There's
no doubt that there is wonderful convienience features
in our Personal Computers and iPods. Nearly everyone
uses a Computer or iPod at some point to listen to music.
Programs like iTunes allow flexibility to store one’s
entire music collection on the hard drive of a where
the entire musical library can be organized and easily
played. But, if you put your computer into your main
listening system (after you use a cheap mini-plug to
RCA cable of course), the performance, timing, pitch,
accuracy isn't quite there. The music doesn't match
up to our CD player in performance... much like how
our CD player didn't match up to our turntables a few
decades ago. So, are we doomed to lose performance with
every technological advancement, eventually until we
are listening the musical equivalent of YouTube videos
compared to HDTV? No.
Enter
the new Digital to Analog Converters by Ayre and Wavelength
Audio. These DACS both use USB Inputs from your computer.
The DAC then converts the Digital signal to Analog,
and outputs analog audio outputs (RCA and XLR on the
Ayre QB9) to your preamplifier or receiver.
When
you plug your computer into your high performance music
system, you are using the computer as the master audio
clock The D/A converter must lock onto the signal coming
from the computer and reconstruct a new master clock
using a variable-frequency oscillator, which will result
in: jitter. Many USB DACS use D/A converters that can
produce good sounding music, but result in high levels
of jitter. The solution comes from the TAS1020B chip
created by J. Gordon Rankin of Wavelength Audio. The
TAS1020B reduces jitter, while still using the USB "adaptive"
transfer mode. But this wasn't enough. By using "asynchronous
USB transmission, allows the audio clock in the D/A
Converter does not need to be synchronized with any
of the computer clocks. The result is the external D/A
converter's jitter is as low as a single-loader CD Player!
This configuration is used in Wavelength Audio DACS
and the new Ayre QB9.
The
Ayre QB-9 uses Wavelength Audio’s new “asynchronous”
USB technology called Streamlength software. The Ayre
QB-9 is such a great performer because it is an external
D/A converter box that has the critical master audio
clock right next to the D/A chip itself, without resorting
to a non-standard interface. The QB-9 works great with
both Macintosh and PC systems, and all kinds of standard
playback programs like iTunes, WinAmp, Windows Media
Player and more. The Ayre QB-9 offers many other features
that make it worthy of the multi-award winning Ayre
name. Fully Balanced analog circuitry, zero-feedback
for a natural sound with the correct pace and timing
cover the performance of Ayre. The USB receiver section
is isolated from the rest of the audio circuitry, keeping
noise-generating switching power supply isolated from
the music system. “MP” minimum-phase digital
filters for tonal accuracy and musicality finish up
the complete package for the Ayre QB-9.
Wavelength
Audio also has a series of USB DACS that offer serious
performance for computer based systems. The Wavelengh
units can communicate bit sizes (i.e. 16 or 24 bits)
and sample rates (i.e. 44.1K, 48K, 88.2K and 96K) to
and from the computer. Like the Ayre, all of the Wavelength
units use asynchronous USB mode. Wavelength (local to
Cincinnati) offers the models Transcendental, Numerator,
Denominator, Crimson, Cosecant and our most poplualr:
Brick. Brick was given a Class A rating by Stereophile.The
Wavelength Brick uses custom code to support USB ASYNC
mode. The Brick has a very low jitter central clock
that runs the entire audio section.
Come
in and see the Brick by Wavelength and The QB-9 by Ayre
in our Cincinnati Store.
These items are two of our very exciting new products.
We will be glad to demonstrate the stunning performance
that these DACS offer.
New
on Display:
Ayre QB-9
Wavelength Audio Brick |
