Digital Audio Denmark DAD AX Center Base Thunderbolt Audio Interface

AX Center is an extremely capable multi-channel audio converter and digital audio interface, which is ideal in a sound studio as a pristine and versatile audio centre piece for recording and monitor control applications both in stereo and immersive studio configurations as well as a routing a processing interface for live music applications.

AX Center has a native 2x8 channel analogue section providing two selectable Mic/Instrument inputs, two stereo headphone outputs and two set of stereo monitor outputs. The DAD routing engine provides a 1006x1112 matrix where all inputs and outputs can be patched in any combination. In addition, a 512x64 channel summing processor and a 1024 filter SPQ equalizer is also available. Two slots are available for optional expansion cards.

• 2 microphone, line and instrument inputs
• 2 stereo headphone outputs
• 2 stereo monitor outputs
• Thunderbolt 3 I/O (256 channels at 48 & 96 kHz)
• Dante AoIP I/O (256 channels at 48 kHz, 128 channels at 96kHz)
• MADI I/O (64 channels at 48 kHz)
• ADAT I/O (16 channels)/SPDIF (2 channels)
• Up to 256×256 channels I/O via optional cards
• Up to 256×256 DADLink channels or 128x128 MADI channels at 48 kHz via SFP modules
• 512×64 channel PRO | MON monitor control
• Speaker EQ 128 channel w 16 filters and channel delay up-to 1s
• Control | Pack for Playback Redundancy and Show Control
• 28bit floating point processing
• Apple macOS and Windows compatible DADman control software
• Apple macOS Core Audio and Windows ASIO compatible Thunderbolt audio drivers
• Avid Eucon™ enabled devices via DADman
• Control via Ethernet or Thunderbolt connection
• Word Clock I/O, VBB input
• 15W power on each Thunderbolt 3 port
• 2 slots for expansion cards

Analogue formats
• PCM (DXD) sample rates:
44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4,
192, 352.8, 384 kHz

• Modulator format:
32 x oversampling,
32 bit PCM

• DSD resolution: 64FS and 128FS

Headphone output
• Dynamic range: > 120 dB
• THD+N(A): < -100 dB@-3dB FS
• Cross talk: < 110 dB
• Headphone impedance: 18 to 600 Ohm
• Output impedance: < 1 Ohm
• Max output level: Adjustable from –80 dBu to 19 dBu in steps of 0.1 dB
• Conversion Latency w/ high-res filter 450us @96 kHz: w/ short-delay 150us

Analogue Monitor output
• Dynamic range: > 128 dB
• THD+N(A): < -115 dB@-3dB FS
• Cross talk: < 115 dB
• Max output level: Adjustable from –60 dBu to 24 dBu in steps of 0.1 dB
• Conversion Latency: 450us@96 kHz

Microphone and Instrument input
• Dynamic range: > 124 dB
• THD+N(A): < -115 dB@-3dB FS
• Cross talk: < 115 dB

• Input Impedance:
2 k Ohm (Mic),
> 1M Ohm (Inst)

• Microphone input gain range/accuracy: -21 to 100 dB, in steps of 0.1 dB
• Microphone Eqv. input noise (A): < -131 dB
• Conversion Latency: 350us@96 kHz

Digital I/O and Synchronisation
• Digital I/O formats/ Supported sample rate:
Dante™ IP audio and ADAT/SMUX
44.1 up to 192 kHz
S/PDIF 2ch. input on ADAT
44.1 up to 96 kHz
Thunderbolt 3 and MADI
44.1 up to 384 kHz
DADLink up 44.1 to 384 kHz

• Latency:
Internal system delay 7 samples, can be set between 3 and 31 samples,
All outputs are time and phase aligned

• DADLink:
28bit floating point format
Latency zero samples.

• Synchronisation:
Word Clock, Video Black Burst,
Dante, ADAT and MADI

• Network interface:
1000BASE-T, RJ45 connector,
4-pair connection

• Thunderbolt 3 Interface:
2 x USB-C type connectors,
supporting link functionality and
15w power on each port

Electrical Specifications
• Max rating mains: 90 W

• Input voltage:
90 – 260 VAC
100 – 240 VAC Nominal,
47 - 63 Hz

• Mains fuse:
Mounted in IEC connector
1 A, T1AH/250V

• Mains connector: IEC 60309

• Power consumption:
Digital section 15W
DAD I/O Options max 30w
Thunderbolt power
max 2x15W

Weight and Environmental
• Weight: 3.2 kg / 7.1 lbs.

• Measures:
19” rack mount, 1RU/4.44cm
Chassis depth, 32 cm / 12.6”
Body width, 43.5 cm / 17.2”

• Operating Temperature: 0 – 45 ºC / 32 - 113ºF
• Humidity: 20 to 85%, non-condensing

• EMC Compliance: CISPR 32:2015, CISPR
32:2015/AMD1:2019, CISPR 35:2016, IEC 61000-3-
2:2018, IEC 61000-3-2:2018/AMD1:2020, IEC 61000-
3-3:2013, IEC 61000-3-:2013/AMD1:2017, IEC
ICES-003, AS/NZS CISPR 32
FCC part 15, Subpart B

• Safety Compliance: IEC 62368-1: 2018