Prism Sound ADA-8XR Legendary Modular AD/DA Convertor

Prism Sound ADA-8XR Legendary Modular AD/DA Convertor

The Pinnacle of audio performance, the ADA-8XR has found itself home in some of the world’s most iconic recording facilities (Metropolis, British Grove etc) and utilised in high profile projects including Star Wars & Lord of the Rings.

With a lifespan of over 20 years in the industry, this British designed and engineered convertor embodies Prism Sound’s no compromise approach to audio.

Conversion

The ADA-8XR offers accurate, ultra detailed A/D and D/A conversion providing complete focus of sound to ensure you’re not distracted by colouration while allowing every nuance of a performance to be heard.

Modular Design

Modular design allows for the flexibility of having either an 8 input/8 output, 16 input OR 16 output converter. With digital I/O cards for AES, Firewire and Pro Tools HDX also available.

Clocking and Synchronisation

The ADA-8XR works flawlessly as a master clock for your entire system providing rock solid stability and jitter rejection for crystal clear imaging. No external clock source can improve the performance of the ADA-8XR.

Multi-Sample Rate Compatibility

Independent paths allow for different sample rates being sent and received simultaneously.

I/O Modules

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.

Applications

The ADA-8XR is the audio industries 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 has found a home in some of the most iconic recording facilities worldwide. Ideal for producers, engineers and songwriters wanting to produce the very best 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 soundtracks.

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 & 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.

 

Physical:

• Dimensions: W: 483mm D: 390mm H: 88mm (2U)
• 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:

• 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

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