Parasound D-AC-800 User Manual

PARA SOUND

afJordablt audio for tht criticallistmtr

D/AC-800 Digital/Analog Converter

Congratulations on the purchase of your new Parasound D/ AC-800 Digital-to-Analog
Converter. It has been designed to extract greater musical detail from any digital source. If you

are using it to upgrade your CD player, you will find the D/ AC-800 makes a world of
improvement. You will enjoy more of the warmth and depth that has previously been associated

only with the finest analog sources.

Your D/AC-800 sets new performance standards at its modest price. Its high quality parts, double

power supply, high current drive analog stages, plus hookup and operating flexibility are superior
to even many far more expensive D-A converters. To assure fullest musical enjoyment, please take

a few moments to read these instructions completely.

Unpacking

Open the carton of your D/ AC-800 carefully and inspect the unit for possible shipping damage.
N ow is the time to report any damage to your dealer. You will find the detachable AC line cord

packed separately inside the carton. We do not recommend use of any other line cord.
Save the plastic bag, styrofoam inserts and carton. You may need these later for transporting the

D/AC-800 or for shipment in the event it ever requires factory servicing. Record the serial number
(on rear panel) here for reference in case your unit is stolen: .

Placement

You should locate your D/ AC-800 as close as possible to your digital source. Keep your unit out
of direct sunlight, away from heat sources such as a hot air register or radiator and away from
windows which might be left open to let in rain.

If you are stacking your components, you should avoid placing your D/AC-800 on top of heat-

producing components, such as power amplifiers or tube-type preamps. You should keep it as far
as possible from your tuner or receiver to avoid interference from its RF local oscillator circuits.

Connecting Your D/AC-800

When you make connections, be careful to avoid tension on either wires or fiber optic cables which
might cause damage to the connectors or cause them to pull loose later on. Do not attempt to bend
either coaxial or optical digital cables at a sharp angle, as this may permanently damage them. It is
safest to turn ofT the power of your preamp and power amp while making connections, not only

for the connections you are making, but to avoid the chance of disturbing adjacent connections. As
an additional safeguard, turn your preamp's volume control to minimum before making new
connections.

Digital Inputs

The D/ AC-800 offers you three digital inputs with two different interface options: ~

. Coaxial I: RCA jack - 7 SO standard

. Coaxial 2: RCAjack - 7S0 standard

. Optical: Fiber Optic - TOSlink

. Coaxial output connections are provided on most high quality CD players. You should use

only a good quality cable which has been designed for digital data transmission. Cables designed

for audio frequencies are not suitable and will not give you satisfactory results.

. TOSlink fiber optic connections are also popular and are found on most high quality video

laser disc players as well as many CD players and CD transports. Your dealer can assist you to

select an appropriate optical cable with TOSlink connectors. According to the TOSlink standard,

you are restricted to TOSlink cable lengths from 0.2m (-8") to 10m (-30').

For most serious music, we believe you will obtain superior results with a high quality coaxial

digital input cable, rather than the optical TOSlink input. Yau may fmd careful extended listening
required in order to hear the subtle differences between the two different interface technologies

accomodated by the D/AC-800.

Outputs

Connect the Analog Output jacks to any line-level input on your preamplifier or even your

power amplifier if it is equipped with level controls. Use only high quality hookups to preserve

detail and clarity. Make sure your preamp is either turned ofT or its volume set to minimum when

making these connections.

If you have a digital recorder (DAT, MiniDisc, DCC, CD-R), you may connect its record input to

the DI AC-800's Digital Output Record jack. This RCA-type connector is a conduit for the

digital data stream from your selected digital source, so use only digital quality cable.

AC Power

Your D/ AC-800 has an IEC standard detachable power cord which has been specially selected for

its contribution to the sound quality of this unit. Try to connect only this cord directly to a nearby

AC wall outlet and avoid extension cords or connection to accessory outlets on your preamp.

If you are considering an AC line conditioner, be advised that it may not have a positive influence

on the sound of your D/AC-800.

Operating your D/AC-800

Power On/Off
Push the upper section of the button to turn on; lower section for off.

Sampling Frequency LEDs
Your DI AC-800 will recognize the digital signal of whatever type of digital source you connect and

will switch to the correct sampling rate automatically. The 44. 1kHz sampling rate is standard for

compact discs, while 32kHz is for future FM digital broadcasts and 48kHz is for DAT.

ErrorIData LED

In case there is an interuption of data from the digital source or a malfunction of the digital source
or connection, the ErrorIData LED will illuminate. This shows you that your DI AC-800 is not
receiving correct digital data to process and convert to analog. In this case, a muting circuit will
prevent an unwanted"garbage" signal passed to Analog Out or the Digital Out Record jacks.

Input Select and LEDs

The three Input Select LEDs correspond to the different input connectors on the rear panel:
Coaxial 1, Coaxial 2 and Optical. Your DI AC-800 will automatically select inputs with first

priority to Optical, second selection priority to Coaxial 1, third selection priority to Coaxial 3.

Since input switching for listening and recording is detennined by this order of priorities, you must
turn off any digital sources you don't want to hear or record. There is another very good reason to
switch off other digital sources:

RF radiations from unselecteed digital sources may "contaminate" the datastream of the selected
input source you wish to hear. If you have more than one digital sourcep, make sure you turn off
the power of each unused source until you are ready to listen to it.

Polarity Invert Button and LED

This button allows you to select between 00 normal operation and 1800 inverted polarity. Even if
you know if your preamplifier and power amplifier are inverting or non-inverting designs, you
have no way to know which of your CD's may have been recorded with inverted absolute polarity.

. Absolute polarity is not the same as Left-Right loudspeaker phasing. Absolute polarity means the
+ and - of both channels are reproduced so the compression wave of an initial musical attack

correlates to the compression wave ( +) from outgoing speaker diaphragm motion rather than
rarefraction ( - ) of ingoing speaker diaphragm motion.

Your choice of 00 or 1800 polarity will be strictly a matter of taste. It may be easier to detect
differences between 00 and 1800 polarity with some recordings than with others. Don't be

discouraged if you cannot hear the difference - not everyone can identify absolute polarity.

De-Emphasis LED

Some digital recordings are encoded with pre-emphasis contouring. Your D/ AC-800 automatic­ally recognizes and processes them. An LED illuminates as a beacon for visual confinnation.