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Author Topic: Astell & Kern PRF11 recorder  (Read 4906 times)

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Offline yates7592

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Astell & Kern PRF11 recorder
« on: September 15, 2016, 04:19:45 AM »
PRF11 Recorder
http://www.astellnkern.com/

Designed to be used as a module in conjunction with an AK3xx DAP, this recorder module has great specs, records up to DXD or double DSD 5.6MHz, with 2 x 48V phantom powered mini XLR inputs. Will be pricey once the DAP is bought as well but I guess the sound will be worth it. Primary drawback apart from price for a 2-channel set up is the double whammy of 2 x separate rechargeable batteries to go at any time. Recording time quoted as 4 hrs for 2 x phantom powered mics at 24/96. Also I can't see the maximum input levels on the MIC-IN, and minimum gain on MIC-In seems to be +9dB.

General Specifications

    Model
    Body Color
    Body Material
    Recording Channel
    Audio Inputs
    mini XLR 3pin map
    Key Interface
    Battery
    Continuous Recording Time
    Dimensions
    Weight

    PRF11 / AK Recorder
    Meteoric Titan
    Aluminum
    2 channel, Stereo recording
    mini XLR 3pin type MIC/LINE x2(L/R), AES3 x1(L), 3.5mm MIC/LINE x1
    1 : Ground(G) / 2 : Positive(+) / 3 : Negative(-)
    MIC / LINE1 / AES3 select key x1, MIC2 / LINE2 select key x1, Phantom Power select key x1 (off / 5V / 48V)
    4,700mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer Battery
    about 4hours (24bit/96kHz WAV, External Mic & Phantom Power 48V)
    3.17 ”(80.7 mm) [W] x 5.01 ”(127.4 mm) [H] x 1.17 ”(29.9 mm) [D]
    8.85 oz (251 g)

Audio Performance

    Recording Bit Rate
    Sampling Frequency
    Frequency Response
    A/D Dynamic Range
    Equivalent Input Noise
    THD+N
    Gain
    Low Cut Filters
    Compressor & Limiter
    Phantom Power

    WAV : 16 / 24 / 32bit, DSD64, DSD128
    44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96 / 176.4 / 192 / 352 / 384kHz
    10Hz ~ 40kHz
    116dB A-weighted bandwidth
    MIC : -126dBu, 150ohm source, A-weighted filter
    MIC : 0.0004% max (1kHz, -15dBu) / LINE : 0.0006% max (1kHz, -15dBu)
    MIC : 9 to 60dB, 3.0dB increments / LINE : -96 to 22dB, 0.5dB increments
    40 ~ 240Hz in 10Hz steps @ 6,12,18,24dB/oct
    0 ~ -10dBFS, 1:2 ~ 1:20; Limiter, 1~1,000ms attack time, 10~2,000ms release time
    5V / 48V

 


Offline H₂O

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Re: Astell & Kern PRF11 recorder
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2016, 05:48:08 PM »
$1800 for a two channel recorder - even with the fact it's a high end player

No way
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Offline F.O.Bean

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Re: Astell & Kern PRF11 recorder
« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2016, 05:48:46 PM »
Plus the $1,500+ you need to buy the media player that works with the PRF-11[AK300/320/380] :P Nice and all but WAY too pricey IMO!
Schoeps MK 4V & MK 41V ->
Schoeps 250|0 KCY's (x2) ->
Naiant +60v|Low Noise PFA's (x2) ->
DarkTrain Right Angle Stubby XLR's (x3) ->
Sound Devices MixPre-6 & MixPre-3

http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/diskobean
http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/Bean420
http://bt.etree.org/mytorrents.php
http://www.mediafire.com/folder/j9eu80jpuaubz/Recordings

Offline ghibliss

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Re: Astell & Kern PRF11 recorder
« Reply #4 on: September 23, 2016, 01:51:34 PM »
The price for the recorder at the A+K online store is $999.00. The firmware in the player that must be attached to the recorder has provision for setting the phantom power to 5 volts or 48 volts.  The DPA SC4061 microphones which they also sell in their kit typically require 9 volts to operate optimally according to dpa so you would need to use an  external battery box to connect these microphones to the recorder for optimal performance.  I have been using these dpa 4061 microphones for over ten years with a 9 volt supply and they sound excellent.  Five volts will be enough for them to operate but not properly when exposed to higher spl levels of approximately 100db + where the capsules will typically brick wall with less than 8.5 volts.

I personally see no advantage to being able to record using the DSD format as you will not hear a difference comparing it with a 24/96 recording.  Having spoken to a few engineers at Sony Studios in New York the consensus from them is most engineers do not prefer the sound that they get from DSD vs pcm recordings. In addition to having substantially larger file sizes from the recording, I do not see any advantages to the DSD format plus the hassle of not being able to edit the files natively without a workstation and expensive software!  If you need to convert the files from DSD to .wav to edit and then convert back to DSD there is no real advantage.   The Tascam editing application is not a real solution in my opinion.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2016, 03:02:42 PM by ghibliss »

Offline F.O.Bean

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Re: Astell & Kern PRF11 recorder
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2016, 02:24:03 AM »
The price for the recorder at the A+K online store is $999.00. The firmware in the player that must be attached to the recorder has provision for setting the phantom power to 5 volts or 48 volts.  The DPA SC4061 microphones which they also sell in their kit typically require 9 volts to operate optimally according to dpa so you would need to use an  external battery box to connect these microphones to the recorder for optimal performance.  I have been using these dpa 4061 microphones for over ten years with a 9 volt supply and they sound excellent.  Five volts will be enough for them to operate but not properly when exposed to higher spl levels of approximately 100db + where the capsules will typically brick wall with less than 8.5 volts.

I personally see no advantage to being able to record using the DSD format as you will not hear a difference comparing it with a 24/96 recording.  Having spoken to a few engineers at Sony Studios in New York the consensus from them is most engineers do not prefer the sound that they get from DSD vs pcm recordings. In addition to having substantially larger file sizes from the recording, I do not see any advantages to the DSD format plus the hassle of not being able to edit the files natively without a workstation and expensive software!  If you need to convert the files from DSD to .wav to edit and then convert back to DSD there is no real advantage.   The Tascam editing application is not a real solution in my opinion.

Just wondering, but why couldn't you just use the 9volts of Phantom/juice from the Astell & Kern, vs. using an external 9v PS? If it lets you set Phantom Power from 5v-48v, then using the Micro DPAs at 9v should be perfect! I just don't see your need for an external 9v solution if the Astrell & Kern has selectable 5v-48v power? TIA

And 100% agreed about DSD! IMO, DSD is just about DEAD! Its not a superior format, and barely ANY decks use it. Sorta reminds me of VHS/Betamax! Betamax just wouldn't die, just like DSD, and you cant natively edit the DSD files, which make them USELESS if you have to convert DSD>PCM>DSD IMO! If you cant edit the DSD files, then what use are they lol? As always, YMMV ;) I think its best to record PCM and leave as WAV/BWF, rather than convert DSD>PCM>DSD anyway! DSD was more meant for the analog domain in the 80s/90s when there was an advantage to the 1-bit format, for converting between analog conversions! Great idea Astell & Kern, but kind of misguided and way too pricey for what it is. Basically, its a great high-end player, with an inferior DSD format, that is meant more for millionaires than your average consumer! IMO, Astell & Kern should put their R&D research $$ into their 32-bit Digital format, vs. pumping $$ into a dying DSD format! As always, YMMV ;)
« Last Edit: September 26, 2016, 02:29:23 AM by F.O.Bean »
Schoeps MK 4V & MK 41V ->
Schoeps 250|0 KCY's (x2) ->
Naiant +60v|Low Noise PFA's (x2) ->
DarkTrain Right Angle Stubby XLR's (x3) ->
Sound Devices MixPre-6 & MixPre-3

http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/diskobean
http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/Bean420
http://bt.etree.org/mytorrents.php
http://www.mediafire.com/folder/j9eu80jpuaubz/Recordings

Offline voltronic

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Re: Astell & Kern PRF11 recorder
« Reply #6 on: September 26, 2016, 06:32:34 AM »
There are a couple DAWs out there that can natively edit DSD, I think Pyramix is one of them.  But as has been said already, it's a flawed format.  Here's a good summary:
http://www.mojo-audio.com/blog/dsd-vs-pcm-myth-vs-truth/
I am hitting my head against the walls, but the walls are giving way.
- Gustav Mahler

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Offline H₂O

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Re: Astell & Kern PRF11 recorder
« Reply #7 on: September 26, 2016, 10:31:03 PM »
Personally I prefer DSD to PCM but that's my ears

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