QA9 USB A/D Converter

About the QA9 USB A/D Converter

The Ayre Acoustics QA-9 USB A/D Converter is designed to provide audiophile-grade analog-to-digital conversion with exceptional fidelity. It features a fully discrete, fully balanced, zero-feedback analog circuit with variable gain staging to optimize input levels. The converter supports sample rates up to 192kHz and outputs 24-bit data via USB 2.0 or AES/EBU (not simultaneously). The QA-9 aims to deliver a sound quality comparable to a perfect 30ips analog tape machine, with a frequency response down to around 1Hz and minimal aliasing artifacts. A Pro version adds DSD and Word Clock outputs on transformer-coupled BNC jacks. It is intended for audiophiles who want to digitize vinyl or other analog sources with the highest possible quality, making it suitable for recording, mastering, and archiving applications. The design philosophy emphasizes zero-feedback analog circuitry and high accuracy in time, phase, and frequency domains, using an Arda AT1201 chip for digital conversion. The unit includes separate left and right recording level meters and is built to order.