ATC SIACD User Manual

ACOUSTIC

ENGINEERS

ATC CDA2 & SIACD

User Operating Manual

1

CDA2 & SIACD

Safety Warnings

1. Read instructions – all the safety and operating instructions should

be read before the appliance is operated.

2. Retain these instructions – the safety and operating instructions

should be retained for future reference.

3. Heed warnings – all warnings on the appliance and in the operating

instructions should be adhered to.

4. Follow instructions – all operating and other instructions should be

followed.

5. Water and moisture – the appliance should not be used near water,

for example near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in

a wet basement or near a swimming pool etc.

6. Ventilation – the appliance should be situated so that its location or

position does not interfere with its proper ventilation. For example,

the appliance should not be situated on a bed, sofa, rug or similar

surface that may block the ventilation openings. Similarly, the

appliance should not be built into an installation, such as a bookcase

or cabinet, that may impede the flow of air through the ventilation

openings.

7. Heat – the appliance should be situated away from heat sources such

as radiators, stoves or other appliances that produce heat.

8. Power sources – the appliance should be connected to a power

supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as

marked on the appliance.

9. Power cord protection – power supply cords should be routed so that

they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon

or against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs,

convenience receptacles and the point where they exit the appliance.

10. Cleaning – the appliance should be cleaned only as recommended by

the manufacturer.

11. Unattended periods – the power cord of the appliance should be

unplugged from the outlet when left unused for a long period of

time.

12. Object and liquid entry – care should be taken so that objects and

liquids do not fall into the appliance.

13. Damage requiring service – the appliance should be serviced by

qualified service personnel when:

i. the power supply cord or the plug has been damaged

ii. objects have fallen or liquid has been spilled into the appliance

iii. the appliance has been exposed to rain or other serious liquid

exposure

iv. the appliance does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a

marked change in performance

v. the appliance has been dropped or the cabinet damaged

14. Servicing – the user should not attempt to service the appliance

beyond those measures described in the operating instructions. All

other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.

15. Grounding or polarisation – precautions should be taken so that

grounding or polarisation means for the appliance are not defeated.

Contents

Page
2 Introduction

3 Generic Information
Installation

Mains Connection
Fuses
Remote Handsets

4 Care and Maintenance

Warranty and Contact

5 CDA2 CD player & preamplifier

Description
Inputs

6 Outputs

Operation

7 Specifications

8 SIACD CD player & integrated amplifier

Description
Inputs

9 Outputs

Operation

10 Operation – USB Audio
12 Specifications

13 SCA R2 Remote Handset

2

CDA2 & SIACD

Introduction

Welcome. In selecting ATC you have chosen

an example of the finest audio engineering

available. ATC was founded on a principle

of engineering excellence, and that principle

still defines our products today. Given the

right opportunities, ATC products will

deliver exceptional audio performance, but

the opportunities will only arise from

careful and thoughtful installation and use.

Please read the following manual fully. It

will help you understand the product and

to realise its full potential. We are happy to

answer questions and offer advice on any

issues that arise through installation or use

of ATC products. Contact details can be

found at the back of this manual.

ATC was founded in London in 1974 by Australian

emigre Bill Woodman, who still heads the company

today. An enthusiastic pianist and engineer he was

naturally drawn to loudspeaker design and after a

period working at Goodmans, where many of the

names that went on to found British loudspeaker

companies began their careers, he struck out on

his own. The premise on which ATC began is a

simple one, and one that in many respects is still

true today: hi-fi loudspeakers tend to be detailed

and accurate but of limited dynamic range, while

professional monitor speakers tend to express the

opposite character. ATC products were designed

from the outset to offer the best of both. It’s an

easy concept to describe, but surprisingly difficult

to engineer.

The difficulty inherent in designing such

loudspeakers is one of scale. Hi-fi levels of accuracy

and detail call for lightweight moving parts and

delicate engineering. Professional monitor levels of

performance however demand far more robust

components engineered to survive the rigours of

high level use for extended periods. The only way

to combine the two is through precision

engineering of a class and scale more often

associated with aerospace or motorsport. But the

results are worth the effort and the cost. ATC

loudspeakers, with their unique in-house designed

drivers, combine the best of hi-fi and professional

to devastating effect.

ATC has become synonymous with active systems. Choosing to offer active

loudspeakers (where the passive crossover network is replaced by active filters and

multiple power amplifiers) is simply a result of the uncompromising attitude to

loudspeaker design. While passive systems still have their place, and ATC engineering

skills can still bring remarkable results from them, “active” is a fundamentally better

solution to the problems posed by accurate, high level music reproduction. The ATC

instinct is always for the better solution. Not cheaper, not quicker, but better.

It was the development of active loudspeakers that first brought ATC into electronics

design and engineering. Active speakers demand multiple power amplifiers so ATC

from the mid 1980s became not just a loudspeaker manufacturing company but an

electronics manufacturer too. The further step from electronics for active speakers

to a range of stand-alone amplifier products was natural and now means that ATC

engineering is available from the recording desk or CD player output to the ears.

From modest beginnings ATC has grown to become one of the very few

manufacturers successful across both domestic and professional audio. By selecting

ATC you join a group of music lovers, professional audio engineers, studios and

musicians across the world that understand and value the engineering that goes into

an ATC product - and the sound that comes out.

3

CDA2 & SIACD

Generic Information

The information in the following Sections is common to all ATC

electronics products. We recommend that you read this page, and the

safety warnings that proceed it, before continuing to read the pages

dedicated to your specific ATC product.

Installation

ATC equipment has been designed to be free standing either within an equipment

stand or simply on a convenient item of furniture. There are no special ventilation

requirements (but please see notes on amplifiers below). It is recommended that at

least 100mm (4 inches) clearance be left behind a unit for plugs and cables.

ATC equipment has been designed to remain powered-up in standby mode unless it

is to be unused for a long period of time. Power dissipation will make the unit warm

to the touch in either standby or operational mode. Temperature stability will be

reached after approximately three hours from mains switch-on. Full Audio

performance is available immediately.

ATC preamplifiers should be located as close to the source components as

practically possible to minimise the cable length. The outputs however are capable of

driving up to 50 metres of good quality cable; therefore it is practical to locate the

preamplifier a distance away from the monitor or power amplifier(s).

ATC power amplifiers and integrated amplifiers should ideally be located to minimise

the cable lengths from both the source components and the loudspeakers. Use of

loudspeaker cables in excess of 20 metres should be avoided if possible to prevent

a possible degradation in sound quality. Care must be taken to ensure that ventilation

holes in the top and bottom covers are not obscured. Please contact ATC if the

amplifier is to be mounted in an enclosed area.

Mains Connection

The mains voltage to be used with CDA2 and SIACD is displayed on the rear panel.

The mains cable has been specifically supplied to comply with local statutory safety

approvals and alternatives should not be substituted. If you Intend to use your unit

in an alternative territory, please contact ATC for advise.

ATC equipment MUST be earthed. Do not remove the earth wire in the mains plug.

Fuses

Mains power supply fuses are fitted within the CDA2 and SIACD, but they are not

intended to be user replaceable.

The mains power supply fuse for the CDA2 and SIACD is located on the rear panel.

Should a unit fail to switch on when the power switch is operated, the fuse should

be inspected. PLEASE ENSURE THAT THE UNIT IS DISCONNECTED FROM THE

MAINS SUPPLY BEFORE INSPECTING OR REPLACING A FUSE. Lift out the fuse

holder cover using a small screwdriver, remove the fuse and inspect it for damage.

Fuses most often fail due to a serious electrical fault. Only replace fuses with the

same type as that suspected to be blown. All fuses are 20mm “Type T anti surge”. The

fuse rating is printed on the rear panel adjacent to the fuse. If a replacement fuse also

fails then the Amplifier should be returned to ATC for service.

Remote Handsets

The CDA2 and SIACD are supplied with an

SCA R2 remote handset. Provided that the CDA2

and SIACD are connected to the mains power and

its rear panel power switch is on, the SCA R2

provides for remote operation of all functions.

Use the handset On/Reset button to switch the

CDA2 or SIACD into active mode and the Standby

button to return the unit to standby mode.

Monitor and record selection can be made by

pressing the desired Monitor or Record button.

The SIACD front panel source indicators will

illuminate but rotary controls will not rotate.

Volume is controlled through the handset Level +

and Level – buttons. The SIACD front panel level

control will rotate in response to handset level

commands. The handset Mute function operates in

exactly the same way as the front panel control.

The red indicator on the handset will flash as

functions are operated. Failure of this indicator

points to exhaustion of the handset battery. The

battery should be replaced, and the old battery

disposed of, by your local dealer or distributor.

Reliable operation of the remote handsets require

direct line of sight between the handset and the

unit front panel. Correct operation of the handset

on the CDA2 and SIACD is indicated by illumination

of a red indicator on the left hand side of the front

panel as handset commands are received.

The SCA R2 is illustrated and described on Page 12

of this manual.