Paganini DAC User Manual v1.0x
Contents
1. for a full scale input set in the menu Balanced outputs 1 stereo pair on 2x 3 pin male XLR connectors pin 2 hot pin 3 cold These outputs are electronically balanced and floating the signal balance ratio at 1kHz is better than 40dB Output impedance is 30 maximum load is 6000 a 10kQ load is recommended Unbalanced outputs 1 stereo pair on 2x RCA Phono connectors Output impedance is 520 maximum load is 6000 a 10kQ load is recommended Size and weight 460mm 18 0 W x 420mm 16 5 D x 113mm 4 45 H including feet Allow extra depth for cable connectors Weight 11 0kg 24 2lbs Power requirements Internally set to either 100 115 120 220 or 230 240V AC 49 62Hz Power consumption 24W typical 30W maximum These specifications are subject to change without notice Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT Service and Maintenance dCS audio products are designed not to need regular maintenance and contain no user serviceable parts apart from the mains fuse If your unit is damaged in any way please contact your dealer Replacing a Blown Mains Fuse There is a mains fuse below the power inlet accessible from the outside of the unit If the fuse blows it may be changed by the user The current consumption of the unit is very low so it only blows if power surges occur or there is a fault in the unit Usually po2. spraying onto the connector contacts Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 Limited Warranty General dCS warrants this product against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 3 years from the date the unit was originally shipped from dCS During the warranty period dCS will repair or at our absolute discretion replace a faulty product Warranty repairs must only be carried out by dCS or our authorised service agents Please contact your dealer if your unit requires service Your dealer should have completed on your behalf an Owner Registration form at the time of sale and returned it to 4CS On receipt of the Owner Registration form 4CS will add your contact details to our customer database dCS will use this information for warranty purposes only we will not contact you directly for reasons relating to sales and marketing This warranty applies to the original owner Warranty Exclusions The Warranty does not cover wear and tear The Warranty on this product will be void if the product is misused in any way any unauthorised modifications or repairs are carried out the product is not used in accordance with the Operating Conditions stated in this manual the product is serviced or repaired other than by dCS or our authorised service agents the product is operated without a mains earth or ground connection the unit is returned inade
3. ES or Dual AES mode as required This is the usual setting Note that if the format flag in the data is wrong you will need to manually select the correct setting e Off Dual AES mode is disabled e On Dual AES mode can be manually selected using the INPUT button or the remote control Y Sets the Output Level to 2V rms or 6V rms at full scale When you set up your system choose the Output Level setting that gives a comfortable listening level with the Volume fyf Setbetween 10dB and 20dB The difference between the two settings is about 10dB a In Balance mode the operation of the rotary control changes to adjust the Balance Each channel can be varied from 0dB to 6dB in 0 1dB steps then mute 00 below that Balance adjustment ends after this menu page closes or the MENU button is pressed lt The Factory Reset menu page resets the unit to standard settings These are Dual AES to Auto Output Level to 6V Display to On Volume to 30dB Balance to centre Input to AES1 i Brightness to maximum Sync to Audio Input i to 60 Filter to 1 DISPLAY SETTINGS Menu Set the display Brightness to a comfortable level using the lt and gt buttons Set the display Contrast to a comfortable level using the lt and gt buttons Runs a Display Test routine which flashes all the indicators and the main display x Display On Off Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Pagan
4. Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 REAR PANEL dCS Model Paganini DAC ANALOGUE OUTPUTS DIGITAL INPUTS 50 60 Hz 50W AES 1 Figure 5 Rear Panel Mains inlet Power is connected via a standard IEC320 connector P protected by a fuse Q and isolated by a 2 pole power switch O Analogue Outputs The unit features separately buffered Balanced Outputs R on XLR connectors and Unbalanced Outputs S on RCA connectors The Balanced Outputs should be connected to true balanced inputs only If your preamplifier power amplifier has unbalanced inputs even if the inputs are on XLR connectors please use the Unbalanced Outputs instead Word Clock Input Output The W Clk In connector T will accept standard word clock from the source equipment or a master clock at 32 44 1 48 88 2 or 96kHz The clock frequency MUST be an exact multiple of the data rate otherwise the system will not lock Use the Sync button to lock the DAC to the external word clock Note that the source MUST be locked to the same clock otherwise the system will not be synchronised and periodic clicks will be heard on the outputs When the unit is set to Master mode the DAC uses its internal clock instead of locking to the data or W Clk Input and the W Clk Out connector U carries a 44 1kHz word clock This MUST be connected to the source equipment so that the entire system is synchro
5. al clock connected to the Word Clock Input This is the normal setting if you are using a dCS Transport or have the full stack For the very best sound quality use the this setting with the full stack When the DAC is set to WClk this icon appears for a few seconds while locking to the external word clock then normally changes to the icon above If the DAC cannot recognise the word clock frequency it will fail to lock and the sync mode will change to Audio ela E When the menu is open the SYNC button changes to the gt button used to page forwards through the menu FILTER Button Use the FILTER button G to select your preferred filter the current selection is shown in the top right corner of the display This is a personal preference and is best done by ear The choice of filter may depend on the type of music you are listening to In PCM mode the first 4 filters give different trade offs between the Nyquist image rejection and the transient response Filter 1 has the best rejection of unwanted Nyquist images and the sharpest roll off resulting in the poorest transient response of the four Filter 2 is often preferred for orchestral music while Filter 3 and Filter 4 are often used for rock music Two extra filters are available when receiving data at 176 4 or 192kS s Filter 5 is a Gaussian filter and Filter 6 is an IIR filter which features almost no pre ringing DSD mode has 4 filters but these progressively reduce the o
6. ce with a household automation system Note that we recommend using infra red remote control instead Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual THE MENU Display Settings Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 Press Step gt to move along the Menu press lt Step to move back Press Menu to set a menu option or change options Version Contact i ws information o Sa o Aa ROR TEVI loa Displays the loaded software issues and serial number CDUpdate Update Starts software Displays dCS Displays the unit contact details status update from a dCs CD bd el Restores standard factory settings 27 Dual AES Sets the analogue output Allows Balance Enables Dual adjustment by AES operation levels rotary control Turns the main display on off Adjusts the display contrast Runs a display test routine Sets the display brightness Figure 6 The menu sequence English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 Using the Menu The menu gives the user access to a range of additional features It also allows new features and performance enhancements to be added at a later date by software upgrades The menu is controlled by four buttons Press the MENU button to open the menu or select a setting Press the gt button to pag
7. ces use the IEEE 1394 cable provided with the unit For analogue outputs use with screened cables of the correct type e for balanced outputs use screened twisted pair cables fitted with one male XLR connector and one female XLR connector e for unbalanced outputs use coax cables fitted with RCA Phono plugs Connect the power cable supplied to the power inlet on the DAC rear panel plug the other end into a convenient power outlet Please do not use an excessively heavy or inflexible power cable as this may damage the power inlet connector Set the rear panel power switch to the I position Briefly press the Power button and wait about 30 seconds while the DAC configures itself The display will show in sequence Paganini DAC and No Input If the unit is likely to be set in an unfamiliar state you can reset it as follows Press the Menu button press the button once then the Menu button again to display the DAC Settings menu Press the lt button repeatedly to highlight the Factory Reset menu page Press the Menu button and wait a few seconds while the settings are reset Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 STEP 1 Selecting a Digital Input Switch on the source equipment If appropriate load a disk tape and set the machine in PLAY mode to ensure it is generating a digital audio data stream Choose one of the following sections Connec
8. ct operating voltage for your mains supply The unit s voltage setting is shown on the label beneath the mains inlet on the rear panel If this does not match your local supply voltage DO NOT attempt to use the unit Contact your dealer to have the unit reset Using the unit with the wrong mains setting for your local supply may result in serious damage to the unit and will invalidate the warranty Do not attempt to reset the voltage yourself Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 Power Cables If you wish to use a power cable other than the one supplied please ensure that it is a good fit to the mains inlet and is not so heavy and inflexible as to place strain on the mains inlet Mains Regenerators We do not recommend the use of mains regenerators However if you do wish to use a mains regenerator with variable voltage and frequency we recommend that you set the voltage to match your local voltage and the frequency to either 50Hz or 60Hz ONLY Damage caused to your Paganini DAC by misuse of a mains regenerator or by a malfunctioning mains regenerator is not covered by the warranty Positioning the unit Units in the Paganini range may be stacked directly on top of each other but are likely to give better sonic results when mounted on separate shelves of a rack Place each unit on a firm vibration free base allowing convenient connection to the other part
9. dCS Paganini DAC Stereo Digital to Analogue Converter User Manual Software Release 1 0x June 2008 Data Conversion Systems Ltd 2007 8 Price UK 8 00 Euro 12 00 All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic mechanical photocopying recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of dCS Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages Information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice and whilst it is checked for accuracy no liabilities can be accepted for errors dCS is Data Conversion Systems Ltd Company registered in England No 2072115 dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc Page 2 English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual CONTENTS CONTE nNiS iicciiiinet iaia nin Using the dCS Paganini DAC for the first time What s in the box Safety Notice Mains Voltage Setting Power Cables Mains Regenerators Positioning the unit Disposal at end of life Step by Step Guide 1x 1s gt Preliminaries STEP 1 Selecting a Digital Input Connecting to an IEEE 1394 DSD Source Connecting to a Single AES or SPDIF source Connecting to a Dual AES Source STEP 2 Connectin
10. e forward through the menu Press the lt button to page backward through the menu Press the POWER button to close the menu or just wait 5 seconds Use the Menu Guide sheet to help you find the right menu Each unit in the range has either three or four top level menu pages The INFORMATION menu gives software issues serial number contact details and unit set up details The SETTINGS menu allows you to set some features that are not directly accessible from the front panel The DISPLAY SETTINGS menu is used to adjust and test the display x Use the gt button to move the highlight to the menu you want then press the MENU button to select it The next menu level down is displayed Use the gt button to move the highlight to the menu page you want then press the MENU button to display the information or change the setting I Select the exit icon to go back to the previous menu level Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 INFORMATION Menu TIVIN LU Update The Version page displays the software versions loaded in the unit and the full serial number Please have this information ready if you contact your dealer for any reason The Contact page displays dCS web site URL email address telephone and fax numbers If you have any difficulty please contact your dealer for help first The DAC Information page displays t
11. ere No Audio indicates that no audio data is being received this can happen between tracks No Input indicates there is no data stream on the selected input The two icons in the top right corner indicate the Sync mode locked to Word Clock in the example and the selected filter Filter 2 is shown ASTE dCS PTT EEE WEIR 0_0dB Eta eee EEEEEEEETEE The staircase icon in the lower right corner gives a visual indication of the Volume or Balance setting with the setting shown in text as well 0 0dB is shown When set to receive Dual AES data the display will be similar to the example below mere 24 176 4 0 0dB Sell The input indicator has changed to show that the Dual AES input is selected and that 88 2kS s data streams have been detected on the AES1 and AES2 connectors The central section shows that these are being used together as a 24 bit 176 4kS s data stream In this example the icons in the top right corner indicate that the DAC is in Master mode and Filter 3 is selected Details of the menu displays are shown in the Menu section on page 17 If the display is turned off on the Display Settings Display Off menu page the LED L above the display lights Rotary Control The Rotary Control N usually controls the Volume setting When the Balance menu page is open it adjusts the channel Balance instead If the menu is open the Rotary Control pages forward and backwards through the menu Filename
12. g the Analogue Outputs Using a preamplifier Using a power amplifier directly STEP 8 Setting the Output Level STEP 4 Choosing a Sync Mode Using the DAC in Master Mode Using a Master Clock Front Panel 1xxrrrrrrsssssisisaza sani nananana POWER Button MENU Button INPUT button MUTE Button SYNC Button FILTER Button Remote Control Receiver Display Rotary Control Rear Pan l iisicioiiva liana Mains inlet Analogue Outputs Word Clock Input Output SPDIF Digital Inputs AES Digital Inputs 1394 Interface SUC Connector TINeMeNuiiinanl ia Using the Menu INFORMATION Menu DAC SETTINGS Menu DISPLAY SETTINGS Menu SpeEcCiNCATION osiris Maintenance and Suppott Service and Maintenance Replacing a Blown Mains Fuse Cleaning the case Limited Warranty If you need more help Software History Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 USING THE dCS Paganini DAC FOR THE FIRST TIME Congratulations on purchasing your dCS Paganini DAC Before using your unit please read this section and the Step by Step Guide This will enable you to set the unit up quickly and safely with your hi fi system From time to time dCS will release updated software on CD that you can install yourself using the CD Update feature Please check our web site occasionally to
13. he DAC s RCA1 or RCA2 input and connect using a BNC cable Connecting to a Dual AES Source Check that your source equipment is capable of Dual AES operation e Connect the AES1 or AES A output on your source equipment to the AES1 input on the DAC rear panel and the AES2 or AES B output to the AES2 input using two XLR cables Ensure the cables are not swapped e Press the Input button repeatedly until both AES1 AND AES2 input indicators are lit The DAC will lock to the source displaying in sequence 96k Locking 24 192 for example if the source is 24 bit data at 192kS s Proceed to Step 2 Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 STEP 2 Connecting the Analogue Outputs Choose one of the following two sections Using a preamplifier e Set the preamplifier volume control to minimum e Connect either the balanced XLR connectors or unbalanced RCA phono connectors outputs on DAC rear panel to matching line level inputs on your preamplifier probably labelled CD or AUX e Turn the DAC rotary control clockwise to set the Volume to maximum 0 0dB on the display Slowly increase the preamplifier volume until the music is at the desired level Using a power amplifier directly e Turn the DAC rotary control counter clockwise to set the Volume to minimum 60 0dB on the display e Connect either the balanced XLR connectors or unbalanced RCA
14. he unit status Input selected to 1394 nodes connected Sync to Audio Clk Master Unlocked Locked at KS s Input is PCM DSD Filter Internal temperature C Use the rotary control to scroll down the list and press the MENU button to exit The CD Update feature allows you to load new software into your system from either a Paganini transport or any STANDARD CD player or transport Note that some non Red Book CD transports change the digital data and cannot be used to download new software Please follow the instructions supplied with the update CD carefully If the selected input is NOT locked to CD data 16 bits at 44 1kS s CD Updating is not possible and the icon will be greyed out Use the front panel controls during an update as the remote control may not operate If you accidentally start a CD Update switch off the unit at the back panel switch wait 10 seconds then switch on again Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 DAC SETTINGS Menu This setting allows the two AES inputs to be used together to accept PCM data at high Dual AES sample rates 88 2 96 176 4 or 192kS s from a Dual AES source Note that a source with two AES outputs might not actually produce Dual AES data The settings are e Auto The unit detects the format flags in the digital data and automatically sets the AES1 amp 2 inputs to Single A
15. ini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 SPECIFICATION Converter type 5 bit 2 822 or 3 07MS s oversampled dCS patented Ring DAC topology All data is oversampled to this format before conversion to analogue Digital inputs IEEE 1394 interface on 2x 6 way connectors The interface accepts dCS encrypted DSD 1 bit data at 2 822MS s from up to 4 sources 2x AES EBU on 3 pin female XLR connectors Each will accept PCM at 32 96kS s up to 24 bits OR as a Dual AES pair at 88 2 96 176 4 or 192kS s up to 24 bits 2x SPDIF on 2x RCA Phono Each will accept PCM at 32 96kS s up to 24 bits Clocking Word Clock Input on 1x BNC connector accepts standard word clock at 32 44 1 48 88 2 or 96kHz The data rate can be the same as the clock rate or an exact multiple 0 5x 1x 2x 4x of the clock rate Sensitive to TTL levels Word Clock Output on 1x BNC connector In Master mode a TTL compatible 44 1kHz word clock is available on this output it is not temperature compensated Fs 32kS s 0 1 0 5dB 10Hz to 15kHz Fs 44 1 or 48kS s 0 1dB 10Hz to 20kHz Fs 88 2 or 96kS s 0 1dB 10Hz to 20kHz Fs 176 4 or 192kS s 0 1dB 10Hz to 20kHz DSD 0 1dB 10Hz to 20kHz Residual noise Better than 110dB0 20Hz 20kHz unweighted Frequency response set to Filter 1 Spurious responses Better than 100dB0 20Hz 20kHz L R crosstalk Better than 80dBO 20Hz 20kHz Output levels 2V rms or 6V rms on all outputs
16. nised to this clock Word clock is used for synchronisation only it does not carry digital data SPDIF Digital Inputs The unit features 2 co ax SPDIF inputs labelled RCA1 or RCA2 V These inputs will accept sample rates up to 96kS s AES Digital Inputs The AES1 and AES2 inputs W can be used individually at sample rates up to 96kS s If the Dual AES menu page is set to On or Auto they can be used together as a Dual AES pair at 88 2 96 176 4 or 192kS s For Dual AES mode to work correctly the source must actually generate Dual AES data not just single AES on 2 connectors which gives a mono output Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 1394 Interface The IEEE 1394 interface X will accept encrypted DSD data from the Paganini Transport as well as from other dCS transports and upsamplers that are loaded with current software 1394 interfaces are great for carrying lots of digital data but are very poor at transmitting a stable clock so a separate Word Clock connection is required The two 1394 ports are identical they can be used as data inputs or as a loop through Note that the 1394 bus must not be connected in a loop as this will prevent the system initialising SUC Connector The SUC connector Y is an RS232 interface primarily used to remotely control the unit during automated testing Please contact dCS for advice on using this interfa
17. nputs of the Transport and DAC e Use the Clock s Frequency button to set the outputs to 44 1kHz to suit the CD Transport e Use the DAC s Sync button to set the sync mode to WCIk The system will re lock and un mute Please consult the Clock manual for more information on using a Master Clock The next step is crucial sit back and enjoy the music Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 FRONT PANEL Figure 4 Front panel POWER Button To switch on ensure the rear panel switch is set to and press the POWER button A on the front panel once Note that the unit cannot be turned on from the remote control To set the unit to sleep mode press the POWER button once The main display will turn off the LED to the left of the button will illuminate and the analogue outputs will mute but the unit will remain close to running temperature Press again to return to normal operation To switch off hold down the POWER button for about 5 seconds until Power Down appears on the display then release it When the menu is open press the POWER button to close the menu MENU Button Press the MENU button B to open the menu select menu pages and change settings See the Menu section on page 17 for information on using the menu features INPUT button Press the INPUT button C repeatedly to cycle through the available digital inputs The sequence i
18. nywhere a human is Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 If you need more help In the first instance you should contact your dealer If they cannot resolve the issue contact your national distributor Manufactured by dCs Ltd Mull House Great Chesterford Court Great Chesterford Saffron Walden CB10 1PF UK www dcsltd co uk This user manual may be downloaded free of charge from our web site A bound copy of this manual may be ordered from dCs Software History dCS products make extensive use of software configurable chips FPGAs and DSPs This gives us the ability to update our products to add extra features update digital interface standards or make performance improvements by loading new software Occasionally a hardware upgrade may be necessary also to increase the capacity of the electronics add extra connectors or extra front panel controls Please note that not all software updates make an earth shattering change You should have a clear idea of what you expect to gain before updating to the latest issue We recommend that you keep your software up to date Check the dCS web site for the latest software updates This manual is for Paganini DAC software version 1 0x Issue 1 00 The first issue Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version
19. phono connectors outputs on the DAC rear panel to matching inputs on your power amplifier Switch on the power amplifier e Turn the DAC rotary control slowly clockwise until the music is at the desired level Play a disc you should have audio The balanced and unbalanced outputs are separately buffered you can connect both at the same time if required Proceed to Step 3 Transport 50 60 Hz 50W AES 1 AES 2 IN Class 1 Laser Product M Y out WIJ Fuse T 500mA L D C dCS Model Paganini DAC ANALOGUE OUTPUTS DIGITAL INPUTS RCA 1 as 2 OO gt RCA 2 50 60 Hz 50W RR olo lo Fuse T 500mA L L RY R L Balanced amp Unbalanced Analogue Ouiputs Figure 1 Basic setup Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 STEP 3 Setting the Output Level If the preamplifier volume setting for a comfortable listening level is too high or too low you may need to change the Output Level setting Setting the Output Level to 6V can cause some preamplifiers to overload and distort For this reason we recommend the 2 setting if a preamplifier is used Similarly if you are driving a power amplifier directly and the DAC Volume setting for a comfortable listening level is higher than 10 0 or lower than 20 0 try changing the Output Level setting e Press the Menu button press the Sync button once
20. quately packed dCS reserve the right to apply a service charge if a product returned for warranty repair is found to be operating correctly or if a product is returned without a returns number being issued This warranty covers parts and labour only it does not cover shipping charges or tax duty Our dealers or distributors are NOT authorised to extend the terms of this warranty dCS cannot accept responsibility for any attempt to do so Products re sold by dCS on a used basis may be subject to reduced warranty terms Obtaining Service Should you encounter a problem contact your authorised dCS dealer for advice quoting the model the full serial number software version number and giving a detailed description of the fault Your dealer will advise you fully on actions that need to be taken When returning a unit the original packaging should be used to avoid transit damage Replacement packaging sets may be purchased from dCs During the Warranty period there will normally be no charge for parts or labour Operating Conditions The supply voltage must remain within 10 of the A C voltage specified on the back panel The supply frequency must be in the range 49Hz to 62Hz Ambient temperature range 0 C 32 F to 40 C 104 F non condensing Do not install the unit near heat sources such as radiators air ducts power amplifiers or direct strong sunlight e fin doubt the easy test is the unit is happy to work a
21. s AES1 AES2 DUAL AES RCA1 RCA2 1394 the name of an active source will be displayed e g dCS PTT DUAL AES disappears from the list if it is turned off in the DAC Settings Dual AES menu MUTE Button Use the MUTE button E to mute the analogue outputs When the unit is muted either manually or when not locked to a source the LED to the left of the button illuminates When the menu is open the MUTE button changes to the lt button used to page backwards through the menu Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 SYNC Button Use the SYNC button F to set the sync mode for the digital input that is currently selected The DAC remembers the Sync setting separately for each digital input The three options are Audio The DAC extracts the clock from the selected digital input and locks to it Note that this setting is not available when the 1394 input is selected Use this setting for systems that do not have a dCS Transport This arrangement does NOT give the best jitter performance or the best sound quality Master The DAC uses its own stable 44 1kHz clock and outputs the same clock on the W Clk Output so that the source can lock to the DAC For correct master mode operation the source equipment MUST be locked to the DAC This is the recommended setting if you have a 4CS Transport but not a dCS Clock WClk The DAC locks to an extern
22. s of your system To prevent overheating we recommend that you leave some free space around the unit to allow for ventilation 3 feet are fitted as standard this may be changed to the 4 foot arrangement shown below if you prefer Spare feet are available as an optional extra The mounting points are M4 size maximum screw depth is 10mm FRONT EDGE FRONT EDGE STANDARD 3 FOOT OPTIONAL 4 FOOT ARRANGEMENT ARRANGEMENT MOUNTING POINT MOUNTING POINT MOUNTING POINT OR 4 FOOT FOR 4 FOOT FOR 3 FOOT ARRANGEMENT ARRANGEMENT ARRANGEMENT BACK EDGE BACK EDGE Disposal at end of life The symbol indicates that this product should not be treated as normal household waste It should be recycled so please take it to an approved collection facility Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 STEP BY STEP GUIDE This section guides you through setting up the unit for basic operation Preliminaries The Menu Setup Guide sheet details the menu structure and details the two most common set ups For digital interfaces use with cables designed for digital audio e for AES EBU interfaces use 1100 screened twisted pair cables fitted with one male XLR connector and one female XLR connector e for Word Clock interfaces use 75Q coax cables fitted with BNC plugs e for SPDIF RCA interfaces use 75Q coax cables fitted with RCA Phono plugs e for IEEE 1394 interfa
23. see if new Paganini software is available or consult your dealer What s in the box Check that the box contains the following items dCS Paganini DAC Manual and Menu Setup Guide Power cable 1394 cable BNC cable 2 RCA to BNC adapters 2 spare fuses Notify your dealer as soon as possible if anything is missing or damaged We suggest that you retain the original packaging for possible future use If this is not possible replacement packaging can be ordered from dCS or our distributors Details can be found on our web site at www dcsltd co uk The cables supplied are commercial grade parts as we realise our customers will want to make their own choices The Paganini Transport is supplied with a remote control If you do not have a Paganini Transport in your system a remote control can be ordered direct from dCS as an optional extra Safety Notice Your dCS Paganini DAC contains no user serviceable parts DO NOT attempt to open the case as there are potentially dangerous voltages present inside In the event of the unit developing a fault please contact your dealer in the first instance To maintain protection from electric shock each unit in the Paganini system MUST be connected to mains earth ground via the power cable Also unearthed systems do not give the best sonic performance Mains Voltage Setting Before connecting the power cable to the unit for the first time please check that it has been set to the corre
24. the signal may mute occasionally Transport 50 60 Hz 50W n Class 1 Laser Product Fuse T 500mA L D C dCS Model Paganini DAC ANALOGUE OUTPUTS LEFT a Pix WI j j DIGITAL INPUTS RCA 1 AES 2 O 52 AES 1 SSR 50 60 Hz 50W Fuse T 500mA L L RY R L Balanced amp Unbalanced Analogue Outputs Figure 2 Using the Paganini Transport with the DAC in Master Mode e Connect the DAC s W Clk Out connector to the word clock input on the source equipment dCs transports slave automatically e Press the Sync button to set the DAC to Master mode and allow the system to re lock Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 Using a Master Clock The performance can be improved further by adding a Paganini Clock to the system as shown below Transport ESS Pagani Tanspor 50 60 Hz 50W T Class 1 Laser Product 1 Class 1 Laser Product Product A z Fuse T 500mA L Clock a Paganini System Master Clock 50 60 Hz 50W Fuse T 500mA L D C dCS Model Paganini DAC ANALOGUE OUTPUTS DIGITAL INPUTS RCA 1 o ef oe 50 60 Hz 50W d a Fuse T 500mA L RI an Q L RY R L Balanced amp Unbalanced Analogue Outputs 0 Figure 3 Using the Paganini Transport DAC and Clock together e Connect two of the Clock s W Clk Outputs to the W Clk I
25. then the Menu button again to display the DAC Seitings menu Press the Sync button repeatedly to highlight the Analogue Out menu page Press the Menu button to change the setting If the setting is 2V and the Volume is still set well below 20 0 try some passive attenuators The output level relays can flip over in transit resulting in one or both channels having a lower or higher level than expected This can be corrected by changing the Analogue Out setting then changing back to the original setting Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 STEP 4 Choosing a Sync Mode So far the system has been set up to lock to the clock generated by the source If you are using the 1394 interface the DAC will lock to a word clock generated by the source This is the simplest arrangement but it does not give the best sonic performance due to clock jitter Using the DAC in Master Mode If your CD transport or other source equipment sampling at 44 1kS s has a word clock input you can reduce the jitter in your system by using the DAC in Master mode and slaving the source to it If not you can miss out this section You can use Master Mode ONLY if your source equipment can lock to a 44 1kHz word clock and the DAC is receiving data at 44 1 88 2 or 176 4kS s or DSD If the system is not set up correctly and fails to lock you will hear clicks noises from the speakers and
26. ting to an IEEE 1394 DSD Source e Check that your source equipment probably a dCS SACD Transport or a dCS Upsampler follows the dCS protocol generates a 44 1kHz word clock and is set up correctly e Connect one 1394 output on your source equipment to one 1394 input on the DAC rear panel Also connect the word clock output on your source equipment to the W Clk In connector on the DAC rear panel e Press the Input button repeatedly until 1394 or the source name is displayed probably dCS PTT The unit may display Wait No WCIk or Search messages if the unit is still settling then in sequence Clk OK Locking None If you have more than one source connected to the 1394 bus it may be necessary to use the Input button to select the 1394 source you want to listen to Connecting to a Single AES or SPDIF source Most source equipment such as CD transports DVD players is fitted with a single wire digital output usually on an RCA phono connector e Connect your source equipment to the matching input on the DAC rear panel using a suitable cable e Press the Input button repeatedly until your chosen input is displayed This will be either AES1 AES2 RCA1 or RCA2 The DAC will lock to the source displaying in sequence 44 1k Locking 16 44 1 for example if the source is a CD player If your source equipment is fitted with BNC output connectors instead of RCA phono connectors fit an RCA to BNC adapter supplied with the unit to t
27. ut of band noise level which is inherent in the 1 bit nature of DSD Filter 1 is the usual setting it gives the widest bandwidth about 70kHz and the highest level of out of band noise If your system sounds harsh try Filter 2 or Filter 3 These progressively reduce the out of band noise level at the cost of some bandwidth Filter 4 is primarily intended for troubleshooting not listening as it has an early cut off designed to minimise the out of band noise The DAC remembers the last filter set for every sample rate Remote Control Receiver Aim the remote control handset supplied with the Transport towards the receiver K for best sensitivity Filename Paganini DAC Manual v1_0x doc English version dCS Paganini DAC User Manual Software Issue 1 0x June 2008 Display In normal use the display M is split into 4 areas The section on the left side is the input indicator showing the selected indicator highlighted 1394 in this example Other available inputs are also indicated For example here the indicator also shows that the AES1 input is receiving data at 96kS s the W Clk Input is locked to a 44 1kHz clock and the other inputs displaying are not connected to a recognisable source The section in the top centre shows the name of the 1394 source dCS PTT in the example or for PCM sources the word length and sample rate such as 16 44 1 24 96 or 24 176 4 While the unit is locking to a source Locking appears h
28. wer surges cause no other damage but if the fuse blows repeatedly on replacement some other damage will have been done and the unit will need to be repaired Fuse type 20mm x 5mm T0 5 amp L fuse If the fuse should fail it is essential that it is replaced with one of the same type and rating Failure to do so could result in damage to the unit risk of fire or electric shock and will invalidate the warranty Referring to the diagram below remove the power cable use a small flat bladed screwdriver to pry up the tab on the fuse carrier A and pull it out Push the blown fuse out of the clip in the carrier B and dispose of it Fit a new fuse in the clip C and push the carrier back into the unit so that it clicks home Spare fuses are provided with the unit C pie Cleaning the case The front panel of your dCS equipment is machined from very high grade aluminium Great care has been taken to create the finish of the aluminium throughout the engineering process from the raw solid material to the finished piece To remove loose dust or finger marks from the case we recommend that you use a clean dry lint free cloth To restore the finish on the front panel we recommend applying small quantities of a lanolin based cleaner using a clean dry lint free cloth and then wiping off Do not allow lanolin to collect around the buttons Small amounts of glass cleaner containing ammonia may be used to clean other surfaces but avoid
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