User manual LAVRY DA10

[. . . ] LavryBlack Series Model DA10 Digital to Analog Converter Lavry Engineering, Inc. Box 4602 Rolling Bay, WA 98061 http://lavryengineering. com email: techsupport@lavryengineering. com Rev 3. 6 March 31, 2010 LavryBlack DA10 Operation MODEL DA10 The LavryBlack DA10 features: Ultra low jitter modes. Included sample rate conversion for non-standard rates. Potentiometer-free digitally controlled analog volume circuitry. [. . . ] This approach offers a number of advantages: - Extremely consistent sound quality regardless of volume; much better than a traditional potentiometer "knob" type of control. - Excellent matching between channels at every volume setting for consistent stereo balance. - Ease of reset-ability for listening or critical monitoring at a consistent level - The volume setting is non volatile ­ the unit recalls the last setting when powered ON. The volume control consists of the numerical display under the VOLUME legend, and the up/down switch just to the right of the display. The volume can be controlled in 1 dB steps from full volume (56) to the lowest volume (01). When the display indicates "00, " the signal is muted. Holding the up/down switch in either position will cause the Volume setting to change continuously until the switch is released or the setting reaches the end of the range. Please be certain to configure the outputs of the DA10 for the proper balanced or unbalanced setting to match the wiring and inputs of your system. See the section titled CONFIGURING THE XLR OUTPUTS for details. DETERMINING THE CORRECT VOLUME SETTING FOR YOUR SYSTEM There are two ways the DA10 can be used to listen to digital audio sources through speakers: 1. ) Connect the main output of the DA10 to the input of a receiver or preamp, set the DA10 to a "fixed" level, and adjust the speaker volume using the volume control of the receiver or preamp. 4 LavryBlack DA10 Operation 2. ) Connect the main output of the DA10 directly to the input of a power amp or powered monitors and use the Volume control of the DA10 to adjust the speaker volume. PLEASE NOTE: When operating the DA10 connected directly to a power amp or powered monitors, it is important to reduce the VOLUME of the DA10 to a very low setting BEFORE turning the AC power of the power amp or monitors "ON!" Because the DA10 is capable of driving professional level balanced inputs as well as consumer level unbalanced (RCA) inputs, some care is needed when using the DA10 with unbalanced consumer HiFi equipment. Although exceeding the absolute maximum input level of the HiFi equipment is not likely to cause damage, it will reduce the quality of the listening experience. - The first time you use the DA10 feeding equipment with a volume control, it is recommended that you start with the DA10 at a very low VOLUME setting, and raise the volume on the preamp or receiver to a level you would use to listen to other inputs (Phono or FM radio, for example). Switch to the input that the DA10 is feeding, and raise the VOLUME setting of the DA10 until the acoustic volume is the same as other sources. Matching the acoustic level between sources will almost certainly mean you are not exceeding the input rating of your equipment!There is wide variation in the absolute maximum input level that HiFi equipment is capable of accepting without distortion. It is also recommended that you not exceed the absolute maximum level, even with music program that has large variations in level, because a loud peak could occur that would cause distortion. In most cases, lowering the volume setting on the DA10 will degrade the signal quality less than lowering the volume control on the receiver or preamp below a setting which is "normal" for other analog sources (Phono, FM broadcast, etc. ). The digitally controlled analog level circuitry of the DA10 degrades the signal less than typical "knob" potentiometer volume controls on consumer equipment, particularly at lower level settings. 5 LavryBlack DA10 Operation Volume Setting 56 50 --46 --01 00 XLR Balanced Operation 24dBu 18dBu --14dBu ---31dBu OFF XLR Unbalanced Operation 18dBu 12dBu --8dBu ---37dBu OFF Headphone Level 18dBu 12dBu --8dBu ---37dBu OFF AES/EBU professional analog line levels: Set to 56 for 24dBu balanced = 34. 72V peak to peak = 12. 28V rms Set to 56 for 18dBu un-balanced = 17. 36V peak to peak = 6. 14V rms A typical home power amp or powered speaker: Set to 40 for 8dBu balanced = 5. 6V peak to peak = 2V rms Set to 46 for 8dBu unbalanced = 5. 6V peak to peak = 2V rms Determining the Correct DA10 Volume Setting for other input ratingsUse the graph (below) to determine the proper maximum Volume control setting of the DA10 for other voltage values. For Volts rms or Volts p-p, find the voltage on the vertical scale on the right side of the graph and trace horizontally until it intersects the relevant curve (solid for rms, dotted for V peak to peak, balanced or unbalanced). At the point where the horizontal line intersects the curve, trace straight down to the scale on the bottom of the graph to find the closest DA10 Volume control setting that will be the maximum volume for your equipment's inputs. Pro users can use the vertical scale on the left edge of the graph for the same purpose using dBu units. [. . . ] The DA10 is not designed to work with this type of headphone. The headphone output is capable of much higher levels than a batterypowered device in order to properly drive typical HiFi headphones. Damage may occur to the portable device headphones if they are connected with the DA10 Volume control set to a higher setting. Volume Control Precision: Integral linearity (deviation from straight line) ­ better than 0. 1dB Differential linearity (step size) ­ better than 0. 08dB AC Power: Voltage 90-264 VAC, Frequency 40-63Hz, Current 0. 1A Fuse Rating 2. 5A "Time Delay" * *Subject to change! [. . . ]