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Apogee Big Ben

Item ID: BigBen

192kHz Master Word Clock with Adaptive Loop Filtering, Format Conversion

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We've confirmed this item will ship soon from Apogee and should arrive in our warehouse the week of 6/03. Go ahead, place your order now. We will ship it immediately, the very same day we receive it from Apogee.

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From Our Research Team:

Turn Your Clock Over to Big Ben!

Big Ben sets a new standard for clocking! For years audio professionals have been asking when Apogee was going to make their legendary clocking technology available as a standalone master clock. Introducing Big Ben by Apogee, a radical new studio timepiece that will set the pace for master clocks for a long time! For nearly 150 years a tower named Big Ben has accurately kept time in London - now you can have that kind of accuracy in your studio with Apogee's Big Ben!

Apogee Big Ben at a Glance:
  • Accurate, jitter-free clock with digital phase lock loop
  • Added flexibility with format conversion capability
  • Automatic termination sensing for complex audio chains


A Cure for the Jitters - Apogee's new C777 Clock
At the heart of any word clock regeneration is a phase lock loop (PLL). Most common applications use a combination of analog and digital elements without the ability to dynamically adapt to the nature of external clocks. That's where Big Ben's new C777 clock comes in. Big Ben utilizes an entirely digital process that Apogee has developed, using the most advanced Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) technology available along with DSP based digital filtering. The result? Big Ben has the most aggressive jitter reduction ever. With a stable, crystal based digital PLL ticking away as its heart, Big Ben is able to intelligently manipulate incoming signals and adapt to them accordingly.

Added Flexibility with Format Conversion
Big Ben also does something that you wouldn't expect a master clock. Big Ben gives you the option of real-time format conversion. Use Big Ben's intuitive digital display to go from S/PDIF to AES, AES to ADAT, ADAT to S/PDIF and more.

Termination Issues... A Thing of the Past
Got a complex multi-unit digital audio chain? Apogee helps you stop watching the clock with Big Ben's termination sensing ability. Very often in an elaborate audio chain word clock signals are improperly terminated. Big Ben will chime in with a visual indication of over or under termination on its digital display for each word clock output, allowing you to troubleshoot more quickly and get back to business.


Apogee Big Ben Features:
  • AES, S/PDIF, Optical I/O - Word Clock/Video In - 6 Word Clock Outs
  • Optional Firewire connection to facilitate clocking and format conversion with other Firewire devices
  • Real-time format conversion between all digital formats
  • Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) using Apogee's C777 Clock Technology up to 192kHz
  • Adaptive Loop Filtering (ALF) to optimize clock performance and minimize jitter
  • Fail-safe lock to external sources (Sure Lock) and Word Clock termination sensing

Let Big Ben clock your digital audio system!

Big Ben Image Gallery

Specification Detail
Sample Rates Up to 192kHz
Clock Inputs 1 x Video/Word (BNC), 2 x AES/EBU, 1 x ADAT Optical, 1 x S/PDIF
Clock Outputs 6 x Word (BNC), 2 x AES/EBU, 1 x ADAT Optical, 1 x S/PDIF
Other I/O No other I/O
Pull Up/Down 0.1% and 4%
Rackmount Spaces 1U
Height 1.75"
Depth 12.5"
Width 19"
Weight 10.55 lbs.
Manufacturer Part Number BIG BEN

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Reviews

based on 6 reviews

Big Ben Is The Best Friend I Ever Had

by Samuel Rymer from Tortola British Virgin Islands
May 12, 2010
Music Background: Recording Engineer,Sound Engineer
What this thing does to an interface i cant even explain all i know i have no more clicks and pops no stop when am recording jitter is reduce and the sound quality is enhanced it also works great with... read more [+] hardware every thing is in sync and you hear stuff different and make better music get your self a big ben and you see why i said he is the best friend i ever had. close [-]

Apogee Is My Biggest Homey !!!!!

by Cornelius Hill from japan/harvey illinois
June 26, 2007
Music Background: Pro Rapper,Producer,Engineer,and always Student
The Big Ben Is use to clock just about anything i get my hands on it gives you the confidence to buy products that you are not sure of cause they come with a word clock input!!!!!! i own a pair of Dyn... read more [+]audio Air 15 monitors and the fact that they have a word clock input on them and i clock my monitors (yeah that right) is great they already sound crazy good but with big ben its like woooooooooooooo baby
I also have Rosetta 800 and Ensmble needles to say those are clocked my tc eletronic voice pro yup clocked too ....Why do i say all this cause the big ben makes that much of a difference you will only be falling behind in this digital age if you dont buy one today close [-]

Apogee Big Ben really works!

by Frederick Russ from Castle Rock, CO
January 28, 2007
Music Background: Composer/Recording Engineer
I've got an older Motu PCI-424 system on my Mac G5 with a Motu 2408 Mk II hooked up - plan to upgrade to Mk3 this year. Anyway, I had been looking at the Apogee Big Ben for some time and always put it... read more [+] off because of the price. I've also got two M-Audio ProFire LightBridges on two separate computers slaved to the Motu DAW.

I also upgraded to the JBL LSR4326 Monitors and AKG701 Pro Headphones first to see if I could get the system to sound better. It was then I identified that the Motu converters are okay but knew from working in an Apogee-based recording studio that a better sound can be achieved.

As soon as I hooked it up I was amazed. First off, there seemed to be more beef in the mids and the mud was gone! The high end harshness was also gone - replaced by sweetened rolled off highs that sound superb. The bass is more solid and accurate. And the imaging! No more wall of sound as everything has a more 3D spatial image (I mix orchestral stuff). The exciting thing is when I started recording acoustic guitar - I've never heard this system sound so sweet! The A/D conversion sounds like the big boys.

I recommend the Big Ben to anyone wanting to improve their studio sound. close [-]

Studio Engine

by Gary from Dearborn, MI
July 25, 2006
Music Background: Musician - Home Studio Owner
The Big Ben is the engine that runs the show. I purchased the Big Ben because I was getting clicks in my recordings. The Big Ben told me that I had a clock termination problem in my RME card. It t... read more [+]urned out to be a jumper on the RME card was incorrectly set. I never would have known that unless I purchased the Big Ben. The Big Ben has made everything sound better. It is hard to describe but it really is smoother and more pleasing. It opens up the sound somehow. The best purchase I have ever made. close [-]

inSync Review

by: Jeremy Wright
Being a self labeled gearhead, it's not uncommon for me to add new pieces of gear to my collection every month or week depending on my current "need." After acquiring many different digital pieces in ... read more
Read more reviews

Also popular

See Also: Word Clocks , Apogee , Apogee Synchronizers

Apogee Big Ben

Today's Payment: $508.33
Includes $10 processing fee
Payment 2: $498.33
In approx. 30 days
Payment 3: $498.33
In approx. 60 days

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Our Customers Say...

My Sales Engineer is not only extremely knowledgeable and kind, but he has been completely professional and responsive. I always rely upon Dave to give me sound advice and support.
Monique Berry, CA

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