Description
Manley's optional 24 bit AD-DA converter was developed in association with the research engineers at Swiss based company Anagram Technologies. Well established in the audiophile market, their expertise has been brought to bear here to produce a stunning sounding accessory for Manley Labs' flagship professional product.

This optional 24 bit converter is a brand new design to insure the lowest possible conversion jitter, even with questionable sources. It will lock to an external clock via the digital input and is 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, and 192KHz capable. The DAC output is always available. There is even a clever way ("Expert Mode") in which to patch the SLAM! so as to enable the MIC PRE/ELOP to feed an EQ (or processor of your choice) returning back to the SLAM! to drive the FET LIMITER, meters, and the A-D converter.

The digital inputs and outputs are XLR for AES/EBU standard and BNC for Word Clock and Super Clock input. The BNC was added for convenience (not merely to help the unit's jitter performance) The jitter spec is "Almost Zero" and probably unmeasurable regardless of whether locked to its own crystal, the AES input or the Word/Super Clock.

A 7-way rotary switch selects 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96K, AES IN, Word Clock and Super Clock. For the AES output data rate (Manley don't say "sample
rate") this ADC and DAC always uses its internal 192K sample rate. A remarkable sample rate converter based upon SHARC DSPs is cleverly used to almost eliminate (not just reduce) jitter and provide the sonic benefits of 192K sampling, even at 48K or 44.1 data rates.

The ADC has a pair of switches for DITHER and NOISE SHAPING and WORD LENGTH, plus an unusual filter select switch. Manley Labs believe the choice of filter can critically affect the sound of a converter and, with this in mind, they give you 3 choices. 80K (minimal effect) 20K Analog, (a passive filter similar to the 18K on their Massive Passive EQ)),
and a 20K Digital FIR (for something comparable to other converters)

There are also 3 filters on the DAC side set for 20K, 40K gentle, and 80K. All passive, subtle and useful. There is a dedicated balanced jack output for the DAC, so these can be tube-converters or high end solid state. The ADC is similar, but tube or passive(!) front end, that allows a mastering EQ to be cleverly used in this chain.

These are exceptionally fast exceptional sounding world-class converters.