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The DDC-24/96 is powered from the computer's USB bus, with a red LED indicating when it is powered up; it works with both Macs and Windows machines, and no driver program needs to be installed. When you plug the Lindemann converter into the computer, it identifies itself as "USB DDC 24/96," and dual-mono volume sliders and a Mute button appear in the audio control utility's setup window. My Mac's USB Prober indicated that the USB-DDC 24/96 is manufactured by "Lindemann audiotechnik GmbH" and that it will operate at sample rates of from 32 to 96kHz, but, like the Stello U2, not at 88.2kHz.…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Lindemann USB-DDC 24/96: Bus-powered USB-S/PDIF converter for use with PCs and Macs (no third-party driver software required). Input: USB 1.1–compliant, Type B. Output: S/PDIF electrical on BNC jack, S/PDIF optical on TosLink jack. Sample rates supported: 32, 44.1, 48, 96kHz. Input/output bit depth: 16 or 24.
Dimensions: 2.2" (55mm) W by 2.2" (55mm) D by 1" (25mm) H. Weight: 2.5oz (71gm).
Finish: aluminum.
Serial Number Of Unit Reviewed: 119060026.
Price: $650. Approximate number of dealers: 9.
Manufacturer: Lindemann Audiotechnik GmbH, Germany.…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Digital Sources: dCS Puccini SACD/CD player; Benchmark DAC 1, Musical Fidelity X-24K D/A converters; dCS U-Clock, Bel Canto USB Link 24/96 USB-S/PDIF converters; G4 Mac mini running OS10.4.11, Shuttle PC with dual-core AMD Athlon processor running Windows 7.
Preamplifier: Simaudio Moon Evolution P-8.
Power Amplifier: Simaudio Moon Evolution W-7.
Integrated Amplifier: NAD M2 Direct Digital.
Loudspeakers: Aerial 20T V2, Focal Maestro Utopia.
Cables: Digital: Stereovox XV2 electrical S/PDIF, Belkin Gold USB. Interconnect (balanced): AudioQuest…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
I examined the measured behaviors of the Stello and Lindemann USB converters using the Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see www.ap.com and "As We See It" in the January 2008 issue), as well as the Miller Audio Research Jitter Analyzer. I played back test tones at various sample rates and bit depths from BIAS Peak Pro 6 on a Mac mini running OS10.4.11, with some tests repeated on a dual-core PC running Windows 7 and Adobe Audition 3.0.
To check whether either USB link was bit-transparent, I fed its S/PDIF output to an RME soundcard fitted to a second PC and…
Sonic Booms
Steam Locomotives, Jet Fighter Aircraft, Military Exercise (with live ammunition), WWII Aircraft, Comic Relief I & II, West Mountain Inn, Diesel Train, Steam Train with Rain & Thunder
Bainbridge BCD6276 (CD only). Produced & mixed by Brad S. Miller. DDD. TT: 58:00
Steam Locomotives, Jet Fighter Aircraft, Military Exercise (with live ammunition), WWII Aircraft, Comic Relief I & II, West Mountain Inn, Diesel Train, Steam Train with Rain & Thunder
Bainbridge BCD6276 (CD only). Produced & mixed by Brad S. Miller. DDD. TT: 58:00
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People of my generation have learned that change is certain. You can't know what the change will be, but you can bank on the fact that there will be serious change over the next ten years. Look at the historically most important change in ten years: microcomputers.
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Henderson: That certainly is the situation in our case…
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