The XSCACE Xylem is a SigmaStudio-programmable DSP amplifier built for architectural audio installations where signal processing flexibility is as critical as amplifier quality. Built around the Analog Devices ADAU1701 DSP, the Xylem gives integrators full access to the signal chain — EQ, crossovers, routing matrices, delay alignment, and protection thresholds — through the industry-standard SigmaStudio graphical programming environment.
Why Programmable DSP Matters in Architectural Audio
Most amplifiers sold into the architectural audio market either include no DSP or include fixed DSP with a manufacturer-controlled EQ curve that cannot be adjusted by the integrator. Both approaches create the same problem: the amplifier assumes it knows the acoustic environment better than the person doing the installation.
Every room is different. Low-frequency room modes, reflection patterns, speaker placement constraints, and surface absorption all affect how a system sounds in a specific space. An amplifier without addressable DSP forces the integrator to compensate at the speaker level (repositioning, acoustic treatment) or to accept a performance compromise. A programmable DSP amplifier addresses the room directly.
The ADAU1701: Full SigmaStudio Access
The Xylem is built around the Analog Devices ADAU1701 — the same DSP core used in XSCACE's own PsySculpt tuning technology. The difference is that in the Xylem, the DSP is not locked to a preset curve. The ADAU1701 is exposed to the integrator via SigmaStudio, Analog Devices' graphical signal flow programming environment, which means every parameter is directly accessible:
- Parametric EQ: up to 28 biquad filters per channel
- Crossover filters: Butterworth, Linkwitz-Riley, Bessel — any order, any frequency
- Channel routing matrix: any input to any output combination
- Delay: sample-accurate delay alignment per channel for time-coherent multi-speaker arrays
- Dynamics: per-channel limiter and compressor thresholds programmable for speaker protection
- Preset recall: up to 8 stored programs switchable via IP command or hardware GPIO
Three Channel Configurations
The Xylem series launches in three models, all sharing the same champagne aluminium chassis and ADAU1701 DSP core:
- Xylem 2 — 2-channel Class D, for stereo zones or bi-amplified single-speaker systems
- Xylem 3 — 3-channel Class D, designed for LCR (left-centre-right) configurations in home cinema or immersive audio installations
- Xylem 4 — 4-channel Class D, for multi-zone single-unit deployments or 4-speaker distributed audio
Channel power scales across the range to match load requirements. All three models share the same SigmaStudio programming interface and XSCACE Network Controller compatibility, so integrators familiar with one unit can configure all three without learning a new tool.
Native XSCACE Ecosystem Integration and Preset Library
The Xylem integrates with XSCACE Network Controller software for real-time monitoring, preset recall, and remote access. IP control is supported out of the box with drivers available for Crestron, Control4, and Savant at launch.
XSCACE will ship a companion SigmaStudio preset library with the Xylem at launch. This library contains calibrated room tuning profiles optimised for each XSCACE passive speaker — Bonsai, Cane, Camphor, Juniper, Ghost, Cedar, and the Acacia subwoofer range — giving integrators a validated starting point before site-specific adjustment. Presets are provided as SigmaStudio project files, fully editable.
Who the Xylem DSP Amplifier Series Is Built For
The Xylem is designed for integrators who understand DSP and want to work with it properly, not around it. Specifically:
- Luxury residential integrators who need sub-crossover management and room EQ in a single compact unit
- Commercial audio installers specifying distributed audio in acoustically challenging environments (marble, glass, concrete surfaces)
- Home cinema and immersive audio specialists needing LCR channel management with time-alignment
- Hospitality AV designers specifying identical rooms (hotel floors, serviced apartments) where a single SigmaStudio program can be deployed across many units
Pre-Orders and Launch Timeline
The Xylem series is currently in final production validation. All three models — Xylem 2, Xylem 3, and Xylem 4 — will be available simultaneously. Public availability is targeted for Q3 2026.
Distributor pre-orders are open now. Integrators who register interest in advance will receive priority allocation at launch and early access to the SigmaStudio preset library for pre-installation testing. To register, contact support@xscace.com or reach your regional XSCACE distributor directly.
