A digital audio processor's role can be likened to that of the conductor of a symphony orchestra. The processor must coordinate the efforts of the many players in the orchestra (the various bits of the digital to analog conversion process) to create music that accurately reflects the instructions contained within the musical "score" (the digital audio signal). Unlike analog sources, the processor must make a musical signal from something which bears no resemblance to the original event, in a sense creating music rather than reproducing it. Small wonder, then, that digital processors sound as different as they do. As with CD transports, describing the task of a perfect digital processor is simple; approaching perfection, however, is extremely challenging. An ideal digital processor would receive the digital information flawlessly from various digital sources, and convert each of the received numbers into its precise analog equivalent at exactly the right time. It would do so withou introducing any extraneous noise or errors that either add to or subtract from the music signal being created. Successfully attaining these goals is expensive and demands careful attention to detail.
Frequency response:
10Hz - 20kHz +0dB, –0.2dB
Total harmonic distortion:
0.001% @ 1 kHz, 0dB, A-weighted
Dynamic range:
98dB (or better)
Signal-to-noise ratio:
105dB
Channel separation:
Better than 110 dB
Intermodulation distortion:
Less than 0.005%
Digital/analog conversion:
Dual differential 20-bit DACs
Digital filter:
8x oversampling, 24 bit throughput
Analog filter:
Bessel-tuned, linear phase to 40kHz
Low-level linearity:
Deviation unmeasurable to below –70dB, approximately, +1.7dB below –90dB (undithered, referenced to 0dB @ 1kHz)
Output impedance:
Less than 6 ohms
Mains voltage:
100V, 120V, 200V, 220V, 240V
Mains frequency:
50/60 Hz
Mains consumption:
50 watts
Input complement:
2 XLR-type female connectors, 1 RCA-type female connectors, 1 BNC-type female connectors, 1 ST-type connector, 1 EIAJ-type connectors, 1 IEC mains connector (on bottom), 1 1/8" mini-jack connector for IR repeater, 1 IEC AC mains receptacle
Output complement:
1 pair XLR-type male connectors (analog), 1 pair RCA-type female connectors (analog), 1 XLR-type male connector (digital), 1 RJ-45 communications port
