With the convergence of entertainment systems, we at Team Orpheus came to realise that the future of not only audio but also entertainment technology is in all in one solutions, the main concept of which is integration. Since 2010 Team Orpheus has been developing a Digital Audio Dock (DAD). It has been created as an all encompassing solution for digital audio playback. Its aim is to allow any digital audio source to be compatible with S/PDIF and ADAT Lightpipe formats, which are protocols for transferring widely used digital audio data.
The minimalistic avant garde design, designed for simplistic eye pleasing perfection, can trick the beholder, as the Vanguard DAD houses the power and potency unrivalled by any Digital Audio Dock.
Connecting your computer to your DAD has never been simpler as a large number of connection ports are provided in the DAD for complete digital compatibility. The supported digital protocols are USB 2.0, FireWire 400, Bluetooth AD2P, LAN and USB Flash. The DAD is able to work in multichannel mode with the USB, FireWire and ADAT modules.
The DAD also comes with licensed iPod and iPhone compatibility, in a dock which not only enables playback of your iPod/iPhone content but also the recharging of the devices. The most significant aspect of the iPod dock is that it enables better quality data transfer than a normal analog jack, by reading the numerical iPod transcript, the result of which is true representation of the audio. The features don't end here: for ease of use, it is possible to control your mobile device with the DAD itself.
To make listening to music directly from the internet possible, a web interface has been included, whereby it is possible for the user to configure the their desired URL and gain direct access to and high quality playback for their preferred web hosted audio content.
Exterior
The front panel is equipped with 9 LEDs to indicate the input selection, and two switches with which to control the input source. There is also a switch for the selection of the output sample rate which ranges from 44.1KHz to 192KHz.
To minimise jitter, the clocking information is displayed with two LEDs, to indicate whether the Phase Loop Lock (PLL) is locked and whether the system is clocked with an external signal.
The use of headphones has been made as convenient as possible by placing a headphone jack on the front panel accompanied with a volume control.
The DAD is also equipped with a USB port, located on the front panel, to enable the playback from USB flash keys and an iPod/iPhone dock on the top.
Controlling the DAD has been made as easy as possible with the controls on the front panel, or alternatively with the remote control which is capable of controlling the entire system.
Vanguard Digital Audio Dock Specifications:
- Word clock IN / OUT (44.1KHz/48KHz/96KHz/192KHz)
- Firewire multichannel: 8 Channels 24Bits @ 192kHz
- USB 2.0 multichannel: 8 Channels 24Bits @ 192kHz
- LAN/Ethernet: UPnP Compliant, Configurable WebRadio
- iPod and iPhone Dock.
- Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR A2DP (iPhone compliant)
- USB Flash Direct playback
- HDMI not HDCP Compliant
- Optical ADAT: Up to 8 Channels 24Bits @ 48kHz
- TOSlink: 1 Channel 24Bits @ 192kHz
- Analog Line INDigital Outputs
- 4 x SPDIF channels
- 1 x ADATAnalog Input
- 1 x Line In over jackAnalog Output
- Headphone
- 1 x Line Out over jack
Inputs
