Sonifex RB-ADDA 1U Combined A/D and D/A Converter, 2x XLR 3 Pin Male, 2x RCA Phono Analogue, AES/EBU XLR 3 Pin Male, S/PDIF RCA Phono Digital Outputs

Under the umbrella of high-quality audio equipment, the Sonifex RB-ADDA A/D and D/A converter stands out as a versatile 1U rack-mount unit. This advanced converter is designed to produce an AES/EBU or S/PDIF level digital audio output from a balanced XLR or unbalanced phono stereo audio input. Simultaneously, it can generate a stereo balanced XLR or unbalanced phono output from an incoming AES/EBU or S/PDIF digital input signal.

The unit operates in multiple modes, including Master Mode, where it receives an analogue audio signal, digitizes it, and formats it for digital serial transmission (IEC958). The necessary clock signals are internally generated from an onboard master clock at a selectable rate, offering flexibility with rates of 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, or 96kHz.

In Slave Mode, the unit automatically detects the presence of a digital audio sync signal at the digital input and synchronizes the digital output to it. Auto Mode and Auto Lock Mode offer further synchronization options, with the unit using the internal master clock only when no sync input signal is detected.

The Sonifex RB-ADDA A/D and D/A converter is equipped with analogue inputs that feature left and right level controls, using pre-set potentiometers and DIP switches. This allows for a signal range from +9dBu to +27dBu. The RCA phono inputs incorporate an additional 10dB gain, providing a total gain range of -1dBu to +17dBu for full-scale digits.

The analogue outputs of this unit come with an output level control, enabling full-scale settings selectable from +12dBu, +18dBu, or +24dBu. The unit also features factory-set internal level controls for the analogue outputs, allowing for gain adjustment of +/-1dB.

The Sonifex RB-ADDA A/D and D/A converter offers selectable output bit depth options of 16, 20, or 24 bits. Inputs of a different bit depth to the output are dithered using a noise filter. For the digital output, a switch is available to define the content of the channel status bits embedded within the digital audio stream, which can be set to either Professional or Consumer Mode.

This unit also includes a calibration routine for optimum performance, improving the noise floor and dynamic range by 1-2dB. The calibration cycle operates by calibrating the gain and the zero reference of the A/D converter, ensuring top-notch audio conversion quality.