8
The way music should sound
O d é o n - l i t e
Birdland Audio
4 - Understanding the Odéon-lite
The Odéon-lite is a 24 bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) which can convert digital formats
up to 24 bits at sampling frequencies of 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 64kHz, 88.2kHz and 96kHz. It
supports any combination of the above resolutions / sample rates. Most common combinations in
the consumer market are 16bits/44.1kHz for CDs and 24bits/96kHz audio DVDs (Digital Versatile
Disk) sometimes also called DAD (Digital Audio Disk).
Common digital audio sources include CD transports or players, DVD players, DAT tape machines,
etc. These sources can be connected to the Odéon-lite inputs using either a Balanced XLR digital
interconnect cable (commonly called AES/EBU), a RCA or BNC digital interconnect cable (com-
monly called S/PDIF), or a fiber optic link (commonly called Toslink). The Super Audio Disk for-
mat - recently introduced by Sony/Philips - does not offer a way to carry digital data out of the box
and is not compatible with widely used S/PDIF or AES/EBU consumer and professional formats.
The Right and Left outputs on the back of the unit provide the resultant analog signal (from the
digital input conversion) and can be connected directly to amplifier blocks, to a preamplifier, or to
an integrated amplifier. When using the Odéon-lite with a preamplifier or integrated amplifier the
volume knob should be set to the 12 O’clock position.
The Odéon-lite is the result of out latest research in both Digital and Analog domains along with
the highest quality components providing you with the most natural sounding DAC you can get at
any cost. It is the first and only DAC that includes our own digital filter which upgrades the input
creating 24 bits out of any lesser resolution (such as 16 bit CDs) recordings before sending the data
to the DAC chip. By using this specialized circuitry, the Odéon-lite is able to improve the conversion
process by minimizing artifacts caused by anti-aliasing present in 16 bit CDs.
The Odéon-lite also includes our highly acclaimed
Solid-Tube
TM
technology in the output stage.
Solid-
Tube
TM
is our building block technology for analog stages. It is a clever and innovative combination of
JFET, MOSFET and Bipolar transistors such as each technology works to hide the shortcomings of
the others while extracting only the most desirable linear characteristics of each.
Solid-Tube
TM
outputs
are experienced as a very natural and extremely open sound stage where the system disappears to
leave only the music. This clinically accurate and transparent sound comes with a touch of warmth
otherwise found only in tube electronics.
