sklower@okeeffe.Berkeley.EDU (Keith Sklower) (03/15/91)
I am in no way affiliated with apogee electronics corporation, other than as an extremeley pleased customer -- I have their anti-aliasing filters installed in a studio DAT machine, with very pleasing results. They have a new product which may be of interest to readers of rec.audio.high-end: From: sethb@Morgan.COM (Seth Breidbart) dat-heads@fuggles.acc.virginia.edu Subject: Apogee outboard A/D converter I called Apogee and they faxed me the following information (abridged by me to minimize typing errors). I don't necessarily understand all of it. Apogee Model AD 500 - Portable Stereo Analog to Digital Converter 18 Bit Conversion using Delta Sigma Technology Features: Analog Input - Stereo Balanced Inputs (below consumer levels to +27 dBu maximum) Discreet Input Circuitry, <0.001% THD+N DC Servo, all direct coupling, no interstage coupling capacitors Passive RF Filter, no intermodulation distortion byproducts Passive Anti-Alisasing filter over 100dB, flat to +/-0.05dB, linear phase to +/-0.1 degree Common Mode Rejection >100dB, stable over wide temperature range Simple Level Metering, precise indications of 12 and 2 dB below clipping Conductive Plastic front panel gain controls Cal Multi-Turn Pots, calibrated screwdriver level adjustment or fine trim Analog Input Selector Switch Off saves battery power, transmits "audio black" digital output Mute/Cal mutes input, automatic calibration On passes analog audio through very simple signal path, removes DC Soft Limit rounds clipping Soft Saturate simulates analog tape saturation Emphasis implemented passively w/ 1% capacitors and metal film resistors Broad Sync Capability [subheads deleted] Sync Source Selector Switch 32, 44.056, 44.1, 48 from internal 10 ppm crystal reference [other subheads deleted] Digital Outputs AES/EBU, male XLR SPDIF, flying lead Optical Front Panel Power Switch: AES/EBU, SPDIF, off nominal 12v DC power, 10 to 18 ok Power Consumption under 10 watts Flexible Grounding: chasis, power and audio can reference to different grounds. Very strong case, 1.5" high, 5.5" wide, 10" deep ------ This unit should be available in April (well, in time for Summer tour, anyway) and will cost $1295. (If other people are interested, I may try to negotiate a wholesale price.) There's another unit that will probably be available next year, which should be even better: 20 bits, custom noise-shaping DSP chips, etc. Possibly $3k; it's only on the drawing board now. Seth From: sethb@Morgan.COM (Seth Breidbart) I just phoned Apogee for further information on the Apogee AD 500. The price is $1295, they won't sell wholesale (or at least won't admit to me that they do. I may try calling Jim Oade to see if he can get them cheaper). The power supply (runs off wall current) is $60, or you can use a 12v battery. SCMS is not available (I assume that means code 00). They said that high-power mics (e.g. B&K) _might_ not need mic pre-amps. The AD500 has the capability (including the 48v supply), but it isn't implemented. The AD1000 is higher priority right now, so the AD500 will include a mic pre-amp in maybe two years. They won't say whether it will be available as an upgrade. Their new box, the AD1000, will have the mic pre-amp built in. The AD1000 will cost "3-4 times as much" and will be available sometime next year, they hope. It will also have more professional output formats, including a 20-bit one. There is no analog out. The SPDIF output is on a D type 15-pin connector, and also has an RCA jack. It will be available in about two months (sometime in May 1991). I'm definitely considering it, but then, I like toys. Seth sethb@fid.morgan.com