Ecler BOB-04 Dante/AES67 Digital Audio Interface

1. Safety Precautions

1.1 Important Preliminary Note:

The lightning symbol with an arrow inside an equilateral triangle is intended to warn the user about non-isolated, dangerous voltage within the product enclosure that is sufficient to cause electric shock.

The exclamation mark in an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance instructions in the accompanying literature.

WARNING (if applicable): Terminals marked with the symbol "⚡" may pose a risk of electric shock. External wiring connected to the terminals must be carried out by qualified personnel or using pre-assembled cables.

WARNING: For fire and electric shock protection, the unit must always be protected from moisture and humidity.

CAUTION: Class I safety devices must only be connected to mains sockets with an earthed protective conductor.

CAUTION: Ecler products have a long lifespan of more than 10 years. This product must not be disposed of as unsorted municipal waste under any circumstances. Please dispose of it at the nearest recycling center for electrical and electronic waste.

1.2 Important Safety Instructions:

1. Read this manual carefully.
2. Keep this manual in a safe place.
3. Observe all warning notices.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use the unit near water.
6. Clean only with a dry cloth.
7. Ensure that all ventilation openings remain unobstructed. Install the unit according to the manufacturer's instructions.
8. Do not place the unit near heat sources such as radiators, ovens, or other heat-generating equipment (including amplifiers).
9. Never disable the safety feature of a polarized or earthed plug. A polarized plug has two blades of different widths. An earthed plug has two blades and a third earthing pin. This third pin is for your safety. If the supplied plug does not fit your socket, have it replaced by a qualified electrician.
10. Ensure that the power cord cannot be pinched, twisted, or stepped on, especially at the plugs, socket outlets, and the point where the cable exits the unit.
11. Use only the accessories/spare parts specified by the manufacturer.
12. Disconnect the unit from the mains during thunderstorms or when it will not be used for extended periods.
13. Have service work performed only by qualified customer service personnel. Service is required when the unit has been damaged in any way, such as damage to the power cord or plug, if liquids or foreign objects have entered the unit, if the unit has been exposed to rain or moisture, if it does not function properly, or if it has been dropped.
14. Power Supply Disconnection: Switching off the unit using the POWER switch interrupts all functions and indicator lights. However, to completely disconnect the unit from the power supply, the power cord must be unplugged from the mains socket. This socket must therefore always be easily accessible.
15. The unit is connected to a grounded socket via a power cord.
16. The specifications are located on the top/rear of the unit.
17. Protect the unit from dripping or splashing water, and do not place any containers filled with liquids (e.g., vases) on it.

1.3 Cleaning:

Always clean the unit with a soft, dry cloth or a cloth slightly dampened with water and mild liquid soap. Ensure that no liquid enters the unit through any openings. Do not use alcohol, gasoline, solvents, or abrasive cleaners.

NEEC AUDIO BARCELONA, S.L. is not liable for any damages to persons, animals, or objects that may arise from failure to comply with the above warnings.

2. Warranty and Environment

Thank you for choosing the Ecler BOB-04.

For optimal performance and operation, it is VERY IMPORTANT to read and follow the instructions in this manual before connecting the unit.

For optimal functioning, we recommend that maintenance be performed exclusively by our authorized technical service partners.

All ECLER products are covered by a warranty. The duration and conditions can be found at www.ecler.com or on the warranty card included with the unit.

Ecler is committed to environmental protection and reducing CO2 emissions. The use of recyclable materials and non-polluting components is a top priority in our environmental commitment.

Ecler has evaluated, analyzed, and mitigated, reduced, and/or compensated for the environmental impact of all processes involved in the manufacturing of this product, including packaging.

3. Package Contents

• 1 x BOB-04 unit.
• 4 x Rubber feet.
• 4 x Euroblock connectors.
• 1 x Front adapter for Half-Rack.
• 4 x Washers (use these when mounting the unit on a front rack to avoid imprints on the side brackets of the unit).
• Quick guide.
• Warranty certificate.

4. Description and Features

The BOB-04 is a digital audio Dante/AES67 (Audio Over IP) breakout box. It provides 4 LINE-level audio outputs, converted from 4 Dante/AES67 (Audio Over IP) channels received from the digital Ethernet audio LAN to which it is connected.

The unit features PoE (Power over Ethernet) for DC power supply directly from PoE-capable Ethernet switches. An optional external 24 VDC power supply is available (sold separately).

The BOB-04 is a generic Dante/AES67 device that can be used in conjunction with Ecler's EclerNet / EclerPLEX / VIDA / HALO Dante devices, or with other third-party Dante/AES67 devices, but it is not a native EclerNet / EclerPLEX guest unit.

4.1 Key Features:

• Ethernet interface.
• Euroblock connectors for analog audio outputs.
• Reception of 4 digital Dante/AES67 channels.
• 4 analog LINE-level audio outputs.
• PoE power supply ready.
• Compact format.
• Front support for Half-Rack included as an accessory.

5. Installation and Connection

5.1 Installation:

The BOB-04 is specifically designed for installation in 19" racks, occupying one height unit and half a rack width. It includes an adapter that allows two half-width rack units to be mounted in standard 19-inch rack units. See the installation guide below.

! Since the unit generates heat, it is very important that it is not installed in a completely enclosed space and is not exposed to extreme temperatures.

! If the installation includes multiple units in the same rack or is installed in a cabinet with doors, it is highly recommended to install a forced ventilation system that expels air upwards, i.e., fans at the bottom and top. This upward airflow facilitates the expulsion of heat generated inside the rack or cabinet.

5.1.1 Half-Rack Adapter Assembly:

The BOB-04 includes a Half-Rack front panel that allows two half-width media devices to be mounted in 1 standard rack unit (19") racks.

Step 1: Loosen the 3 screws of one of the side brackets.

Step 2: Use the previously removed 3 screws to attach the included front Half-Rack adapter.

5.2 Connection:

5.2.1 Audio Output Connections:

The BOB-04 rear panel provides 2 analog outputs for line-level signals.

The signal output connectors are 3-pin screw terminals. The pin assignment is as follows:

• Live or direct signal: + terminal
• Cold or inverted signal: - terminal
• Ground: ⊥ terminal

! For unbalanced operation, short the ground terminal ⊥ to the negative terminal, as shown in the image above.

5.2.2 Ethernet / Dante/AES67 Connection:

The RJ-45 ETHERNET connector on the rear panel allows the unit to be connected to an Ethernet network.

The BOB-04 allows reception of 4 Dante/AES67 channels.

For more information on network configuration and Dante routing, please refer to the Network Configuration and Dante/AES67 Routing chapter.

6. Commissioning and Operation

If PoE power supply via the Ethernet switch is not available, please connect the optional external power supply (sold separately) to the DC IN connector on the rear panel.

? To avoid unwanted hum, ensure that the network cable does not come into contact with the shielded audio cables carrying the signal.

The unit powers on automatically, and the ON LED on the front panel lights up green.

7. Network Configuration and Dante/AES67 Routing

The routing of digital audio signals Dante/AES67 through the Ethernet network, as well as the network configuration of the Dante/AES67 ports (IP addresses, mask, etc.), is managed by the Dante Controller software application.

For more information, please refer to the developer's documentation: www.audinate.com

AES67 is enabled by default. Dante devices cannot receive AES67 streams from other Dante devices.

The unit is supplied from the factory with DHCP service enabled, meaning the unit automatically obtains a dynamic IP address offered by a DHCP server on the LAN network. However, it is possible to configure specific static network parameters using the Dante Controller application. To do this, open the window shown in the following figure:

The default device name (as it appears in Dante Controller) is always BOB-04-nnnnnn, where "nnnnnn" represents the last 6 digits of the device's MAC address. This device name can be changed in the following window:

The routing for Dante/AES67 channel senders and receivers can be set in the Routing window, which also displays all Dante-capable devices found on the network:

8. Front Panel Functions

8.1 Front Panel:

The BOB-04 front panel features several indicators and connections:

1. ON: POWER On LED indicator. It lights up when the unit is powered on.
2. Dante/AES67 LED Indicator:
   • Red solid LED: illuminated during the startup process.
   • Amber solid LED: illuminated during PTP (Precision Time Protocol) network synchronization.
   • Green solid LED: The unit is configured as a Dante/AES67 Slave.
   • Green flashing LED: The unit is configured as a Dante/AES67 Master.
3. OUT: OUTPUT / Signal indicators x4
   • Green LED: SP
   • Red LED: Clip

8.2 Rear Panel:

The rear panel of the BOB-04 includes the following connections:

1. DC IN Jack 24V: For connecting the power supply.
2. Ethernet/Dante RJ-45 Connector: For network connection.
3. OUTPUT Euroblock Connectors x 4: For analog audio outputs.

9. Technical Data

9.1 Technical Specifications:

9.2 Mechanical Diagram:

All measurements are in mm.