Joplin MkII
For many, the proposal of an A/D converter in the audiophile field, moreover equipped with the capabilities of a very high quality phono preamplifier, may seem to be at least a gamble.
But the success met by the Joplin project since 2011 in its various versions has exceeded all expectations. In the second MkII release, the Joplin offers top-notch performance and flexibility to meet any need.
The Joplin MkII features a single-ended analog input with variable gain from 0dB to 65dB, made with Burr-Brown PGA2500 microphone preamplifiers. The input impedance can be adjusted to various resistance and capacitance values to optimize interfacing with any type of cartridge as well as line-level sources such as reel-to-reel and cassette recorders, mixers, tuners…
The conversion section allows signals to be acquired and digitized in PCM up to 384kHz sampling rate and 32 bits. In anticipation of later use on lower resolution media, a resolution reduction down to 16 bits can be applied and/or dithering can be applied.
The Joplin MkII is equipped with S/PDIF, AES/EBU and Toslink digital outputs.
An auxiliary S/PDIF input allows a signal already in digital format to be sent to the Joplin MkII. This signal is made available on all outputs and is also sent to the USB interface.
The latter operates in asynchronous mode according to the UAC 2.0 (USB Audio Class) standard and is used to send the signal acquired from the A/D section or the signal from the S/PDIF input to a computer.
The Joplin MkII is equipped with a digital signal processing (DSP) section that is used for various purposes:
to implement one of the 27 available phono and tape equalization curves;
to apply a high-pass and/or low-pass filter to the signal if necessary;
to apply the MPX filter when acquiring from an FM receiver.
Adjustable gain, settable input impedance and the availability of equalization curves makes it possible to connect a turntable directly to the Joplin MkII, without the interposition of a phono preamplifier. The acquired signal can be sent to a computer via USB for recording or to the input of a DAC for real-time monitoring. The latter configuration (Joplin MkII + DAC) makes for an unusual phono preamplifier that may make analog enthusiasts cry out in scandal, but holds pleasant surprises for the more enlightened audiophile.
The Joplin MkII is equipped with an infrared remote control that allows total control.
