Burl Audio B80-BDA4M-1414 – a modular B80 Mothership converter platform configuration fitted with the mix/mastering-grade BDA4M DAC card.
The BDA4M is a four-channel digital-to-analog converter with a switchable BX5 output transformer - the same one used in the B32 Vancouver summing mixer - and a fully discrete Class-A path built around the BOPA14 or BOPA11 chip. A B2 DAC-style stepped attenuator gives 10 dB of range for fine-tuning output level, and a switchable DAC filter lets you choose between the classic Burl tone and a more aggressive, forward midrange character. The card handles 24-bit sampling up to 192 kHz with a 10 Hz to 30 kHz frequency response (±0.1 dB at 96 kHz).
The BX5 transformer as an analog "size" booster
The switchable BX5 transformer gives the converted signal greater scale and depth, similar to the effect engineers have chased for years by running finished mixes through a two-track analog tape machine - except the BDA4M does it without tape hiss and with a wider dynamic range. Paired with an ADC card fitted with a BX1 transformer, it lets digitally produced material take on an analog character at the mix-print stage, without needing a physical tape machine in the studio.Switchable DAC filter and Avid delay matching
The DAC filter switch changes the converter's character on the fly - from the classic, balanced Burl tone to a more forward, aggressive midrange - depending on the genre and stage of work on the material. The Avid delay matching function syncs the card to an HD I/O signal path down to the sample, which is essential when using the BDA4M as an external hardware insert in a Pro Tools session.KEY FEATURES
- 4-channel mix/mastering-grade DAC with XLR connectivity
- Switchable BX5 output transformer (as used in the B32 Vancouver)
- Fully discrete Class-A path (BOPA14/BOPA11)
- B2 DAC-style stepped attenuator with a 10 dB range
- Switchable DAC filter: classic Burl tone / aggressive midrange
- Avid delay matching for hardware insert applications
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Card type: 4-channel mix/mastering-grade DAC
- Resolution: 24-bit
- Sample rate: up to 192 kHz
- Frequency response (48 kHz): 10 Hz - 22 kHz, ±0.1 dB
- Frequency response (96 kHz): 10 Hz - 30 kHz, ±0.1 dB, -0.3 dB at 40 kHz
- Frequency response (192 kHz): 10 Hz - 30 kHz, ±0.1 dB, -1.5 dB at 90 kHz
- Analog path: discrete, Class-A, BX5 transformer
- Output connectors: 4 x XLR
