1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. Prism Sound Manuals
  4. Amplifier
  5. CALLIA
  6. Operation manual

Prism Sound CALLIA Operation Manual

Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

Download this manual

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the CALLIA and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Summary of Contents for Prism Sound CALLIA

  • Page 3 Callia Operation Manual by Ian Dennis...

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    ..........................14 DIP switch functions ............................... Fuses and ratings ............................... Inputs and outputs ..........................15 Part 5 Callia software and firmware Software and firmware updates ..........................18 Part 6 Technical topics Stability and latency ..........................20 Clocking and jitter ..........................21 Analogue interconnections ..........................
  • Page 5 Part General information...

  • Page 6: General Information

    I.G.Dennis Added Linux support details The latest version of this Operation Manual can be downloaded from the Prism Sound website at www.prismsound.com. It is provided in PDF format which can be viewed and printed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free at www.adobe.com.
  • Page 7 Prism Sound Callia Operation Manual Revision 1.01 Statements of conformity This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against interference in a residential area.
  • Page 9 Part Introduction to Callia...

  • Page 10: Introduction To Callia

    Revision 1.01 Introduction to Callia Callia is a USB and S/PDIF D/A converter and pre-amplifier for domestic use. Prism Sound A/D and D/A conversion has been the technology of choice in the world's top recording and mastering studios for over 20 years; Callia brings the conversion quality of these renowned facilities into your home for the first time.

  • Page 11: Getting Started

    UAC2 driver to allow Windows to send audio to Callia. If you don't intend to play from a PC, but only want to play audio from a Mac via USB, or via one of Callia's S/PDIF inputs, you don't need to install any software and you can skip to the next section...

  • Page 12: System Requirements

    This is not to say that the computing power of the host is unimportant, but it is more a requirement of the audio applications than of Callia. If you need to play out audio files at high sample rates or with a lot of processing or plug-ins, you will need a host computer with a fast processor and bus, plenty of RAM, and probably a fast hard disk too.
  • Page 13 Part Installation procedures...

  • Page 14: Installation Procedures

    Windows as a WDM audio device, and to suitable applications as an ASIO audio device. · Connect your Callia to the mains supply and to a USB port on your PC with the cables provided · Remember to register your Callia at http://www.prismsound.com/audiophileregister.
  • Page 15 Part Callia hardware...

  • Page 16: Callia Hardware

    DSD128 source (a 5.6448MHz bitstream) is indicated by the 'DSD' and 'x2' LEDs together. Note that DSD sources are detected by the presence of DoP (DSD-over-PCM) flags, and that DSD128 is only possible in USB source mode. Callia can accept DSD sources which are at multiples of 48kHz as © 2016 Prism Media Products Ltd...
  • Page 17 'DSD' (and possibly 'x2') LEDs. Line volume control The line volume control allows Callia to drive a power amplifier directly, without the need for an external volume control. The halo of LEDs around the knob shows the volume setting. Note that the...

  • Page 18: Rear Panel

    4.2.1 DIP switch functions A bank of four DIP switches are accessible on Callia's rear panel which can be used to customise operation of the the unit. From left to right, the functions of the switches are: DIP switch 1 determines whether the line volume control is enabled: When ON (default): Line volume control is enabled;...

  • Page 19: Fuses And Ratings

    (DSD64) and 5.6448MHz (DSD128), plus 48kHz-multiple DSD64 and DSD128. As a UAC2 device, Callia is supported natively by Mac hosts running OS X - so no driver software needs to be installed, but software installation under OS X is nonetheless recommended in order that...
  • Page 20 S/PDIF source with ultra-low jitter. Note that no software installation is required for users who only intend to use Callia with its S/PDIF inputs (and not USB), although it will still be necessary to install the software (on either Mac or...
  • Page 21 Part Callia software and firmware...

  • Page 22: Callia Software And Firmware

    Callia's software content comprises two separate parts. In the terminology of this manual, the 'firmware' is the part which resides, stored in flash memory, within the Callia unit itself and controls all of the analogue, digital, conversion and DSP functionality at a low level. The 'software' resides on any Windows PC or Mac which will stream audio to Callia.
  • Page 23 Part Technical topics...

  • Page 24: Technical Topics

    Technical topics The following sections contain detailed discussions of various relevant technical issues. The content of these sections is not required to operate Callia, but is provided as background information. Stability and latency Ever since audio found its way inside the computer, problems concerning issues of stability and latency have arisen.

  • Page 25: Clocking And Jitter

    That feature is not available or necessary for use with Callia. Callia should be able to play audio files and streams reliably even at high bit rates (such as DSD128 or 384kHz 32 bit PCM) simply by ensuring that adequate buffering is chosen within the player application.
  • Page 26 Prism Sound Callia Operation Manual Revision 1.01 Analysis of sampling jitter Analysis of sampling jitter (small variations in the sampling intervals of an A/D or D/A converter) shows that it produces a similar effect to phase modulation, where distortion components appear as ‘...

  • Page 27: Analogue Interconnections

    Callia and CleverClox Callia is designed to source clocks which are as stable and accurate as possible, and also with the aim of being insensitive to the quality of incoming S/PDIF clocks. It is designed to remove jitter from any selected reference sync source before it is used as a conversion timebase, so as to eliminate any audible effects of sampling jitter, whatever sync source is used.
  • Page 28 A solution to this is the use of external 'sound cards', such as Callia, with their own enclosures and power supplies allowing adequate space, power and electromagnetic peace and quiet for the well-being of studio-quality analogue circuits.

  • Page 29: Digital Interconnections

    USB cable, since in that case the audio IS just data, and Callia does not attempt to derive synchronisation or clocking information from the USB data stream. There is no particular risk of audio data degradation, since the audio data is passed in exactly the same way as any computer data over USB, and all USB cables must pass strict compliance testing in order to bear the USB logo.
  • Page 30 It should be pointed out that this is an entirely avoidable problem, since any box which relies on deriving a jitter-free clock for A/D or D/A conversion (or for sample-rate conversion) can take steps to eliminate incoming jitter - but many don't. The Prism Sound CleverClox technology in Callia does exactly this, as explained in the Clocking and jitter section.

  • Page 31: Dsd (Direct Stream Digital) Conversion

    DACs we must strive to give them the best conversion to analogue from either format - after all, there are some excellent recordings in each format! In the case of Callia this involves converting incoming DSD streams to something with a longer wordlength and a lower sample rate prior to conversion.
  • Page 32 Callia. I hope that this discussion has made it clear why Prism Sound approach DSD conversion in the way that we do. When all is said and done, the proof is hopefully in the listening. If you are minded to look further, you could Google Prof.
  • Page 33 Part About Prism Sound...

  • Page 34: About Prism Sound

    This continued investment ensures that the company will remain at the forefront of audio technology. In Callia, for the first time, Prism Sound's acclaimed audio transparency has made the jump from the recording studio into the home.
  • Page 35 Part Specifications...

  • Page 36: Specifications

    Prism Sound Callia Operation Manual Revision 1.01 Specifications Front Panel Indicate auto/manual select mode and current input: optical S/PDIF, RCA Input selection LEDs: S/PDIF or USB Sample rate / format Indicate sample rate: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8*, 384* kHz, DSD64 DSD128* (also indicates whether PCM word-length is >...
  • Page 37 Audio formats supported: 44k1, 48k, 88k2, 96k, 176k4, 192k PCM at word-lengths up to 24 bits DSD64 in DoP frame, also 64x48kHz DSD variant Channel Status: Ignored Synchronization Prism Sound CleverClox hybrid PLL Clock recovery technology: Synchronization sources: Local or S/PDIF input (automatic selection) Local clock accuracy:...
  • Page 38 Prism Sound Callia Operation Manual Revision 1.01 Performance Plots Except where otherwise stated, audio performance data are typical, RMS, unweighted, 20Hz..20kHz figures, measured at 997Hz, using fs=96kHz at the XLR outputs. In keeping with our policy of continual development, specifications are subject to amendment without notice.

  • Page 39: Index

    - B - Fuse locations and ratings - G - Balanced outputs Buffer size Getting started - C - Glitches Grounding 23, 25 Callia features - H - CleverClox, Prism Sound Clocking Connections 7, 14 Hardware Core Audio 10, 18 Headphone...
  • Page 40 TOSLINK Outputs Input - P - - U - UAC2 15, 18 Performance features Unbalanced outputs Prism Sound CleverClox Updating software 12, 14, 15 Pulse-code Modulation (PCM) Input Pulse-density modulation (PDM) USB Audio Device Class 2.0 (UAC2) 15, 18 - Q -...

Table of Contents