The Well-Tempered Computer, an introduction to computer audio

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Avantgarde acoustic - Zero 1


3 way active speaker with 2 horns for mid and treble.
All the digital inputs.
Crossover and room adjustment implemented in DSP




DriversSubwoofer: 30 – 250 Hz
Midrange horn: 250 – 2.000 Hz
Tweeter horn: 2.000 – 20.000 Hz


Digital inputS/PDIF
Toslink
AES/EBU
USB
Analogue inputOptional (AD converter)
Amp2 x 50 watts + 1 x 400 watts
CrossoverDSP: 6 channel, 66-bit FPGA
Filter steepnessUp to 100 dB/octave
Filter typeProgressive FIR filters
Phase shifts< 5 degrees
DAC3 x 24-bit Burr & Brown
Master/slave radio link2.4 GHz ISM/SRD
Amplitude linearization*Yes
Phase linearization*Yes
Room adjustment/equalization*100 EQs, each with 16,000 frequency points
Weight30 kg
BxHxD490 x 1040 x 318 mm


* with optional software

Website: Avantgarde acoustic
Price € 9000

Saturday, May 4, 2013

NS2 Air Monitors

Small powered speakers with a wireless connection using Airplay

Power output: 80W peak power
Frequency response: 60 Hz – 22 kHz
Woofers: 3″ Kevlar with dual magnets, shielded
Tweeters: 3/4″ silk dome, shielded
Digital Signal Processor: 32-bit
Total Harmonic Distortion: <0 .15="" br="">Signal-to-Noise Ratio: > Alalouge 85dB, Digital 90 dB
Amplifier type: Class D
Crosstalk: <50 br="" db="">Impedance: 20k Ohms
Dimensions: H: 160 x W: 110 D: 140 mm
Weight: 3.0 kg
Cabinets: MDF

Website NOCS
Price: $449.00

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Sonore Rendu

Ethernet to S/PDIF converter.




This is a DLNA/UPnP 2.0 compliant renderer.
It doesn’t have an interface but as it is a DMR (Digital Media Renderer in DLNA speak), you can control the volume using a DMC (Digital Media Controller).
A DMC can be a PC running a DLNA server/controller software like JRiver or a smartphone with DLNA software.
The schema explains it nicely.


One of the disadvantages of DLNA is the lack of gapless playback.
The Rendu supports it but the controller must support it too.
At the present the Rendu support gapless in combination with Bubble UPNP as controller on Android or JRiver on a PC.

The Sonore Rendu.i2s has Ethernet input and SPDIF/I2S over HDMI out.
A model including a ESS Sabre ES9023 DAC is planned.
At the present only 120 VAC models are available!


Features
  • supports gapless playback*
  • supports DSD/DoP pass thru**
  • powered by an on board, extremely low noise, low output impedance linear power supply
  • isolated from noise on the network
  • operates fully asynchronously, using on board fixed frequency low jitter clocks
  • features a transformer coupled true 75 ohm SPDIF BNC output
  • has an integrated, 32 bit, high precision volume control
  • supports up to 24 bit playback at the following sample rates: 44.1KHz, 48KHz, 88.2KHz, 96KHz, 176.4KHz, 192KHz
  • plays AAC, AIFF, ALAC, FLAC, MP3, and WAV files from HTTP streams
  • controlled via apps on your mobile device
  • UPnPTM AV 2.0 / DLNA compliant
    * Gapless is currently supported via Android with Bubble UPNP as controller, J-River on PC as controller with local storage. Check back for updates.
    ** DSD/DoP pass thru requires the use of MinimServer

Website: Sonore
Price US$ 1369

Rotel RA-1570


Two years ago a DAC featuring an asynchronous USB input was news.
Today, a DAC without async USB is news and as far as I am concerned, a showstopper.

In the amplifier world, async USB input is still rare.
Rotel is one of the exceptions to this rule.
I wouldn’t be surprised if in a couple of years a USB input is as common as a RCA.

Asynchronous USB 24 bit / 192 kHz
Wolfson WM8740
2x 120 wattAB into 8 Ohm

Website: Rotel
Price: € 1599