Musical Fidelity V-DACII User Manual

V-DACII Digital To Analog Converter with 24-bit/96kHz

Asynchronous USB

Instructions

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing the V-DAC digital
to analog convertor. We sincerely hope that
it will bring you many years of outstanding
listening pleasure.

Installation Precautions

Your new V-DAC is designed and built to
provide trouble-free performance, but as with
all electronic devices, it is necessary to
observe a few precautions:
Do not use the V-DAC near water. The unit
must not be exposed to dripping or splashing
and no objects filled with liquids, such as
vases, must be placed on the unit.
Keep the V-DAC away from heat such as
radiators. No naked flame sources, such as
lighted candles, should be placed on the
unit.

Power Supply Note:

Only use approved
power supply. The use of other adaptors or
supplies could seriously damage the V-DAC.

Musical Fidelity

This Hi-fi product has been tested to ensure
that its operation is not adversely affected by
normal background levels of Radio
Frequency Interference (R.F.I.), and that it
does not itself generate excessive amounts
of interference. However, if a problem
persists, please contact your Musical Fidelity
agent.
Never open the case of the V-DAC yourself,
as this will invalidate the guarantee.
Place all connecting cables where they are
not likely to be walked on or trapped by
items placed on them.
The V-DAC will operate in accordance with
its specifications within the following
environmental range:

Temperature 5 to 45 degrees Celsius
Humidity 10 to 90% non condensing

There are no user adjustments inside.

DC

Please refer all service work to an
authorised Musical Fidelity agent.

Connections

All connections must be made before the mains adaptor is plugged in,
and before any amplifier connected is switched on. Always switch off
the equipment attached to the V-DAC before connecting/disconnecting
power, changing leads or inputs.
Digi tal optic al or co axial in puts
Using good quality RCA leads (not supplied), connect the digital
coaxial or optical output from a CD player or other digital audio source
to the V-DAC SPDIF or COAXIAL sockets.
Set the input select switch to “coaxial” if using
USB input
A good quality USB A to B cable is required to connect the unit to the
computer.
Plug the B (square) end into the socket in the back of the V-DAC
Plug the A (rectangle) end into a free USB socket on your computer.
Set the input select switch to “USB”.
Once the unit is plugged in and powered, the computer should detect
the new hardware and install a generic driver automatically (No setup or
driver disk required). The V-DAC is then ready to play V-DAC, CD or
any other form of music file recognised by the
Outputs
Connect the V-DAC left and right outputs to the line level inputs of the
amplifier system. It is advisable to have the amplifier turned off at this
point.
Power
Plug the DC connector lead from the power supply unit into the V­DAC’s power inlet socket, and plug the adaptor itself into a convenient
wall mains outlet. The blue LED will light to confirm the unit is ready for
use, and the green LED should also be lit indicating presence of digital
signal.
Use
Turn the volume on amplifier to normal listening levels, sit back and
enjoy the music.

uctsThese prod have been designed so that they may be left on
indefinitely, but please note the mains adapter may become warm to the
touc h - this is norma l.

eithe r

of thes e inpu ts.

computer.

Additional USB information

On the host computer, a new mixer will be available, which is the default
mixer whenever the DAC is plugged in. Use this mixer to select the
source or adjust levels if required. CD, MP3, WAV files played on any
software should now play through the DAC. This device has been
designed to work with Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP.
The computer drivers for the USB input of the V-DAC should install
automatically. To check correct installation follow these steps:

PC users
Check the computer has picked up the device and is currently using it
by clicking: (most Windows versions)

- Start

- Settings

- Control panel

- Sound s and Multimedia

- Audio

Check “USB audio device” appears under PREFERRED AUDIO
DEVICE tab

Mac us ers
Check the computer has picked up the device and is currently using it
by clicking: (MAC OS X)

- System preferences

- Hardware

- Sound

Check that “USB audio DAC” is selected under the OUTPUT tab.
If the computer’s warning sounds/chimes are to played through the
DAC, make sure it is selected under the SOUND EFFECTS tab too.

This device is a high speed serial data processor, and by its nature,
requires a very high volume of USB bandwidth. It will benefit greatly
from being the only device connected on its USB ‘port’. Sharing the
same port with other devices may cause unwanted artefacts such as
dropouts or temporary loss of signal. This especially includes the use of
the DA C on a US B hub/s plit ter alongsi de othe r USB co mponents.

Left (white) & right (red) RCA outputs

Front and back connections

Power input socket

Power LED (Blue)
Lock LED (Green)

Digital Optical input

Digital Coax input

Input select switch

USB input socket

Basic problem-solving with an amplifier is similar to troubleshooting other electrical or electronic equipment.

Problem Probable Cause Remedy

No power

No sound Wrong connections between input

No Output

Hum

Dropouts in sound (Digital inputs) Digital input lead not properly

No Sound (USB input)

Dropouts in sound (USB input)

If none of these actions affect a cure, please contact the dealer, or an authorised Musical Fidelity service agent. Remember; never op en the
case of the V-DAC, as this will invalidate the guarantee.

DISPOSAL
The crossed out wheeled bin label that appears on the back panel of

indicat es that t he product must not be dispos ed of as normal ho usehold

the product
waste. To prev ent possible har m to the environment please separate t he product from
other wast e to ensur e that it can be rec ycled in an envir onmentally s afe manner .
Please cont act your loc al government office or your retail er for availabl e collec tion
facilities.

DISPOSITION

La poubelle s ur roulet tes bar rées X, qui appar aît en l ogo sur le pann eau

arrièr e du produit, in dique que celui- ci ne doi t pas êtr e trait é comme un déc het
domestique c ommun. Afin de protéger l' environnement, ce produit él ectronique devr a
être géré s éparément et do nc recyclé s elon les nouvelles normes Européennes Rohs
concernant les déchet s d'appareil s électroni ques. Prièr e de contact er les services
concernés gouvernementaux ou votr e point de vente pour l'éliminati on et l'enlèvement
de déchets él ectr oniques équipés de composants électroniques.

DISPOSAL

La etiquet a cruz ada hacia fuer a del compar timient o que apar ece en el

panel tras ero del produc to indica que el producto no s e debe reciclarse c omo basura
normal de la c asa. Para pr evenir daños pos ible al ambi ente separ e por favor el
producto de ot ras basura para asegurar se de que puede ser reciclada de una m anera
ambientalment e segura. Entr e en contacto por favor a su ofici na gubernamental l ocal
o a su minorist a para las instalaciones dis ponibles de la colección.

RIFIUTI

L'etichet ta del cass onetto bar rato ripor tato sul r etro dell'appar ecchio

indica c he il prodotto non deve es sere sm altito trami te la procedur a normale di
smalti mento dei ri fiuti domes tici. Per evitare event uali danni all'am biente, separ are
questo prodot to da altri ri fiuti domestic i in modo che possa veni re riciclat o in base alle
procedure di rispett o ambientale. Per maggi ori dett agli sulle aree di raccol ta
disponibil i, contattate l'uf ficio govenativo locale od il rivenditore del prodot to.

FACHGERECHTE ENTSORGUNG:
Das auf der Gerät erücksei te angebracht e Label deutet darauf hin, das s

ukt nicht mit konventionellem H auskehri cht ents orgt werden dar f. Um

das Prod
Schäden und V ersc hmutzungen an Umw elt und Me nsc h zu vermeiden, muss das
Produkt fac hgerecht entsorgt und von anderem Abf all getr ennt werden. Wenden Si e
sich bei Fr agen hierzu an I hren Fachhän dler oder an ei ne öffent liche
Informati onsstelle.

Alwa ys check the mos t obvi ous possible ca uses first, such as th e following ex amples:

Power supply not switched on.
Power plug is not fully inserted into rear

socket

source and the V-DAC
Wrong source selected

Wrong connections between the V-DAC
output and the following component

Audio conn ector plug no t fully pushe d
in

connected
Faulty digital input lead

Computer USB port not working or
incorrectly setup

Shared USB port with another device

Computer busy with another application
Computer low on resources

Item disposal information for Europe

AFVAL

Het label op de achterzi jde van dit apparaat, een afval bak op wiele n met
een kruis door gehaald , geeft aan dat dit appar aat niet s amen met gewo on
huishoudafval mag word en weggegooi d. Om m ogelijke schade aan onze
leefomgeving t e voorkomen di ent dit appar aat, gesc heiden van gewoon huishoudelijk
afval, te worden af gevoerd z odat het op ee n milieuvr iendelijke manier kan worden
gerecycl ed. Neem voor beschikbare i nzamelplaatsen cont act op met uw gemeentelijke
reinigings dienst of met uw elektr onica leverancier.

HÄVITTÄMINEN

Yliruksatt ua jäteas tiaa kuvaava t arra tuot teen takale vyss ä kertoo, ett ä
tuotett a ei saa käsitellä norm aalina talousjätteenä. Ympäristön suojelem iseksi on tuote
pidettävä er illään muus ta jätt eestä ja s e on kierrätett ävä ekologis esti kest ävällä
tavalla. Ota yhteyttä lait teen myyjään tai Pirkanmaan Ympär istökeskukseen l ähimmän
kierrät yskeskuksen löytämi seksi.

AFSKAFNING

Logoet med en s kraldespand med kr yds over på bags iden af app aratet
indikerer at dette pr odukt ikke må kasser es som normal hus holdnings affald. For at
forebygge m ulig skade p å miljøet, bed es De separ ere dette prod ukt fra andet affald, og
sikre at det bliver genbrugt på en miljørigtig måde. Kontakt venl igst de l okale
myndigheder el ler din f orhandler f or oplysni ng om nærmest e tilgængelige
opsamlings sted for elektronikaf fald.

ΔΙΑΔΙΚΑ ΣΙΑ ΑΠΟ

ΑΠΟΡΡΙΜΑΤΩΝ ΣΤΗ Ν ΠΙΣΩ ΟΨΗ ΤΟΥ ΜΗ ΧΑΝΗΜΑΤΟΣ ΔΗΛΩΝΕΙ ΟΤΙ ΤΟ
ΠΡΟΙΟΝ ΑΥΤΟ ΔΕΝ ΠΡΕΠΕΙ ΝΑ ΔΙΑΧΕΙΡΙΣΘΕΙ ΣΑΝ ΣΥΝΗΘΙΣΜΕΝΟ ΟΙΚΙΑΚΟ
ΑΠΟΒΛΗΤΟ. ΠΡΟ Σ ΑΠΟΦΥΓΗ ΕΝΔΕΧΟΜΕΝΗ Σ ΕΠΙΒΑΡΥΝΣΗΣ ΤΟ Υ
ΠΕΡΙΒΑΛΛΟΝΤΟΣ, ΞΕΧΩΡΙΣΤΕ ΤΟ ΠΡΟΙΟΝ ΑΠΟ ΤΑ ΑΛΛΑ ΑΠΟΡΡΙΜΑΤΑ ΩΣΤΕ
ΝΑ ΕΞΑΣΦΑΛΙΣΘΕΙ Η ΑΝΑΚΥΚΛΩΣΗ ΤΟ Υ ΜΕ ΤΟΝ ΠΡΕΠΟΝΤΑ ΤΡΟΠΟ.
ΠΑΡΑΚΑΛΟΥΜΕ ΝΑ ΕΠΙ
ΑΝΑΚΥΚΛΩΣΗΣ Η ΜΕ ΤΟ ΚΑΤΑΣΤΗΜΑ ΑΓ ΟΡΑΣ ΓΙΑ ΠΕΡΙΣΣΟΤΕΡΕΣ
ΛΕΠΤΟΜΕΡΕΙΕΣ.

Check power supply is plugged in and switched on
Plug in se curely

Check digital/USB input leads are securely connected.
Check INPUT SELECT switch is correctly set for
required source
Green LOCK LED will light when an active digital/USB
input is detected.

Check audio input lead connections

Insert plug securely

Check input lead is fully secured
Change or replace lead. Please use a good quality
straight-through signal-and-ground phono to phono lead

for coaxial connection.

Check USB port with another USB device.
See “additional USB information” section

Avoid sharing the USB port with other devices, if
possible. At times an application (program) may
intervene, sometimes invisibly e.g. a virus scanner.
When this happens, computer resources are
temporarily used up, and playback may suffer. This is
not a fault. Try running fewer applications if possible.

ΤΟ ΣΗΜ Α ΜΕ ΤΟΝ ΔΙΑΓΕΓΡΑΜΜΕΝΟ ΤΡΟΧΗΛΑΤΟ ΚΑΔΟ

ΡΡΙΨΗΣ

ΚΟΙΝΩΝΗΣΕΤΕ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΤΟΠΙΚΗ ΥΠΗΡΕΣΙΑ

Specifications:

Connections

Dimensions

40mm

Weight

Accessories
(supplied)

Up sampling 24 Bit 192kHz
Output impedance 47Ω
Maximum output
Total harmonic distortion
Frequency response
Crosstalk
Signal / noise ratio
Total Jitter
Power requirement
USB input

Digital inputs
Line level outputs
Power input

Length

95mm

Width
Height

Unit alone
Unit packed in carton

DC power supply
Leaflet

Musical Fidelity reserves the right to make improvements which may
result in specification or feature changes without notice. E&OE.

2.2V

0.004%
+0, -0.1dB

-104dB

-117dB
12ps
12V DC
Asynchronous data stream at up to 24-bit/96kHz sampling

1 RCA (coaxial), 1 TOSLINK (optical), 1 USB (type B)
1 pair RCA sockets

1.3mm DC power socket

170mm

350g
1Kg

12V
V-DAC

20Hz-20kHz
20Hz-20kHz

20Hz-20kHz

“A”-weighted

500mA

6⅔”

1⅔”

12¼oz
2 1/5 lbs

500mA
instructions

including terminals
3¾”
including “feet”

1 off
1 off

Units 24-26

Fulton Road

Wembley

HA9 0TF

England

(+)44 208 8900 2866

http://www.musicalfidelity.com/

Manual issue 01