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