- DL manuals
- Valve Audio Devices
- Media Converter
- DAC-10
- User Manual
Valve Audio Devices DAC-10 User Manual
Summary of DAC-10
Page 1
1 valve audio devices dac-‐10 / dac-‐10 dsd digital to analogue converter user manual version 3.5.
Page 2: Introduction
2 introduction the valve audio devices dac-‐10 / dac-‐10 dsd valve dac is an exquisitely engineered, hand-‐ built, point-‐to-‐point wired unit employing specifically selected components. It is designed for the audio purist and refined over countless hours to produce exceptional high definition ...
Page 3: Technical Information
3 technical information dsd64/dsd128 playback (dac-‐10 dsd) : our dedicated dsd (direct stream digital) playback platform passes the usb interfaced dsd left and right channel bitstream data through 1bit drivers and onto a high precision, double differential fir (finite impulse response) active filt...
Page 4
4 power supply: power supplies are independent for digital and analogue and left and right channels. All power supplies are inductor (choke), loaded, series resistor-‐less and bespoke designed. The current generation of dac-‐10 dsd has 18 power supplies working with five mains transformers. Vacuum...
Page 5
5 used components: during long r&d process, all components were selected for the overall sound benefit of the whole design without compromises. The separate components count of the dac-‐10 dsd is 600 and include: selected paper in oil and silver mica capacitors, 0.1% tolerance foil resistors, selec...
Page 6
6 contents introduction 2 technical info 3-‐5 unpacking 6 connection 7-‐8-‐9-‐10-‐11 before switching on/functions 12-‐13-‐14 safety 15-‐16 burn in 17 specifications 18-‐19 warranty information 20-‐21 warranty registration form 22 unpacking in the flight case you will find the following: •...
Page 7: Connection
7 connection vad dac-‐10 inputs: vad dac-‐10 dsd inputs.
Page 8
8 digital inputs dac-‐10 digital audio connectivity: • aes/ebu balanced digital audio input • bnc spdif digital audio input • coaxial spdif digital audio input • toslink optical spdif digital audio input • usb 2.0 audio pcm input (up to 32bit/192khz) dac-‐10 dsd digital audio connectivity: • bnc s...
Page 9
9 audio outputs: balanced: use screened, twisted pair cables fitted with 3pin xlr plugs (receptacle type plug for the dac-‐10 / dac-‐10 dsd end). When using the balanced connection, pin 1 is “ground”, pin 2 is “hot” and pin 3 “cold”. Make sure this complies with your other audio equipment and cons...
Page 10
10 pcm and dsd computer playback if you have both formats (pcm, dsd) of music files on your computer connect both usb inputs to your computer using quality usb 2.0 cables. Both usb interfaces will operate in kernel streaming (recommended) or asio mode selected at your software player end. To play ds...
Page 11
11 before switching on/functions front panel switching on / off powering on: “flip” the mains power switch on the rear panel of the dac-‐10 / dac-‐10 dsd followed by pushing the “power” button on the front panel. Powering off: press the “power” button on the front panel of the dac-‐10 / dac-‐10 ...
Page 12
12 whilst the dac-‐10 / dac-‐10 dsd will sound superb from the moment it is switched on, due to the nature of valves, its sound will improve even further as it warms up. After 20 minutes it will be on song, after approximately 40 minutes it will reach its peak performance. To maximise the life spa...
Page 13
13 you can notice the analogue nature of our vad dsd platform -‐ simply by playing dsd64 in the dsd128 switch position, the playback will continue but with an analogue hiss as you would expect from an fm radio that is out of tune to the station. By using the correct filter for the correct dsd strea...
Page 14: Safety Information
14 safety information placement apart from the valves, which, by their very nature, are designed to run hot, the dac-‐10 / dac-‐ 10 dsd is relatively cool running and operates well below the maximum allowed temperature for consumer audio. It should be positioned so as to allow free airflow around ...
Page 15
15 important: tube (valve) replacement the dac must be powered off by the mains switch on the back panel (mains iec socket ) and then fully disconnected from the mains socket for a minimum of 10 minutes before commencing any tube replacement. (`bleeding` circuit fully discharges power supplies withi...
Page 16
16 `burn-‐in` time. Each dac-‐10 / dac-‐10 dsd is hand-‐built and then tested through for a minimum of 24 hours `burn-‐in` test (all input sources, all output levels). This means that the dac-‐10 / dac-‐10 dsd has a 24 hours burn-‐in period prior to delivery. Once installed, we recommend a f...
Page 17: Specifications
17 specifications audio signal frequency range: 10hz -‐ 20 khz +/-‐ 0.1db (pcm) 10hz to 120 khz/-‐3db ( dsd128 ) 10hz to 100 khz/-‐3db ( dsd64 ) dynamic range pcm 120db dynamic range dsd64/128 110db/113db digital inputs: 1x aes/ebu (dac-‐10 only) 1x rca coaxial 1x bnc 1x toslink optical 1x asyn...
Page 18
18 (dac-‐10 dsd): pcm, dsd64/2.8mhz dsd128/5.64mhz-‐6.144mhz (double rate) thermionic valves used: 2x 6sn7 dual triode (or equivalent) 2x 6n6p dual triode (or equivalent) 2x cv574 full wave rectifier (or equivalent) 1x ecc84 hf dual triode (or equivalent) power consumption: 58w ac mains operation ...
Page 19: Warranty Information
19 valve audio devices (vad) dac-‐10 / dac-‐10 dsd warranty information valve audio devices limited warrants this product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of seven (7) years from the date of purchase (subjectto the terms set forth below). Valve audio devices will r...
Page 20
20 repairs or replacements as provided under this warranty are the exclusive remedy ofthe consumer. Valve audio devices limited (vad) shall not be liable for any incidental or consequentialdamages for breach of any express or implied warranty in this product. Except to the extent prohibited by law, ...
Page 21
21 valve audio devices (vad) warranty registration form first name: title last name: full address (number and street): city: postcode/zipcode: state/province: country: phone number: e-mail address (receive up-to-date information on new products and promotions): date of purchase (day/month/year): ple...