TerraTec DMX 6-fire - Page 2

The TerraTec DMX 6-fire

Perspective view of the DMX 6-fire

Backside view - nice clean layout on the PCB

Frontside view

The breakout box, terratec drive or whetever you like to name it yourself.

I’m not sure what exactly the name is supposed to inspire, but I can say the physical thing conveys solid engineering and construction.  The PCB is black, which will look smart in a lighted case, and has four inputs, CD1, CD2, AUX (stereo), and a 2-pin digital connector, which TerraTec snuck in down at the bottom of the card.  The addition of a second CD input has been on my wish list for a while now and I tell you, this is really a great feature.  There is also a socket that connects to the front module, as well as two more sockets (one digital and one analog) for various add-ons.

The heart of the DMX 6-fire is IC Ensemble’s Envy 24 audio chip.  This is a true 24 bit/96kHz audio processor designed for the ‘audiophile’ prosumer market.  Better to say, ‘high end’ than audiophile.  Most audiophiles I know won’t even consider spending $250 on something, even if it does sound great.  VIA, which bought IC Ensemble, has plans to implement this audio chip in various products like thier super small EPIA motherboards.  I’ll await a TerraTec product that is centered on the Envy 24HT, which supports 24 bit/192kHz, and possibly DVD-Audio.  Mmmmm.

Let’s check out some specs, which I quote from TerraTec.net’s page:

Details

• PCI-board
• 3 analog stereo outputs (3,5mm jack) - 24 Bit/96 kHz
• 1 analog stereo input (3,5mm jack) - 24 Bit/96 kHz
• 2 analog CD-Audio outputs (Molex, On-Board) - 24 Bit/96 kHz
• 1 analog AUX input (Molex, On-Board) - 24 Bit/96 kHz
• 1 digital CD-Audio TTL input (Molex, On-Board)
• 1 analog stereo input (Cinch) on front module - 24 Bit/96 kHz
• 1 analog stereo output (Cinch) on front module - 24 Bit/96 kHz
• 1 analog stereo phono (MM, 6 mV ) input (Cinch) on front module- 24 Bit/96 kHz
• 1 analog mono microphone input (6,3mm jack) on front module - 24 Bit/96 kHz
• 1 analog stereo headphone output (6,3mm jack) on front module - 24 Bit/96 kHz
• 1 digital stereo in- and output (TOS-Link, optical) on front module - 24 Bit/96 kHz
• 1 digital stereo in- and output (Cinch, coaxial) on front module - 24 Bit/96 kHz
• 1 MIDI in- and output (5-pin DIN) on front module
• Control range of : 9mV - 500mV
• Output power of headphone output : 60 mW
• Bus master transfer supports ‚24bit 4byte mode' (32bit)
• Simultaneous recording and reproduction of all channels with up to 24bit/96kHz
• 24bit/96kHz AD converters with 100 dB dynamical range (S/NR)*
• 24bit/96kHz DA converters with 110 dB dynamical range (S/NR)*
• 24bit/96kHz stereo digital input (S/PDIF with up to 24bit/96kHz)
• 24bit/96kHz stereo digital output (S/PDIF with up to 24bit/96kHz)
• Digital input may also be used for digital audio output of an internal CD-Rom drive (TTL)
• Input control of AD converters with +18dB increment in 0,5dB steps
• Hardware with internal resolution of 36bit
• VU-meter in control panel (hardware based)
• "None-Audio" mode for transmission of AC3 and DTS streams via digital interface
• Connection option for microWAVE PC!, DXR and DXF , alternatively to DMX 6fire 24/96 front module

The ‘*’ in the details refers to the technical specs of the ADC/DAC chips, but in practice the DMX 6-fire gets pretty close to those numbers.

Software

• WDM driver for Windows 98SE/ ME/2000 and Windows XP Supports ASIO 2.0
• WDM Kernel Streaming (e.g. for Sonar)
• MME- and DirectSound
• DirectSound 3D, Sensaura 3D, A3D 1.0/2.0 and EAX 1.0/2.0 as well as Macro FX**
• ControlPanel for Windows 98SE/ME/2000 and Windows XP