Page 59
CDi DriveCore Series Operation Manual
Using BLU link
Page 59
Using BLU link
Using BLU link
BLU link is a digital audio bus found on the BLU link CDi DriveCore amplifier models. BLU link devices are connected using standard Category 5e or
higher cabling. This minimizes cable connections and reduces the amount of cable required, hence, cable cost. BLU link connections carry up to 256
channels of high-resolution digital audio at 48kHz, or 128 channels at 96kHz, both at 24-bit.
BLU link Specifications
• Based on Gigabit Ethernet technology
• Up to 100m over CAT5e cable between each point (>100m using fibre converters)
• 256 channels at 48kHz
• 128 channels at 96kHz
• 24-bit audio resolution
• Bus-like architecture — audio transmitted on a channel is available at all other devices on the bus automatically
• Wired in a loop for redundancy — recovers from a single cable break
• Up to 60 BLU link nodes (devices) can exist in a single BLU link system
BLU link Latency
Path Total Latency (for selected path)
Analog Input to Amplifier Output 1.78ms
BLU link Input to BLU link Output (48kHz) 4.47ms
BLU link Input to BLU link Output (96kHz) 3.57ms
NOTE: Latency through the BLU link/analog mixed paths will be greater than the "Analog Input
to Amplifier Output" path but less than the "BLU link Input to BLU link Output" paths.
Making BLU link Connections
On the rear panel of BLU link devices there are two BLU link ports: a BLU link input port and a
BLU link output port. Devices are connected together by wiring the output port of the first device
to the input port of the next, then repeating for each BLU link device on the bus. If redundancy is
required, the last BLU link device on the bus should be connected back to the first. This allows
audio to still pass through the BLU link ring when a single BLU link cable is compromised or
disconnected.
If ferrites were included with the amplifier, they should be attached to the BLU link cables at the
back of the amplifier as shown in Figure 74. If no ferrites were included, they are not required.
NOTE: Only connect BLU link ports to other BLU link ports. Connecting BLU link ports to
networking peripherals, such as an Ethernet switch or router, will not work.
See "Assigning Input Sources" on page 14 for information on assigning BLU link input
channels.
See "Conguring BLU link Settings" on page 22 for information on assigning BLU
link output channels and configuring the BLU link sample rate.
BLU linkIN OUTBLU linkIN OUT
Figure 74: Ferrites installed on BLU link cables