hile doing investigations of existing pieces out there in this style, I found a "highly rated" programmable (by USB) box that does analog 8x8 and 8x16 (I believe), is balanced audio, and reports to use technology that doesn't use a "digital matrix switch" to avoid leakage and crosstalk. But there are no specs of crosstalk, distortion, headroom, or signal to noise ratio, and at the least I'd like to know those. As a card-carrying audiophile who does not want anything in my chain that affects transparency, my experience with the various active technologies that do analog switching has been unhappy.
They talk about an "analog devices" (not capitalized) analog matrix switch which I suspect is "Analog Devices" so I should be able to look up this part.
Even simple FET switches give me pause.
I fear I would not be 100% satisfied with the sound of the unit at
http://www.violetaudio.com/upm88.htm
but this particular active unit strikes me as probably being one of the best in its class. I get a good feeling just from their literature. I'm a sucker for the word "purist"
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
. And the real problem is that I need AT LEAST 16 x 16, and this box can only be expanded to 8 x 16.
Oh, and here's the URL for a PDF on a 16x16 eval board for one of Analog Devices analog matrix switches. It's unbalanced and configured for video at 75 ohms with BNCs and uses a + and - 12 volt supply, but it's a ready-made solution and after removing the 75 ohm resistors, you'd have an analog, unbalanced, parallel-port-controlled 16x16 matrix "active" patchbay in a weekend if you're industrious!
http://www.analog.com/UploadedFiles/Evaluation_Boards/Tools/294226281AD8113EB.pdf
Here's one of the specs of this part AD8113:
Excellent Audio Performance
VS = ±12 V
±10 V Output Swing
0.002% THD @ 20 kHz Max. 20 V p-p
(RL = 600 Ω)
Hmmmmm..... almost makes you want to use it, or at least test it... at least your patchcords won't get dirty. Does anyone know the best way to purchase an Analog Devices Eval board?
And this is a NEW evaluation board, must be a new part, "available 6/30/2006" for $395. Sure fits my "do it yourself" sort of nature!