Digital fibre solutions specialist Optocore has entered into an agreement with fellow German manufacturer Fohhn Audio to provide multi-channel digital connectivity to its Linea Focus range of loudspeakers.

Explaining the background of the partnership, Fohhn’s public relations and marketing manager, Daniela Bohl, stated, “We were looking for a solution to provide our speaker systems with a digital signal and control data; up to now we only had an analogue solution.

“We chose Optocore because they are the pioneers of that technology and there is a perfect fit between our two companies, as we are both innovation-driven and German based.”

In order to provide integration onto the Optocore networks, the fibre specialist has created a specially made card, while Fohhn has developed a new enclosure that can be attached to its Linea Focus series loudspeakers to provide optional input extensions. This will enable digital audio and control data to be distributed simultaneously, either via Cat5 or optical fibre.

“These Optocore extensions will provide excellent audio quality, entire control of the speaker and facilitate reliable and redundant digital audio network,” noted Bohl.

Masterminding the project for Optocore, applications engineering manager, Maciek Janiszewski, said that the cards will come in fibre Optocore FX and Cat5 SANE TP versions.

“Each card will provide two outputs to feed loudspeakers with two independent audio signals, RS485 port for control and GPIO. All these signals can be transported on single-fibre or Cat5 cable” Janiszewski remarked. “The Fibre FX version enables all speakers to operate on an Optocore fibre ring in conjunction with all other devices from the Optocore portfolio – as well as third party products with an Optocore interface. The distance between loudspeakers can be up to 120km.”

The Cat5 SANE TP version can function as a local extension to the fibre node enabling users to build local daisy chains – with 100m distance between the loudspeakers.

“This card adds huge flexibility to the Fohhn solutions, simplifies cabling and adds quality by reducing signal losses over coax,”Janiszewski concluded. “Both companies will benefit from this cooperation: Optocore will raise its profile in the installed sound sector, especially in transportation hubs , while Fohhn will be able to offer the best signal transport solution as well as distributed routing and redundancy.”

http://www.optocore.com

http://www.fohhn.com