We knew that in making this component compatible with DVD-Audio and maintaining the no-compromise high quality of AlpineF#1Status philosophy, that putting it all into a 1-DIN unit space was physically impossible. If we replaced the D/A converter section and analog circuits, which require quite a bit of space, with simple integrated circuits, naturally we can’t expect the high quality and superior sound demanded for AlpineF#1Status. On the other hand, if the audio signals are completely separated from the video, we can gain greater sonic purity since the audio signals do not interfere with each other. That meant that separating the highest level system of the new era was necessary. However, separating the components of the system is easier said than done. This is because with the DVD-Audio standard, the optical/coaxial digital signals like that of CD cannot be output from DVD transport. As if to demonstrate the difficulty of this task, there really was no existing separate system in car audio, and there were only a couple of examples in high-end home audio systems at that time. The technical hurdles were extremely high.
We developed DVD Audio Link in order to clear these hurdles. It features excellent processing ability including high data transmission speed, and it also allows for DVD-Audio to be transmitted fully. However, developing it was not easy. The problems were many and very formidable—including the communication protocol, handling the copy protection code and the various commands among the systems. What’s more, we could only check the actual sounds by connecting it to a D/A converter which also under development at the same time. With all these obstacles, when I finally heard the sound with my own ears, I was really moved. |
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