SPL Director MKII (försteg + DAC)

SPL Director Mk2

The director sets the tone. The central unit of the HiFi system is the preamplifier. With remote source selection and volume control, tape monitor path, retro-look-VU-meters, premium DA-converter and the all superior VOLTAiR technology, the Director Mk2 caters for musical blockbusters. Milled from solid The massive 45mm volume control knob milled from aluminum is a haptic highlight. Its mass together with the motorized Alps RK27 “Big Blue” potentiometer enhances the “spoon in the honey” feeling even further. The red marker LED ensures good visibility of the volume parameter even in darkened environments. Remote control The volume control can be remotely controlled with any infrared remote control. The Director Mk2 learns to communicate with it with the simple push of a button. Source of joy Up to ten (10!) stereo sources can be connected to the Director Mk2. Six of them are for analog and four for digital input signals. The source selection is shown in the dot matrix LED display: IN 1 through IN 6 for the analog inputs. AES, USB, COAX, OPTIC for the digital inputs, where the detected sample rate is displayed after about two seconds. For example U768 = USB input with 768 kHz sampling rate. The source selection can also be operated remotely if the rotary switch is set to the “Remote” position. Inputs The Director Mk2 offers two pairs of balanced inputs with XLR connectors and four standard inputs with gold-plated RCA connectors. On the digital side there are four additional inputs. PCM audio is received in S/P-DIF format via coaxial Cinch, optical Toslink and balanced XLR (AES). Both PCM audio and DSD audio can be converted via USB. Well informed The DAC automatically picks up the sampling rate and resolution of the digital playback source. No matter if a streamer, computer or CD player is connected. No further settings on the Director Mk2 are necessary. The detected sampling rate is shown in the dot matrix LED display. For example, U768 is an acronym for the source “USB” with a sampling rate of 768 kHz. The DAC768 The highly acclaimed AKM AK4490 Velvet Sound™ premium DAC chip is used as the converter chip in the digital-to-analogue converter, which thanks to its architecture reproduces the finest sound details. It converts PCM audio with a resolution of 32 bits and a sampling rate of up to 768 kHz, which is equivalent to 16 times CD resolution. Direct Stream Digital is also supported up to a resolution of DSD4 or DSD256. In contrast to the DAC 768xs, the DAC768 not only offers an AES/EBU digital input, but also the SPL DLP120 with VOLTAiR technology. The DLP120 (Dual Low-Pass) The analog output of the DAC chip must be filtered by a low pass filter. Phonitor xe has two of them: One for PCM audio and one for DSD audio, since different roll-off frequencies are required. In contrast to all other DACs in the world, the low pass filters here are built using VOLTAiR technology, which provides a plus in dynamics and headroom and sound. Good ol' timesz Two mechanical VU meters visualize the input levels for the left and right audio channel. With the VU switch you can optimize the display for different signal levels. Tape Monitor A tape monitor circuitry is quite retro. Who still owns a cassette recorder or a tape machine? Who else loops in an equalizer? To put it another way: Who would like to do it and cannot do it because no manufacturer offers a tape monitor circuit anymore? Well, those who want can again. Today’s audio levels are much higher than in the past and many recorders will be overloaded by them. In that case simply press the switch and the level to the recorder is lowered by 10 dB. To compensate, the level from the recorder is increased by 10 dB. Et voilà. All variable – or Slave Thru The Director Mk2 provides two stereo output pairs for connecting power amplifiers or active loudspeakers. One pair of outputs with XLR, the other with RCA outputs. Both have the same output signal, which is controlled by the large volume control. However, the volume control for the RCA outputs can be switched out of the signal path via DIP switch on the back of the device. For example, a headphone amplifier with its own volume control can be connected to these outputs. Everything under control – AMP CTL The standby mode of devices with 12V trigger input, can be switched on and off via AMP CTL, together with the Director Mk2. This allows, for example, the SPL Performer s800, Performer m1000 or Performer s1200 power amplifiers to be ideally integrated into the set-up. Sounds good With all devices of the Professional Fidelity series we develop not only according to plan, but also by ear. Many important components are installed on the circuit boards using Through-hole technology. This way we can ensure that we can use the best sounding components. The VOLTAiR Technology The 120V technology is our reference technology. The 120V technology is unique in the world. It operates at a DC voltage of 120 volts. This is four times that of IC-based semiconductor op-amps. In our Professional Fidelity series, we refer to this unsurpassed technology as VOLTAiR technology. The highest possible audio quality requires the highest possible audio operating voltage. The 120V technology works with +/-60 V. To be able to handle such a high voltage, we have developed special proprietary operational amplifiers that can operate with a DC voltage of +/-60 V: the SPL 120V SUPRA operational amplifiers. This high voltage would destroy conventional components and operational amplifiers. By the way, the “120V” in the name of the technology has nothing to do with the local mains voltage from the mains power socket. This is about the operating voltage inside the device with which the audio signals are processed. The mains voltage from the mains power socket is transformed to the required secondary voltage in the device’s internal linear power supply with toroidal transformer. Rectifiers convert this AC voltage into DC voltage required in the audio device. VOLTAiR is a composition of the terms Volt and Air. Volt is the unit for electrical voltage and Air stands for the unlimited space the music can breathe in. VOLTAiR symbolizes the perceived limitless dynamics resulting from high audio voltage. Comparison Most audio devices work with an internal operating voltage of +/-15 volts and can thus process a maximum input level of +21.5 dBu. If a DAC, for example, has an output level of +22 dBu at 0 dBFS, level peaks of the music material would already cause overloads in the input stage of the device. All components in the audio device often operate at their limits. The result is an unsteady sound that causes stress and faster ear fatigue. SPL devices with VOLTAiR technology can handle input levels of +32.5 dBu thanks to the higher internal operating voltage of +/- 60 volts – thus offering 12 dB more headroom. All components consequently operate continuously in the optimum operating range. The result is a very pleasant, natural and relaxed sound experience. So you can enjoy your music in every detail. These diagrams clearly show the superiority of the VOLTAiR technology in comparison to other circuits with lower, common operating voltages. VOLTAiR is that good In the lab, we pitted Phonitor xe against the best audio measurement system and found that Audio Precision could not measure VOLTAiR technology.

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SPECIFICATIONS Analog Inputs & Outputs: XLR (balanced), RCA * Maximum input & output gain : 32.5 dBu * Input impedance (RCA): 47 kΩ * Input impedance (XLR): 20 kΩ * Output impedance: 75 Ω * Common mode rejection (XLR): -82 dBu * Frequency range (-3 dB): 4 Hz – 300 * Crosstalk (1 kHz): -108 dBu * THD (0 dBu, 1 kHz): 0.000992 % * Noise (A-weighted): -102.5 dBu * Dynamic range: 135 dB Digital Inputs, DAC768 * AES/EBU (XLR), PCM sample rates: 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192 kHz * Coaxial SPDIF (RCA), PCM sample rates: 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192 kHz * Optical SPDIF (Toslink F06), PCM sample rates: 44.1/48/88.2/96/with Glass fibre <1m: 176.4/192 kHz * USB (B), PCM sample rates: 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384/705.6/768 kHz * USB (B), DSD over PCM (DoP), sample rates: 2.8 (DSD64), 5.6 (DSD128), 11.2 (DSD256) MHz * 0 dBFS calibrated to: 15 dBu Internal Linear Power Supply with Shielded Toroidal Transformer * Operating voltage for analog audio: +/- 60 V * Operating voltage for relays and LEDs: + 12 V * Operating voltage for DAC768: + 7 V, +3.3 V Mains Power Supply * Mains voltage (selectable, see fuse chamber): 230 V AC / 50; 115 V AC / 60 Hz * Fuse for 230 V: T 500 mA * Fuse for 115 V: T 1 A * Power consumption: max. 40 VA * Stand-by power consumption: < 0,3 W Dimensions & Weight * W x H x D (width x height incl. feet x depth): 278 x 100 x 300 mm / 11 x 4 x 11.81 inch * Unit weight: 4.55 kg/10 lbs * Shipping weight (incl. packaging): 5.9 kg/13.01 lbs Reference: 0 dBu = 0,775V. All specifications are subject to change without notice. The Drivers * Mac OS & iOS - No driver installation required for Mac or iOS devices (class compliant). iOS devices must be connected using the Apple camera adapter. * Windows - To operate with a higher than the standard sample rate driver installation is required. Download from here (at bottom of page).