PRD-3
Preamplifier/DAC
User Manual
Gato Audio PRD-3 - Preamplifier/DAC
Page 2
User Manual
Page 3
Contents
Don’t be a stranger 4
Package contents 4
Safety rst! 5
About the preampli er 6
General design 6
Analogue Input Stage 6
D/A Converter 6
USB Versatility 6
Connectivity 6
LED Display 6
Setting up your preampli er 7
Basic connection 7
Overview 7
Connecting a computer to USB 8
Connecting an Apple iPad to USB 8
How does it work? 8
Power on 8
Standby 8
Adjusting the volume 8
Muting 8
Input selection 8
Display dimming 8
Sample rate read-out 9
Direct 9
RC-2 remote control 10
How to insert/replace the battery 10
Functions 10
Installing USB Driver 11
Requirements 11
Windows PC Installation and Set-Up 11
Mac Installation and Set-Up 12
USB audio troubleshooting 13
Make it last! 14
If all else fails… 14
Technical speci cations 15
Gato Audio PRD-3 - Preamplifier/DAC
Page 4
Don’t be a stranger
Thank you for purchasing the Gato Audio PRD-3. We are absolutely con dent that it will bring you many hours of listening pleasure.
We hereby cordially invite you to join the Gato Audio family by registering your product online. You may also consider signing up for our
newsletter to receive information about exciting new products, events and technical updates.
All this and more on www.gato-audio.com
Our very best,
Gato Audio
Package contents
Please check that the following is included in the package:
• 1 Gato Audio PRE-3 preampli er
• 1 mains cable
• 1 Gato Audio RC-2 remote control
• 1 CR2032 3 V battery
• 1 CD-ROM with USB driver for Windows
• This manual - which you should be reading now
User Manual
Page 5
Safety first!
Mains plug and cable:
• Insert the mains plug fully into the mains outlet socket
• Do not use any mains cable other than the one provided with this preampli er
• Do not defeat the ground connection
• Do not move the preampli er around while it is connected to mains
• Do not place heavy objects on the mains cable or place the cable near high-temperature objects
• Do not use damaged mains plugs or socket outlets
Liquids:
Electricity and liquids are not a safe combination, therefore:
• When cleaning the preampli er, remove the mains plug
• Do not handle the mains plug with wet hands
• Do not spray any liquid directly onto the preampli er
• Do not place liquid containers above or near the preampli er
• Keep liquids away from the preampli er
…And:
• This is not a toy and should not be handled like one (by children OR adults)
• Do not remove the covers of the preampli er (for service see page 14)
• Do not attempt to put foreign objects inside the preampli er (for service see page 14)
• Do not cover the preampli er with cloth
• Do not place the preampli er on sloped or unstable surfaces
• When the preampli er will not be used for a long time, remove the mains plug
• Never connect or disconnect cables when the preampli er is switched on
• This unit is made for indoor temperature (15-25
O
C or 59-77 OF). If it has been exposed to cold temperature, let it adjust itself to indoor
temperature before use
• Make sure that your preampli er is able to breathe by securing a minimum safe distance around the heat sinks of 100 mm or 4 inches
• The preampli er can get hot during use. Normal operating temperature is from room temperature to 50
O
C or 122O F
PRD-3
Input
Standby
100 mm / 4” 100 mm / 4”
Gato Audio PRD-3 - Preamplifier/DAC
Page 6
About the preamplifier
General design
The Gato Audio PRD-3 preampli er is designed and built to a vision of combining technology, sonic performance, connectivity, versatility,
stunning looks and compact design. It features a built-in D/A converter with electrical, optical and USB inputs. High quality analogue input
is via RCA connectors or via XLR connectors for true balanced signals. Unbalanced and a double pair of balanced line outputs are provided.
The PRD-3 features low noise analogue circuitry, true 24bit/192Khz conversion, upsampling of the lesser quality and a very clean internal
clock generator for ultra low jitter in the digital domain. The PRD-3 preampli er is well suited for use together with active speakers, power
ampli ers or as a high quality DAC.
Analogue Input Stage
The analogue input stage is where everything begins. It not only connects external inputs and the built-in D/A converter with the output
stage, it adapts impedances, adjusts levels and switches signals. A super-gentle embrace of the delicate analogue signals is important for the
total performance of the preampli er. At Gato Audio we have utilized our many years of experience in “voicing” analogue ampli ers to make
this particular stage perform at its very best. We tuned the input stage to perform with a natural and lifelike sound, a ecting the original
signal as little as possible.
D/A Converter
The built-in D/A converter o ers real high end performance, enabled by the use of a dedicated power supply, a balanced-driven Burr-Brown
PCM1794 D/A converter, an optimized high bandwidth I/V converter, and an analogue stage with low-Q, low pass lters. All digital inputs are
upsampled to 24bit/192kHz. This D/A converter will upgrade any digital source - such as wired or wireless streaming from your computer or
CD drive - to a high end level of detail and musical performance.
USB Versatility
The true 24bit/192kHz digital input via the state of the art asynchronous USB circuit is especially worth highlighting. It enables the possibility
of a sonic performance vastly above that of any CD. It is the key note of making this preampli er a quality-enhancing connection point for
your Mac, PC or even your iPad.
Connectivity
We had our eye on versatility and connectivity when designing this preampli er. The PRD-3 o ers not only a wide range of digital and
analogue inputs, but also line outputs, a trigger signal for external power ampli ers, and a con gurable home theater input. The HT input
can turn the preampli er into a xed level preampli er for use in a surround setup, without compromising the sonic performance.
LED Display
By choosing a large high contrast white LED dot matrix display, we gave the PRD-3 a distinct appearance, easy to understand, easy to see
and operate – even at remote control distance. In addition to displaying output level and selected input, it also displays the sample rate of
the digital input – revealing the quality. The LED display is fully dimmable by the remote control.
User Manual
Page 7
Mains
switch
Fuse
compartment
Setting up your preamplifier
Basic connection
Follow these steps for setting up your system in this sequence:
1. Place the PRD-3 as per the instructions on page 5
2. Connect all inputs and outputs to the preampli er
3. Connect mains power cable to the preampli er and turn it on
4. Select input and volume setting. Enjoy!
Overview
Only replace fuse with
same type and rating:
230 VAC 30W max
T=315mA
L
R
Display
Made in
Denmark
USB
Coax
Input 1 Input 2 Balanced
R
Toslink
Link
DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK OR FIRE, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO MOISTURE OR RAIN.
L
R
L
Mains
Live
Neutral
Line out
L
R
Balanced out 2
R
Balanced out 1
R
L
L
SN: 001170001
*002101001*
PRD-3
Input
Standby
Mains
socket
Volume control knobStandby button Input selection button
Volume read-out Input / Sample rate read-out
Balanced
input
Balanced
output
Display setting
Analogue
output
Analogue
inputs
USB
input
12 V trigger Optical
input
Coaxial
input
iPad
Mac
PC
Laptop
Toggle On/O
External Equipment
Sonos
Squeezebox
CD / DVD / BD-Player
Docking Station
Apple AirPort Express
AppleTV
Harddisk-Player
Streaming-Player
TV or Sat/Cable Receiver
Phono Pre-Amp
Surround Pre-Amp/Receiver
TV
CD / DVD / BD-Player
Docking Station
High End CD-Player
Professional Audio
Equipment
Power Amp
Active Speaker
Subwoofer
Gato Audio PRD-3 - Preamplifier/DAC
Page 8
How does it work?
Power on
Use the mains switch on the back of the preampli er to turn it on. The preampli er is now in
standby mode. Only the microprocessor and the standby LED are powered during standby.
Therefore, the PRD-3 has an ultra-low standby power consumption of less than 1W.
Standby
Activate the preampli er by pressing on the remote control or the Standby button on the front
panel. When the preampli er enters standby mode again it will remember the selected input
channel and volume level. If the volume level is higher than 50, it will be reduced to 50 when the
preampli er exits standby mode.
Adjusting the volume
Turning the volume control knob clockwise increases the volume. Turn it counter-clockwise to
decrease the volume. The volume can also be adjusted by pressing the or button on the
remote control.
Muting
For complete silence simply press the button on the remote control. Press the mute button
once more to return to the previous volume level.
Input selection
Use the Input button on the front panel to select between the di erent input channels.
Inputs can also be selected with the remote by pressing the direct input selection buttons or
the or buttons. The input will switch the channels in this order:
IN1IN2BALUSBRCAOPT
Display dimming
The display can be dimmed by a pressing the Display button on the RC-2 remote control or the
Display button on the back of the preampli er. The display is now turned o except for two
LEDs indicating the dimmed display state. Whenever a change is made to the settings of the
preampli er, such as adjusting volume or changing input, the display will light up for 4 seconds,
showing the change that is being made. Press either of the buttons again to exit display dimming
mode.
Connecting a computer to USB
Before connecting the PRD-3 to your computer via USB, please read installation instructions on page 11.
Connecting an Apple iPad to USB
It is possible to stream music from an iPad to the USB port of the PRD-3. An Apple Camera Connection Kit is required for this feature. The kit
is available from the Apple online store or other Apple accessory shops.
Plug the camera connector into the iPad dock connector and connect it to the PRD-3 with a USB cable. Simply start your music app and
enjoy the music.
+
PRD-3
Input
Standby
PRD-3
Input
Standby
PRD-3
Input
Standby
Standby
Mute
Display dim
User Manual
Page 9
PRD-3
Input
Standby
Home Theater direct
Sample rate read-out
The PRD-3 can read and display the sample rate of the USB, RCA and OPT digital input channels.
The PRD-3 can be set to display this in two di erent ways:
1. The display on the right shows the selected input channel, eg. USB. Press the USB button on
the RC-2 remote control, and the sample rate will be shown in kHz instead of selected input
channel name for 4 seconds.
2. The display on the right only shows the sample rate. When changing input channels the
channel name will be shown for 4 seconds, and then return to display the sample rate.
To toggle between the two read-out modes, press and hold the Display button on the back of the
preampli er for 2 seconds.
Direct
The Direct function bypasses the volume control turning this preampli er into a xed level
preampli er. This can be very useful in surround setups. To activate this mode, select input IN1
and press and hold the Input button on the front panel of the preampli er for 4 seconds. The left
display will read HT.
To disable the function, press and hold the Input button on the front panel of the preampli er
for 4 seconds. The preampli er remembers this setting in standby mode and when the PRD-3 is
switched o .
PRD-3
Input
Standby
PRD-3
Input
Standby
Sample rate read-out
No sample rate available
Gato Audio PRD-3 - Preamplifier/DAC
Page 10
+
USB
Display
RCA Optical
Input 1 Input 2 Balanced
RC-2 remote control
The RC-2 is an infrared remote control for the Gato Audio PRD-3.
How to insert/replace the battery
The RC-2 runs on a standard CR2032 3 V button battery.
1. Remove the small lid on the bottom side of the remote
2. Insert or replace the CR2032 3 V button battery
3. Reinstall the small lid on the bottom side of the remote
Functions
Standby
Display
Mute
USB
RCA
Optical
Input 1
Input 2
Balanced
Volume up
Volume down
Next input channel - Press the button to select next input channel
Previous input channel - Press the button to select previous input channel
- Press the button to put the preampli er in standby
Press it again to turn it on
- Press the button to dim the display
Press it again to restore the display to normal
- Press the button to mute the preampli er
Press it again to return to the previous volume level
- Press the button to select the digital USB input channel
- Press the button to select the digital coaxial input channel
- Press the button to select the digital optical input channel
- Press the button to select the analogue Input 1 channel
- Press the button to select the analogue Input 2 channel
- Press the button to select the analogue balanced input channel
- Press the button to increase the volume
- Press the button to decrease the volume
+
User Manual
Page 11
Installing USB Driver
Requirements
Minimum computer con guration required for USB audio streaming:
• Intel Core 2 @ 1.6 GHz, or AMD equivalent with 1 GB RAM
• USB 2.0 interface
• One of the following operating systems:
• Windows XP with SP3 (32 bit)
• Windows Vista with SP2 (32 bit & 64 bit)
• Windows 7 & 8 (32 bit & 64 bit)
• Apple OS X 10.6.4 (Snow Leopard) or higher
Because there are so many PC con gurations out there, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to stream audio on USB even if your
system meets the requirements above.
Windows PC Installation and Set-Up
Before you are able to stream audio from USB on your Windows PC the rst time, you will have to install the Gato Audio USB driver.
Connect your PRD-3 to a free USB port on your computer and load the CD-ROM that came with the PRD-3 into your PC. Setup will start
automatically - If not, click on Start Computer. Right-click on the icon of your CD/DVD drive and choose Install program.
Click Next to start installation
Click Finish to complete the installation
Choose your prefered destination for the
installation and click Install
During the installation process on Windows XP,
you may see this message. Please just click
Continue anyway
Click
Next
to
start installation
installation and click
Install
Click Fini
sh
to
complete the installation
yy g j
Continue anywa
y
Gato Audio PRD-3 - Preamplifier/DAC
Page 12
Mac Installation and Set-Up
No driver installation is needed on the Mac. The driver will be installed
automatically when the PRD-3 is connected to your Mac for the rst
time.
To set up your Mac to stream audio to the PRD-3:
Open Finder Choose Utilities Open Audio MIDI setup
In Audio MIDI setup select the Gato Audio USB 2.0 device and then
choose Use this device for sound output. Set your prefered sample
rate and bit resolution at Format.
After the installation, follow these steps to setup Windows to stream to your Gato Audio device:
Click Start open Control panel Select Hardware & sound click on Sound
Select Gato Audio PRD-3 as
playback device and click Set Default
To adjust output format, click Properties and
select the Advanced tab
User Manual
Page 13
USB audio troubleshooting
USB audio devices have stronger requirements for both USB hardware and software than other USB devices. The following section describes
the most common issues that may rise and their possible solutions.
Known hardware issues and possible solutions
A faulty hardware component, e.g. USB cable or USB port, may not have an impact on standard USB devices such as a FLASH drive or a
printer but can be catastrophic for a USB audio device.
• USB cables
Quite often, the USB cable (or its connectors) is the cause for USB signal distortions. Some cables available in the market are not suited
for USB 2.0 high-speed communication (480 Mbps). Also the maximum allowed cable length of 5 meters should not be exceeded.
Try using a di erent cable. Try a shorter cable (less than 2 meters). Stay away from special USB cable o erings optimized for audio, or
cables which include additional functionality such as status LEDs.
• PCB mounted USB ports
On some PC main boards (or laptops) signal quality of some USB ports is insu cient for USB audio streaming. The cause could be that
on the PCB USB signals are routed close to a switching voltage regulator, for example. Try using a di erent USB port to connect the
audio device.
• USB hubs and front panel mounted USB ports
External USB hubs and ports (mounted on a front panel or elsewhere in the PC case) are a possible source of USB signal distortion.
Quality of cables or connectors used to connect the external USB port with the main board could be insu cient, or internal cables are
placed close to the power supply or other sources of electrical noise. Try using a USB port that is mounted directly on the main board.
Known software issues and possible solutions
Due to the real-time nature of USB audio streams there are also requirements for the operating system and third party software components
installed on the system. Software components that make real-time behavior of the operating system worse are not compatible with audio
streaming applications in general.
• Con icting drivers
Generally it can be stated that the set of device drivers that ships with Windows behaves well. If problems occur then they are typically
caused by third party drivers that are to be installed for hardware which Windows does not support by default. So if a hardware
component is supported by an in-box driver then this driver is to be preferred and a third party driver should not be installed.
• W-LAN or Ethernet device drivers
Quite often it can be observed that device drivers for W-LAN adapters monopolize the computers CPU causing clicks and drop outs
when streaming audio to USB. A few Ethernet drivers also have such issues. Try to nd an updated W-LAN driver, or try an older
version of the driver. If no suited driver can be found, disable W-LAN (or Ethernet) while audio streaming is running.
• Virus scanners or personal rewall software
Normally, this kind of software includes some components to perform ltering or scanning work in the computers CPU. Often, such
components keep the CPU busy for long periods which can cause clicks and drop outs when streaming audio to USB. Try to pause or
disable the software while streaming audio to USB. Try uninstall the software and use a di erent product with similar functionality.
Gato Audio PRD-3 - Preamplifier/DAC
Page 14
Make it last!
Please apply simple common sense to maintain the sound quality and lifespan of your new Gato Audio preampli er. Here are a few guidelines:
• Regular care: wipe the surfaces carefully by using a clean soft dry cloth
• Cleaning: if necessary, wipe the hard surfaces clean using a soft cloth dampened only with clean water.
• Grease stains or nger marks can be removed carefully with a clean soft cloth lightly dampened in a mix of clean lukewarm water and a
single drop of dish-washing liquid. Then wipe the surfaces dry using a soft dry cloth
• Be careful never to use hot water or any type of concentrated detergent, solvent, thinner, or any other volatile substance on the surfaces,
or you may cause permanent damage to the surface coating
• Keep the cabinet away from prolonged contact with rubber or PVC materials
• Do not expose the preampli er to direct sunlight or other heat sources
If all else fails…
…don’t panic! Every Gato Audio product comes with a minimum 2-year warranty. See our website for details.
This warranty does not cover damage or wear directly or indirectly caused by improper use, violence, tampering with or unauthorized access
to or servicing of any part of the product.
If you are in need of service or repair, please do not hesitate to contact us at hello@gato-audio.com or visit our website www.gato-audio.com
for more information.
User Manual
Page 15
Technical specifications
Frequency response
Signal to noise ratio
Line out maximum level
Total Harmonic Distortion
Input impedance
Line output impedance
Voltage gain
Connectors
Balanced analogue inputs
Unbalanced analogue inputs
Digital inputs
Balanced analogue outputs
Unbalanced analogue outputs
Trigger, 12 V
Size & Power
Power Requirements
Fuse
Power consumption stdb/idle/max
Dimensions (WxHxD)
Weight
20 Hz-100 kHz - 0.5 dB
> 110 dB
13 V balanced, 6,5 V unbalanced
< 0,001 % pre out
20 kΩ RCA or 40 kΩ Balanced
75 Ω
10 dB
1 pair gold plated XLR Neutrik
2 pairs of gold plated RCA stereo
1 USB type B, 1 Toslink, 1 RCA coaxial
2 pairs gold plated XLR Neutrik
1 pair of gold plated RCA Stereo
1 mini jack
115 VAC or 230 VAC, 50 Hz/60 Hz, 30W max
20 mm, 630 mAT@115 VAC, 315 mAT@230 VAC
< 1W/14W/30W
325 x 105 x 420 mm / 12.8 x 4.1 x 16.5”
7 kg / 15.4 lb
Gato Audio
Marielundvej 28
DK-2730 Herlev
Denmark
Phone: +45 4095 2205
www.gato-audio.com
hello@gato-audio.com
510012 GA PRD-3 MAN 1.1 xxxx
Loading...