The Well-Tempered Computer, an introduction to computer audio

Wednesday, May 23, 2012


PlayGo is working on a new wireless transmitter.
It is a multi-protocol solution
  • Apple AirPlay Technology
  • Microsoft® Play To
  • USB Audio for playback of digital audio from iOS devices
  • UPnP & DLNA Support
Supported audio formats
  • AAC
  • Apple Lossless
  • MP3
  • FLAC
  • WAV
  • WMA
Lossless Hi-Fi Audio Support
  • Up to 24-bit / 96kHz native audio
  • Burr-Brown SRC4193 upsampling
  • First company in USA to use the NEW 32-Bit Burr-Brown PCM5102 DAC
  • 112dB signal to noise ratio
  • 112dB A-weighted dynamic range
  • 2.1VRMS output on gold plated RCA connectors
  • TOSLINKTM Digital Audio Output
More at Kickstarter

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Calyx Femto DAC



DAC with volume control.
Claimed dynamic range of 132dB, THD of 0.0001% and RMS jitter of 500 femto seconds.
USB 24/192 max. Synchronization not specified but probably asynchronous.

  • Digital Input: Two Coaxial / Two Optical / Two AES-EBU / BNC / USB
  • Sampling Rate: 44.1kHz ~ 192kHz
  • THD+N Ratio: 0.0003% @ 1kHz
  • SNR: 130 [dB] @ 1kHz
  • Channel Specification: 144 [ dB] @ 1kHz
  • Dynamic Range: 130 [dB] @ 1kHz
  • Output Level(UnBal): 6.8 [V]
  • Output Level(Bal): 2 [V]

Lots of measurements in the user manual.

Website: Calyx
Price: $6.000

Monday, May 7, 2012

Certon Integrita music server



  • Security: RAID level 5 – intelligent data protection (a hard disk may fail and the data integrity is maintained)
  • Capacity: 5 internal hard disks*, 2.5 TB, 5TB or 10TB total /1.5TB, 3TB or 6TB usable / *including 1 hot spare
  • Hard drives: SATA-II AV hard drives certified for 24/7 continuous operation
  • Fans: None
  • File types: Including 192khz/24bit, AAC, ALAC, FLAC, M4A, MP3, MP4, WAV, WMA
  • Connectivity: 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x eSATA
  • Network: TCP/IP
  • Management: Integrita Control Centre via web browser
  • Media server: iTunes, DLNA
  • Size: 425w x 370d x 140h (mm)
  • Weight: 11.3kg
  • Power supply: Fanless, 84% efficient, filtered against harmonic ripple
  • Power requirement: 60W 100-240V; 50/60Hz
  • Guarantee: 2 years
Website Certon
Price: £2950

Thursday, May 3, 2012

T+A DAC 8




DAC with volume control (defeatable) and headphone out.
Supports both USB audio class 1 and 2.
For USB Audio Class 2 it is possible to select either synchronous or asynchronous transmission; a special driver is required for this.

Specifications
D/A converter32-Bit, 384 kHz Sigma Delta, 8-times oversampling, double-mono-quadruple
Analogue filter3rd order phase linear Besselfilter, switchable 60 kHz or 120 kHz
Frequency response2 Hz - 20 / 22 kHz (44.1 / 48.0 kSps)

2 Hz - 40 kHz (88.2 / 96.0 kSps)

2 Hz - 80 kHz (176.4 / 192.0 kSps)
Total harmonic distortion< 0,001 %
Signal noise (A)116 dB
Channel separation110 dB
Analogue outputs
coaxial (Cinch)2,5 Veff / 22 Ohm fixed. 0 ... 2,5 Veff variable
Symetrical (XLR)5,0 Veff / 22 Ohm fixed. 0 ... 5,0 Veff variable
Digital output1 x coax, IEC 60958 (CDDA/LPCM)
Digital inputsSP/DIF (16 - 24 Bit):

4 x co-ax, 1 x BNC, 1 x AES/EBU up to 192/24, 1 x TOS-Link up to 96/24

1 x USB with USB Audio Class 1 (USB full Speed) up to 96/24, adaptive mode

and USB Audio Class 2 (USB high Speed) up to 192/24 asynchronous mode (drivers available)

Website T+A
Price: £1890