Martin Poulin
July 2019.
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Purchased a Lynx Aurora 32 Dante and am currently trying to figure out a DAW, and how to use the DANTE software to integrate a full crossover, and make use of it's 32 analog channels. The learning curve is very steep for my intended use, similar to the Motu 1248.
Sadly, the way these two units work isn’t compatible with the same software, so I need to start my search from scratch. For plain "un-processed" stereo outputs, 5.1 Dolby outputs and 7.1 outputs, the Lynx is really a breeze to use. I've listened to it through headphones, and within 20 minutes it performed flawlessly. For the main rig, however…not yet.
Capacitively coupled, no surprise. 1-Cap input 2-opa1602 receiver 3-relay 4-LME49724 5-MC33078
Here are a few pictures of the inside on the left.
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Luckily, there was no factory seal on the screw enabling me to peek inside.
The unit is still under warranty.
First off, there’s a spoiler. Listening to my modded Sennheiser HD-600 headphones, and comparing the stock $159CAD Behringer UMC-204HD to the $8000CAD Aurora 32, it was no surprise the Aurora literally crushed the Behringer :)
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The big surprise is that the tiny and affordable Behringer U-Phoria can play quite loud on the HD600 cans. I wasn't expecting that from the tiny USB power supply (4.4Vdc after passing through the internal protection diode) of the Behringer 204Hd. The HD-600’s are easy to drive.
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The Lynx is DC coupled on the analog out.
Obviously, the input has capacitor coupling for protection from Phantom power and other possible user mishaps.
If you look for an "Energy Star" logo on the Lynx Aurora, you won't find one. The unit becomes quite hot and consumes a mind blowing 75watts from the wall outlet.
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Even the rack mount bracket on the side has vent holes ( the holes match the case, so a nice touch!!!) See pic on left.
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This unit needs air and ventilation. As a rack mount, it has no provided feet, but if home use is the intent and the unit is installed on a flat surface, riser footers of few inches should be installed to allow for proper airflow.
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By comparison the MiniDSP 4x10HD draws around 34watts while operating, but only provides four inputs and eight analog outputs.
The Lynx 75 watts draw doesn't seem so bad now.
Oops...
Lynx… being a pro-focused company, obviously never thought of people not rack mounting this product. Hence, my DIY bamboo cylinders feet on my "custom" granite slab.
You really do need footers, as the unit requires ventilation.
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If you remove the rack mount bracket, you’ll end up with a hole on both sides, which could result in a spider or some other type of critter building a nest etc. NOT GOOD.
I’ll block the hole with some bug-screen, which will still permit air flow.
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It’s hard to justify spending $8K for an item designed like this.
No more comments.
32 channels simultaneously running under JRivers media player (version 25)
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All 32 at 24 bits and 96 kHz
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JRiver media player software internally processes the files, volume control and DSP at 64 bits. Then, JRiver directs the output to the Lynx Aurora at 24/96.
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You could use 88.2 , 48, 44.1KHz.
Higher than 96 kHz isn’t supported in 32 channels.
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(Update April 2020, - I prefer the 88.2 kHz over 96 kHz in my subjective listening test.)
Below is a partial "cut and paste" from the MiniDSP 4x10HD page.
I did it to compare the Lynx to the MiniDSP 4x10HD, so the information is here:
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...Long story short, I bought a Lynx Aurora N 32 Dante and never looked back. Yes, it was 15 times more expensive than the stock 4x10HD, but it offers SO much more. It sounds tremendously better too. Much, much, much better than the modded 4x10HD was. A real eye opener here.
The Lynx is a top of the line brand used in the professional world, not the consumer world...
· It has 32 analog output channels, not eight like the 4x10HD but 32 independent, balanced channels. I’ll never run out of channels, as I can add extensions if I ever want (64 channels analog is possible). It’s very “future proof”.
· Unlike the 4x10HD, the Lynx is fully DC coupled, with no capacitor at all in the signal path. Unrestricted dynamics are there, and I LOVE that.
· It relies on an external computer to do the processing, or is only used as a DAW (digital audio workstation) unlike the 4x10HD which does the processing internally.
· The 4x10HD is limited in how much processing one can do as its internal DSP processor has a limit. (but it’s very easy to use)
· The Lynx’s only limitation is how powerful your external computer is. The computer executes all DSP functions and then feeds it to the Aurora.
· The Lynx can then "process" as much as you want, and this is a huge bonus, as I always ran out of processing power on the 4x10HD. (However, the Lynx takes a lot of time to properly set up, and is not user friendly at all)
· It’s super reliable and has been field tested in studios around the world. Their customer service is top notch.
· The biggest drawback setting up the system is that it’s an epic PITA. It’s not intuitive, and errors come easy, as one doesn’t know how to proceed. It’s a very steep learning curve, so buyer beware.
o No graphical interface are available here, and one must "program" every DSP function, one by one.​