Auzen X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD - Mittoni Pty Ltd · 2009-08-27 · quality. The Auzen X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD‟s HDMI interface would perfectly match the graphic card output to the input

Auzentech, Inc.

Technical Note

Auzen X-Fi ™HOMETHEATER HD

Revision History

Version Date Name Comments

Technical Note

AUZEN X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD AZDTN08-00A

Copyright © 2009 Auzentech, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

w w w . a u z e n t e c h . c o m

2

Document : AZDT08-00A (AUG 2009)

* The WEEE marking on the product indicates this product must not be disposed of with user's other household waste and must be handed

over to a designated collection point for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment!!

* The WEEE marking applies only in European Union's member states.

Copyright

Copyright© 2009 Auzentech, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,

transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language,

and any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual or otherwise,

without the prior written permission from Auzentech, Inc. In no event will Auzentech, Inc be liable for direct,

indirect, special, exemplary, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from any defect or omission in

this manual, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. In the interest of continued product

development, Auzentech, Inc. reserves the right to make improvements to this manual and the products it

describes at any time, without notices or obligation.

Disclaimer

The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement and may be used or

copied only in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. It is against the law to copy the software

on any other medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement. The licensee may make one

copy of the software for backup purposes only. The Software License Agreement is found in a separate

folder on the Installation and Applications CD.

In the interest of continued product development, Auzentech, Inc. reserves the right to make improvements

to this manual and the products it describes at any time, without notices or obligation.

Trademarks

AUZEN, AUZENTECH logo are trademarks of Auzentech, Inc. Sound Blaster, Blaster, the Sound Blaster X-

Fi logo, the Sound Blaster PCI logo, X-Fi, ALchemy, EAX, Multi-Environment, Environment Panning,

Environment Reflections, Environment Filtering and Environment Morphing are registered trademarks or

trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Intel and Pentium are

registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows and the Windows logo are

registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. "DTS", "DTS-ES Extended Surround" and "Neo:6" are

trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc. Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of

Dolby Laboratories. All other products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Technical Note




3 C O N T E N T S

Contents

1. Hardware Structure .................................................................... 4

1.1. Design Advantages............................................................................................................ 4

2. Proprietary Technology ............................................................. 5

2.1. Silicon Image TX/RX .......................................................................................................... 5

Block Diagram of Silicon Image Interface Solution.................................................................... 5

2.2. Bit-by-bit Video Output ....................................................................................................... 5

2.3. Direct HBR Transfer .......................................................................................................... 5

3. Proprietary Technology ............................................................. 7

3.1. Pointing Ground Design ..................................................................................................... 7

3.2. Balanced Power Generation System ................................................................................. 8

3.3. Professional Microphone Pre-amplifier .............................................................................. 9

3.4. Headphone Amplifier ....................................................................................................... 11

3.5. Audio Parts ...................................................................................................................... 13

4. Audio Performance .................................................................. 14

4.1. Multichannel Output ......................................................................................................... 14

Technical Note




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1. Hardware Structure

1.1. Design advantage

The Auzen X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD was designed taking full technology of the analog audio circuitry within

the limited space available and also enhancing the Creative X-Fi™ technology, digital circuitry, and also

providing independent module circuitry for key features, not giving away the audio quality that is so important

to this card. We have chosen the best components within its range such as Nichicon MUSE capacitor,

CS4382A DAC, high precision Clock module etc…that will add to the quality of the audio. The Auzen X-Fi

HOMETHEATER HD uses proprietary Auzentech‟s technology such as Balanced Power Generation system,

Headphone Amplifier, Balanced Microphone, Pointing Ground Design and we also, accurately designed the

DAC filter to minimize the changes in the phase.



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Technical Note


2. HDMI Technology

2.1. Silicon Image TX/RX

The SiI9135A and the SiI9134 are used in many high end AVR designs. The parts support HDMI 1.3

capabilities for transmission of high fidelity audio and 12bit

Deep Color per video component.

Overall link speed of the SiI9134 TX and SiI9135A RX is

225MHz which allows support for 1080p 60Hz Consumer

Electronics resolutions and up to 1600x1200 UXGA PC

resolutions.

The HDMI SiI9135A and SiI9134 can support HDCP

Repeaters which keeps the downstream and upstream links

Authenticated.

Block Diagram of Silicon Image Interface Solution

2.2. Bit-by-bit Video Output Support

Resampled Pixel data cannot be restored to its original format, and the scaled video, due to the pixel

interference would not have a clear image. Moreover, through the path of “playback software -> graphic card -

> HDMI audio card -> AV receiver -> HD display”, each video processing would degrade the original video

quality. The Auzen X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD‟s HDMI interface would perfectly match the graphic card output

to the input source signal and provide video quality without alteration. Auzen X-Fi™ HomeTheater HD is the

only HDMI 1.3a card able to perform this technology.

2.3. Direct HBR Transfer

Direct HBR Transfer technology would allow up to 8CH, 24-bit/192kHz bitstream or LPCM output of protected

high definition contents transfer without down-sampling in the PC environment. In order to transfer high

definition audio, one would need independent driver that could encrypt/decrypt and secure a DMA path for

max 24Mbps high capacity stream and make the pass-thru possible through HDMI.



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Technical Note


Signal pass diagram



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Technical Note


3. Proprietary Technology

3.1. Pointing Ground Design

In Audio circuit design, ground is the reference point of the signal and thus very important. The Star grounding

which is the base for Hi-fi amplifier design does not only apply to Power Amplifier and thus, have applied this

similar technology in the Auzen X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD, called the “Pointing Ground Design” and thus

tremendously reduced noise and distortion.

The soundcard ground layer is separated by analog ground, but is infected by various noise coming from the

motherboard. Most soundcard use multi-layer PCB, and each component have different ground. Therefore,

from the starting point where the sound is generated (DAC) to the final output, there will be a long path. The

noise that is spread in the ground-layer will be output through this long path.

Contrary to it, our Pointing Ground Design will share one point for the DAC, OP-AMP, Power supply and to the

output jack, and thus will stop noise interference from coming in, and will have signal going out without

distortion.



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Technical Note


3.2. Balanced Power Generation System

It is difficult to get good power in the PCI-Express interface. The

analog audio circuitry needs to use Dual supply. However, as the PCI-

Express does not have Negative power, we need to generate it. General

sound card would inverter for the negative supply. In this scenario, the

negative and positive power supply will be different and affect the power

supply. For the Auzen X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD, we have developed

“Balanced Power Generation System” to provide high quality Dual power

to the Analog circuitry and OP-AMP.

The Balanced Power Generation System would generate at the same

time Positive and Negative Power supply from two power generator. It

will use higher frequency than audible audio zone and propagate power,

and use be filtered using balanced filter, and thus will not be affected by

switching noise in the output. The particularity of this system would be

that it will synchronize +/- power. Therefore, ripple coming from the

Negative supply will provide feedback to the Positive Generator. The noise or ripple generated from one side

would be reflected negatively or positively to the other side, and thus would not affect OPAMP output related

to power supply.

Balanced Power Generation System’ structure

Auzen X-Fi

HOMETHEATER’s Power

Structure



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Technical Note


3.3. Professional microphone pre-amplifier

Microphone signal level is very small, and thus weak to the external noise.

Therefore, most professional microphone used Balance connection system.

The MIC pre-amplifier in the Auzen X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD when in

„BALANCE‟ mode, has a very low E.I.N and over -60 dB CMRR (common

mode rejection ratio) and thus support Professional balanced microphone

through the board jumper.

2.3.1. Balanced / Unbalanced Microphone

As the diagram shows above, the Microphone connection will need Signal Line and Ground Line, and

this is called Unbalanced transfer. In the Unbalanced transfer, there is no way to get rid of external noise

that came in the Signal line, and thus HUM or RF Noise etc. will be amplified through the amp together

with the original signal.

Balanced transfer will use Phase Reverse to eliminate almost perfectly noises other than the original

sound expected.



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Technical Note


2.3.2. Connection to the Balanced Microphone

It is possible to connect Balanced dynamic MIC or Powered Balanced condenser MIC. Most MIC cable will

use 1/4” Phone jack, and thus will need a convertor to be able to use these MIC.

2.3.3. Connection to a Multimedia Microphone

When in „STEREO‟ Mode, it is possible to use Mono Multimedia Condenser microphone and Multimedia

Stereo microphone. The Left and Right channel sound will be mixed when input.



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Technical Note


3.4. Headphone Amplifier

The Auzen Auzen X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD headphone

jack is not there to just add an additional output, but use an

independent headphone amp.

.

Why do you need Headphone Amplifier?

Common thinking is that you can get good sound by

connection your headphone to the line output. Auzen X-Fi

HOMETHEATER HD headphone amplifier is not there just

to amplify the sound, but to lower the output impedance and

improve Damping and drive capability. We can consider the headphone as a small speaker, and thus

complicated physics and electronics factors are all adapted in the headphone. Therefore, if the amp output

driver capability is weak, even though you pump up the volume, the sound will be powerless, will have wide

low sound and not clear high sound and distortion.

Below, you can see the difference of having the Headphone output jack and Line out (FRONT) output

with the Headphone

[Low Frequency]

[Line Output] [Headphone Output]

In low frequency, when comparing Line output (Left) and Headphone output (Right), in the Headphone

amp. Output, it will output the original square wave, but in the line output, due to the lack of damping, it

won‟t be able to restrain the Headphone unit vibration, and see there is resonance.

[High Frequency]

[Line Output] [Headphone Output]

In the high frequency, as you can see from the Line output (Left) and Headphone output (Right), there is

the development of overshoot, and due to the lack of wave‟s driving speed, it can show some severe

distortion.



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Technical Note


You can see from this graph that when

connecting the Headphone amplifier, it shows a

stable output in all range of frequency, but

when connecting headphone to the line output,

due to the headphone impedance curve, it will

affect the output.

What is the Headphone Amp in the Auzen X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD?

The Auzen X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD has a separate

headphone output circuitry. This is implemented for the

front panel headphone output, but for the front panel

output. Of course, the rear output would sound better as

we cannot guarantee the system that an end user will

connect the front to.

This headphone amplifier does not use a normal

amplifier chip (IC), but use a proprietary Auzentech

designed dedicated headphone amplifier. Based on the

OP-AMP, it has 8 high-end discrete transistor buffer

Class-AB type headphone driver stage. This headphone amp basically can support up to 100mW/ch.l output

(power), and thus you can connect any type of headphone and get the audio you desire (versus common

line out which support only up to 7mW/ch.), have the particularity of an OPAMP with superior audio spec.

and at the same time, a powerful damping and driving capability, and provide more dynamic sound and

stability in all range frequency.



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Technical Note


3.5. Audio Parts

“Nichicon MUSE” ES Series (Bi-Polarized Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor)

The Coupling capacitor, would filter DC and unnecessary

components, and thus increase valid data for cleaner sound

comparable to a UV filter when using camera. In the Auzen X-Fi™

HOMETHEATER HD, we used Nichicon‟s Audio condenser MUSE

ES series. This is a Bi-Polarized Aluminum Electrolytic

Capacitor which gives more depth to the background, and

provides solid sound to the bass.

Highest quality Metalized Film Capacitor & Precision registers

Metalized Film Capacitor would take full advantage of the superiority of a Film

capacitor, and in the meantime, minimize the inductance component, and will be

used for accurate filter design. This was used for the Front channel‟s DAC filter.

Moreover, we used 1% accurate resistor in all the audio circuitry and the AVX‟s

yellow Tantalum capacitor has excellent low ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance).

CS4382A (High performance Multi channel 24-bit/192kHz stereo DAC)

- Selectable Digital filter

- 24bit 8x Digital Filter

- THD+N : -100dB

- DR, S/N : 114dB

- Low-clock-jitter

The DAC is the final part that is used to make the analog sound, and thus

would be key in deciding the level of your soundcard. We used Cirrus Logic‟s Multi bit architecture

DAC 114dB CS4382A for the Multichannel output.

Coaxial Transformer

The coaxial transformer is used for a better and stable S/PDIF Coaxial

output signal, but in most soundcard, this function will be omitted. Hi-End

Coaxial transformer has been implemented in the Auzen X-Fi

HOMETHEATER HD to especially minimize the jitter‟s influence when

using longer cable.

High precision Master Clock



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Technical Note


4. Audio Performance Same as for other card, the quality of the Line-in is less than the quality of the line-out. Therefore, we

cannot simply test Line-in to line-out loop back test and conclude on a sound card quality.

Most of the time, RMAA testing is done through Loop-back test (Line in – Line out), and thus it cannot

be better than the ADC spec (102dB). In our testing, if the testing is similar to the “Line input”, we

conclude this test was performed successfully.

Additional information on our testing:

Frequency response:

When doing the RMAA testing, it can show “Very Good” although the current result is “Excellent”. The

reason for this it’s because in the 15kHz, the level can fall a bit. This is meant to be this way as our card

is targeting the “hi-fi” market and DAC filter etc. are tuned for the “hi-fi”.

The Front channel use DIP type OP-amp and capacitor, and thus will show higher number on the THD.

Also, in the Hi-Fi market, if we design the card with a lower THD, the sound can become too flat, and

thus we had to work on this.

4.1. Multichannel output

Testing chain: Auzen X-Fi™ HOMETHEATER HD Outputs – Measurement system Input

Sampling mode: 24-bit, 48 kHz

Summary

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB: +0.02, -0.19 Excellent

Noise level, dB (A): -113.1 Excellent

Dynamic range, dB (A): 113.1 Excellent

THD, %: 0.0005 Excellent

IMD + Noise, %: 0.0016 Excellent

Stereo crosstalk, dB: -112.6 Excellent

IMD at 10 kHz, %: 0.0050 Excellent

General performance: Excellent



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Technical Note


Frequency response

Frequency range Response

From 20 Hz to 20 kHz, dB -0.35, +0.02

From 40 Hz to 15 kHz, dB -0.19, +0.02

Noise level

Parameter Left Right

RMS power, dB: -111.6 -111.6

RMS power (A-weighted), dB: -113.1 -113.1

Peak level, dB FS: -76.4 -76.3

DC offset, %: -0.00 -0.00



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Technical Note


Dynamic range


Dynamic range, dB: +112.0 +112.0

Dynamic range (A-weighted), dB: +113.1 +113.1

DC offset, %: -0.00 0.00

THD + Noise (at -3 dB FS)


THD, %: 0.0006 0.0005

THD + Noise, %: 0.0010 0.0010

THD + Noise (A-weighted), %: 0.0010 0.0009



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Technical Note


Intermodulation distortion


IMD + Noise, %: 0.0015 0.0015

IMD + Noise (A-weighted), %: 0.0013 0.0012

Stereo crosstalk

Parameter L <- R L -> R

Crosstalk at 100 Hz, dB: -110 -119

Crosstalk at 1 kHz, dB: -111 -112

Crosstalk at 10 kHz, dB: -103 -102



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Technical Note


IMD (swept tones)


IMD + Noise at 5 kHz, %: 0.0031 0.0031

IMD + Noise at 10 kHz, %: 0.0050 0.0049

IMD + Noise at 15 kHz, %: 0.0069 0.0069

Documents

Auzen X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD - Mittoni Pty Ltd · 2009-08-27 · quality. The Auzen X-Fi HOMETHEATER HD‟s HDMI interface would perfectly match the graphic card output to the input