Application Notes: Dante in Corporate AV Installations
Boardrooms, conference rooms, campuses, lobbies — real-world deployment scenarios Corporate AV is among the most practical deployment target for…
What the AUD2ACV does
The KanexPro AUD2ACV is a digital-to-analog audio decoder and down mixer. It takes digital audio on either an optical TOSLINK input or a coaxial S/PDIF input on an RCA jack, and outputs two-channel analog stereo on a pair of RCA jacks labelled R/L. KanexPro specifies uncompressed 2-channel PCM stereo output at a 48 kHz sampling rate.
It does one job: it connects a source that only has a digital audio output to equipment that only has analog RCA inputs. The product description names Blu-ray, DVD and CD players as sources and an A/V receiver or recording deck as destinations. It is fixed-function, with no switches or settings on the unit.
Connections and specifications
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Digital inputs | 1 × TOSLINK (optical), 1 × RCA (coaxial S/PDIF) |
| Analog output | 2 × RCA (R/L), 2-channel stereo |
| Sampling rate | 48 kHz |
| Power | External 5V DC @ 1A supply, included |
| Power consumption | 0.5 W max |
| Indicator | Power LED, on the input face |
| Regulatory approvals | FCC, CE, UL |
| Dimensions | 2 × 1.6 × 1 in (51 × 41 × 26 mm) |
| Weight | 0.17 lb (78 g) |
| Warranty | 1 year parts and labor |
The TOSLINK input, the Coaxial input and the Power LED are on one face. The DC/5V power jack and the R/L outputs are on the opposite face. At 51 × 41 × 26 mm, the unit fits behind a display or inside a lectern.
Where it fits in the signal chain
- Input: run the source's optical output to the TOSLINK input, or its coaxial digital output to the Coaxial input. The documentation does not describe a selector or a priority between the two inputs, so connect only one source.
- Output: run an RCA stereo cable from the R/L outputs to an analog input on the receiver, amplifier or deck.
- Power: connect the included 5V DC supply to the DC/5V jack.
KanexPro's connection diagram shows the typical layout. A Blu-ray player sends video over HDMI to the TV and sends audio over S/PDIF or TOSLINK to the AUD2ACV. The AUD2ACV then feeds an existing A/V receiver over an RCA stereo cable.
The unit draws 0.5 W at most, so it is a converter, not an amplifier. Its RCA outputs feed an input on a receiver or amplifier and cannot drive passive speakers directly.
Common questions
Which digital inputs does the AUD2ACV accept?
It has one optical TOSLINK input and one coaxial S/PDIF input on an RCA jack. There is no HDMI input, so audio has to come from a source's optical or coaxial digital output. The output is a single stereo pair on two RCA jacks.
Will it down-mix a multichannel source to stereo?
KanexPro describes the AUD2ACV as a decoder and down mixer: a multichannel digital source comes out as two-channel analog stereo. However, the published specifications do not name the encoded surround formats it accepts, such as Dolby Digital or DTS. If a surround source matters to the job, test that source with the unit before installing. If the source can switch its digital output to PCM or stereo, that is the more predictable setting for a two-channel output.
Why is the analog output silent?
First, confirm that the 5V supply is connected and the Power LED is lit. Next, check the sampling rate: 48 kHz is the rate KanexPro specifies for the decoder, so confirm the source is sending at 48 kHz. Then check that the cable is in the input that matches the source (TOSLINK for optical, Coaxial for an RCA digital output). Finally, make sure the receiver or amplifier is set to the analog input the AUD2ACV feeds.
Where does hum or noise on the output come from?
The decoder is built for electromagnetic-noise-free transmission. Noise on the output usually comes from the analog RCA cable run or from a ground loop after the decoder, not from the decoder itself. Where you can choose, mount the unit close to the receiver or amplifier so the analog run is short.
Does the AUD2ACV need any configuration?
No. It is fixed-function: connect the digital source, the analog destination and the power supply, and it runs. The unit has no sampling-rate or output-level control, so the sampling rate is set at the source and the level is set at the receiver or amplifier.
