“Approach to Blu-ray Pure Audio”, High Fidelity, Polonia, August 2018
Following his interview of Blu-ray discs producer Mr. Mark Waldrep of AIX Records (Los Angeles, USA), chief editor of High-Fidelity…
Seguir leyendo >JMF Audio DMT 3.7
Technical characteristics
- JMF Audio signal processing and MCLK3 clocking, common to all sources.
- Advanced and independent power supplies for disc drive, audio and media sections.
- PURE AUDIO or AUDIO-VIDEO operation (patent pending).
- AUTO STREAM or manual audio stream selection (patent pending).
- Outputs audio stereo SPDIF and AES-EBU, precision matched.
- Outputs audio multichannel over HDMI in PCM and DSD.
- Outputs video over HDMI (also gives access to discs menus and equipment setup).
- Easy control with the JMF Audio massive and ergonomic MBR1 remote.
- Advanced control with tablet/smartphone/computer (WIFI, DLNA).
Description
Playing the discs, clocking the bit streams… Caring for the music…
At JMF Audio we believe that browsing a disc collection, holding a real disc and looking at the booklet is an essential part of the pleasure of listening to one’s favorite music. Like manipulating a book prepares to its reading, handling a disc and its package recalls memories and prepares to the listening experience.
When it comes to art, humans seem to be naturally attached to the object. When an artist releases an album, it always means a disc. A disc is certainly the best way for offering music we love to a person we love. And getting our favorite artists’ signature on the booklet after their concert makes that disc become very special…
For you the music lovers, the music collectors, for your numerous beloved CDs, your SACD rarities, your next exciting Blu-ray Pure Audio discs collection, JMF Audio designed and built the ultimate transport. From the idea to the actual release of the DMT 3.7, years of development were necessary…
Digital audio with the precision analog perspective, for the first time ever, for the most natural music.
At the time of computer audio and networks, it would have made no sense to embark in the monumental work of developing a unique player without making sure spinning discs had the potential to outperform computer based files players. In the JMF Audio laboratories, optimized audiophile computers, mastering studio grade softwares, the most sought-after CD transports and JMF Audio prototypes were evaluated… The best mastering studio solution definitely offered a faithful rendering. However, a more lively presentation of music was noticeable from a real disc playback. Of course, JMF Audio wanted both. Needless to say that the challenge was extremely high.
How can a spinning disc sound better than a file from a computer? It is a matter of analog parameters…
Digital relies on clocks, but clocks are analog components, dependent on numerous parameters, such as EMI…
In the ideal dematerialized configuration, a computer or server is connected to a DAC in an asynchronous way, which means the DAC has a master clock and the computer is expected to be fully slave, sample by sample. The digital to analog conversion is therefore directly dependent on the DAC’s clock. However no clock is perfect. Indeed, the sound is directly affected by the DAC’s clock raw characteristics (and electromagnetic interferences from the computer and the environment).
On an audio CD, the data are CIRC EFM encoded. Samples are splitted into symbols which are cross-interleaved and physically spread over the disc so that in case of a small scratch, correct data recovery is possible using a check sum. Interleaving on the disc also means there is no direct timing relation between successive samples. Utilizing this aspect combined with the proprietary MCLK3 clocking technique, JMF Audio has been able to obtain a convolution of clocks’ characteristics that result in extremely low level spectral side bands with Gaussian shaped distribution. This defines a natural phenomenon. This is a unique approach to digital audio which partly explains the extraordinary natural sounding result with the DMT 3.7.
However, to absolutely take advantage of this particular aspect, many important issues such as mechanical induced vibration and noise had to be addressed. Total control over optical pickup, power supplies and EMI was also mandatory.
After numerous vibration analysis and computer modelling based on JMF Audio’s specific measurement methods, it became obvious that only an advanced and massive mechanical based machine would allow to reach the desired result, thus eliminating even the most sophisticated tray/moving loader mechanism solution.
This has resulted in BDPM1, the world first Blu-ray enabled massive optical mechanism, machined with 1/100th mm precision, mounted in the middle of a multilayer thick composite decoupling base, being the chassis of the machine and resting on three purpose designed cone-ball feet hardened up to 1 Ton of pressure in JMF Audio’s workshop to ensure maximum stability. The total mechanism weighting over 30kg…
Blu-ray disc spinning speed is very high. Silent operation and airflow control is ensured by an innovative decompression area located over the platter and linear all around the disc.
For maximum laser signal return pick up and optimized disc stability, a carbon clamp covering all the disc surface was developed. Each carbon disc clamp being machined, and hand assembled in JMF Audio’s workshop.
Optical pickup being sensitive to ambient light, a vibration free machined tilting cover closes and protects the disc compartment. Hydraulic aided opening an air-oil damped closing offers smooth oscillation of this 2kg massive part. The disc compartment cover being engraved with the JMF Audio logo as a sign which symbolizes a summit, as placed on top on the audiophile’ rack.
The compact disc CD introduced by Philips and Sony in the early 80’s was already a high definition digital audio format, covering all the frequency range humans are able to perceive with a dynamic that can still exceed actual recording conditions. This obviously explains its fantastic success. The CD can be played without wear, cannot be erased. Music lovers own hundreds to thousands of such discs, all with their history. The CD is more than ever the standard for musical pieces collection.
The Super Audio Compact Disc SA-CD proposed by Sony 20 years later offered a geater dynamic range and an improved impulse response, along with multichannel capabilities. It became the format of choice for audiophiles, with countless valuable releases from majors but especially from specialized labels.
Blu-ray, the latest disc format, was standardized for audio-only high-definition applications by the msm-studios of Germany as “Blu-ray Pure Audio”. This is the format JMF Audio had been waiting for a long time: being able to play high definition audio without the fuss associated with computers. This triggered the development of the DMT 3.7 transport.
Blu-ray Pure Audio disc is the media we had been waiting for (uncompressed up to 192kHz/24bit)
DMT 3.7 is the universal transport you have been dreaming of.
Blu-ray Pure Audio discs usually contain several audio streams, such as stereo linear PCM 192kHz, DTS Master Audio, Dolby True HD multichannel… In order for Blu-ray Pure Audio discs to play seemlessly as regular CDs, JMF Audio developed an algorithm that automatically lists the available streams and selects the high definition stereo stream once the disc is loaded. Thus allowing screen-less operation, without pressing a special key… This function is enabled from the rear panel of the DMT 3.7 with button STREAM AUTO. (Patent pending).
All Blu-ray control boards embed high speed video circuits. So as to allow the purest audio path, these video circuits would automatically be switched off when the user selects PURE AUDIO operation from the rear panel of the DMT 3.7. (Patent pending).
What result to expect?
CD < SA-CD < Blu-ray Pure Audio
One of the most extraordinary feeling with the DMT 3.7 transport, especially when combined with the DXC2.2-MKII DAC, is that it extracts so much unsuspected information, so much musicality from a regular CD that the pleasure of listening is tremendous whichever the type of disc… The music plays naturally. The rendering is ample, voluptuous, organic, articulated yet sweet… desirable.Not only is the DMT 3.7 the ultimate audio disc transport, but it also offers broad dematerialization connectivity with USB (hard drives, thumb drives) and LAN (Ethernet network, NAS), supporting all file types : WAV, DSD, FLAC, AAC… Including TIDAL streaming service natively, all possibly controlled with a smartphone/tablet in Wifi… Dematerialization taking full advantage of the DMT 3.7’s relevant isolation, audio processing and clocking.
And one finally spends countless hours placing a disc after another, playing files and enjoy the music, the artists’ performance, definitely forgetting about the technical aspects…
Music on discs (CD, SACD, Blu-ray Audio) and dematerialized (external HDD, USB drive, network, streaming).
| Audio discs | CD, SACD, Blu-ray Pure Audio |
| Video discs | DVD, Blu-ray (regions B, 0 lives/concerts) |
| Files | WAV, FLAC, AAC, DSD… |
| Decoding | Dolby True HD, DTS Master Audio stereo and multi-channel… |
| Network | DLNA (no need for a computer) smartphone/tablet remote (iOS and Android) |
| Streaming | TIDAL support native |
The Blu-ray Pure Audio discs made as easy to use as CDs (patent). > download brochure
- JMF Audio signal processing and MCLK3 clocking, common to all sources.
- Advanced and independent power supplies for disc drive, audio and media sections.
- PURE AUDIO or AUDIO-VIDEO operation (patent pending).
- AUTO STREAM or manual audio stream selection (patent pending).
- Outputs audio stereo SPDIF and AES-EBU, precision matched.
- Outputs audio multichannel over HDMI in PCM and DSD.
- Outputs video over HDMI (also gives access to discs menus and equipment setup).
- Easy control with the JMF Audio massive and ergonomic MBR1 remote.
- Advanced control with tablet/smartphone/computer (WIFI, DLNA).
Although modern HDMI input and outputs with PCM, DSD audio and HD video support are provided, the use of the precision AES-EBU (balanced) and S/PDIF (coaxial) digital output interfaces is recommended since these fully take advantage of the JMF Audio advanced audio processing. They also ensure compatibility with all previous and future DACs.
Blu-ray Pure Audio : the guaranteed high definition, the ease of use…
Better than the studio master source !
Blu-ray Pure Audio is the first commercial media which can store music with equal or superior resolution to actual studio quality. The DMT 3.7, while absolutely accurate and faithful to the source, presents music with greatness and a feeling of naturalness which are lacking to file base systems, even to studio equipment. Incredible but real. You are priviledged.
Blu-ray Pure Audio also means mShuttle : source-safe portable and high-res files !
As defined by the msm-studios and certified by the AES (Audio Engineering Society), “Blu-ray Pure Audio” means a package containing a Blu-ray disc and one or more CD / hybrid SA-CD, plus the ability to obtain the corresponding files in MP3, FLAC, MQA for use with your portable devices or in the car, thanks to the mShuttle technology. Just insert the Blu-ray disc and connect the DMT3.7 to your home network and safely access the files residing on the disc (no download from the internet).
Blu-ray Pure Audio is high definition guaranteed, touchable and dematerialized. Right from the studios. Your beloved music anytime, everywhere and the very best at home with the JMF Audio DMT3.7.
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