Summer NAMM 2016: Tracktion Copper Reference hot rod interface in the flesh
Back at the Tracktion relaunch over Christmas last year they put up some teasers about their forthcoming “Copper Reference” interface (see our previous article about it here). Well, they are now not far away from release and one was spotted in the wild at Summer NAMM 2016.
What’s immediately striking about the Copper Reference is the two tubes glowing out the top. What Tracktion wanted to do is create the best stereo I/O they could possibly come up with. The website is still not telling us a whole lot but by scanning some of the Summer NAMM coverage I’ve been able to come up with the following:
- Features dual AKM input path converters for enhanced dynamic range.
- Output is built on a ESS Sabre reference DAC with 134dB dynamic range.
- Custom grown TCXO Fox crystals for clocking (apparently take 18 weeks to grow).
- An FPGA, DSP and an 8 Core processor handling the signals.
- Mike Soldano designed Tube stage.
- Tubes add optional colouration to the pristine silicon signal path.
- You can put your own tubes in!
- Stereo in/out.
- S/PDIF, AES/EBU, Wordclock.
- Zero latency monitoring path.
- Heavy gauge copper chassis.
- Built by real people in Redmond, Washington.
- Described as boutique, high-end, hand-made.
- Ships in a custom Pelican case.
- RRP $5000. Yes that’s five thousand dollars.
They prefer to think of it as the boutique input and output to a larger rig. All the digital I/O are perfect for integration into a Pro Tools system or other audio interface. It sounds a lot like a high-end ADC/DAC box but sneaking around the back is a USB 3.0 socket for plugging directly into your computer. They are not messing about with this box.
It’s going to be available in 4-6 weeks to only the most discerning of customers so I hope to pick one up to listen to my MP3 collection on very soon.
More information will arrive soon on the Tracktion Corporation Copper Reference product page.
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