Black Lion Audio Sparrow ADC MKII - Red #ADII0153A (Used)

The Black Lion Audio Sparrow ADC MKII RED (red faceplate) is also a two-channel ADC but is more comparable to our acclaimed FM192 modification. It features a low-noise, low-ripple converter circuit design and the same novel 220/270SP master clock that's found in our FM192. Rich, euphonic frequency response, shimmering top end, and fat low-end extension are all elements of this uniquely musical converter. Once you track with it, you'll find other converters sound hard, processed, or lifeless. Use it for mastering, two-track classical or jazz recordings, final mixes, or whatever application your studio needs.

The Sparrow ADC MKII is housed in a 1U 1/2 rack chassis, featuring XLR and ¼" balanced inputs, LED metering, BNC word clock I/O, AES output, coax & optical S/PDIF output, and user selectable signal calibration accommodating nominal input signal levels from +11dBu down to -10dBV. It features sampling rates from 44.1kHz -192kHz, with a clocking architecture that features low jitter and wide Q third harmonic crystal oscillators, and because of the quality of the clock multiplier and PLL recovery stages, performance will not degrade should the converter be synched to a lower quality word clock reference.

The A/D conversion process is a tricky beast to tame. Because conversion requires so much current movement, there are plenty of places for unwanted noise to be created, both within the signal chain and in the power supply. This unwanted noise manifests itself within the audio signal as a grainy distortion, and often resides in the upper frequencies.

As we began to research and test approaches to converter design, we discovered a unique way to reduce this unwanted noise and distortion, one that's not only inexpensive to implement but also works better than traditional approaches. We coupled this proprietary converter circuit to a high-speed, high-headroom analog stage that can capture the smallest nuances and micro-dynamics. The result is unparalleled: an inexpensive two-channel A/D converter that not only has an enormous sound with pinpoint imaging, but also has the smooth, wide open sonic quality of expensive high end systems and a wonderfully rich midrange.

Black Lion's Sparrow ADC MKII (named as homage to French singer Edith Piaf) features 4 input stage trim presets and a single ultra-low distortion amplifier before the converter for simplicity and purity of signal path. Power supply filtration is designed around latest-generation organic semiconductor capacitance instead of a traditional electrolytic-based method, ensuring low power supply noise. This is an A/D that can easily go head to head with the big boys; once you use the Sparrow Micro Series A/D converter, your standards will be forever changed!


Features:

• Balanced inputs (XLR or ¼")
• Selectable user calibration
• Word clock input and output
• Sampling rates from 44.1kHz -192kHz
• AES, coax S/PDIF, and optical S/PDIF
• LED metering
• Accommodates nominal input signal levels from +11dBu down to -10dBV
• 1U high, ½ space rack mount chassis
• User selectable 110/220 voltage input

Specifications:

• Dynamic range: 120dB Black and Red Sparrow Unweighted. 122dB for the White Sparrow Unweighted. (124dB A-Weighted)
• Max analog input before digital clipping: >+24dBu
• Inputs: Balanced Analog = TRS and XLR Clock = 75 Ohm BNC
• Outputs: SPDIF = Coaxial (75 Ohm) and Optical, AES-EBU (110 Ohm) Word Clock = 75 Ohm BNC Word Clock Lock = indicator LED
• Sampling rates: 44.1kHz - 192kHz
• Bit rate: 24 bit
• Latency: ≤ 65/Fs
• Digital Audio Output Level Indicator: Bi-Color LED (Green/Amber/Red)