CORDA PCSTEP - Made in Germany (Special Order Only)

Overview

The PCSTEP is a portable amplifier that, in addition to its analog input, also has a built-in USB-DAC. When connected to the USB-port of your PC it will strongly improve on the sound that is provided by a standard quality soundcard.

The amp has a discrete volume control (32 positions, two gain settings). This volume control is not a standard industrial solution but uses a concept in which the position of an analog potentiometer is measured using a low-power ADC and in which the output of this ADC is used to control electronic switches that set the volume level. The result is a very clean and detailed sound without any channel imbalances.

Specifications

• Measures: 8.9 x 6.6 x 2.2 cm
• Weight without battery: 115 gr.
• Supply voltage: 6 .. (9) .. 15 Volts DC
• Mean current uptake: 28 mA
• Discrete volume control. Typical stepsize 1.5 dB, 31 steps.
• Maximal amplification: -2 / 14 dB (low/high gain)
• Input impedance: 120 kOhm / 19 kOhm
• Output impedance: < 1 Ohm
• The unit runs from a single 9V battery, 5V USB-power, or an external regulated powersupply (upto 15V). Internally the supply voltage is doubled to increase driving capacity.
• Noise is removed by LC-filtering of the supply voltage.
• Total buffer capacity is 1700 uF to lower the effective battery impedance.
• For amplification two single OPA209 opamps are used for maximal sonic performance.(No dual or quad-opamps!)
• The USB-DAC is based on the Burr-Brown PCM2702.
• Resolution USB: 16 bit
• Sampling frequencies USB: 32, 44, 48 kHz
• The 3.5 mm sockets are silver-plated.
• Inside the signal path only metal-resistors and high-quality film-capacitors are used (polypropylene).
• The enclosure is made entirely of aluminium.
• Accessories:..2 mini-mini interconnects (goldplated)
• USB-cable
• Tool to open the amp