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Apogee Big Ben

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

Item ID: BigBen

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  • Retail Price $1495.00
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  • Sale Price: $1345.97
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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!
Specification Detail
Digital Outputs 2xAES-EBU, S/PDIF, ADAT, SMUX II & IV
Word Clock 1 In, 6 Out

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Reviews
based on 5 customer reviews

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

Sweetwater Advice

Paul Allen
To synchronize digital gear I always recommend BIG BEN from Apogee. Apogee has been making great clocks for their own units for years, so who better to make the industry standard for a master clock? This master clock solidifies a digital studio into a unified, jitter-free rig. My clients are astounded at the improved audio quality, and I often hear, 'I never knew my gear could sound so good.'
Arend Raby
When using multiple digital devices in your DAW environment, the Big Ben is a must. Apogee has gone to great lengths in power supply and clock design to make this the MOST stable master clock ever designed. Say goodbye to stereo imaging issues, clicks and pops, and listen to it. You won't believe you're listening to your gear.
Brad Lyons
To describe what Big Ben does for someone's studio sometimes feels, to them, like I am trying to sell them voodoo. However, the science is solid and the widening and deepening of the sound field is certainly reward enough! That is not even to mention the possibility for professional word clock synchronization/distribution, regeneration, and blackburst generation (through the optional X-Video card). This is truly an incredible piece of gear that makes so much gear sound so much better! I use a Big Ben live clocking a Digidesign VENUE console, ProTools HD3 Accel and other digital gear including a BETA Video deck. The Big Ben is simply an amazing piece of technology.
Kenny Bergle
The difference between not clocking to the BigBen and clocking to the BigBen is NOT subtle. I always say to my customers 'If you don't think it improved your sound by $1350 worth, then send it back.' Never has anybody sent it back because it didn't sound way better than $1350 worth! Never! It's hard to get some people to pay $1350 for a piece of gear that doesn't really make a sound. But once they get it, they never want to part with it! If you are looking for a 'better' audio quality for your studio, before you upgrade your audio interface or digital recorder, get a BigBen and get ready for the real deal!

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See Also: Word Clocks

Apogee Big Ben

Today's Payment: $458.65
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