| Product
Description
The
USB Matchbox is a professional USB-to-XLR
bi-directional stereo audio codec. It provides
unparalleled audio performance with the ease of
USB connectivity in any application where digital
audio from a computer needs to interface with
a professional analog audio system. The USB Matchbox
is USB powered, and solves the myriad of problems
caused by using common sound cards in broadcast
and professional audio environments.
The
Sound Card Problem
Using
a PC sound card to interface with a professional
audio system usually leads to numerous problems.
The inputs and outputs are often at the wrong
levels. The unbalanced interface creates ground
loops that cause hum and buzz. The "EMI hurricane"
within the PC case creates even more noise, and
the sound card audio quality is usually sub-par,
(despite exaggerated claims) with pedestrian design
and poor component quality. Although these shortcomings
may be accepted by a non-technical user, they
have no place in a broadcast station or professional
audio installation.
The
USB Solution
Henry
Engineering's USB Matchbox has been designed "from
the ground up" as a true professional product
that solves all of these problems. It delivers
impeccable audio quality, XLR connectivity, and
the convenience of a simple USB connection to
the computer.
The
heart of the USB Matchbox is Burr Brown's Delta
Sigma 8X Oversampled codec with SpAct audio clock
recovery architecture. The codec's superb performance
is further enhanced with Henry Engineering's proprietary
L/C pre-filtering and edge-of-the-art analog circuitry
painstakingly designed by Bill Sacks, founder
of Straight Wire Audio. This carefully tuned design
eliminates the transient intermodulation products
caused by inadequate reconstruction filters found
in even high-end sound cards. Careful attention
to component selection and circuit board layout
further enhance the design to yield true Audiophile
performance: ultra smooth, open and transparent
"un-digital" audio with rock-solid bass and crystal-clear
highs.
In
addition, the units internal switch-mode power
system virtually eliminates ground loops through
the PC, and allows operation at true professional
levels with liberal headroom. The net result is
obvious with a simple listening test: The USB
Matchbox will sonically outperform any soundcard
and even surpass the quality of many 24 bit systems.
MS-Windows and Linux OS are supported; no special
driver or software is needed. The USB Matchbox
will operate with virtually any audio editing,
recording, or broadcast automation software at
sample rates up to 48 kHz and up to 16 bit resolution.
For
The Professional
The
USB Matchbox provides the quality that professional
users require. Its dual-PLL asynchronous design
permits simultaneous record and playback. Front
panel controls allow precise adjustment of input
Level and L/R Balance trim. Output levels are
calibrated with recessed trimmers. Rear panel
connections include XLRs for balanced analog I/O,
Auxiliary unbalanced line inputs, and outputs
for amplified speakers. The Speaker output can
be muted with an external contact closure via
the Mute jack. The steel chassis provides effective
RF shielding. All ICs that connect to the "outside
world" are mounted in sockets.
The
USB Matchbox is 1/3 rack width, and can be rack-mounted
using the optional rack-mount shelf, or cabinet
or wall mounted using optional cabinet/wall mounting
brackets. Also available: USB Match Plus: Identical
to the USB Matchbox, but with the addition of
peak- reading level meters and a high-performance
headphone amplifier.
 
|
