Prism Sound ADA-8XR 8 Channels AD/DA + AES/EBU Converter
The ADA-8XR is a multi-channel AD/DA converter that can be configured in numerous ways using plug-in modules to suit a very wide variety of applications. It can be a 16 channel AD converter, a 16 Channel DA converter or an 8 channel AD/DA converter. It can be a multi-channel FireWire interface, or an AES/EBU / AES3 / SPDIF Digital to Analogue or Analogue to Digital converter. It can act as a high resolution Pro Tools Interface for recording or post-production. Similarly it can work with a wide range of other popular Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) including Logic, Cubase, Nuendo and others. In fact, there’s not a lot it can’t do when it comes to digital audio conversion.
Applications
The ADA-8XR is the top professionals’ converter of choice in the most exacting applications in music and sound recording, mastering, broadcast and post-production. Offering the cleanest and most transparent conversion available, the ADA-8XR is ideal for producers, engineers and songwriters wanting to produce top-quality results when recording, tracking & overdubbing, mixing to stereo or surround, mastering and monitoring. The ADA-8XR is perfect for recording vocal, single instruments, drums or orchestra and is just as much at home providing multiple outputs for external analogue summing. It is in use in the top studios around the world as well as being used in numerous film sound tracks.
Design Philosophy
The ADA-8XR takes the philosophy of the widely-acclaimed Prism Sound converter range a stage further: Now, the goals of ultimate sound quality, unbeatable performance and un-matched versatility have been realised in a modular multi-channel, 24-bit 192kHz-capable format. The ADA-8XR provides A/D and D/A conversion and the essential digital interfaces with a stereo monitor mix output in digital and analogue formats.
Clocking and Synchronization
Unlike most other converter systems, the ADA-8XR is ideal as a master clock for your entire system, whether running from its precision internal reference or from an external source. No external clock source can improve the performance or influence the sound of the ADA-8XR. In addition, the ADA-8XR can run in Pro Tools Loop Sync mode, or lock to AES3, AES11 or Wordclock. The ADA-8XR delivers your recordings with perfect transparency, whatever the setup.
Configuration options
The ADA-8XR is a modular system and this provides great flexibility when creating systems with larger numbers of channels. Whether you need just a few channels of high-quality conversion or large a multi-track setup, the ADA-8XR is the natural choice. Using combinations of the basic system options and the range of digital interfaces you can build the system that perfectly matches your requirements.
Channel Configurations
- Up to 16 channels of state-of-the art 24-bit, 192kHz conversion in one great-sounding 2U package.
- Choice of 8AD plus 8DA; 16AD; 16DA or D-D only configurations.
- Dual-path architecture allows independent operation of two 8-channel paths:
- Each path (bank of 8 channels) can be assigned to either record or play functions;
- Each path can have independent clock references at different sample rates if desired;
- Each path is independently configurable;
- Each path can drive analogue and digital outputs simultaneously if desired
- Allows Source Monitoring with simultaneous A/D and D/A conversion.
- Electronically balanced, transformerless, galvanically isolated XLR analogue inputs and outputs ensure freedom from noise pick-up and crosstalk, with software-controlled balance and line-up;
- Prism Sound ‘Over-killer’ selectable on analogue inputs: the best-sounding gentle limiting for louder masters – with no ‘overs’;
Digital Interface options
- AES3,S/PDIF up to 192kHz. Handles & converts 2-wire formats for 96k and 192k;
- FireWire – for direct connection to DAW software on PC or Mac;
- Pro Tools|HD – replace 192IO/96IOs; up to 32 channels in and out per Digi Core/Process card;
- Pro Tools|24 MIX – direct connection in place of 888|IO;
- DSD – for SACD production, with SDIF2/3 and optional MAC-DSD (Cat5); also allows sample-rate-conversion between any PCM rates;
For computers without FireWire, the FireWire equipped ADA-8XR can also be used with Thunderbolt equipped computers via third party Thunderbolt to FireWire adaptors. Of course FireWire adaptors are also available for ExpressCard and various flavours of PCI cards.
Clocking and synchronisation
- Ultimate Prism Sound clock-stability and jitter-rejection for crystal-clear imaging, with independent multiple PLLs for A/D and D/A paths;
- Locks securely to an external reference working stand-alone or with DAWs.
- 8-channel LED bargraph with peak hold and status monitoring, switchable between paths.
Monitoring and other features
- Stereo monitor, with headphones and analogue line AND digital S/PDIF outputs, can monitor any input or output pair, or a panned stereo mix of all eight channels;
- Built-in Prism Sound ‘SNS’ noise-shapers for ultimate quality 16-bit & 20-bit transfers;
- Built-in Prism Sound ‘MR-X’ word-mapping for lossless recording up to 24-bit, 96kHz on standard DA-88 or ADAT MDMs, or other 16 or 20-bit media;
- Built-in Prism Sound ‘DRE’ for 24-bit performance on 16-bit media WITHOUT losing tracks;
- Intuitive user interface, provides fast access to all I/O and processing functions; with continuous display of all settings;
- Noise-shaping, MRX or DRE processing functions can be also be carried out in ‘D-D’ mode, including conversion between different digital interface formats;
- Modular construction allows upgrading of all input and output cards (INCLUDING A/D, D/A, and DSP boards); no need to worry about future converter advances or new interface standards;
- Internet-upgradeable software – loads from your PC or Mac into ‘flash’ memory inside the ADA-8XR;
Technical Specs
Unless otherwise stated, specifications are RMS, unweighted, band-limited 20Hz-20kHz, 24bit sampling and 96kHz, line-up at 0dBFS=+18dBu.
MAINFRAME
Physical
- Dimensions: W: 483mm D: 390mm H: 88mm
- Power: 90-125/180-250VAC, 50/60Hz, 60W
- Module slots:
2 x Analogue I/O module slots
2 x Digital I/O module slots
Utility slot (monitor, sync,RS232/485/MIDI)
1 x internal DSP expansion slot
Monitor: Two-channel, analogue and digital outputs.
ANALOGUE OUTPUTS
- Format: Electronically balanced, RCA/phono sockets
- Output impedance: 50 Ohm
- Headroom: 0dBFS=+15,+18,+21, or +24dBu
- Absolute gain accuracy: +/-0.05dB
- THD+N (997Hz, -1dBFS): -101dB (0.0009%)
- Dynamic range (997Hz, -60dBFS): 105dB
- Channel separation 1kHz: >120dB
HEADPHONE OUTPUT
- Format: 6.3mm stereo jack
- Output impedance: 115 Ohm
- Max Sensitivity: 4.7Vp-p
DIGITAL OUTPUT
- aes3-ID / S/PDIF, 24bits
Meters
8-ch bargraph with peak hold; 2-channel readout; Assignable ‘Alert’ function
- Overload indicator threshold: 1 sample full scale or -0.05dBFS
DSP
‘ENCODE’ FOR DIGITAL OUTPUTS
- Prism Sound Super Noise Shaping (SNS):
TPDF dither, plus 4 curve shapes
Intelligent ‘auto-dither-defeat’ system - Prism Sound ‘MR-X’ bit-mapping:
20-bit/24-bit/hi-rate on 16-bit tracks
24-bit/hi-rate on 20-bit tracks - Prism Sound ‘DRE’:
20-bit dynamic range on 16-bit tracks
24-bit dynamic range on 20-bit tracks – without loss of tracks
‘DECODE’ FOR DIGITAL INPUTS
- Prism Sound ‘MR-X’ bit-mapping: as above
Synchronization
Multi-stage, auto-ranging PLL per Path
- Ultra-high-precision mode: (+/- 0.15%)
- Jitter rejection corner frequency: ~80Hz
- Jitter rejection slope: 60dB / decade
- Jitter attenuation: >60dB above 700Hz
- High-precision mode: (+/- 6.0%)
- Internal: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz +/-25ppm
Each path can be separately synchronized. Path sampling rate can be frequency-locked to a different reference frequency, for example: 96kHz path locked to 48kHz Worldclock.
ANALOGUE MODULE SPECIFICATIONS
8C-AD 8-channel A/D converter
- Connections: Electronically balanced inputs, female XLRs
- Differential input impedance: 21k5 Ohm
- Full-scale input range (software-controlled):
+5dBu..+24dBu in 1dBu steps, trims in 0.05dBu steps - Absolute gain accuracy: +/-0.05dB
- CMRR: 60Hz:
- Overkiller: Software selectable On/Off
- THD+N : (997Hz, -1dBFS) -105dB (0.0006%)
- Dynamic range: (997Hz, -60dBFS) 112dB
- IMD (SMPTE/DIN, 60Hz@-3dBFS & 7kHz@-12dBFS):
- Maximum aharmonic spurium (997Hz @ -1dBFS):
- Frequency response fs=192kHz -0.05dB: 6.2Hz..50.2kHz; 3dB:
- Frequency response fs=96kHz -0.05dB: 6.1Hz..43.3kHz; -3dB:
- Frequency response fs=48kHz -0.05dB: 5.5Hz..22.8kHz; -3dB:
- Frequency response fs=44.1kHz-0.05dB: 5.0Hz..20.1kHz; -3dB:
- Passband ripple: 96kHz
- Interchannel phase difference
- Channel separation: 1kHz >125dB, 20Hz..20kHz: >117dB
- Group delay (input to AES3 output) 20/fs
8C-DA 8-channel D/A converter
- Connections Electronically balanced outputs, male XLRs
- Differential output impedance 50 Ohm
- Full-scale output range (software-controlled)
+5dBu..+24dBu in 1dBu steps, trims in 0.05dBu steps - Absolute gain accuracy +/-0.05dB
- Output balance 54dB
- THD+N: (997Hz, -1dBFS) -102dB (0.0007%) typical
- Dynamic range: (997Hz, -60dBFS) 108dB
- IMD (SMPTE/DIN, 60Hz@-3dBFS & 7kHz@-12dBFS)
- Maximum aharmonic spurium (997Hz @ -1dBFS)
- Frequency response: fs=192kHz -0.05dB: 5.2Hz..37.2kHz; -3dB: 1.4Hz..74.4kHz
- Frequency response: fs=96kHz -0.05dB: 5.1Hz..38.9kHz; -3dB: 1.4Hz..47.4kHz
- Frequency response: fs=48kHz -0.05dB: 5.1Hz..22.6kHz; -3dB: 1.4Hz..23.9kHz
- Frequency response: fs=44.1kHz -0.05dB: 5Hz..20.8kHz; -3dB: 1.4Hz..22.0kHz
- Passband ripple
- Interchannel phase difference
- Channel separation 1kHz: >115dB; 20Hz..20kHz: >110dB
- Group delay (AES3 to output) 49.5/fs
DIGITAL MODULE SPECIFICATIONS
DSD I/O Module
Unless otherwise stated, all performance specifications are quoted RMS, A-weighted, bandlimited 20Hz-20kHz, with PCM sampling at 96kHz and wordlength 24 bits, and with DSD lineup normal. Note that quotation of performance using A-weighting filters is not generally the policy of Prism Sound; however, the noise-shaped nature of DSD signals means that A-weighted measurements are more representative of subjective performance than are unweighted measurements.
PCM to DSD Performance
- Maximum output level 0dB SACD (Normal) / +3.1dB SACD (Hot)
- Absolute gain accuracy +0.05dB
- THD+N (997Hz, -1dBFS) -118dB (0.00013%)
- Dynamic range (997Hz, -60dBFS) 120dB
- Frequency response: fs=96kHz -3dB: 0Hz…43.5kHz
- Frequency response: fs=88.2kHz -3dB: 0Hz…40kHz
- Frequency response: fs=48kHz -1dB: 0Hz…22kHz
- Frequency response: fs=44.1kHz -0.05dB: 0Hz…20kHz
- Frequency response: fs=32kHz -0.05dB: 0Hz…14.5kHz
Analogue to DSD Performance
As the Analogue Line Input Module except for the following:
- Maximum output level 0dB SACD (Normal) / +3.1dB SACD (Hot)
- Absolute gain accuracy ±0.1dB
- THD+N (997Hz, -1dBFS) -103dB (0.0007%)
- Dynamic range (997Hz, -60dBFS) 110dB
- Frequency response -0.05dB: 10Hz…35kHz -3dB: 3.9Hz…42kHz
DSD to PCM Performance
- Maximum input level 0dB SACD (Normal) / +3.1dB SACD (Hot)
- Absolute gain accuracy -0.05dB
- THD+N (997Hz, -1dBFs)
- Dynamic range (997Hz, -60dBFS) >128dB (limited by DSD input signal)
- Frequency response: fs=96kHz -3dB: 0Hz…41kHz
- Frequency response: fs=88.2kHz -3dB: 0Hz…38.5kHz
- Frequency response: fs=48kHz -1dB: 0Hz…22kHz
- Frequency response: fs=44.1kHz -0.05dB: 0Hz…20kHz
- Frequency response: fs=32kHz -0.05dB: 0Hz…14.5kHz
(PCM to) DSD to Analogue Performance<br