Esoteric AI-10 User Manual

D00968120A

Digital Integrated Amplifier

OWNER’S MANUAL ...............2

MANUEL DU PROPRIÉTAIRE

...21

2

CAUTION

<

DO NOT REMOVE THE EXTERNAL CASES OR CABINETS TO
EXPOSE THE ELECTRONICS. NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS
ARE WITHIN!

<

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THIS PRODUCT,
CONTACT TEAC FOR A SERVICE REFERRAL. DO NOT USE THE
PRODUCT UNTIL IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED.

WARNING: TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE
TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1) Read these instructions.

2) Keep these instructions.

3) Heed all warnings.

4) Follow all instructions.

5) Do not use this apparatus near water.

6) Clean only with dry cloth.

7) Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance
with the manufacturer’s instructions.

8) Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat
registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that
produce heat.

9) Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or
grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with
one wider than the other. A grounding type plug has two
blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the
third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug
does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for
replacement of the obsolete outlet.

10)Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched
particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point
where they exit from the apparatus.

11)Only use attachments/accessories specified by the
manufacturer.

12)Use only with the cart, stand, tripod,
bracket, or table specified by the
manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus.
When a cart is used, use caution when
moving the cart/apparatus combination to
avoid injury from tip-over.

13) Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when
unused for long periods of time.

14) Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is
required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way,
such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has
been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not
operate normally, or has been dropped.

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER­SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO
QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an
equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within
the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient
magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to
persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is
intended to alert the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in
the literature accompanying the appliance.

< Do not expose this apparatus to drips or splashes.

<

Do not place any objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on
the apparatus.

< Do not install this apparatus in a confined space such as a

book case or similar unit.

< The apparatus draws nominal non-operating power from the

AC outlet with its STANDBY/ON switch in the standby
position.

<

The apparatus should be located close enough to the AC
outlet so that you can easily grasp the power cord plug at any
time.

<

An apparatus with Class !construction shall be connected to
an AC outlet with a protective grounding connection.

< Batteries (battery pack or batteries installed) shall not be

exposed to excessive heat such as sunshine, fire or the like.

< Excessive sound pressure from earphones and headphones

can cause hearing loss.

3

ENGLISH

Contents

Thank you for choosing Esoteric. Read this manual
carefully to get the best performance from this unit.

Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Before Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Speaker Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Restoring factory settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Remote Control Unit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Identifying the Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Basic Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Muting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Display Dimming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Word Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Gain Setting for Analog Audio Input. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Name and Skip Setting of the INPUT Knob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Settings for Word Sync, Volume and i.LINK* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

i.LINK (IEEE 1394)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

CAUTION Regarding Placement

To maintain proper ventilation, be sure to leave a space
around the unit (from the largest outer dimensions including
projections) equal to, or greater than, shown below.

Left and Right Panels: 5 cm (2”)
Rear Panel: 10 cm (4”)
Top Panel: 20 cm (8”)

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference
to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to
try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:

• Reorient or relocate the equipment and/or the receiving
antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and
receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different
from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician
for help.

CAUTION

Changes or modifications to this equipments not expressly
approved by TEAC CORPORATION for compliance will void the
user’s warranty.

For U.S.A.

*:Functions concerning the i.LINK (AUDIO) terminals has no

effect at the moment. They will become available after a
future hardware upgrade (charged).

“Super Audio CD” is a registered trademark.
“DSD” is a registered trademark.

The i.LINK logo is a trademark of Sony Corporation, registered
in the U.S. and other countries.

For European customers
Disposal of your old appliance

1. When this crossed-out wheeled bin symbol is
attached to a product it means the product is
covered by the European Directive
2002/96/EC.

2. All electrical and electronic products should be disposed of
separately from the municipal waste stream via designated
collection facilities appointed by the government or the
local authorities.

3. The correct disposal of your old appliance will help prevent
potential negative consequences for the environment and
human health.

4. For more detailed information about disposal of your old
appliance, please contact your city office, waste disposal
service or the shop where you purchased the product.

4

Speaker Connection

Note:

<

Use commercially available speaker cables.
Ideally, left and right speaker cables should be the same
length. And the length of cables should be as short as
possible for better sound quality.

<

The black speaker terminals are – (negative).
Generally, the + side of the speaker cable is marked to make
it distinguishable from the – side of the cable. Connect this
marked side to the + terminal and the unmarked side to the
black – terminal.

<

The metal portions of the two separate wires should not
touch or an electrical short can occur. Shorted wires can
create a fire hazard or induce a failure in your equipment.

CAUTION:

<

Switch off the power to all equipment before making
connection.

< Read the instructions of each component you intend to use

with this unit.

< Be sure to insert each plug securely. To prevent hum and

noise, avoid bundling the signal interconnection cables
together with the AC power cord or speaker cables.

What’s in the box

Please confirm that the following accessories are in the box
when you open it.

Remote control unit x 1
Batteries (AA, R6, SUM-3) x 2
Felt sheet x 3
Power cord x 1
Owner’s manual x 1
Warranty card x 1

Before Use

Read this before operation

< Be careful to avoid injury when moving the unit, on account

of its weight. Get someone to help you if necessary.

< To protect easily scratched furniture, you may stick the felt

supplied with the unit to the feet.

< As the unit may become warm during operation, always leave

sufficient space around the unit for ventilation.
The ventilation holes should not be covered. Make sure there
is at least 20 cm (8”) of space above and at least 5 cm (2”) of
space on each side of the unit. Do NOT place anything on top
of the unit.

<

The voltage supplied to the unit should match the voltage as
printed on the rear panel. If you are in any doubt regarding
this matter, consult an electrician.

<

Choose the installation location of your unit carefully. Avoid
placing it in direct sunlight or close to a source of heat. Also
avoid locations subject to vibrations and excessive dust, heat,
cold or moisture.

<

Do not place the unit on the amplifier/receiver.

<

Do not open the cabinet as this might result in damage to the
circuitry or electrical shock. If a foreign object should get into
the unit, contact your dealer or service company.

<

When removing the power plug from the wall outlet, always
pull directly on the plug, never yank the cord.

< Do not attempt to clean the unit with chemical solvents as

this might damage the finish. Use a clean, dry cloth.

< Keep this manual in a safe place for future reference.

Maintenance

If the surface of the unit gets dirty, wipe with a soft cloth or
use diluted neutral cleaning liquid. Be sure to remove any
fluid completely. Do not use thinner, benzine (naphtha) or
alcohol as they may damage the surface of the unit.

5

ENGLISH

Connection using

speaker cables with

spades or bare wire

1.Turn the terminal cap counterclockwise to loosen it. The
speaker terminal caps cannot be fully removed from the base.

2.Insert the wire or spade into the terminal and turn the
terminal cap clockwise to securely connect it:

Make sure none of the wire insulation is under the terminal,
only the bare, stripped wire.

3. Make sure it is fastened firmly by pulling the cable lightly.

Right

Speaker

Connection using speaker cables with
banana plugs

Tighten the terminal cap and insert a banana plug.

<

The inside diameter of spades should be 8 mm or more.

When your speaker cable has bare wire at the end

Prepare the speaker cables for connection by stripping off
approximately 10 mm (1/2”) or less of the outer insulation.
(Removing too much insulation may lead to a short circuit if
the bared wires should come in contact with each other.)
Twist the strands of the stripped wires tightly together.
The thickness of wires should be less than 4 mm (1/8”).

Left

Speaker

For European customers

In accordance with European safety regulations, it is not
possible to connect banana plugs into the speaker terminals
on European models.

The holes into which banana plugs are inserted have been
covered with black caps. Connect the speakers using spades
or bare wires.

If the black caps become separated from the terminals, return
them to their original position.

6

Connection (1)

CAUTION:

<

Switch off the power to all equipment before making connection.

<

Read the instructions of each component you intend to use with this unit.

<

Be sure to insert each plug securely. To prevent hum and noise, avoid bundling the signal
interconnection cables together with the AC power cord or speaker cables.

XLR cable

RCA coaxial cable

optical digital cable

BNC coaxial cable

Supplied power cord

Wall socket

RCA cable

CD player, DVD player, tuner, etc.

Turntable

CD player, DVD player, etc.Super Audio CD player (SA-10) etc.

Balanced XLR pin

assignment

CD player, DVD player, etc.

DIGITAL OUT

(OPTICAL)

C

LINE OUT

RL

WORD SYNC

IN

D B BA

DIGITAL OUT

(COAXIAL)

F

EAA

RL

AUDIO OUT

7

ENGLISH

Analog audio input terminals [LINE IN]

Used for the input of analog 2-channel audio signals.
Connect these terminals to a Super Audio CD player (SA-

10), cassette tape deck, tuner, etc. using commercially
available XLR or RCA audio cables.

Make sure to connect:

white plug q

white jack (L: left channel)

red plug q

red jack (R: right channel)

LINE4/PHONO terminals

In addition to a cassette tape deck or tuner, you can also
connect a turntable to the LINE4/PHONO terminals.
Connect the ground lead of the turntable to the SIGNAL
GND terminal of the AI-10. (But if low frequency noises are
heard, it might be better not to connect the ground lead.)

The cartridge of the turntable should be Moving Magnet or
similar.

LINE/PHONO switch

Select PHONO when a turntable is connected to the
LINE4/PHONO terminals. Select LINE4 when a cassette tape
deck, tuner, etc. is connected to the LINE4/PHONO
terminals.

Digital audio input terminals [DIGITAL IN]

Used for the input of digital audio signals from CD, DVD,
etc.
The unit may be connected to digital audio source units
such as CD players, DVD players, etc.

Use commercially available cables.

COAXIAL: RCA (pin) digital audio cable
OPTICAL: optical digital audio cable (TOS)

<

The optical terminal is covered by a shutter. Make sure that
the cable is firmly inserted, but do not force the cable when
connecting it or removing it, in order not to cause damage
to the unit.

<

The COAXIAL and OPTICAL terminals cannot transmit the
digital audio from Super Audio CDs.

< The AI-10 isn’t equipped with Dolby Digital/DTS/MPEG

decoders. The digital output setting of the connected DVD
player must be “PCM”.

B

A

SIGNAL GND connection

Use a commercially available PVC-covered cord to connect
the signal ground terminal on the unit to the player’s signal
ground.

<

Note that this is NOT an electrical safety ground (earth).

<

When a turntable is connected, make sure to connect the
ground lead of the turntable.

WORD SYNC output terminal

This terminal sends out a sync signal (word).
Connect this to the WORD IN terminal of a digital device
such as the SA-10, UZ-1, etc.
For connection, use a commercially available BNC coaxial
digital cable (75Ω impedance).

Power cord receptacle

After all other connections have been made, insert the
supplied AC power cord into this receptacle, then connect
the other end of the power cord into the wall socket.

<

Ensure that your AC voltage corresponds to the voltage
marked on the rear panel of the unit. Consult a qualified
electrician if you are in doubt.

<

Use only the supplied Esoteric power cord. Use of other
power cords may result in fire or electric shock. Unplug the
power cord when you are not going to use the unit for an
extended period of time.

E

D

C