APOGEE AMBUS-SDIF EXPANSION CARD

Multimedia Bus expansion card for the Apogee AD- 8000 8-channel
24-bit digital audio conversion system

THE SDIF-2 AMBUS CARD is an optional Apogee Multimedia Bus expansion card
for the Apogee AD- 8000 8-channel 24-bit digital audio conversion system and other
AMBus-equipped systems, enabling eight channels of audio data to be transferred
between the AD-8000 and a digital system, such as DASH open-reel digital recorders,
that supports the Sony SDIF-2 interface format.
Owners of DASH-format open-reel digital multitrack machines such as the Sony 3324,
3348 and 3348HR can now enjoy the benefits of enhanced Apogee quality digital audio
conversion, thanks to the AMBus SDIF-II card and associated wiring harness.
The Sony 3348HR, for example, can be purchased without converters at a substantial
cost saving, making the AD-8000 particularly attractive for potential purchasers ? especially
as the regular Sony converters offer only 20-bit operation. Purchasing AD-8000 units with
the SDIF card, on the other hand, delivers full 24-bit resolution.
The SDIF card has an associated wiring harness that enables up to six AD-8000 converter
systems to be interfaced with a multitrack recorder.
The SDIF card also supports Apogee Bit-Splitting, which uses multiple 16-bit tracks to
store high-resolution data. This means that existing 3324 and 3348 owners can enjoy 20-
or 24-bit resolution: the 3324 can record 12 tracks of 24-bit or 18 tracks of 20-bit, while
3348 owners can handle 24 tracks of 24-bit or 36 tracks of 20-bit.
Utilizing Apogee?s AMBus structure built into the AD- 8000, you can easily interface the
AD-8000 to the vast majority of industry standard interfaces such as ADAT, TDIF, ProTools,
and many others, performing multiple format conversions between installed interfaces and
distributing signals to several different types of device simultaneously.
Apogee Bit-Splitting (ABS)

The SDIF-2 card includes two ?bit-splitting? formats which split high resolution signals among
multiple 16-bit data paths. Thus the SDIF-2 card supports the following digital audio formats:
1. 8 channels of 24 bit data (16 or 20 bits with UV22, and bit-splitting OFF)
2. 4 channels of 24 bits each (ABS ?4/24?, Rane?s PaqRat format) formatted as eight 16-bit
data paths
3. 6 channels of 20 bits each (ABS ?6/20? format) formatted as eight 16-bit data path.
Full PaqRat capability is provided in 4/24 mode, enabling you to create or replay recordings that
are completely compatible with Rane?s PaqRat equipment or with the PaqRat-compatible mode
of the enhanced ?Platinum Edition? Apogee AD-1000.
The 4/24 mode (four channels of 24 bits on eight 16-bit data paths) delivers the first 16 bits of a
24-bit signal on the first 16-bit path, and the remaining bits on a subsequent path along with a
marker tone.
An additional feature of the 4/24 mode is the ability to transfer eight simultaneous 24-bit channels
by using two 8-channel 16-bit paths (and thus two SDIF-2 cards).
The 6/20 mode allows six channels of 20-bit data to be sent via eight 16-bit paths ? ideal for 5.1
mixing for DVDVideo release, where the 20/48 format is very common.

The Apogee X-Digi-Mix expansion card allows for direct connectivity between
Pro Tools Mix systems and the Rosetta 200 or Rosetta 800. The X-Digi-Mix
card provides superior quality conversion to Pro-Tools Mix users without the
need for an additional interface, and effectively extending the life of their Mix
systems for years to come.

Features:
* Standard Digidesign peripheral connector for interfacing directly to Mix Core
  or Farm cards.
* Superclock (FSx256) output for convenient integration into existing Pro Tools
  configurations.
* With necessary Pro Tools hardware expansion, multiple Rosetta-800s may be
  connected into a system.
* Rosetta 800 may be used alongside an Apogee AD-8000 or Trak 2 outfitted with
  an AMBUS-Digi8+ card as well as any other Pro Tools Mix-compatible hardware.
* Multiple slaved Rosetta 800s may lock to Word Clock or directly to the Digi-mix 
  card for low jitter synchronization of the Pro-Tools system.

Digital Audio Bliss

DACmini™ is not just a USB DAC. DACmini is one of the world's highest-performing digital audio devices. Its precision-engineered audiophile circuitry is designed to elevate your system's sound quality to a new level. Featuring 192kHz/24-bit performance over SPDIF and 96kHz/24-bit, driverless performance over USB, an analog input, and both headphone and line-level outputs, DACmini is an extremely flexible device that can upgrade the performance of any audio system. It easily connects to such sources as a Mac desktop or laptop (including Mac mini), Windows desktop or laptop, music server, iPod/iPhone, Apple TV, Airport Express, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Squeezebox, providing a variety of ways to create an audiophile playback system.
 
The Versatile Audio Hub

DACmini is designed to be the centerpiece of your digital audio system. It returns the warmth to your digital audio without being obtrusive. Customers describe DACmini's sound as having "Transparent highs, tight bass, and clarity in the mid-range only found in products well above the £1000 price range." DACmini is also a versatile home audio hub, featuring a line-level input for your portable music player, an S/PDIF input for your digital sources, and a Class-A Headphone Amplifier that can drive virtually any headphones with lowest distortion. Placed near your computer monitor, it becomes the center of your desktop audio system.
 
Perfect Partner

DACmini is styled to stack perfectly with an Apple Mac mini, making for an exceptional small-footprint music server. Improving upon our successful portable DACport and featuring the amazing CEntrance USB audio technology, DACmini is a perfect way to listen to High Definition music at home.
 
Key Features


Driverless USB implementation featuring full 24/96 resolution
Virtually unmeasurable jitter, for amazing clarity and definition
Exceptional noise immunity via a galvanically-isolated design
Headphone amplifier offers clarity, soundstage and no listening fatigue
Machined aluminum chassis looks great on a desktop or equipment shelf

Specifications


Resolution - 24-bit (Also supports 16-bit)
Sample Rate - USB: Up to 96kHz, S/PDIF: Up to 192 kHz    
Interface - USB1.1 or 2.0, driverless
Local clock - 10 ppm precision, unmeasurable jitter
Compatibility - Any computer running Mac, PC, or Linux

Analog Specs
    

Nominal Output level - +6.0dBV (RCA outputs)    
Frequency Response - 20Hz...40kHz; +0.0dB / -0.1dB (Line or Digital inputs)
S/N Ratio: (A-wght) - 144dB (Line inputs); 113dB (Digital inputs)
THD+N - 0.00022% (Line inputs); 0.001% (Digital inputs)    
Crosstalk - -128dB (Line inputs); 118dB (Digital inputs)    
Output Impedance - 25 Ohms (Line output); 1 Ohm (Headphone output)  
Output Power - 1.5W (total), drives 32...600 Ohm headphones   
Max Output level* - +13.5dBV (32 Ohms load),  +18.6dBV (300 Ohms load),  +19.0dBV (600 Ohms load)

* Listening to IEMs or other high sensitivity headphones at maximum level may damage your hearing.

General Specs
    

Audio Output - Gold-plated RCA line-out, stereo 1/4" headphone out
Headphone Amp - Direct Class-A, no caps in the signal path   
External Power - +9...+19V DC, wide choice of external power supplies  
Internal power - Ground-isolated, ±15V, super-clean, dual analog rails  
Unit Dimensions - 164 mm x 164 mm x 42 mm  
Shipping weight - 1.7 kg

The new Fostex HP-A3 is the perfect DAC for Computer Audio. This high quality unit features 32bit D/A Conversion with an integrated headphone amplifier exclusively designed to get the most from and PC audio set-up.

Why settle for 'built-in' D/A conversion when you can drastically improve the quality of your audio with a Fostex HP-A3?

• USB Bus power without using unwanted AC adapter
• Works with up to 24bit/96kHz audio source
• Exclusive PLL power supply is built in to reproduce the stable electrical supply
• High quality analog headphone amp to drive any type of headphones
• Equipped with hgih-grade AKM 32bit(*) DAC AK4390
• Condensers and OP amp designed exclusively for audio products
• USB / Digital (Optical) input selector
• Headphones / RCA (Analog) output selector
• Doubles as D/D converter from USB digital audio to Optical
• An USB/AC adapter from the shelf can be used for use as an Optical / Analog converter

Note: When using the USB input, the sampling frequency is fixed at 96kHz.  Audio file with Fs 32k/44.1k/48kHz will be reproduced by upsampling to 96kHz and the S/PDIF Out is also fixed at 96kHz.

Input
USB port sampling frequency 16bit-24bit/96kHz
Interface: USB full speed
Digital Connector: optical, square
Format: S/PDIF (32kHz - 96kHz)

Output
Phones Connector: Stereo phone
Max Output: 100mW (32-ohm loaded)
THD: less than 0.01% at 1kHz, 32-ohm loaded, 100mW
Frequency response: 20Hz / 20kHz +-0.3dB (32ohm loaded, 100mW)
Analog Connector: RCA Pin
Reference output level -10dBV
THD: less than 0.01% at 1kHz
Frequency response: 20Hz / 20kHz +-0.3dB
Digital Connector: Optical, square
Format S/PDIF (32kHz - 96kHz)

General
Power: DC5V (via USB port)
Power Consumption: 2.5W
Accessories: 1 x USB cable (1.0m), 4 x rubber foot, manual
Dimensions: 108mm(W) x 36mm(H) x 140mm(D)
Weight: approx. 450g

Optional 8-channel D/A card with specifications matching those of the A/D section,
turning the Trak2 into a complete digital audio conversion system with two A/D
channels and up to 8 D/A.

• Stereo D/A Converter
• Supports up to 24-Bit/96 kHz Resolution
• Dante-Enabled Ethernet Input
• Balanced Analog XLR Outputs
• Adjustable Output Level
• 3.5mm Stereo Headphone Output
• 14-Gauge Steel Enclosure
• Sync and Power Indicators