Yearly Archives: 2016

JCAT USB Card FEMTO

by admin
September 15, 2016
0

USB playback redefined

3 years after the release of the first revision of the JCAT USB Card, designed to enhance USB Audio playback experience with desktop PCs, we proudly present its successor – the JCAT USB Card FEMTO.

Even though the performance of the original JCAT USB Card was excellent and by many customers and professional reviewers considered best on the market, our endless pursuit of quality led us to new developments that set the bar at the level we have never thought would be possible with computer based USB Audio playback.

FEMTO Clock Technology

FemtoClock
We have found that the quality of clock used for generating USB Audio signal at PC side is as important for sound as the quality of clock in DAC. Therefore for the new revision of the JCAT USB Card we incorporated one of the finest clock oscillators available, Crystek CCHD-957 which has been designed specifically for High Definition Audio. It features a typical low close-in phase noise of -100 dBc/Hz @ 10 Hz offset, and a noise floor of -169 dBc/Hz. With this extreme low phase noise performance, you will “Hear the Difference”. The Crystek Femto Clock which is located just a few millimeters away from the USB controller chip is powered by a dedicated ultra-low noise linear regulator for maximum performance.

Ultra low-noise regulation

JCAT-USB-Card-FEMTO-i
In the previous revision of the JCAT USB Card, the USB controller’s digital core 1V power was supplied from the PC via PCI Express lane. We redesigned the card so that all internal circuits are powered by ultra-low noise linear regulators exclusively if any 5V power supply is connected (either external or internal).

Although the JCAT USB Card FEMTO will operate without 5V for self-powered USB devices, the best performance can be achieved with an external high quality 5V power supply. You can use the newly released 100W linear power supply from our JCAT shop or other high quality linear or battery 5V PSU.
linearpsublack1p
If high quality 5V PSU is not available please connect internal computer power supply to the LP4 connector on the card and switch jumpers J5 & J7 from default position 1-2 to position 2-3. By default the jumpers on the card are configured to use external PSU via DC jack connector on the PCI-e bracket next to the two USB ports on the card. If PSU is not connected then it is impossible to filter well.

JCAT USB Card FEMTO can benefit additionally from full galvanic isolation provided by our JCAT USB Isolator. We recommend using JCAT USB Cables for best sound quality.

Specification:
– audiophile USB Audio output for USB DACs & USB-to-S/PDIF converters
– ultra low noise design for high definition audio playback
– ultra low noise linear regulators and high quality filters designed to eliminate noise interferences from PC
– Femto Clock Technology (Crystek CCHD-957) lowers jitter below measurable levels
– uDP720201 NEC controller
– high durability gold plated USB 3.0 connectors from Amphenol
– two USB 3.0 connectors supporting Low Speed (1.5 Mbps), Full-Speed (12 Mbps), Hi-Speed (480 Mbps) and Super-Speed (5 Gbps) data rates
– 5V PSU can be supplied from computer PSU via LP4 connector or from an external PSU via 2.1/5mm center positive DC jack connector (the 100W linear power supply recommended for best SQ)
– both full-size and low-profile PCI-e brackets included

The JCAT USB Card FEMTO is available now in our JCAT online shop ►http://jplay.eu/jcat/

Only in September JPLAY owners can purchase the card with a 50EUR discount! The discount does not expire for customers who purchased the previous revision of the JCAT USB Card.
Please contact us if you are a customer and haven’t received the coupon code.

JCAT USB Isolator

by admin
August 3, 2016
0

Clean up your USB Audio signal

The JCAT USB Isolator blocks all noise coming from a PC and re-generates clean USB signal from scratch. It is capable of transmitting USB Hi-Speed (480 MBit/s) while providing full galvanic isolation up to 2.5 kV of both data and power lines – ideal solution for any sensitive applications requiring high-speed data transfer such as high end computer audio.
Recreating and reclocking of USB signal is done by a fast FPGA-based circuit inside the JCAT USB Isolator’s aluminum housing. The enclosure acts as a shield against harmful electromagnetic interference (EMI/RFI) to further minimize noise. Breaking all the noise coming from a PC results in vast sound quality improvements.
JCAT USB Isolator is a perfect solution for computer audiophiles seeking maximum sound quality from their USB DACs and USB-DDCs regardless of whether used with a PC, laptop or Mac.
JCAT USB Isolator can work alone or in chain with our JCAT USB Card. We recommend JCAT USB Cables for best performance.

isolatorboard

_IGP2636

Specifications
- Featuring world’s first industrial High Speed USB Isolation technology from Intona
- Provides galvanic isolation up to 2.5 kV to the USB bus in all speed modes: Low Speed, Full Speed and USB 2.0 High Speed (480 MBit/s)
- Plug & Play transparent operation, no drivers needed
- Supports all USB-Audio formats and sample rates
- No separate power supply needed; ultra low-noise linear regulation onboard
- Reinforced USB Connectors: Type-B on PC-side, Type-A on device-side
- Housing made of brushed aluminum
- Dimensions: 13 x 6.5 x 2.5cm. Weight: 170g

The JCAT USB Isolator is now available and can be purchased in our shop here: ►http://jplay.eu/jcat/

HIGH END MUNICH 2016

by admin
May 4, 2016
0

JPLAY will be used in combination with the MUTEC MC-3+ Smart Clock USB at the High End 2016 in Munich (Hall 1, Booth A08). See you in Munich!