Description

The Pathos Converto MkII was built around a simple idea: today’s music lovers need one elegant box that can take digital music from any source and turn it into the kind of rich, natural sound Pathos is known for — whether that’s headed to a pair of speakers or straight to headphones. At its core is an ESS9018K2M DAC chip capable of handling PCM audio up to 32-bit/384kHz over USB, along with DSD64 and DSD128 decoding, plus S/PDIF inputs (coaxial and optical) supporting up to 32-bit/384kHz.

Once converted, the signal passes through a fully balanced, Class-A, zero-feedback analog stage — the same design philosophy found throughout the Pathos lineup — for a dynamic range of 120dB and distortion below 0.01%. Both fixed and variable balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) outputs are on offer, so the Converto MkII can serve as a source-plus-preamp for a power amplifier, or run at a fixed level into an integrated amp. A built-in headphone amplifier rounds out the package, delivering a clean, low-impedance output specifically voiced for direct headphone listening.

Operation is intentionally simple: two front-panel buttons handle standby and input selection, with a blue LED indicating status, so day-to-day use never gets in the way of the music. Entirely handmade in Italy and available in multiple finishes, the Converto MkII is compact enough to sit comfortably on a desktop yet capable enough to anchor a full system — Pathos suggests pairing it with the InTheGroove phonostage and AmpliD power amplifier for a complete digital-and-analog setup in one matching family. For listeners who want remote control convenience, the Converto MkII RR variant offers the same DAC and circuitry with added remote functionality.