SPL DMC
Model: 2490
List Price: $12,999.00
In Detail
New
Analog Technology
DMC-Configuration
Our aim
in the development of 120V mastering equipment was the creation of a
technology that would be superior in audio quality to all known and
foreseeable audio formats, whether analog or digital. Such a console
would provide both for an unaltered reproduction of the sonic quality
of SACD and DVD-Audio and in the process, remain a safe capital
investment for many years.
Digital
audio formats have undergone continuous development and change and will
continue to do so. The degree of incompatibility created by the “format
war” between PCM and DSD is a main argument for a technology that is
superior in dynamic range, headroom and sound quality to either or any
other such format – and that is discrete analogue technology in its
most advanced implementation.
Moreover
additional aspects speak for the employment of high-performance analog
technology:
The
number of necessary AD/DA conversions should be reduced to a minimum.
With the DMC, digital sources can be connected to a digital router,
which outputs the selected source through the preferred DA converter.
This ensures that the sound quality remains comparable and is not
affected by converter differences.
From a
purely aesthetic standpoint, high quality analog outboard processing
consistently proves itself superior to digital processing. The analog
concept allows for problem-free integration of such analog processors.
Monitors and power amplifiers are almost exclusively analog in design.
Yet another converter at this point in the chain only degrades
monitoring signal paths. Furthermore, DSD signals cannot be monitored
on a digital monitoring that operates in PCM.
New Analog Technology
SPL’s SUPRA operation amplifiers are used throughout. They perform at
an industry benchmark of 120 volt. The SUPRA op amp achieves a
signal-to-noise ratio of 116dB with a headroom of 34dB. The dynamic
range amounts to 150dB with a frequency bandwidth of 200kHz.
With such specifications, the DMC rides comfortably beyond the
requirements of either the current maximum 24Bit/192kHz PCM format or
1Bit/256 fs DSD format.
DMC configuration
Sources
The
Sources section provides for the selection of four stereo inputs and
four returns. The inputs are fed to the mastering path, the returns are
fed to the monitoring section.
The Source section is divided into two parts. At the left are the input
selectors, which are fed to the mastering path. The DMC accepts four
stereo inputs here. The returns provide selection options for returns
from recorders, DAW, audio players, and so on.
All Input buttons allow for switching between the input monitoring mode
and the output monitoring mode for a direct comparison what comes in
and what goes out of the console.
Input
Any input selected in the Source section is routed to the Input
section. The signal passes passive L/R Phase Reverse switches, balanced
input receivers and active L/R On as well as Mono L/R switches.
Pre
and Post Insert Trims
Sophisticated rotary trim switches with 32 steps are used for precise
gaining from -10dB to +10dB for each Pre Insert L/R as well as Post
Insert L/R channel. These switches route the signal through one
precision resistor at any position only, keeping thermal noise and
tolerance at an unrivalled minimum.
Insert
The DMC offers a switchable Insert point between the Pre Insert Trims
and the Post Insert Trims to include external processors into the
signal path.
Monitor
Section
Besides the central high-end Monitor Level control the DMC’s monitor
section features L/R Solo switches as well as L/R Phase Reverse and L/R
Mono switches. Three signal paths can be monitored: input, output and
return.
Master
Fader
This fader features the same level control potentiometer as in the
Monitor Level section for dynamic mastering purposes and fine tuning
the overall level from +10dB to -80dB. The range can also be customized
to operate from 0dB to -80dB.
The Master Fader allows for dynamic mastering as well as fine tuning
the overall level from +10dB to -80dB. With this control's extremely
high (if not infinite) resolution the engineer can attain every ounce
of recording headroom. The result is an unparalleled excellence in
dynamic mastering. The Master Fader can be taken out of the signal path
with the Master Fader On switch.
Speakers
The Speakers section allows for connection of four stereo speaker sets.
Three different Dim levels (-10dB, -20dB and -30dB) and Mute can be
selected by the push of a button.
Option:
SPL MasterBay
The DMC can optionally be complemented with an insert box called
MasterBay. The MasterBay
consists of a 4U insert box and a remote control panel. Up to eight,
2-channel processors can be connected to the insert box, which is
operated by the MasterBay remote panel.
The remote control provides a button for each of the eight external
processors. Depressing them in sequence switches among choices in
processor signal flow. Beside each button is a seven segment
LED-display indicating the current position of the processor in the
sequence.
The mastering engineer can use this feature to compare between
sequences in a varying order or to compare the same type of processors.
Three
memory banks are available which allow an active signal flow sequence
to be compared instantly at a button push with three others (for a
total of four). If the optional MasterBay is connected, the DMC’s
Insert On switch activates the MasterBay or switches it to a
hard-bypass.
Specifications
| 
