WEISS INT202/INT203 Firewire interface

INT202 / INT203 Firewire interface

Your favorite D/A converter may not be the latest on the market but you like the sound, the look and the features. So you don't want to buy another expensive DAC just to connect a computer.

This is where Weiss interfaces come in. The INT202 / INT203 interfaces allow any DAC to be connected to a computer with a FireWire or Thunderbolt port. This is done, optimally, by slaved to the computer's internally generated clock with absolute bit transparency.

The INT202/INT203 interfaces are two variants with slightly different features. Common to both units is that they handle all standard sampling rates between 44.1 and 192 kHz:

• The INT202 is a stereo Firewire to AES/EBU interface (unidirectional) with infrared remote control for volume and absolute polarity control. It supports dual wire data transfer in 176.4/192 kHz mode for older D/A converters. The bit transparency of the computer player software can be controlled with the INT202.
• The INT203 is for bidirectional interfacing between AES/EBU and Firewire and also includes an infrared remote control for volume and absolute polarity. It is possible to control the bit transparency of the software player on the computer. The INT203 can serve as an input to the computer, for example to connect an A/D Converter for transferring vinyl records.

Main features

Mechanics

Both units are available with a silver anodized aluminum frame.

Diet
Power can be supplied by the Firewire bus or, alternatively, by an external power supply. The drive is powered by a power supply. If the external power supply is connected, power is automatically supplied by that power supply and not by Firewire bus power.

Synchronization

The sample rate is generated with an internal generator in the INT202/INT203. This ensures that the transfer between the computer and the D/A converter is low jitter. Additionally, the INT203 can be switched to external sync via its XLR or RCA AES/EBU inputs. Both units work on all standard sample rates between 44.1 and 192 kHz.

Digital input
Two Firewire 400 connectors are used to connect the computer. The second socket can be used to daisy-chain other devices on the Firewire bus. It is not possible to connect two computers to both sockets at the same time. The INT203 also has an XLR and an RCA connector as inputs. Note: A Thunderbolt-equipped computer can easily be connected with the help of the Apple® Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter.

Digital outputs

For the INT203, an XLR socket and an RCA socket are available for outputting an AES/EBU signal. The INT202 is equipped with two pairs of XLR/RCA sockets, which allow AES/EBU output in dual wire format. If dual wire format is selected, it is enabled if the sampling frequency is 176.4 or 192 kHz. All other frequencies remain in single wire format.

Front Panel Controls
There are two switches on the front panel, one for power on/off and one for toggling the transparency control mode. Then there is the IR receiver, a power indicator LED, the power input jack, and two Firewire 400 jacks.

Remote control
The INT202/INT203 units come with an optional IR remote control. This remote control allows you to control the volume and absolute polarity of the signal passing from the computer to the D/A converter. The signal input to the INT203 for recording on the computer is not affected by the remote control.

Rear panel elements from left to right
The rear panels differ between the INT202 and INT203 units: The INT202 has two RCA output jacks, a single-conductor/dual-conductor mode selection switch, and two XLR output jacks.

The INT203 has an RCA output jack, an RCA input jack, a switch to select RCA or XLR input as the sync source, an XLR output jack, and finally an XLR inout jack. Note, both the RCA and XLR inputs are active, this allows you to record four channels through the INT203, not just two.

Software Features
Both the INT202 and INT203 support bit transparency control, i.e. by playing specific audio files on the computer (the files are provided on the driver CD) you can test the bit transparency of the playback software. This is a check to make sure that the bits read from the computer's hard disk reach the D/A converter absolutely unaltered. Additionally there is a digital level control with a specific dithering algorithm applied. Plus an absolute polarity inversion function. The INT203 also has a special level control mode in that if there is no Firewire signal connected to the INT203, it sends the input signal to the RCA or XLR sockets via a level check on the XLR and RCA output sockets. Thus the INT203 can be used as a simple remote level control between two digital audio devices.

Technical specifications

Power

• Either from Firewire bus power or from an external 8....12 V power supply

Size

• Depth: 10.5 cm
• Width: 10.5 cm
• Height: 4.4 cm
• Height with feet: 4.7 cm

Remote Control Size

• Depth: 2.1 cm
• Width: 4.5 cm
• Height: 16.6 cm

Available color


Silver

Digital inputs

• (2) Firewire 400 connectors (also serve as output with the INT203)
• RCA connector (INT203 only)
• XLR connector (INT203 only)

Digital outputs


• (2) RCA connectors (INT203 only one)
• (2) XLR connectors (INT203 only one)
• String length up to 24 bits

Synchronization

• The sampling rate is generated internally
• INT203: Sync can be provided via the RCA or XLR inputs.
• Supported sampling rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz

DSP Algorithms


• Volume control
• Absolute polarity control
• Bit transparency control