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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: yates7592 on September 15, 2016, 04:19:45 AM
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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
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It's plenty pricey on its own:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/806932/new-astell-kern-ak-recorder-prf11 (http://www.head-fi.org/t/806932/new-astell-kern-ak-recorder-prf11)
https://www.moon-audio.com/astell-kern-ak-recorder-prf11.html (https://www.moon-audio.com/astell-kern-ak-recorder-prf11.html)
https://www.worldwidestereo.com/products/astell-kern-ak-recorder-for-ak300-series-players-2prf110-cmmb01?sku=166847&CAWELAID=120216570000068662 (https://www.worldwidestereo.com/products/astell-kern-ak-recorder-for-ak300-series-players-2prf110-cmmb01?sku=166847&CAWELAID=120216570000068662)
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$1800 for a two channel recorder - even with the fact it's a high end player
No way
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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!
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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.
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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 ;)
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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/ (http://www.mojo-audio.com/blog/dsd-vs-pcm-myth-vs-truth/)
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Personally I prefer DSD to PCM but that's my ears