xIO Stage 4x4 Hardware¶

Audio input (A/D), output (D/A) expander for Symetrix systems that capitalizes on the surplus DSP of a Dante-enabled Symetrix DSP unit to bring overall system costs down.
4 mic/line inputs, including +48 VDC phantom power, and 4 line outputs with the industry leading analog performance specifications of Radius NX, Edge and Prism DSPs.
Configured with Symetrix Composer. No third-party software, archaic DIP switches, or complicated front panel menus.
Network audio expansion using Dante protocol over standard IT networks. Ultra-low latency.
Mounts in standard 8”x8”x4” electrical enclosure.

The cost-effective xIO Stage 4x4 increases a system’s analog input and output channel capacity resulting in a reduction in overall price per channel. Designed exclusively for use with Dante-enabled Symetrix DSP units, each of the four XLR analog inputs’ parameters (5 gain levels, phantom power) and four XLR analog outputs’ parameters (mute), along with bus assignments, are configured using Symetrix Composer open architecture software. xIO Stage 4x4 set up is logical and fast with no requirement to use third-party software; there are no mechanical switches or circuit board jumpers to set. Systems are simpler, cost less and have fewer potential points of failure. The industrial design is ideal for mounting into an 8”x8”x4” electrical enclosure.

Specifications¶

System¶

Sampling Rate: 48 kHz

Dante Cable: Standard CAT6, maximum device-to-device length = 100 meters

Latency: 1.92 mS (input to output, 1 mS Dante latency)

Analog Inputs¶

Number of Inputs: Four (4) switchable balanced mic or line level

Connectors: Female Neutrik metal body DL series XLR connectors

Nominal Input Level: +4 dBu with 20 dB of headroom (digital)

Maximum Input Level: +23 dBu (1% distortion)

Mic Pre-amp Gain: 0, 12, 24, 44 or 54 dB switchable

Mic Pre-amp EIN: < -125dB with 150 ohm source impedance

CMRR: > 76 dB @ 1 kHz, unity gain

Input Impedance: 8k Ohms balanced, 4k Ohms unbalanced

Phantom Power (per input): +48 VDC @ 10 mA maximum

Dynamic Range: > 112 dB, A-weighted

Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz, ± 0.5 dB

Channel Separation: > 110 dB @ 1 kHz, +24 dBu

THD + Noise: < -100 dB, unweighted; 1 kHz @ +16 dBu with 0 dB gain

Latency: 0.30 mS

Analog Outputs

Number of Outputs: Four (4) balanced line level

Connectors: MaleNeutrik metal body DL series XLR connectors

Nominal Output Level: +4 dBu with 20 dB of headroom

Maximum Output Level: +24 dBu (+22.8 dBu into a 2k Ohm minimum load)

Output Impedance: 300 Ohms balanced, 150 Ohms unbalanced

Dynamic Range: > 116 dB, A-weighted

Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz, ± 0.5 dB

Channel Separation: > 110 dB @ 1 kHz, +24 dBu

THD + Noise: < -94 dB, unweighted; 1 kHz @ +20 dBu with 0 dB gain

Latency: 0.60 mS

Mechanical Data¶

Space Required

Minimum requirement of 8”x8”x4” electrical enclosure.

Electrical

PoE IEEE 802.3af Class 0, 10 Watts maximum. No line voltage switching required (100-250 VAC, 50-60 Hz).

Certifications or Compliance

Safety: UL 60065, cUL 60065, IEC 60065

EMC: FCC 15.109, FCC 15.109(g), FCC 15.107, EN 55032, EN 55103-2, EN 61000-3-3, EN 61000-3-2, ICES-003, RoHS.

Environmental: RoHS

Shipping Weight

3.7 lbs. (1.678 kg)

A&E Specifications¶

The xIO Stage 4x4 shall provide four XLR analog mic/line inputs that are adjustable from line to mic level with coarse gain and phantom power and four XLR analog line outputs. Levels and phantom power shall be controllable via DSP modules in software.

Network audio expansion shall be provided by the Dante protocol. The connector shall be 100 Base-T RJ45 utilizing CAT6 cable.

A designer software application shall be provided that operates on a Windows computer, with network interface installed, running Windows® 7 or higher operating system. Computer connection for configuration shall be via a hosting DSP unit’s rear panel Ethernet connector that communicates with the devices via Dante.

The front panel shall include indicators for POWER, ETHERNET, and AUDIO BUS.

Audio conversion shall be 24-bit, 48 kHz and the dynamic range shall not be lower than 115 dB, A-weighted with a maximum input level of +23 dBu and maximum output level of +24 dBu. The device shall be powered over Ethernet (PoE) by an included 802.3af Class 0 PoE injector. The device shall meet UL/CSA and CE safety requirements and comply with CE and FCC Part 15 emissions limits. The device shall be RoHS compliant. The chassis shall be constructed of cold rolled steel, and is designed to mount in a standard 8”x8”x4” NEMA junction, pull, or switch box. The device shall be aSymetrix xIO Stage 4x4.

Front Panel¶

LEDs¶

Audio Bus: Bi-color LED is off when nothing is connected, green when connected and all subscriptions are working or no subscriptions are configured, orange when some subscriptions working, and red when no subscriptions are working.

Ethernet: Bi-color LED flashes green briefly when a Symetrix-related packet is received. This includes communications from Composer software via a locating unit and preset recalls. If it is on solid, there is constant network traffic. The Network LED will not light for other types of network traffic such as Dante audio and control, ping, FTP, DHCP negotiations, Telnet, etc. The LEDs on the rear-panel Ethernet jack itself indicates every type of network traffic. If there is no link (the network is down), the LED will turn orange.

Power: Flashes green until the unit fully boots. If it remains flashing indefinitely, this may indicate a firmware or hardware problem. Solid green when operating normally.

I/O¶

XLR Inputs: 4 Analog mic/line inputs with premium Neutrik metal body DL series XLR connectors.

XLR Outputs: 4 Analog line outputs with premium Neutrik metal body DL series XLR connectors.

Side Panel¶

Dante: 100 Base-T Ethernet port provides 8 (4x4) channels of Dante network audio, Ethernet communications, and power.

Analog Mic/Line Inputs: Four (4) balanced analog audio inputs, with individually software-controllable pre-amp gains (reference levels of -50 dBu, -40 dBu, -20 dBu, -10 dBV and +4 dBu), and phantom power.

Analog Line Outputs: Four (4) balanced analog line level audio outputs with mute.