Audio Quality over IP

Not every record collector is an audiophile. Some just enjoy the nostalgia or the style that a turntable adds to a space.

But for those who can't get enough subtle harmonic overtones in an ’80s synth track or the air and sibilance at the 8kHz frequency range of a vocal track, they may need reassurance that a distributed audio system can handle their favorite Steely Dan record.

There’s no use arguing with them here; a premium turntable with a solid diamond stylus and set of high-end 40” three-way tower speakers is the purest way to listen to vinyl. But it does limit you to listening in a single room. And it’s not always ideal when considering space savings or interior design.

That’s why it’s important to highlight what really matters to pristine audio reproduction.

There’s a common saying among audio recording and mixing engineers, “garbage in, garbage out.”

Just like the premium, diamond stylus and three-way speaker system, audio quality comes down to individual components and proper tuning. It starts with the quality of the record (has the vinyl been properly cared for?). It ends with the materials and layout of the room (reflective surfaces, radial coverage, etc.). But the gear in between can truly make your vinyl collection sing or fall flat.

So, when pitching a distributed audio system to an audiophile, we need to highlight how far these systems have come.

For instance, a whole-home audio system from Crestron is built on the backbone of a technology that’s been trusted in government agencies, universities, and even to transmit signals from Mars — over 140 million miles away — during the rover landing. That technology has made its way into our audio systems through DM NAX® amplifiers.

But what truly makes these amps great is the attention to audio clarity. Starting with the signal-to-noise ratio. We use passive cooling whenever possible to ensure there are no internal fans spinning, moving air, or creating mechanical/kinetic noise. This helps reduce ambient noise conditions in the room. After all, a quiet room allows even more audio details to be heard, helping to maintain a pristine listening environment.

Then there’s distortion (or lack thereof). These amps come within .001% of some of the leading premium turntable amplifiers on the market (and at a fraction of the cost!). The result is a clean-in and clean-out signal path that doesn’t add any additional color or character to the vinyl sound audiophiles are after.

Add to that the ADC bit depth, which converts analog audio to digital at 24-bit / 48 kHz. This is high-quality stuff. Audio at this resolution contains far more detail than the human ear can perceive.

From a technical standpoint, the audio quality in a Crestron distributed audio system is top-notch. If it’s good enough for Mars missions, why not a premium turntable?