Led Zeppelin Live at O2 Arena, click to see and hear No Quarter live.
If you own a classic analog stereo preamp or receiver, you have a problem. Without an HDMI input, you can’t play the highest resolution audio content available only on Blu-ray…..till now.
The ingenious High Def Audio Control Center ($699 MSRP) upscales all your digital and analog sources to the new high resolution standard of 24-bit / 96K-192K analog stereo. It de-embeds the digital LPCM 2 channel stereo soundtrack from the HDMI output of a Blu-ray player, bit-for-bit identical to the original master recording for the first time in audio history, delivering the full dynamic range of the live event. Video not required.
The Best Content Ever Is On Blu-ray
Audiophiles rejoice! Everything old is indeed new again with the High Def Audio Control Center ($699 MSRP) from Essence™. Live concerts by the world’s greatest artists now out on Blu-ray include uncompressed 24//96K LPCM 2 channel stereo, bit-for-bit identical to the original master recording. What does that mean? It means that with Blu-ray audio, your system will be able to play louder and cleaner than ever before, with the full dynamic range of the actual live recording, up to 120 dB. Most audiophiles have never experienced this level of fidelity to the original master recording. deneme bonusu
All previous formats required peak limiting of the dynamic range (compression) in order to fit on the storage media of the day. CD’s can store 700mB of data, 12 songs with 74 minutes playtime on a single-sided 5” disc, with up to 90 dB dynamic range compressed 4 to 1.
Vinyl albums can store 12 songs on a two-sided 12” disc with 20 minutes per side and up to 55-60 dB dynamic range (compressed 10 to 1, the same as MP3). DVD came along in the 90’s with 4.9 gigs of increased storage capacity for video and audio. The dynamic range increased another 10 dB but it was not identical to the studio master, still compressed 2 to 1 with Meridian Lossless Packing. This MLP algorithm was licensed to Dolby® and dts® and led to the emergence of DVD-A and SACD. While much better than a CD, there was very little mainstream music to choose from and the formats failed to catch on with the general public. Wikipedia reference
Blu-ray was introduced in 2007 with a storage capacity of 50 Gigabytes, enough room for the complete original recording as it took place live without compression, long known as the of holy grail of high fidelity.
There’s a catch; except for a few expensive brands, all late model Blu-ray players lack analog stereo RCA outputs so they can’t connect to the analog RCA inputs on older preamps and receivers. Blu-ray players feature an output connection protocol called HDMI, with HDCP copy protection, a two-way authentication of a secure connection. Its high speed and wide bandwidth were designed for data-rich bitstream HD content, both audio and video. The studios made it impossible to copy and who can blame them? They are protecting their copyrights against piracy. Up till now, there was no way for an HDMI output to feed an analog preamp unless it had an HDMI input and its own DAC.
Now there’s a new product called the High Def Control Center ($699 MSRP) from Essence™ . It cleverly de-embeds the uncompressed LPCM 24/96K stereo soundtrack from the HDMI output 
of your Blu-ray player, converting it to uncompressed 24/96K output analog stereo.
Nothing is lost in the process; the dynamic range of the live musical event can be heard on your existing analog system for the first time in audio history. It passes the 1080p video on to your HDTV display if you have one from its HDMI output via by-pass, fully compliant with HDCP. deneme bonusu veren siteler
It’s called a High Def Audio Control Center because converts all your digital and analog sources to the highest resolution, 24 bit with 96K to 192K bandwidth. It has 6 inputs and 6 outputs including professional balanced XLR connectors and headphone output. It’s remote control includes volume control, input selection, and more. The state-of-the-art OLED display delivers crisp off-axis readout of the unit’s status. The HDACC sells for $699 MSRP and comes with a one year warranty.
Shipping begins in October through audio specialists; if you’re interested, contact Bob Rapoport at [email protected] or 727-866-9767.
Learn more about the HDACC at its product page
Michael Hullevad
Bob, I completely agree it sounds awesome. I am using a NAD Masterseries M51 DAC/Preamp and feeds my analogue preamp with the signal. As I want to play my LP´s without having to “rewire” the poweramps it is easier to put an analogue (tube) pre to good use. Actually the built in pre of the M51 is very good.
By Michael Hullevad
Robin McConnell
Hi Bob,
Just a note to thank you for the info regarding the use of an HDMI de-embedder, I have now connected my Oppo 93 this way and, as you suggested, the overall sound quality and dynamic range is the best I have ever heard on my system. Chris Botti on Blu-ray for example is really outstanding. I use a Bryston DAC, Audio Research LS27 pre, 4 Bel Canto 1000 mono-blocks and Dali Megalines with JL Audio subs so the differences are really felt and heard.
Thanks again,
Robin McConnell, LinkedIn
So. Africa
Gerald Pratt
Bob, this DAC is the most incredible piece of audio equipment I have ever owned…. and the credit goes to you. You were the first to make me aware of Blu-ray music via HDMI. It required a whole new thinking about an audio source like this and you did a great job in your articles, I thank you for that.
Now with the best Oppo Blu-ray player, I have enjoyed music as I never have before. The Oppo lets me select a HDMI output with the video signal removed for the purest HDMI signal. I run a separate HDMI signal to the monitor. uncompressed 24/96k music is mind-blowing. I have shown my audiophile friends this arrangement, but many of them prefer to put their head in the sand and listen to their 1970’s audio sources. But I think Blu-ray will catch on all audiophiles at some point and there is definitely a market for a device like this.
I think the learning curve for all of the technology and process of interconnection is a bit scary for some and they feel more comfortable with the old technology. I plan on dragging one of my Blu-ray players over to my friend’s homes and plug it into their analog pre-amps and let them hear it on their own systems. Especially the dynamic range improvements.
Best regards,
Gerald Pratt
[email protected]