Lynx Hilo Referance AD/DA System
"Lynx flytter stadig på grenser med sitt Hilo referanse AD/DA konverter system"
Lynx Hilo er i utgangspunktet tre ultra-høy-kvalitets produkter i en og samme enhet. En AD konverter, en DA konverter og en meget kraftig hodetelefonforsterker. Den utfører disse oppgavene optimalt bra takket være 'State of the Art' spesifikasjoner med et helt nyutviklet bi-linjert konverter design for optimalt signal støyforhold og nye dimensjoner av transparent opplevelse.
Hilo skiller seg totalt ut fra den normale norm på mange områder. Den er en "2 kanals" konverteren men har faktisk hele 12 innganger og 16 utganger. Med innebygget USB-2 tilkoblig er den også et Lydkort for PC/Mac for ren nytelse både visuelt og lydmessig hjemme i stua eller i masteringstudioet. Da Hilo digitalt kan utvides med mikrofonforsterkere, flere I/O og har batteridrift som opsjon er den også et optimalt alternativ i lydstudio og for innspilling i felten.
Hilo har et innovativt design og brukersnitt med trykkfølsom skjerm for valg av alle parametre og har omfattende meteringsmuligheter. LCD skjermen åpner for valg meter, design etter smak og behov som for eksempel med PPM eller VU stil. Her finnes også diagnose funksjoner, sanntids analyse og fase metere. Da Hilo har er basert på et FPGA design kan den oppdateres og videreutvikles i takt med utviklingen.
Hilo har en rekke I/O som med en innebygget 32 kanals mikser kan rutes fritt: Analog, AES/EBU, S/PDIF (via coax eller TOSLINK ), ADAT, USB. LT kort kan byttes ut med alternative opsjonskort med Pro Tools HD, AES/EBU eller MADI.
Kan man rent "Audiofilt" drømme om noe mer enn en Lynx Hilo…?
Lynx Hilo Referance AD/DA Converter System
Lynx Hilo Reference AD/DA Converter System. With the pristine, open, transparent audio quality for which Lynx is known, Hilo provides two channels of mastering quality analog to digital conversion, up to eight channels of digital to analog conversion, a secondary monitor output, and a world class independent headphone amplifier in a compact half-rack size.
Key Features
- Full-featured, ultra high performance A/D D/A converter.
- 12 inputs and 16 outputs.
- Control and monitoring via 480 x 272 LCD touchscreen.
- Three in one pro-level unit: A/D converter; D/A converter; headphone amplifier.
- Latest FPGA technology allows future enhancements and ability to use LCD technology for added metering, diagnostic,measurement functions.
- Utilizes Lynx Studio Technology’s proprietary SynchroLock™ technology to virtually eliminate jitter.
- Analog, AES/EBU, S/PDIF (via coax or TOSLINK), ADAT, USB inputs and outputs.
- Ships with LT-USB
The new Hilo Reference A/D D/A Converter System reengineers and redefines the concept and functionality of the two-channel converter. Essentially three units in one: A/D converter; D/A converter; and headphone amplifier, Hilo offers connectivity, performance and control never before available. Newly designed differential analog stages and bilinear converter topology provide industry-leading noise and distortion specifications and unprecedented transparency. Digital I/O is extremely versatile with support for AES/EBU, S/PDIF (via coax or optical) or ADAT. The Lynx LT-USB is standard, allowing additional USB I/O and computer connectivity.
Hilo is also the first professional converter with touchscreen operation and monitoring. All controls and signal routing is set up using easy to use menus. The setup page shows two stereo input meters and three stereo output meters. Optional screens show two selectable meter sets and even old-style analog VU meters. Future screens (updatable in the FPGA via download) will include further metering options, diagnostic operations and personalization.
The internal 32 channel mixer allows any input to be routed to any output. In fact there are three stereo analog output options. Line Out that supports eight standard trim settings, Monitor Out with a volume control, and a Headphone output, also with a volume control. In fact the headphone output has its own dedicated D/A converter with the option of a different mix than the Line and Monitor outputs.
Line In Performance
THD+N: -114dB @1kHz, -1dBFS, 20kHz filter
Dynamic Range: 121 dB, A-weighted, -60dBFS signal method
Frequency Resp.: ± 0.01 dB, 20 – 20kHz
Crosstalk: 130 dB maximum @ 1kHz, -1dBFS signal
Line Out Performance
THD+N: -109dB @1kHz, -1dBFS, 20kHz filter
Dynamic Range: 121 dB, A- weighted, -60dBFS signal method
Frequency Resp.: ± 0.01 dB, 20 – 20kHz
Crosstalk: -120 dB maximum @ 1kHz, -1dBFS signal
Sound on Sound TEST:
In terms of pure audio quality, Hilo is a very impressive flagship for Lynx.
When I auditioned it as a simple stereo D-A converter, the performance was astounding and amongst the best I have ever heard. I compared it directly with the likes of Grace Designs’ M902, Benchmark’s DAC1 and a Bryston SP1.7 processor, and it came out on top without much argument. Controlled and refined…polished and precise…fantastic sense of depth…space and separation between different instruments…no detectable coloration or sonic fingerprint, just sublime neutrality and accuracy.
There are countless two-channel converters, but few match the Hilo’s technical or sonic performance and none offer the routing versatility or potential for new functionality.
Hilo is a very attractive device, both visually and intellectually, and everything worked reliably and logically during my tests.
The headphone output proved capable of generating very significant sound-pressure levels even with high impedance headphones, and the sound was sublime on my AKG K702s and Sennheiser HD650s.
The connectivity should already make Hilo appeal to anyone wanting a simple buy very high-quality line-level interface for studio or battery-powered location recording.