier that didn’t try to dazzle with figures or appearance, but that won them over gradually, listen after listen, by speaking directly to the heart.

And on this front, Heed Audio makes no compromises. It doesn’t follow fashion. It’s not made for everyone. But those who discover it rarely look back. Because listening with Heed isn’t about technical showmanship — it’s about returning to music as a deep, living, and emotionally resonant experience.

If you’re seeking the soul of sound, Heed is a name worthy of your attention — and your respect.