The USB Matchbox from Henry Engineering is a professional USB-to-XLR bi-directional stereo audio converter. It provides quality audio performance with the ease of USB connectivity in any application where digital audio from a computer needs to interface with a professional analog audio system.
Using a PC sound card to interface with a professional audio system usually leads to numerous problems. The inputs and outputs are often at the wrong levels. The unbalanced interface creates ground loops that cause hum and buzz. The USB Matchbox solves the many of the problems caused by using computer sound cards in broadcast and professional audio environments and is USB powered.
The unit employs Burr Brown's Delta Sigma 8x over-sampling codec with SpAct audio clock recovery architecture. The codec's superb performance is further enhanced with proprietary L/C pre-filtering and analog circuitry designed by Bill Sacks, founder of Straight Wire Audio. This carefully tuned design eliminates the transient intermodulation products caused by inadequate reconstruction filters and yields ultra smooth, open and transparent audio with rock-solid bass and crystal-clear highs.
In addition, the unit's internal switch-mode power system virtually eliminates ground loops through the PC, allows operation at true professional levels with liberal headroom and can even surpass the quality of many 24-bit systems. MS-Windows and Linux OS are supported with no special driver or software needed. The USB Matchbox will operate with virtually any audio editing, recording, or broadcast automation software at sample rates up to 48kHz and up to 16-bit resolution.
| Converters | 16-bit, Delta-Sigma |
| Sample Rates | 32, 44.1 and 48kHz |
| Analog Input |
2 x XLR 2 x RCA phono |
| Analog Output | 2 x XLR |
| Digital Input | USB |
| Digital Output | USB |
| MIDI In/Out | No |
| Sync In/Out | No |
| Headphone Output | No |
| THD + N | Not specified by manufacturer |
| Dynamic Range | Not specified by manufacturer |
| Frequency Response | Not specified by manufacturer |
| System Requirements | Windows and Linux operating systems. No special drivers required |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 5 3/4" x 6" x 1 3/4" |
| Weight | 3 lbs |
| Specialties | Dedicated Monitor output that can be muted with an external contact closure via the Mute jack |