110dBA Dynamic Range

More than 3 times quieter, 2 times lower distortion

Maximum Dynamics in Real World, Low Harmonic Distortion, Low Noise
Engineering goal of newer SPARTAN CUE was to expand dynamic range and to reduce harmonic distortion and noise level than previous hardware. By upgrading many of discrete components and improving hardware design we had to be able to achieve satisfied audio quality. Now you are able to experience 110dBA excess Dynamic Range with extremely low harmonic distortion at all of analog I/O channels of SPARTAN CUE. All these quality improvement allow you to monitor and record your sound precisely. SPARTAN CUE presents the best computer music environment.


Asynchronous USB Audio Class 2.0

All digital technology begins with perfect analog technology


In digital audio systems, clock jitter is a major cause of sound distortion. When using the old USB Full-speed (1.1) connection standard, various jitters result in significant sound distortion when recording and playing back the original audio, even though it might be high quality ADC/DAC. This is because the audio clock system has a significant amount of noise and is dependent on a computer clock that is not accurate. To solve the effects of these kinds of jitters, the Audioprobe engineers focused on solving two major technical problems.

First, SPARTAN CUE connects to the computer through an asynchronous method with the USB Audio Class 2.0 standard. This allows SPARTAN CUE to remain unaffected by the computer and use a completely independent audio clock to operate the ADC/DAC, enabling it to perform more accurate sampling.

Second, we focused on designing a stable power supply to reduce the clock errors that occur inside SPARTAN CUE. Supported by a highly reliable power supply, the audio sample clock is capable of up to 512 times the sampling rate while operating with minimal errors.

A digital signal made up of bits of data can be converted to an analog signal without jitter distortions and vice versa. This allows you to experience clear and realistic audio.

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High Fidelity Microphone Preamplifier

Clear sound without noise ? close your eyes and judge for yourself


From general dynamic microphones to expensive top condenser microphones, SPARTAN CUE’s microphone preamplifier can clearly convey the characteristics of any microphone to which it is connected. Our preamplifier is made up of parts that have undergone a strict selection process.

It was not only developed by Audioprobe’s skilled engineers, but also tested by experts with decades of experience in the field of recording. Close your eyes and experience sound that rivals the very best microphone preamplifiers.

JFET High Impedance Input

Helping guitarists find the right tone

Check out the video of the guitarist Hamm’s recording with SPARTAN CUE. See the big screen
Many audio interfaces have average instrument inputs that are neither poor nor exceptional in quality. We began from scratch with the goal of implementing a sound that can satisfy guitarists.

We use JFET devices to create a high impedance analog preamplifier with a range of up to 5 mega ohms. It captures high quality sound from normal single pickup electric guitars to bass guitars and even sensitive piezo pickup guitars. This enables you to feel the rich textures of the tone.

8-step Input Level Meter and Operating Status LED

Quickly check the operating status


An accurate dBFS meter mounted on the input channel is very useful when setting recording levels. Real-time monitoring of the input signal allows you to quickly set the appropriate level. For digital recording, the level meter can be monitored to record the maximum dynamic range without clipping. USB, +48V, and stream indicators conveniently show the operating status of SPARTAN CUE.

Input Selection Switch and Monitoring Selection Switch

Select the input and instantly monitor the sound

The input selection switch can be used to easily select the line level input or microphone and instrument input. In addition, the connected sources can be separated into mono/stereo and be monitored instantly. You can check the sound by simply using the switch, instead of clicking the mouse or operating the hardware. The switch can also be used to utilize a hidden feature.

SPARTAN CUE can be used like an additional external preamplifier when exporting sound with a line level output from the high quality microphone preamplifier and instrument preamplifier mounted on SPARTAN CUE. Headphones with sufficient volume and balanced line level output can be connected to other devices.

SC110 Input Source and Monitor
SC110 Input Source and Monitor
Low Noise Balanced Input and Output

Experts require balanced input and output

+19dBu acceptable line input and +17dBu line output allows best connection with your professional audio equipment without loss of dynamics. Specially the gain selectable line input between ‘Fixed Gain’ and ‘Variable Gain’ helps to record your sound by sufficient dynamics without limitation of source levels.

110_Balanced_Sizematched
CAPTURE PROBE?

Lossless routing of sound being played


CAPTURE PROBE? is a fantastic tool used to capture sound played on a Windows System, enabling you to easy record sound from a video or a movie soundtrack.

Select the CAPTURE PROBE? button and mix the sound that is being played to SPARTAN CUE’s logical input. Depending on the running application’s output driver type, they can be selected altogether or individually to be recorded.

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Windows and OS X

Flawless on both systems


Optimized for Windows 7, 8, 8.1

ASIO2.2
WDM
WASAPI (Windows 7 or later)
Mac_Logo_65px
Compatible with OS X 10.6.1 and Later

CoreAudio
Simple, Solid Design

We spared no effort

We used high quality materials that cannot be imitated by similarly priced products, from the high-strength steel plate made of 3mm aluminum to the robotically processed high-gloss acrylic plates with a deep finish. You can’t judge it by pictures alone. You can only fully appreciate the difference when you experience its features for yourself.

Front View


1 XLR Microphone Input
2 6.35mm Instrument Input
3 Input Source Selection Switch
4 Monitoring Mode Selection Switch
5 Headphone Output (with Line Out muted)
6 Headphone Output (with Line Out unmuted)
Rear View


1 Line Output (Balanced)
2 Line Input (Balanced)
3 MIDI I/O
4 External Power Input Connector
5 USB 2.0 High Speed Connector
6 +48V Phantom Power Switch
Top View


1 Left/Right Input dBFS LED Meter
2 USB Link LED Indicator
3 +48V Status LED Indicator
4 STREAM Status LED Indicator
5 Input Gain Knobs
6 Output Volume Knob
Setup Example

Setup Example 110_EN-02
ANALOG PERFORMANCE

Line Outputs (Left, Right)

Type Balanced Line Amplifiers
Connector Type 6.35mm TRS Phone (balanced)
Maximum Output Level +17.2dBu @ 0dBFS, Maximum Master Level
Frequency Response -0.04dB, 20Hz to 20kHz
SNR and Dynamic Range 110dBA, 20Hz to 20kHz, Maximum Master Level
THD 0.0010% @ 1kHz, 0dBFS, Maximum Master Level
THD+N 0.0012% @ 1kHz, 0dBFS, Maximum Master Level
Output Impedance 440 ohms balanced
Crosstalk -110dB, 1kHz, channel to channel


Line Inputs (Left, Right)

Type Balanced Line Pre-Amplifiers with Gain Control
Connector Type 6.35mm TRS Phone (balanced)
Total Preamp Gain +19dB
Maximum Input Level for 0dBFS
Line Fixed : 19dBu
Line Gain : +13dBu (Minimum Gain)
Line Gain : -6dBu (Maximum Gain)
Frequency Response -0.03dB, 20Hz to 20kHz
SNR and Dynamic Range 113dBA, 20Hz to 20kHz, @LINE Fixed Gain111dBA, 20Hz to 20kHz, @LINE Gain(Minimum Gain)
THD 0.0003% @ 1kHz, -1dBFS, LINE Fixed Gain
THD+N 0.0007% @ 1kHz, -1dBFS, LINE Fixed Gain
Input Impedance 33 kohms balanced
Cross Talk -109dB, 1kHz, channel to channel


Headphone Outputs

Type Stereo Headphone Amplifier
Connector Type 2 x 1/4″ TRS Phone (Stereo Unbalanced)
Maximum Output Level +11.7dBu into 300 ohms, Maximum Master Level
Frequency Response -0.04dB, 20Hz to 20kHz
SNR and Dynamic Range 111dBA, 20Hz to 20kHz, @ Max Output Level
THD 0.0010% @ 1kHz, 0dBFS, +11dBu into 300 ohms
THD+N 0.0012% @ 1kHz, 0dBFS, +11dBu into 300 ohms
Recommended 30 to 600ohms
Cross Talk -95dB, 1kHz, channel to channel, into 300 ohms
Power @ 33ohm Load 200mW , (100mW/channel)


Microphone Input

Type Low noise microphone preamp
Connector Type XLR (1:Ground, 2:Hot, 3:Cold)
Total Preamp Gain +50dB Approx.
Input Impedance 2.45 k ohms balanced
Frequency Response -0.14dB, 20Hz to 20kHz
EIN -130dBu(A), 20-20kHz, Maximum Gain, Rs=150ohms
SNR(Minimum Gain) 110dBA, 20Hz to 20kHz, Minimum Gain
THD 0.0005% @ 1kHz, -1dBFS, Minimum Gain
THD+N 0.0008% @ 1kHz, -1dBFS, Minimum Gain
Maximum Input Level +5.5dBu, Minimum Gain
-44dBu, Maximum Gain
Phantom Power +48V, +/-10%, 5mA max


Instrument Input

Type JFET High Impedance Preamp
Connector Type 6.35mm TS Phone (unbalanced)
Total Preamp Gain +34dB
Input Impedance 5 Mega ohms
Frequency Response -0.02dB, 20Hz to 20kHz
SNR and Dynamic Range 110dBA, 20Hz to 20kHz, Minimum Gain
THD+N 0.02% @ 1kHz, -3dBFS, Minimum Gain
Maximum Input Level +9dBu, Minimum Gain
-25dBu, Maximum Gain


Input Select

Type Input Source Selection
Switch 3-Step Toggle Switch with Off
Function
Mic/Inst : Mic-Left and Inst-Right
Line Fixed : Balanced line input with fixed gain for high level signals
Line Gain : Balanced line input with variable gain


Monitor Mix

Type Input Signal Mix to Output Channel (Mono/Stereo)
Switch 3-step Toggle Switch
Mix Function
Mono Mix : -3dB Pan Law (L+R/0.707 → output L/R)
Stereo Mix : : 0dB Mix on each output channels
Off : Monitor Off
DIGITAL SPECIFICATION

Clock and Jitter

Sample Rates 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192kHz
Audio Clock Source Asynchronous Audio Clock System independent from USB Host clock.
Master clock source of ADC and DAC is delivered
from precise on-boarded Crystal circuit.(less than 10ppm)
22.5792MHz distribute for 44.1, 88.2 and 176.4kHz
24.5760MHz distribute for 48,96 and 192kHz


Analog to Digital Converter

Type 24bit, 192kHz sigma-delta ADC
SNR and Dynamic Range 103dBA


Digital to Analog Converter

Type 24bit, 192kHz sigma-delta ADC
SNR and Dynamic Range 115dBA


Input Level Meters

Type 8-Step LED Level Meters
Level Step -30, -24, -18, -12, -9, -6, -3 and 0dBFS


System Indicators

Type LED Indicators
Level Step Green
+48V Red
STREAM Red


MIDI Input and Output

Type Standard MIDI I/O
Connector Type 5pin DIN


USB

Type USB Audio Class 2.0 Asynchronous Operation (USB 3.0 ready)
Connector Type Standard USB type B
Power 5V/500mA
GENERAL SPECIFICATION

Weight and Dimension

Dimensions(W x H x D) 172 x 56 x 132mm (Product), 227 x 95 x 178mm (Retail Package)
Weight 670gram (Product), 1010 gram (Retail Package)
Finish Top Panel ? Acrylic High GrossBody frame ? Aluminum (Anodic Oxide Coating)


Environment

Operating Temperature 0 to 50 degree (Celsius), 32 to 122degree(Fahrenheit)
Storage Temperature -30to 70 degree(Celsius), -22 to 167(Fahrenheit)
Humidity Max. 80%