Millennia Media Imersiv HDR-A Multiple-Path Audio Architecture
Great Additions
Description
Welcome to the most significant audio breakthrough since digital conversion. Delivering noise, linearity, and dynamic range performance so advanced that modern test equipment cannot measure it. Imersiv HDR-A is a revolutionary new multiple-path audio architecture, poised to fully re-imagine the way we capture and deliver sound, from microphone to power amplifier, and everything in-between.
HDR-A®
You may be familiar with HDR or High Dynamic Range photography. This is an image process that dramatically increases the dynamic range of photographic light. See the comparison showing a traditional photograph versus an HDR photograph. The improvement in HDR low-level detail is stunning.
Multi-path music processing is to audio what HDR is to photography. The analogy is so perfect that Millennia is calling it HDR-A or High Dynamic Range Audio.
In HDR photography, multiple stacked exposures are intelligently summed into a single photo, resulting in significantly improved dynamic range. In imersiv HDR-A audio, multiple stacked sound levels are intelligently summed into a single audio file, resulting in dramatically improved dynamic range.
The image comparison is directly analogous to the improvement in low-level audio clarity and atmospheric depth experienced with imersiv HDR-A multi-path processing.
Realization
Perfecting HDR-A took over 10 years of continuous research and development.
Path 1 is an audio signal with 90dB of dynamic range, from 0dB to 90dB. Path 2 is an audio signal with 100dB of dynamic range, from 80dB to 180dB. When paths 1 & 2 are combined, the resulting dynamic range is 180dB, from 0dB to 180dB. That's multi-path high dynamic range audio.
Multi-path HDR-A offers two major advantages over traditional single-path methods. First, it significantly reduces noise and distortion (THD+N). The imersiv D-1 achieves a remarkable 40 nanovolts of broadband noise, which is around 40 dB lower - 100 times quieter - than today's best DAC designs. In fact, the D-1's self-noise is 25dB below the measurement capability of today's leading test equipment, such as the APx555B (see FAQ).
The second advantage is untethered headroom. HDR-A technology allows us to boost high-path headroom to any level without affecting our quiescent self-noise. The D-1 provides +22dBu (10 volts) of ISO-free headroom while maintaining its profoundly low 40nV self-noise floor. This results in a true broadband, unweighted linearity and dynamic range of 28 bits or 168dB.
Multi-path is the next design standard of audio architecture, from microphone to power amp, and everything in between.
Purity
Acoustic recording engineers - whether in film scoring, classical music, jazz, or other genres - understand that spatial information is conveyed in the quiet moments: in the space between notes; in the subtle decay of a piano chord just before it fades from perception; in the brief instant a note is first struck, before it reaches its peak. Quoting one of today's top recording engineers, "On the music side, everything in the quiet neighborhood is where we get the "life" and spatial cues in a recording. Distortion of lower-level partials is the very first casualty of any acoustic recording."
Extraordinarily pure low-level audio is a key reason why HDR-A topology delivers improved spatial and timbral realism compared with legacy single-path DACs. When audio levels drop below a certain threshold, HDR-A begins processing in a new DAC core - with dramatically lower distortion+noise (THD+N) performance.
See diagram. Compare a low-level, perceptible sine wave on the D-1 multi-path DAC versus a high quality single-path DAC. Single-path waveforms are jaggy and noisy. We hear this as poor image definition, atmospheric collapse, and a blurring of complex timbres - while HDR-A "new core" signals remain pure and natural, even far below the limits of human hearing.
Specifications
- Supported Input Format: 32kHz to 384kHz up to 32-bits. 1xDSD, 2xDSD, 4xDSD, Dante- Digital Inputs: 1x USB (B) 32-bit, 1x AES XLR, 3x SPDIF BNC, 1x Toslink, 1x Dante (option)
- XLR Analog Outputs: +22dBu diff-bal (9.75Vrms) max. Zero Inter-sample overs. 1.8 ohms Z
- Level Control: 0.1dB or 1.0dB per step, selectable, 154dB range (-130 to +24dB)
- Manual Alignment: To 0.01dB left + right matching
- Display: Monochrome OLED 256 x 64
- Front Panel Switches: Input, Setup, Select, Filter, Mute
- Remote Control: IR, 27 functions, 4 reserved, 2 AA batteries required
- Powering: 90-240V 50-60Hz
- Power Use: 15 Watts nominal
- Chassis Dimensions: 8.6"W x 16.3"D x 3.2"H (218W x 414D x 81H mm)
- Weight: 7 pounds 7 oz (3.4kg)
- Included Accessories: Power Adapter, IEC Power Cable, Remote Control, 2 AA Batteries, Quick Start Guide, BNC to RCA Adapters (3)
- Temperature Range: 32°F to 104°F (0°C to 40°C)
- Humidity Range: 35% to 85% RH, non-condensing
- Frequency Response: 20Hz 20kHz +/-0.1dB
- THD+N at 1kHz (22kHz BW): 0.0002% at +22dBu
- THD+N at 20kHz (80kHz BW): 0.0005% at +22dBu
- Self-Noise 20Hz-22kHz bandwidth: -146dBu unweighted (calculated)
- Dynamic Range: 168dB (28-bits)
- Signal-to- Noise Ratio: 168dB (28-bits)
- Linearity: 168dB (28-bits)
- Crosstalk: Better than -120dB at 1kHz
- Headphone Output: 32ohm to 600ohm, 2.8W max
- DC Offset: 20uV max quiescent
- Digital Filter: 6 selectable variations, see user guide
- Polarity Flip: 180 degrees
- Mute: Output Relay
- Resampling: 192kHz
- Calibration: See user guide
Q & A
Reviews
Protect your investment with the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty
A warranty can be a very important factor when making a buying decision. Because repairs can be very expensive in terms of parts and labour costs, manufacturers usually only provide one year limited warranties that generally only cover items that malfunction due to a manufacturer’s defect. With an important purchase such as a musical
instrument or piece of studio gear, however, many people want to have the peace of mind in knowing that their investment will be protected should the product no longer be performing at 100%.
Because of this, Long & McQuade provides our customers with a FREE one-year Performance Warranty on most of our products. The Long & McQuade Performance Warranty supplements the manufacturer’s warranty to ensure that our customers receive complete “no hassle” warranty coverage within their first year.
How does the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty differ from most manufacturers' warranties?
- Performance Guarantee: Normal wear and tear is covered, so your product will be performing as well as the day you purchased it for the entire duration of the coverage. Band and Orchestral Performance Warranty does not include replacing pads or cleaning for woodwind instruments, unless deemed necessary by our repair staff. Ultrasonic cleaning for brass instruments will be provided if deemed necessary by our repair staff, but is not routinely offered under the Performance Warranty.
- Product Replacement: If your product cannot be fixed or costs too much to fix, we will replace it with the equivalent model for no additional charge. If this is not possible, a full refund will be provided.
- No Lemon Policy: Your product will be replaced should the same problem occur multiple times.
- Convenient: Easy drop off and pick up of the product at any Long & McQuade location.
- Guitar Setup: Guitars purchased at Long & McQuade come with 1 free setup, to be redeemed within 1 year for new guitars and 90 days for used guitars.
- Loaners Available: A loaner product may be given while the product is being repaired.
- Power Surge Protection: Your product is covered even if damaged from a power surge.
- Accessory Coverage: Any peripheral devices or accessories that come with your product (i.e. foot pedal, case) are also covered.
- Commercial Use Coverage: Music and recording professionals who purchase gear for “heavy-use” commercial purposes will still be covered.
Long & McQuade reserves the right to restrict the purchase of additional years of Performance Warranty. Used products come with a 3-month Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Some products (i.e. computers, software, cymbals and other items) are covered only by the manufacturer‘s warranty. Consumables (i.e. strings, reeds, drum sticks, batteries, tubes, cross faders) are excluded as they are designed to be replaced. Cosmetic Damage, Accidental Damage, or problems caused by Humidity or Temperature Issues are not covered. Speakers damaged by overpowering are generally not covered. Our coverage does not provide compensation for loss of use. As of June 2018 the Performance Warranty is no longer transferable. The warranty is only valid in Canada.
Purchasing additional years of coverage
Some manufacturers provide warranties for longer than 1 year; however, these are usually limited warranties that do not provide the same coverage as the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Customers interested in more complete and convenient (but not necessarily longer) coverage are still able to purchase additional years of the Performance Warranty.
If you are interested in receiving this coverage for longer than one year, you have the option of purchasing additional years of the Performance Warranty. The pricing is as follows:
- NEW products: Starting at 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. Starting at 4% for each additional year.
- USED products: Starting at 4% of the current new selling price to increase the warranty from 3 months to 1 year. Starting at 4% for each additional year.
- GUITARS: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year. $45 maximum. An additional free setup is not included with additional purchased years of Performance Warranty.
- BAND and ORCHESTRAL instruments: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.
Reserve in Store
| Product | SKU | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Imersiv HDR-A Multiple-Path Audio Architecture | 835049 |
