Atlas Sound HPA-DAC8 Eight-Input Dante® Accessory Card for HPA Amplifiers

Product Overview

The AtlasIED HPA-DAC8 is an eight-input Dante accessory card that adds networked digital audio to HPA Series 8-channel commercial amplifiers. Installed in the amplifier's accessory slot, it receives eight channels of Dante audio over standard IP networks, letting integrators route program audio, paging, and zone feeds to the amplifier without dedicated analog runs. For Dante amplifier integration in distributed audio systems, the HPA-DAC8 converts an HPA Series amplifier into a network-addressable endpoint while preserving its existing balanced analog inputs.

Product Description

HPA Series 8-channel amplifiers ship with eight balanced line inputs and a factory accessory slot sized for the HPA-DAC8, making this a straightforward field upgrade for commercial audio installation projects already standardized on the HPA platform. Once installed, Dante Input 1 and the analog balanced input on Channel 1 remain electrically isolated from each other and are electronically summed into a mixed output, so a network feed and a local analog source can coexist on the same amplifier channel. Both the Dante input level and the analog input level are governed by the channel's front-panel level control, and Channels 2 through 8 follow the same configuration. This summing architecture is useful in audio over IP deployment scenarios where a Dante-distributed background music or paging feed needs to combine with locally connected sources at the rack. Audio performance is rated at 20 Hz to 20 kHz, plus or minus 1 dB, with 0.06 percent THD at 1 kHz, so the card does not compromise the amplifier's signal path. The single RJ-45 connector ties the amplifier into the Dante audio network, where routing is managed in Dante Controller alongside the rest of the networked AV system. At under one inch tall and roughly a tenth of a pound, the card adds no meaningful rack burden, and installation requires no external power or chassis modification beyond the accessory slot.

Key Features

• Dante Network Audio Enabled — Receives digital audio over standard IP networks, eliminating long analog cable runs to the amplifier rack.
• Eight-Channel Receiver — Delivers a discrete Dante input to each of the eight channels on an HPA Series amplifier.
• Direct HPA Series Integration — Installs in the factory accessory slot of 8-channel HPA amplifiers such as the HPA2408 with no chassis modification.
• Summed Dante and Analog Inputs — Each channel electronically sums the isolated Dante and balanced analog inputs into a mixed output under one level control.
• Transparent Audio Performance — 20 Hz to 20 kHz (+/- 1 dB) frequency response with 0.06% THD at 1 kHz preserves the amplifier's signal quality.
• Single RJ-45 Connection — One network drop carries all eight audio channels for clean rack integration and simplified cabling.
• Compact Form Factor — Measures 0.97" x 4.7" x 2.5" and weighs 0.15 lbs, fitting entirely within the amplifier chassis.

Typical Applications

• Auditoriums and houses of worship distributing multichannel program audio over the network
• Government spaces and commercial meeting spaces with Dante-based paging and zone audio
• Multi-purpose rooms and training rooms fed from a centralized Dante audio network
• All-hands rooms tied into an enterprise audio-over-IP backbone

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Which amplifiers accept the HPA-DAC8?
The card is designed for AtlasIED HPA Series 8-channel amplifiers, which include a factory accessory slot sized for it.

Does installing the card disable the analog inputs?
No. The Dante input and the balanced analog input on each channel are isolated from one another and electronically summed into a mixed output, so both remain usable simultaneously.

How are input levels controlled?
The amplifier's per-channel level control governs both the Dante input and the analog balanced input feeding that channel. Channels 2 through 8 are configured identically to Channel 1.

How is Dante routing configured?
Channel subscriptions are managed in Audinate's Dante Controller software over the same IP network, consistent with any other Dante-enabled device in your AV system integration.

Does the card require separate power?
No. It installs inside the amplifier's accessory slot and connects to the network through a single RJ-45 port.

What warranty applies?
AtlasIED covers the HPA-DAC8 for 12 months from date of purchase. Creation Networks provides pre-sale design help and post-sale support for commercial audio installation projects.

Need help speccing Dante endpoints for a distributed audio system? Contact Creation Networks for AV design assistance and project pricing.