Tight AV Dante 2-channel Output Adapter

Ich verwende bereits seit mehreren Jahren die originalen Dante AVIO Adapter von Audinate. In einem aktuellen Projekt kamen die Dongles von Tight AV zum Einsatz. Sie haben den gleichen Funktionsumfang, wie die AVIO Adapter und werden problemlos vom Dante Controller erkannt. Die Dongles basieren auf Audinates UltimoX2 Modulen. Das Audio ist unauffällig. Ich habe bisher keine Messungen zu den Angaben des Herstellers von >100 dB SNR und <0,01 % THD@-4dBu gemacht.
Wichtig zu wissen ist, dass die Updates zu Dante Produkten, die nicht von Audinate stammen, vom jeweiligen Hersteller bereitgestellt werden müssen. Über den Updater im Dante Controller können nur die AVIO Adapter aktualisiert werden. Tight AV hat bisher keine Updates zu seinen Dongles bereitgestellt und erwähnt das Thema auch nicht in der Bedienungsanleitung. Fazit nach einer Woche Betrieb: Es gibt nichts auszusetzen, preiswerte Alternative zu Dante AVIO Adaptern.

The problem:
When an audio signal at approximately -95 dB — essentially near-silence — is sent through the Dante network to this adapter, the output is audibly amplified into crackling noise through the subwoofer. This is not a subwoofer issue, not an amplifier issue, and not a network issue.
How we confirmed it:
We isolated the source by using FabFilter Pro-Q 4 to pass only a narrow low-frequency band at -95 dB. The TiGHT AV adapter produces clearly audible crackling from this signal. Swapping to the original Audinate AVIO Analog Output Adapter 0x2 on the exact same Ethernet cable, same amplifier input, same signal — complete silence. Clean output.
Both TiGHT AV units behave identically, ruling out a single bad unit.
Conclusion:
The TiGHT AV adapter does not pass near-zero signals cleanly. Something in the analog output stage — whether a poorly biased op-amp, an unstable noise gate, or a low-quality DAC with poor linearity at low signal levels — introduces audible artifacts where the original Audinate AVIO produces nothing. For any installation where the signal chain occasionally passes near-silence (live sound, theater, broadcast), this is a serious problem.
At this price point it's understandable to cut corners, but when a budget adapter amplifies noise that the reference device ignores, it is simply not fit for professional use.
Recommendation: Avoid for live sound or any application with a subwoofer or high-gain amplifier in the chain. Spend the extra money on original Audinate AVIO adapters.

Using an adapter to get a quick in/out to your system is one of the benefits of Dante, as this can be done without having to run XLR cables, and without having to find spare XLR outputs. Such adapter aren't cheap (welcome to Dante) but the Tight AV adapters represent quite a saving over other products.
OK - the XLRs are not Neutrik (you could swap them out) and the RJ45 connector is not Ethercon - but the same is true of other, more expensive adapters. The initial setup is a breeze: I use static IP addresses and still got two of these things configured in less than five minutes. After that, you just plug it in, it pops up on your network, and you're good to go.
Remember, it's PoE so you can't use it without a switch, and it's primary network only: so not good for mission critical connections.
A great product and relatively inexpensive.