To hear digital audio it has to be converted to analog. The chip that does that is called a digital-to-analog converter, and there's one in your iPod, computer, and CD, DVD, and Blu-ray players.
Thing is, the quality of the conversion has everything to do with the sound quality you hear. That's why audiophiles pay big bucks for the best ones, and Chord Electronics, a British high-end stalwart has just released the QBD76, which contains a real contender for world's best digital-to-analog converter (DAC) chip.
Chord Electronics are used in top studios, including Skywalker Sound, Abbey Road, Sony, Quad, Dolby Labs, Decca Records, EMI Japan, Ray Charles Productions, and many others.
QBD76
(Credit: Chord Electronics)Instead of simply using an off-the-shelf DAC chip in the QBD76, Chord designed its own using Xilinx field programmable gate arrays. That gambit affords Chord engineers a staggering 1,250,000 logic gates in its DAC, compared with 30,000 logic gates found in mass-market and even some high-end DACs. As a result, Chord claims the QBD76 is capable of resolving 40 decibels more data than competitors using the best standard chips.
That means you should hear a lot more detail and sonic information with the QBD76 in your system--think of it as high-resolution for your ears. The QBD76 has two coax, two AES, and two optical digital inputs, plus one USB, and one Bluetooth A2DP input.
U.S. retail is $6,495 with an introductory special price of $5,995 until November 30. The QBD76's U.S. importer is Bluebird Music.
(Credit:
AudioCubes)
Maybe it has something to do with the change in weather around this time of year, but the air guitar winds are blowing again in force.
Just yesterday the Guitar Hero "Air Guitar Rocker" went on sale, and now we learn of yet another virtual slashing device: The acoustic version of the "Air Guitar Pro," the truncated neck that resembles some form of ritual mutilation of stringed instruments. It's the cousin of the electric version we saw nearly a year ago by Japan's Takaratomy and works pretty much the same way, using infrared sensors to read finger movements on its fretboard and playing the results on a built-in speaker.
A big difference, however, is its $56 price--more than twice as much as its electric predecessor. We hope it's a sufficient deterrant, for all those involved.
(Credit:
Chord Electronics)
Chord Electronics aren't exactly a household brand name, but the company has a strong presence in the pro sound field. The British company's electronics have been used at George Lucas' Skywalker Sound, BBC, Abbey Road, Sony NY, Decca, Quad, Dolby Labs, Toshiba-EMI Japan, MCA Studios, CBC, and The Royal Opera House London.
But that's not to say Chord doesn't also cater to the consumer high-end market. The CPA 3000 preamplifier and SPM 1050 power amplifier are the latest designs. When I was an audio salesman I sold Chord and I can tell you that even before I played the components a lot of customers were drawn to the products for their looks. Each chassis is machined from solid aluminum to provide rigid foundation for the circuitry and besides, I just wish more high-end products looked this good.
The CPA 3000 is the newest of Chord's new generation preamplifiers. Utilizing innovative techniques and technology from the highly successful CPA 5000 reference preamplifier, the CPA 3000 features Chord's Ultra High Frequency power supplies and an ultra low noise circuit to give the very best noise floor performance.
The SPM 1050 stereo power amplifier Chord's latest low distortion amplifier circuitry and proprietary power MOSFETs, so the SPM 1050 can drive difficult loudspeaker loads with clarity and precision. The amplifier delivers 200 watts per channel into 8 ohm speakers.
The CPA 3000 retails for $12,300 and the SPM 1050, $9300; check with Chord's US importer, Bluebird Music Limited to learn more.
The Blu/DAC 64 CD player.
(Credit: Chord Electronics)
(Credit:
HimeyaShop)
With excellent advances such as the Rock Band Stratocaster controller on the horizon, we've been hopeful that popularity of the dreaded air guitar might finally begin to fade. But we were disappointed to learn that the "Air Guitar Pro" will be shipping July 25.
As if air guitarists needed any encouragement, this $27 device uses infra-red sensors to read finger movements and blast the resulting notes on its built-in speaker, according to Technabob. It looks like the end of a guitar neck that's been broken off and embedded with seven chord buttons. Worst of all, it can be hooked up to an amplifier so middle-aged men everywhere can make fools of themselves in the most public ways.
- prev
- 1
- next
