Atomic gadgets: world’s first atomic AD/DA preamp

 

Antelope Audio, the manufacturer of state-of-the-art, high-end devices addressing the demands of the most discerning listeners, introduced Rubicon, world’s first Atomic AD/DA Preamp, a sophisticated 384 kHz digital audio preamplifier which integrates the world renowned 10M Rubidium atomic clock.

Rubicon caters for the ever-increasing interest in high resolution audio, addressing the specific needs of high end consumer electronics enthusiasts for accurate audio representation and detailed soundstage of both analog and digital recordings.

“Rubicon is the first DAC to integrate a Rubidium atomic clock, which is 100,000 times more stable than a traditional crystal oscillator. Coupled with Antelope’s 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking technology, the Rubidium achieves a breakthrough in jitter management, improving the sound quality in an unprecedented way,” said Antelope Audio in a press release.

The same technology is implemented in the Antelope’s flagship master clocks used for scoring blockbusters such as Avatar and available at the best recording and mastering studios around the globe.

“I find the idea of an audio enthusiast being able to hear his/her favorite recordings clocked by the world’s most stable clock very exciting. I believe this will bring the music appreciation in the home environment to a completely new level compared only to the precision and sonic detail representation available at the finest professional listening rooms,” shared Igor Levin, CEO and founder of Antelope Audio.

Housed in a sturdy, machined-aluminum enclosure with a vintage Art Deco design, Rubicon incorporates a discrete phono preamp, ultra linear, dual stage headphone drivers and Antelope’s renowned gold-plated relay volume control.

 

Rubicon features
10M Rubidium Atomic Clock, providing 100,000 times more accurate reference;
64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking jitter management technology;
Ultra low noise phono inputs with custom audio transformers, discrete JFET preamp design;
384kHz A/D & D/A converters;
Gold-plated stepped relay volume attenuator matched to 0.05dB for all volume levels;
Ultra-linear, dual stage headphone amps;
De-jittered audio S/PDIF output;
Custom USB 2.0 chip streaming up to 480 Mbits/384kHz with recording option;
DLNA streaming capabilities through an Ethernet interface

Analog Inputs
1x PHONO Input on RCA
3x Inputs on RCA
1x HiZ Input on RCA
1x Combo Balanced Input on XLR/¼ TRS

Analog Outputs
1x Balanced Output on XLR
1x Unbalanced Output on RCA

Digital Inputs
2x S/PDIF
2x TOSLINK
1x AES/EBU
Word Clock Input
Ethernet port

Digital Outputs
2x S/PDIF De-jittered outputs.