Audiobyte Hydra Z black

The role of Hydra Z is to “clean” the digital signal from the USB input coming from a computer. At the output of the PC or Mac, this signal is polluted by other data, power supply noise, or continuous repetition of the same data - artifacts. This signal is processed by a powerful microprocessor that forms the heart of Hydra Z. It is reconstructed, “reclocked” and transformed into a high quality signal available on one of the digital audio outputs.

Technical Contributions

The new clock section design allows the two master oscillators to be put into standby when not in use. By reducing mutual interference between the clocks, we have increased phase noise performance. The power supply relocated to another chassis further improves the results.

Clock Outputs

Hydra Z can also be used as a clock generator or master clock via the BNC output. Six outputs are available including a low-jitter reclocked output for directly driving an external converter in synchronized mode. The clock output handles frequencies from 44.1 to 384 kHz or x512, i.e. at 22.5792 MHz or 24.576 MHz. The other 5 outputs are in S/PDIF (coaxial RCA or BNC), AES/EBU, I2S and Toslink formats.

Improved Chassis

Hydra Z now features an all-aluminum chassis with a 10 mm thick front panel. All quality connectors are carefully placed on the rear panel.

USB Isolation

5 kV isolation is installed to prevent any noise leakage from the computer to the sensitive audio system. This USB isolation for audio devices is not superfluous. When using USB isolators, the sampling frequency is limited; by isolating the output, the jitter rate is greatly increased. The carefully adopted circuit topology on Hydra Z avoids both of these drawbacks. The isolation is inserted between the ARM processor and the core of the FPGA circuit and thus does not limit the bandwidth in any way. Placed upstream of the clocks, its contribution to jitter is therefore no longer a consideration.

ARM Processor

All USB audio processing is performed through a powerful ARM3 processor. However, Hydra Z accepts all available PCM frequencies up to 384 kHz or DSDx128 and can be updated for any future developments.

FGPA Technology

Like all Audiobyte digital products, Hydra Z features state-of-the-art FGPA technology developed in-house around a Xilinx Spartan6. This is the “heart” of Hydra Z. This powerful programmable circuit offers a unique process of transparency and signal reconditioning for all outputs. It also brings the ability for Hydra Z to directly output DSD audio streams.

Audio-grade Clocks

Unlike other products that claim “low jitter clock”, you will find precisely 2 CCHD-950/957 manufactured by Crystek here. These are truly audio-grade master clock systems for which you can obtain the characteristic diagrams. In order to eliminate any jitter specific to the FPGA circuit, a new clocking is applied just before the outputs of Hygra Z.

Premium Circuit and Components

It is not uncommon for a product’s printed circuit board to be somewhat neglected in order to rush the product to market. We have taken the necessary time to carefully attend to all the details surrounding the circuit itself: from placing the components in the right location so that the topology is the most direct, where the decoupling is optimal, and where interferences and crossings have the least influence. The quality of each component, whether active or passive, is selected to durably guarantee the best possible performance.

Powered in three ways

• Directly via USB connection
• By any external 5 V DC power supply from 0.5 to 1 A
• Best results will be obtained using its dedicated separate Hydra ZPM power supply.

Improved performance

• Extension of output type and number
• Adjustable polarity of I2S clock output for perfect adaptation to all DACs in HDMI/I2S/LVDS
• Adjustable I2S clock output (512 fs or 1024 fs)
• Software update via USB input
• Native DSD selection, DoP, high quality PCM conversion
• Native DXD on I2S output; 192 kHz or 176.4 kHz on AES/EBU, S/PDIF, BNC outputs

Compatibility

• Native on Mac OS 10.6 and later
• Native on Linux with UAC2 compatible Kernel
• ASIO, WASAPI, KS, DS drivers for Windows XP to 8 32/64 bit
• Recommended applications: Foobar2000, Audirvana Plus, Jriver…

Connectivity

Input

• USB-B

Outputs

• S/PDIF coaxial on 75 ohm RCA
• AES/EBU on 110 ohm XLR
• 75 ohm BNC
• I2S on HDMI connector (LVDS)
• Toslink optical
• Clock on BNC

General

• Power consumption: 0.7 W

• Dimensions (WxHxD): 240 x 45 x 170 mm

• Weight: 1.2 kg

• Best results from Hydra Z will be obtained using its dedicated separate power supply: Hydra ZPM