dCS Elgar Plus Stereo Digital to Analogue Converter User Manual Software Release 4.3x September 2004 © dCS Ltd. 1999 - 2004 Price UK £17.50 / Euro 25.00 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 dCS1. 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. 1 dCS is Data Conversion Systems Ltd. Company registered in England No. 2072115. dCS Elgar Plus User Manual dCS Ltd Manual for Software Issue 4.3x September 2004 Manual filename: Elgar Manual v4.3x.doc English version Page 2 email: more@dcsltd.co.uk web-site: www.dcsltd.co.uk dCS Elgar Plus User Manual dCS Ltd Manual for Software Issue 4.3x September 2004 PRODUCT OVERVIEW The dCS Elgar Plus is derived from our award winning dCS Elgar, the world's first 24/96 and 24/192 audiophile D/A converter. Elgar Plus offers many improvements over the standard Elgar, the most important being the ability to handle DSD from IEEE 1394 or SDIF-2 interfaces, the ability to slave to a Word Clock or act as a Master Clock, a digital output and a substantially expanded Function Menu. All dCS DACs feature our patented dCS Ring DAC technology. This unveils the intricate low level musical detail that is dCS' hallmark. Elgar Plus will accept digital data at 44.1kS/s from your CD player and interpolate the 16 bits, giving your CD collection a new lease of life. Elgar Plus will also convert 24 bit 96kS/s data from DVD players, revealing the increased depth and spaciousness inherent in the more complex source information. With the current software version, Elgar Plus also has the ability to act as a master clock for your transport, increasing the clocking precision of the overall system. Units fitted with the IEEE 1394 interface option can convert DSD data (a single bit data stream, sampled at 2.822MS/s) from a suitably equipped Upsampler or SACD player to extra wide-band audio, taking advantage of the extended bandwidth inherent in the DSD format. All dCS DACs use the same digital processing engine running the same DSP code. The extensive use of programmable logic makes dCS products extremely flexible and easy to upgrade. You can load updated Elgar Plus software from a dCS CD using a CD player, or dCS service agents can download software to the SUC port, using a PC. Manual filename: Elgar Manual v4.3x.doc English version Page 3 email: more@dcsltd.co.uk web-site: www.dcsltd.co.uk dCS Elgar Plus User Manual dCS Ltd Manual for Software Issue 4.3x September 2004 CONTENTS Product Overview ..............................................................................................3 Contents .............................................................................................................4 About this Manual What does the coloured text mean? About Sample Rates x 7 7 7 Step-by-Step Guide ...........................................................................................8 Preliminaries Step 1 ­ Selecting a Digital Input Connecting to a Single AES or SPDIF source Connecting to a Dual AES Source x Connecting to an IEEE 1394 DSD Source Connecting to an SDIF/DSD Source 8 9 9 9 9 9 Step 2 ­ Connecting the Analogue Outputs Using a preamplifier Using a power amplifier directly x x 11 11 11 Step 3 - Setting the Output Level Step 4 - Using Elgar Plus in Master Mode Other Settings Using an Elgar Plus in Master Mode with Verdi Using Elgar Plus and a 1394-Equipped Purcell with Verdi Using Elgar Plus with a Standard Purcell and a CD Player Using the Function Menu Opening the Menu Types of Menu Page Closing the Menu Menu Sequence Selecting a Filter 12 13 13 14 15 16 19 19 19 19 20 Typical Applications........................................................................................14 The Software ­ The Menu ...............................................................................18 Filter ­ Anti-Imaging Filter Setting x x 20 21 20 21 Setting to Master Mode MS ­ Master/Slave Operation Mute - Mute Fade Time 22 22 23 24 24 24 25 25 25 x x x Fade ­ Fade Behaviour After Re-Lock Dual AES ­ Dual AES Mode Swap - Swap Channels Disp - Default Display Bal Mode - Balance Information Display Global ­ Global/Local Volume PLL - PLL Tracking bandwidth Override Non-Audio Muting Disabling Non-Audio Muting Restoring Non-Audio Muting TimeOut ­ Menu Time Out Setting NAud - Non Audio Muting 26 26 26 26 Ch.Check - Channel Check Test Ph.Check - Phase Check Test Test - Display Test Burn In - Burn-In Signal Generation Issue ­ Software Issue State Serial ­ Unit Serial Number 27 27 28 28 29 29 29 29 Temp ­ Unit Internal Temperature Contact - Contact information Manual filename: Elgar Manual v4.3x.doc English version Page 4 email: more@dcsltd.co.uk web-site: www.dcsltd.co.uk dCS Elgar Plus User Manual dCS Ltd Manual for Software Issue 4.3x September 2004 CDUpdate ­ Software Update By CD Factory ­ Restoring Factory Defaults Rst Sync ­ Setting all Inputs to Slave Mode Front Panel Key to Front Panel 29 32 32 34 34 The Hardware ­ Controls and Connectors ...................................................34 Standby Button Display button Phase button De-Emphasis button Status Indicator Remote Control Sensor Main Display Input Button and Input Indicator Mute Button Volume / Balance button Rotary Control x (Menu Step) x x x x x x x (Menu Select) x 34 35 35 35 36 36 36 37 37 37 37 Rear Panel Key to Rear Panel Output Level Switch Balanced Analogue Outputs Unbalanced Analogue Outputs AES/EBU Digital Inputs SPDIF Digital Inputs Toslink and ST Optical Inputs REC Digital Output 1394 Interface DSD / SDIF Interface Wordclock Digital Output SUC IEC Power Inlet Mains Fuse Additional Information Remote Control Standby Button Function Button Input Selector Buttons Vol/Bal Button Mute Button Purcell Button and LED Phase Button Filter Button Display button Up and Down ( / ) buttons Converter Type Digital Interface Specifications Sample Rates Frequency Response (set to Filter 1) Volume Control Balance Control De-Emphasis Analogue Outputs Clocking Synchronising to source x 38 38 38 39 39 39 39 39 40 40 40 41 41 41 41 41 42 42 42 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 43 44 44 45 45 46 46 46 46 46 46 Elgar Plus Technical Information ....................................................................44 Power requirements Size and Weight Operating Conditions IEEE 1394 Overview Synchronising IEEE 1394 interfaces Automatic Input Selection dCS IR Remote Control Codes Upsampler Manual filename: Elgar Manual v4.3x.doc English version 47 47 47 48 48 48 50 50 email: more@dcsltd.co.uk web-site: www.dcsltd.co.uk General Technical Information.......................................................................48 Page 5 dCS Elgar Plus User Manual dCS Ltd DACs Transports What's in the Box? Safety Notice Mains Voltage Setting Positioning the Unit Mains Supply Voltage Having Your Options Changed Service & Maintenance Obtaining Service Mains Fuse Replacing a Blown Fuse x Manual for Software Issue 4.3x September 2004 51 52 54 54 55 55 56 56 58 58 58 58 Using your dCS Elgar Plus for the first time ...................................................54 Options .............................................................................................................56 Maintenance and Support...............................................................................58 Fitting or Replacing the Batteries in the Remote Control Opening the battery compartment and removing batteries Fitting new batteries and closing the case Updating your Elgar Plus Software Updates Hardware Updates x x 59 59 59 60 60 60 Safety and Electrical Safety Cleaning the Case 61 61 Troubleshooting ..............................................................................................62 Fault Indication 62 Power interruption 62 Power up test errors 62 Non-Audio disk 62 The unit is overheating 62 Troubleshooting Guide 63 The unit fails to power up 63 The unit fails to lock to a digital audio source or displays "No Input" 63 The unit locks but the audio output is low or absent 63 The output is monophonic 63 The unit fails to respond to the controls 64 The Main Display turns on briefly when a control is operated, then turns off 64 The Left and Right channels are swapped 64 One audio output channel is low or absent 64 The sound has a peculiar tonal balance 64 Crackles or pops occur while playing music 65 Erratic operation when locked to 96 or 88.2kS/s on Toslink or ST inputs 65 The unit will not decode Dual AES 65 The unit drops out of Dual AES mode into AES1 or AES2 65 A digital recorder fails to record from the REC Output 65 The Remote Control fails to control the unit 66 While playing a DVD, a burst of noise is heard, Elgar Plus mutes and changes sample rate 66 CD Update is interrupted and fails to recover Troubleshooting the IEEE 1394 Interface Upsampler or Transport displays "Inactive" The Unit keeps displaying "No Comms" The Unit keeps displaying "Search.." The DAC displays "Verdi Wordclock Missing" The DAC displays "Missing Wordclock between Clk Out & Verdi Clk In" The DAC displays "Please check source slaved to DAC Wordclock Out" The DAC displays "Wrong Wordclock @ Verdi Clk In" The DAC remains muted The DAC takes a long time to unmute Other Information CD Update is interrupted or fails 66 66 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 67 68 68 69 If You Need More Help ....................................................................................69 Manual filename: Elgar Manual v4.3x.doc English version Page 6 email: more@dcsltd.co.uk web-site: www.dcsltd.co.uk dCS Elgar Plus User Manual dCS Ltd Manual for Software Issue 4.3x September 2004 Indexes and Software Version Numbers.......................................................70 Software History Definitions and Abbreviations Key to Cable Identification List of Tables List of Figures Keywords and Phrases 70 71 72 73 73 74 About this Manual If you have not used a Elgar Plus before, please read the section "Using your dCS Elgar Plus for the first time" on page 54. This manual has been arranged with the most commonly used sections placed first: · · · · · · · table of contents (page 4) step-by-step (page 8) and applications guides (page 14) detailed software and hardware information (page 18) technical information (page 44) information for first time users (page 54) options, maintenance and troubleshooting (page 56) index section (page 70) What does the coloured text mean? If you are reading a colour print or a soft copy of this manual, you will notice that some types of text are in colour: · · · · · · Brown text in bold is a reference to another section or page. Sometimes, if you are reading a soft copy of the manual, page numbers are hyperlinks ­ click on them and you will go there. Blue text is used for controls and connectors, described in the hardware section. White text in bold on black is used for alternative control functions, such as menu operation. Pink text is a menu page or setting. Green text in bold shows what appears on the display. Purple text in bold is used for indicators. Important information is presented like this - ignoring this may cause you to damage the unit, or invalidate the warranty. The manual is designed to be helpful. If there are points you feel we could cover better, or that we have missed out - please tell us. About Sample Rates x IMPORTANT! All references to sample rates in this manual use the unit kS/s (kilo Samples per second) rather than the technically incorrect kHz. Manual filename: Elgar Manual v4.3x.doc English version Page 7 email: more@dcsltd.co.uk web-site: www.dcsltd.co.uk dCS Elgar Plus User Manual dCS Ltd Manual for Software Issue 4.3x September 2004 STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE This section guides you through setting up the unit for basic operation. You may find this useful if you have not used the Elgar Plus for a while. Preliminaries The Control Summary sheet details the menu structure and outlines the use of the front panel controls. For more information, see the Function Menu section on page 18. For digital interfaces, use with cables designed for digital audio: · · · · · · · for AES/EBU interfaces use 110 screened, twisted pair cables fitted with one male XLR connector and one female XLR connector. for SDIF, Wordclock or SPDIF BNC interfaces, use 75 coax cables fitted with BNC plugs. for SPDIF RCA interfaces, use 75 coax cables fitted with RCA Phono plugs. for TOSLINK optical interfaces, use Toslink fibre-optic cables. for ST optical interfaces, use ST style fibre opt ...