TEAC AI-503 Owner's Manual

Z

ENGLISH

AI-503

USB DAC/Integrated Amplifier

OWNER’S MANUAL

MODE D’EMPLOI

MANUAL DEL USUARIO

FRANÇAIS

ESPAÑOL

D01302720B

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

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

<

B

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

CAUTION

o DO NOT REMOVE THE EXTERNAL CASES OR CABINETS TO EXPOSE

THE ELECTRONICS. NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS ARE INSIDE.

o IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THIS PRODUCT,

CONTACT THE STORE WHERE YOU PURCHASED THE UNIT FOR
A SERVICE REFERRAL. DO NOT USE THE PRODUCT UNTIL IT HAS
BEEN REPAIRED.

o USE OF CONTROLS OR ADJUSTMENTS OR PERFORMANCE OF

PROCEDURES OTHER THAN THOSE SPECIFIED HEREIN MAY RESULT
IN HAZARDOUS RADIATION EXPOSURE.

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

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 grounding­type 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.

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.

with the manufacturer's instructions.

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.

o The apparatus draws nominal non-operating power from the

AC outlet with its POWER or STANDBY/ON switch not in the ON
position.

o The mains plug is used as the disconnect device; the disconnect

device shall remain readily operable.

o Caution should be taken when using earphones or headphones

with the product because excessive sound pressure (volume)
from earphones or headphones can cause hearing loss.

CAUTION

o Do not expose this apparatus to drips or splashes.
o Do not place any objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on

the apparatus.

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

book case or similar unit.

o The apparatus should be located close enough to the AC

outlet so that you can easily reach the power cord plug at any
time.

o If the product uses batteries (including a battery pack or

installed batteries), they should not be exposed to sunshine,
fire or excessive heat.

o CAUTION for products that use replaceable lithium batter-

ies: there is danger of explosion if a battery is replaced with
an incorrect type of battery. Replace only with the same or
equivalent type.

WARNING

Products with Class ! construction are equipped with a power
supply cord that has a grounding plug. The cord of such a prod­uct must be plugged into an AC outlet that has a protective
grounding connection.

IN USA/CANADA, USE ONLY ON 120 V SUPPLY.

2

Cd

V

Precautions concerning batteries

Misuse of batteries could cause them to rupture or leak leading to
fire, injury or the staining of nearby things. Please read and observe
the following precautions carefully.

o Be sure to insert the batteries with correct positive (¥) and

negative (^) orientations.

o Use batteries of the same type. Never use different types of bat-

teries together.

o If the remote control is not used for a long time (more than a

month), remove the batteries to prevent them from leaking.

o If the batteries leak, wipe away the leakage inside the battery

compartment and replace the batteries with new ones.

o Do not use batteries of types other than those specified. Do not

mix new batteries with old ones or use different types of batter­ies together.

o Do not heat or disassemble batteries. Never throw batteries into

fire or water.

o Do not carry or store batteries with other metallic objects. The

batteries could short circuit, leak or explode.

o Never recharge a battery unless it is confirmed to be a recharge-

able type.

For European Customers

The nameplate is located on the bottom of the unit as shown below.

Front side

EN

Nameplate

Disposal of electrical and electronic equipment
and batteries and/or accumulators

a) All electrical/electronic equipment and waste batteries/

accumulators should be disposed of separately from the
municipal waste stream via collection facilities designated by
the government or local authorities.

b) By disposing of electrical/electronic equipment and waste

batteries/accumulators correctly, you will help save valuable
resources and prevent any potential negative effects on
human health and the environment.

c) Improper disposal of waste electrical/electronic equipment

and batteries/accumulators can have serious effects on the
environment and human health because of the presence of
hazardous substances in the equipment.

d) The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

symbols, which show wheeled bins that have been
crossed out, indicate that electrical/electronic equip­ment and batteries/accumulators must be collected
and disposed of separately from household waste.
If a battery or accumulator contains more than the
specified values of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and/or
cadmium (Cd) as defined in the Battery Directive
(2006/66/EC), then the chemical symbols for those
elements will be indicated beneath the WEEE symbol.

e) Return and collection systems are available to end users. For

more detailed information about the disposal of old electri­cal/electronic equipment and waste batteries/accumulators,
please contact your city office, waste disposal service or the
shop where you purchased the equipment.

Pb, Hg,

3

Wireless equipment precautions

Compliance of radio transmitter and
interference

Model for USA

Declaration of Conformity

Responsible party: TEAC AMERICA, INC.
Address: 1834 Gage Road, Montebello, California,
U.S.A.
Telephone number : 1-323-726-0303
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation
is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may
not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.

Labeling of authorization
FCC ID: XEG-AI503

Model for Canada

Compliance of radio transmitter
This device complies with Industry Canada RSS-210 standard(s).
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1) This device may not cause interference

2) This device must accept any interference, including interfer­ence that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Labeling of authorization
IC: 1559C-AI503

Compliance of interference

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

CAUTION

Authorization of wireless devices are different in countries or
regions. Please use only in the country where you purchased the
product.

o Depending on the country, restrictions on the use of Bluetooth

wireless technology might exist.

Confirm the laws and regulations of the country or region where
you want to use the unit before use.

Radiation Exposure requirements

This equipment meets the regulation, which is recognized interna­tionally, for the case of human exposure to radio waves generated
by the transmitter.

Statement of compliance

Model for USA

This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set
forth for an uncontrolled environment and meets the FCC radio fre­quency Exposure Guidelines.

Model for Canada

This equipment complies with IC RSS-102 radiation exposure limits set
forth for an uncontrolled environment.

Model for EEA (European Economic Area)

This equipment complies with EN.62311; Assessment of electronic
and electrical equipment related to human exposure restrictions
for electromagnetic fields; the harmonised standard of DIRECTIVE
2014/53/EU.

Model for EEA (European Economic Area)

This product has the function of broadband transmitter using

2.4GHz Band.

Use frequency range: 2400 MHz – 2480 MHz
Maximum output power: Bluetooth® Class 2 (less than 2.5 mW)

Hereby, TEAC Corporation declares that the radio
equipment type is in compliance with Directive
2014/53/EU., and the other Directives, and
Commission Regulations.

The full text of the EU declaration of conformity is available at the
following internet address. Please contact us by e-mail.
http://www.teac-audio.eu/en/

TEAC Corporation
1-47 Ochiai, Tama-shi, Tokyo, 206-8530, Japan

4

CAUTION

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.

Trademarks and copyrights

Information for interference
(FCC requirements)

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.

o Reorient or relocate the equipment and/or the receiving

antenna.
o Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
o Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from

that to which the receiver is connected.
o Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for

help.

“DSD” is a registered trademark.

The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks
owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by TEAC
CORPORATION is under license.

Qualcomm aptX is a product of Qualcomm Technologies International,
Ltd.

Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered
in the United States and other countries, used with permission.
aptX is a trademark of Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd.,
registered in the United States and other countries, used with
permission.

Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or
other countries.

Apple, Mac, OS X and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc.

LDAC™ and LDAC logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation.

Other company names, product names and logos in this document
are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
owners.

EN

5

Contents

Included items

Thank you for choosing TEAC.
Read this manual carefully to get the best performance from this
unit.
After reading it, keep it in a safe place for future reference.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS ...............................2

Wireless equipment precautions ...................................4

Trademarks and copyrights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Included items ....................................................6

Before use .........................................................7

Maintenance ......................................................7

Using the TEAC Global Site .........................................7

Product registration ...............................................7

Connections (rear panel) ...........................................8

Connections (front panel) .........................................10

Using the remote control .........................................11

Connecting speakers .............................................12

Check to be sure the box contains all the included items shown
below.
Please contact the store where you purchased this unit if any
of these items are missing or have been damaged during
transportation.

Power cord × 1

Remote control (RC-1328) × 1

Batteries for remote control (AAA) × 2

Owner’s manual (this document, including warranty) × 1

o See pages 68 to 72 for warranty information.

Names and functions of parts (main unit) .........................13

Names and functions of parts (remote control) ....................14

Basic operation ...................................................15

Bluetooth® wireless technology ...................................17

Playing back music on a computer ................................19

Troubleshooting ..................................................21

Specifications .....................................................22

6

Before use

Maintenance

V

Placement precautions

o Place the unit in a stable location near the audio system that you

will use with it.

o Do not install this unit in a location that could become hot. This

includes places that are exposed to direct sunlight or near a

radiator, heater, stove or other heating equipment. Moreover, do

not place it on top of another amplifier or equipment that gener-

ates heat. Doing so could cause discoloration, deformation or

malfunction.

o Avoid locations that are subject to vibrations or exposed to

excessive dust, cold or moisture.

o When installing this unit, leave a little space (at least 3 cm or 1")

between it and walls and other devices in order to allow good

heat dissipation. If you put it in a rack, for example, leave at least

5 cm (2") open above it and at least 10 cm (4") open behind it.

Failure to provide these gaps could cause heat to build up inside

and result in fire.

o Do not place anything, not even CDs, CD-Rs, LP records or cas-

sette tapes, on top of the unit. Do not put cloth on top of the

unit or place it on top of bedding or thick carpet. Doing so could

cause it to overheat or damage it.

o Do not move the unit during use.

Wipe dirt from the top cover and other panel surfaces using a
soft cloth that has been slightly dampened with a diluted neutral
cleanser.
Do not wipe with chemical cleaning cloths, thinner or other chemi­cal agents. Doing so could damage the surface.

V

For your safety, disconnect the power cord from the
socket before cleaning.

Using the TEAC Global Site

You can download updates for this unit from the TEAC Global Site:

http://teac-global.com/

1) Open the TEAC Global Site.

2) In the TEAC Downloads section, click the desired language to
open the Downloads website page for that language.

NOTE

If the desired language does not appear, click Other Languages.

EN

o The voltage supplied to the unit should match the voltage

printed on the rear panel. If you are in any doubt regarding this
matter, consult an electrician.

o Do not open the body of the unit as this might result in damage

to the circuitry or cause electric shock. If a foreign object should
get into the unit, contact your dealer.

o When removing the power plug from the wall outlet, always pull

directly on the plug; never yank on the cord.

3) Click the “Search by Model Name” section to open the
Downloads page for that product. (Users in Europe should click
the product name in the “Products” section instead.)

4) Select and download the updates that are needed.

Product registration

Customers in the USA, please visit the following TEAC website to
register your TEAC product online.

http://audio.teac.com/support/registration/

7

Connections (rear panel)

Digital audio output

device

DIGITAL OUT

(COAXIAL)

RCA coaxial digital cable

Digital audio output

device

DIGITAL OUT

(OPTICAL)

Optical digital cable

A B

Analog audio output

device

Audio output

(LINE OUT, etc.)

LR

RCA audio cables

USB cable

C D

Included power cord

RCA audio cables

If using Windows, install
the dedicated driver on
the computer before con­necting this unit to it (page

19).

c

Wall outlet

LR

Audio input

(LINE IN, etc.)

Power amplifier, speakers with

Computer

built-in amplifiers, etc.

8

A Digital input (DIGITAL IN) connectors

USB port

Use to input digital audio from a computer. Connect it to a
computer’s USB port.

Use a commercially-available USB2.0 cable (A-B type) for
this connection.

ATTENTION

Before connecting with a Windows computer, you must install
the dedicated driver on the computer (page 19).
Proper connection is not possible with a computer that does
not have this driver installed.

RCA COAXIAL digital audio input connector

Use this to input digital audio. Connect the coaxial digital audio
output connector of a digital audio device to it.

Use a commercially-available RCA coaxial digital cable
for connection.

Optical digital audio input (OPTICAL 1) connector

Use this to input digital audio. Connect the optical digital audio
output connector of a digital audio device to it.

C Preamp audio output (PRE OUT) connectors

These output analog audio after volume adjustment by this
unit.
Connect these RCA connectors to a power amplifier or speak­ers with built-in amplifiers.

Use commercially-available RCA audio cables for
connections.

Connect this unit’s R connector to the R connector of the
amplifier and its L connector to the L connector of the amplifier.

D Power inlet (~IN)

Connect the supplied power cord here.
After all other connections are complete, connect the power
cord’s plug to a wall outlet.

V

Do not use any power cord other than the one included
with this unit. Use of other power cords could result in
fire or electric shock.

V

Unplug the cord from the outlet when not using the
unit for a long time.

EN

Use a commercially-available optical digital cable with
square connectors (TOSLINK) for connection.

B Analog audio input (LINE 1) connectors

Use these to input analog audio. Connect the audio output
connectors of a cassette deck, CD player or other audio output
equipment to these.

Use commercially-available RCA audio cables for
connections.

Connect this unit’s R input connector to the R output connec­tor of the audio output device, and this unit’s L input connector
to the L output connector of the other device.

White (L)

Red (R)

This unit Audio output

White (L)
Red (R)

device

V

Complete all other connections before turning the
unit on.

o Carefully read the manuals of the devices that you are

connecting and follow their instructions when making
connections.

o Do not bundle connecting cables with power cords. Doing

so could cause noise.

o Connect all plugs completely.

9

Connections (front panel)

Audio input (IN—LINE 2/OPT 2) connector

This connector combines analog (LINE 2) and optical (OPT 2) inputs.

o The unit will automatically switch to analog (LINE 2) or optical

(OPT 2) according to the type of plug connected.

To enable this input, turn the INPUT SELECTOR knob to select
LINE2/OPT 2.

Analog (LINE 2) connection

Use a cable with stereo 3.5mm mini plugs to connect the head­phone (or audio output) connector of a portable audio player, for
example, to output its audio playback through this unit.

Use a commercially-available cable with a stereo mini plug
for connection.

o When connected to the player’s headphone connector, adjusting

the volume on the player might be necessary to hear its sound
from this unit.

o The sound could distort, however, if you raise the volume of the

portable music player too much. If this occurs, lower the volume
on the connected player until distortions stops and then adjust
the volume on this unit.

Optical (OPT 2) connection

Connect the optical digital audio output connector of a digital
audio device here.

Use a commercially-available optical cable with a mini plug
for connection.

Optical mini plug

10

3.5mm stereo mini plug

Using the remote control

PHONES jack

o This headphone amp circuit uses a four-pole connector with

independent left and right for grounding. Ordinary 3.5mm stereo
mini plugs with 3 or 4 poles can be used.

Wiring illustration

Precautions for use

V

Misuse of batteries could cause them to rupture or
leak, which might result in fire, injury or the staining of
nearby materials. Please carefully read and observe the
precautions on page 3.

o When using the remote control, point it toward the remote con-

trol signal receiver on the main unit from a distance of 5 m (16 ft)
or less. Do not place obstructions between the main unit and the
remote control.

o The remote control might not work if the remote control signal

receiver on the unit is exposed to direct sunlight or bright light. If
this occurs, try moving the unit.

o Beware that use of this remote control could cause the unin-

tentional operation of other devices that can be controlled by
infrared rays.

Installing batteries

Remove the cover from the back of the remote control and insert
two AAA batteries with their ¥/^ ends oriented in the case as
shown. Replace the cover.

EN

L+ R+ L− R−

V

CAUTION

While wearing headphones, do not connect or disconnect them,
turn the unit on or off, or switch the headphone amp gain.
Doing so could result in a sudden loud noise that could harm your
hearing.
Always set the volume to minimum (−∞ dB) before putting head­phones on.

When to replace batteries

If the distance required between the remote and the main unit
decreases or if the unit stops responding to the remote buttons,
replace both batteries with new ones.
Dispose of the used batteries according to the instructions on them
or requirements set by your local municipality.

11

Connecting speakers

How to connect speakers

1 Remove about one centimeter of insulation from

the end of the speaker cable and twist the core
wires well.

2 Turn the terminal cap counterclockwise to loosen

it.

V

Precautions when making connections

o After completing all other connections, insert the power plug

into a power outlet.

o Carefully read the manuals of the devices that you are connect-

ing and follow their instructions when making connections.

ATTENTION

o This unit is compatible with speakers that have 4–8Ω nominal

impedance. If speakers with impedance of less than 4 Ω are used,
the protection circuit could operate, causing sound output to
stop. In some cases, this unit or the speakers could be damaged.

o The red speaker terminals are positive (¥) and the black

speaker terminals are negative (^). Generally, the ¥ wire of the
speaker cable is marked to distinguish it from the ^ wire of the
cable. Connect the marked wire to the red ¥ terminal and the
unmarked wire to the black ^ terminal.

o If the exposed core wires at the tips of the speaker cables should

touch other cables or terminals, an electrical short might occur.
o Never allow speaker cables to cause a short.
o To prevent hum and noise, avoid bundling the cables together

with the AC power cord or other cables.

3 Insert the wire into the hole in the terminal post

and turn the terminal cap clockwise to securely
connect it.

o Connect it so that none of the wire insulation is touching

the terminal.

4 Conrm that the cable is fastened securely by gen-

tly pulling the cable.

Connecting with banana plugs

You can also make connections using commercially-available
banana plugs. First, connect the banana plugs to the speaker cables
and then connect the plugs to the terminals.

o Keep the caps tightened when in use.
o Carefully read the instructions for the banana plugs that you are

using.

12

Notice about the European model

In accordance with European safety regulations, connecting
banana plugs to speaker terminals is not allowed on European
models. The holes into which banana plugs could be inserted
have been covered with black caps. Connect speakers using
bare wires or spade lugs. If a black cap should become separated
from its terminal, return it to its original position.

Names and functions of parts (main unit)

A

B C

D

E F G H I

EN

A POWER switch

Use to turn the unit on and off.

o If all the input indicators are dark even though the POWER

switch is set to ON, the cause is usually one of the following.

i The remote control STANDBY/ON button has been

pressed or the automatic power saving function has acti­vated, putting the unit into standby.

i The power cord is disconnected.

To turn the unit on from standby, press the remote control
STANDBY/ON button, or set the POWER switch to OFF once
and then back to ON.

B Audio input (IN — LINE 2/OPT 2)

Use this to input audio (page 10).

Analog:

Optical: Use an optical cable with a mini plug.

Use a cable with a 3.5mm stereo mini plug.

C PHONES jack

Connect headphones (3.5mm stereo mini plug) here (page 11).

o This headphone amp circuit uses a four-pole connector with

independent left and right for grounding. Ordinary plugs
with 3 or 4 poles can be used.

o If headphones are connected here, audio will not be output

from the speaker (SPEAKERS) terminals or preamp audio
output (PRE OUT) connectors on the back of the unit.

D GAIN button

Use to switch the headphone amp gain.

E INPUT SELECTOR knob

Use to select the input source.
The indicator lights next to the selected input source.
The indicators blink to show when the filter is being changed
and audio is muted, for example.

o Press when (Bluetooth) is selected to enable pairing.

F Input source indicators

G Remote control signal receiver

This receives signals from the remote control. When operat­ing the remote control, point it at the remote control signal
receiver.

H Level meters

These show the output levels.

I VOLUME knob

Use to adjust the volume output from connected speakers or
headphones. Turn right to increase and left to decrease the
volume.

13

Names and functions of parts (remote control)

a STANDBY/ON button

Press to put the unit into standby mode or turn it on.

a

b Input selection buttons

Use to select the playback source.

b

e

o The CD and NET buttons are not used with this unit.

d

f

c

c FILTER button

Use to change the filter setting.
This changes the filter according to the input (PCM or DSD)
(page 16).

d MUTE button

Press this button to temporarily mute the sound (page 16).

g

e METER button

Press to turn level meter operation on and off (page 16).

f DIMMER button

Use to change the brightness of the level meters and input
source indicators (page 16).

g VOLUME (+/−) buttons

Use these buttons to adjust the volume.
Pressing these buttons will turn the VOLUME knob on the main
unit.

o When the main unit and the remote control both have

buttons with the same functions, this manual explains how to
use one of the buttons. The other corresponding button can
be used in the same manner.

o Only buttons that can be used with this unit are explained.

14

Basic operation

1 Shift the POWER switch to its ON position to turn

the unit on.

2 Turn the INPUT SELECTOR knob to select the input

source.

3 Start playback on the connected source device.

Refer to the operation manual of that device.

EN

4 Adjust the volume.

Turn this unit’s VOLUME knob to adjust the volume.

o You can also do this with the VOLUME (+/−) buttons on the

remote control.

o If headphones are connected to this unit, audio will not be

output from the speaker (SPEAKERS) terminals or preamp
audio output (PRE OUT) connectors on the back of the unit.

The indicator lights for the selected source.

o When a digital input (OPT 1, OPT 2, USB, COAX or ) is

selected, no audio will be output if the input signal is not
a digital audio signal or is an audio signal format that is not
supported by this unit, such as Dolby Digital, DTS or AAC.
Set the digital output of the connected device to PCM audio
output.

o To use a Windows computer to play back audio files through

this unit when set to USB, you must install a dedicated driver
on the computer before connecting them (page 19).

o The DSD format can only be played back through this unit

when connected to a computer by USB.

Automatic power saving function

This unit has an automatic power saving function.
If the automatic power saving function is set to on, the unit will
automatically enter standby mode if there is no audio input when
the input source is LINE or if no input signal is locked and no opera­tion occurs for about 30 minutes when the input source is anything
else.

You can check the automatic power saving setting by looking at the
input source indicators immediately after turning the unit on.

All indicators lit: Automatic power saving function off
No indicators lit: Automatic power saving function on

To switch the automatic power saving function between on and off,
when the unit is in standby, press the remote control STANDBY/ON
button for three seconds until all the input indicators blink.

15

Basic operation (continued)

Filter

Press the remote control FILTER button once to light the input indi­cators that show the current filter setting. Press it again to change
the filter setting.

The filter settings shown by the lit indicators are shown in the tables
below.

For PCM audio sources

Filter Lit indicators

OFF LINE 1, OPT 1

FIR Sharp OPT 1, LINE 2/OPT 2

FIR Slow LINE 2/OPT 2, USB

Short delay Sharp USB, COAX

Short delay Slow

COAX,

Dimmer

Each time you press the remote control DIMMER button, the bright­ness of the level meters and input source indicators changes as
follows.

3 (normal brightness)

¦

2

«

1

T

0 (unlit)

For DSD audio sources

Cutoff frequency

50 kHz

150 kHz

Lit indicators

LINE 1, OPT 1, LINE 2/OPT 2

USB, COAX,

Muting playback

If you want to temporarily mute the volume of this unit, press the
MUTE button on the remote control.
Press the MUTE button on the remote control again to return to the
previous volume level.

o Even when 0 (unlit) is selected, the input source indicator will

stay lit very dimly.

Level meters

Press the remote control METER button to switch level meter opera­tion on and off.

o When level meter operation is turned off, the meter backlights

will also become unlit.

o When muted, the indicator for the selected source lights alter-

nately with the other indicators.

16

Bluetooth® wireless technology

Bluetooth notes

When using this unit with a mobile phone or other Bluetooth
devices, they should be no more than about 10 m (33 ft) apart.
Depending on the circumstances of use, however, the effective
transmission distance might be shorter.

Wireless communication with every device that supports Bluetooth
wireless technology is not guaranteed.

To determine the compatibility between this unit and another
device that supports Bluetooth wireless technology, refer to that
device’s operation manual or contact the shop where you pur­chased it.

Profiles

This unit supports the following Bluetooth profiles.

o A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile)

o AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile)
In order to transfer audio using Bluetooth wireless transmission, the
Bluetooth device must support A2DP.
In order to control playback on the Bluetooth device, it must sup­port AVRCP.
Even if a Bluetooth device supports the same profiles, though, its
functions might differ according to its specifications.

Codecs

This unit supports the following codecs. It will automatically select
one of them during audio transfer.

o SBC

o AAC

o Qualcomm® aptX™

o LDAC
The unit will select the appropriate codec to use according to the
codec compatibility of the other Bluetooth device and communica­tion conditions.

LDAC is an audio coding technology developed by Sony that
enables the transmission of High-Resolution (Hi-Res) Audio con­tent, even over a Bluetooth connection. Unlike other Bluetooth
compatible coding technologies such as SBC, it operates without
any down-conversion of the Hi-Res Audio content*, and allows
approximately three times more data** than those other tech­nologies to be transmitted over a Bluetooth wireless network
with unprecedented sound quality, by means of efficient coding
and optimized packetization.
* excluding DSD format contents
** in comparison with SBC (Subband Coding) when the bitrate

of 990 kbps (96/48 kHz) or 909 kbps (88.2/44.1 kHz) is selected

NOTE

You cannot select the codec to be used by pressing a button, for
example.
Due to characteristics of Bluetooth wireless technology, playback
from a Bluetooth device will be slightly delayed compared to play­back from this unit.

Content protection

This unit supports SCMS-T as a form of content protection when
transmitting audio, so it can play protected audio.

EN

Transmission security

This unit supports security functions during Bluetooth wireless
transmission in accordance with the Bluetooth standard specifica­tions, but it does not guarantee the privacy of such transmissions.
TEAC CORPORATION will bear no responsibility should an informa­tion leak occur during Bluetooth wireless transmission.

Pairing with another Bluetooth device

Pairing this unit with another Bluetooth device is necessary the first
time it is used and when connecting to a different Bluetooth device
for the first time.

o When pairing or connecting with another Bluetooth device,

they should be within a few meters of each other. If they are
too far apart, pairing and connection afterwards might become
impossible.

1 Turn the INPUT SELECTOR knob to select

(Bluetooth).

This sets the mode to Bluetooth.

o The Bluetooth indicator blinks and connection with other

Bluetooth devices becomes possible.

2 Enable Bluetooth transmission on the other

Bluetooth device.

3 Press the INPUT SELECTOR knob to enter pairing

mode.

When this unit is ready to pair, its indicator flashes rapidly.

4 On the other Bluetooth device, select “AI-503” (this

unit).

After preparing this unit to pair, conduct pairing using the
other Bluetooth device.
For details, refer to the operation manual of that Bluetooth
device.

o When this unit and the other Bluetooth device are con-

nected, the Bluetooth indicator stops flashing and stays lit.

17

Bluetooth® wireless technology (continued)

Playback from a Bluetooth device

o Pair this unit the first time you use it and when you want to con-

nect it with a different Bluetooth device for the first time (page

17).

o When pairing or connecting with another Bluetooth device,

they should be within a few meters of each other. If they are
too far apart, pairing and connection afterwards might become
impossible.

1 Turn the INPUT SELECTOR knob to select

(Bluetooth).

This sets the mode to Bluetooth.

o The Bluetooth indicator blinks and connection with other

Bluetooth devices becomes possible.

2 Enable Bluetooth transmission on the other

Bluetooth device.

When the input source of this unit is set to and the other
Bluetooth device is on, the Bluetooth function will be active
and they will connect automatically.
If they do not connect automatically, however, you can connect
them manually.

o When is selected for this unit, the Bluetooth device that

was last connected to it will automatically be connected
again. If you want to connect with a different Bluetooth
device, conduct pairing with that device.

o If the Bluetooth indicator on this unit continues to blink for

30 minutes, it will automatically enter standby mode. To use
this unit, you must turn it on again.

4 Turn the VOLUME knob to adjust the volume.

o You can also do this with the VOLUME (+/−) buttons on the

remote control.

o If headphones are connected to this unit, audio will not be

output from the speaker (SPEAKERS) terminals or preamp
audio output (PRE OUT) connectors on the back of the unit.

ATTENTION

Regardless of the connection status of this unit and the other
Bluetooth device, if the Bluetooth indicator continues blinking
for a long time, restart both this unit and the other device and
then reconnect them.

3 Start playback on the other Bluetooth device.

Confirm that the volume is turned up on the other Bluetooth
device. If you do not turn up the volume on the playback
device, no sound might be output from this unit.

o Depending on the connected Bluetooth device, you might

not be able to adjust the volume. For details, refer to the
operation manual of that Bluetooth device.

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Playing back music on a computer

Installing the driver on a computer

This unit can be connected with computers running the following
operating systems. Operation with other operating systems is not
guaranteed (as of October, 2016).

When using Mac

The driver works with the following versions.
OS X Lion (10.7)
OS X Mountain Lion (10.8)
OS X Mavericks (10.9)
OS X Yosemite (10.10)
OS X El Capitan (10.11)
macOS Sierra (10.12)

This unit can be used with the standard OS driver. For this reason,
there is no need to install a special driver or anything else.

When using Windows

The driver works with the following versions.
Windows 7 (32/64-bit)
Windows 8 (32/64-bit)
Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit)
Windows 10 (32/64-bit)

About transmission mode

This unit connects using high-speed asynchronous mode.
The sampling frequencies that can be transmitted are 44.1, 48, 88.2,
96, 176.4, 192, 352.8 and 384 kHz.

When properly connected, you will be able to select “TEAC USB
AUDIO DEVICE” as an audio output from the computer OS.

o In asynchronous mode, the audio data sent from the computer

is processed using this unit’s clock, reducing data transmission
jitter.

Downloading playback application TEAC
HR Audio Player

You can download Mac and Windows versions of our free TEAC HR
Audio Player application that supports playback of DSD files from
the TEAC Global Site (http://teac-global.com/).

TEAC HR Audio Player setting note

To play 11.2MHz DSD recordings with TEAC HR Audio Player, open
the Configure window and set the “Decode mode” to “DSD Native.”

EN

Installing the driver on the computer

In order to play audio files stored on a computer through this unit,
you must install a dedicated driver on that computer beforehand.
Download the dedicated driver from the TEAC Global Site.

TEAC Global Site

http://teac-global.com/

ATTENTION

Install the dedicated driver before connecting the unit with
the computer by USB.

If you connect this unit with a computer before installing the driver,
it will not work properly.

o For instructions about driver installation procedures, access the

Downloads page from the TEAC Global site (http://teac-global.com/).

o Depending on the combination of hardware and software, proper

operation might not be possible even with the above operating
systems.

To play formats other than 11.2MHz DSD, you can set this to either
“DSD over PCM” or “DSD Native” as you like.

For details, see “Selecting DSD decoding mode” in the TEAC HR
Audio Player Owner’s Manual.

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Playing back music on a computer (continued)

Playing back audio files from a computer

1 Connect this unit to the computer using a USB cable.

USB cable

o Use a commercially-available USB2.0 cable (A-B type) for this

connection.

2 Turn the computer on.

o Confirm that the operating system has started properly.

3 Shift the POWER switch to its ON position to turn

the unit on.

5 Start playback of an audio le on the computer.

Better sound quality can be achieved by maximizing the com­puter output volume and adjusting the volume output of this
unit.

Minimize this unit’s volume before starting playback. Then,
gradually turn it up.

When using headphones connected to this unit, turn the
VOLUME knob counterclockwise to minimize the volume
before putting them on. Then, gradually increase it.

o The computer and this unit cannot control each other.
o Do not do any of the following when playing back an audio file

via USB. Doing so could cause the computer to malfunction.
Always quit the audio playback software before doing any of the
following.

i Unplugging the USB cable
i Turning this unit off
i Changing the current input selection

o When playing back an audio file via USB, computer operation

sounds will also be output. If you do not want these sounds to
be output, make appropriate settings on the computer to turn
them off.

o If you connect this unit with the computer or change its input to

USB after starting the audio playback software, audio files might
not play back correctly. If this should occur, restart the audio
playback software or restart the computer.

4 Turn the INPUT SELECTOR knob to select USB.

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Troubleshooting

If you experience a problem with this unit, please check the fol­lowing items before requesting service. If it still does not operate
correctly, contact the retailer where you purchased the unit.

General

The unit does not turn on.

e Check that the power cord is completely plugged into the

power outlet. If the outlet is switched, confirm that the switch
is in the ON position.

e Connect a different electrical device to the outlet to confirm

that it is supplying power.

e If the automatic power saving function has caused the unit to

enter standby, press the remote control STANDBY/ON button
to turn the unit on again.

No sound is output.

e Adjust the VOLUME knob. Turn it clockwise (right) to increase

the volume.

e Use the INPUT SELECTOR knob to select the input that is con-

nected to the source that you want to hear.

e Reconfirm the connections with other equipment.

There is a humming noise.

e If a connecting cable is near a power cord, fluorescent light or

similar cause of interference, increase the distance between
them as much as possible.

Computer connection

Computer does not recognize this unit.

e See page 19 for information about supported computer

operating systems. Operation with unsupported operating
systems is not guaranteed.

Noise occurs.

e Starting other applications during playback of an audio file

may interrupt playback or cause noise. Do not start other
applications during playback.
When the unit is connected to a computer via a USB hub, for
example, noise might be heard. If this occurs, connect the
unit directly to the computer.

Audio files cannot be played back.

e Connect this unit to the computer, and set this unit’s input to

USB before launching audio playback software.
If you connect this unit to the computer or set its input to USB
after launching audio playback software, audio files might not
play back properly.

This unit uses a microprocessor, so noise and other external inter­ference could cause it to stop functioning properly. If this occurs,
unplug the power cord, wait for a while, and then turn the unit on
again and restart operations.

EN

There is no sound from one side of the headphones.

e Confirm that the headphones plug is inserted completely.

Sound output suddenly stopped.
The level meter lights are blinking and no sound is output.

e Heat might have caused the protection circuit to activate.

Set the POWER switch to OFF once, and wait several minutes
before restarting the unit.

e The + and − speaker cables might have shorted. In this case,

turn the unit off and check the speaker cable connections.

Automatic power saving caused the unit to enter standby.

e Shift the POWER switch to OFF once and then turn the unit

back on.

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Specifications

Speaker outputs

Maximum output ...................................... 60 W + 60 W

(10% distortion, 1 kHz, 4 Ω)

30 W + 30 W

(10% distortion, 1 kHz, 8 Ω)

Rated output .......................................... 43 W + 43 W

(1% distortion, 1 kHz, 4 Ω)

22 W + 22 W

(1% distortion, 1 kHz, 8 Ω)

Allowable speaker impedance ................................ 4–8 Ω

Total harmonic distortion ............ 0.005% or less (1 kHz, 8 Ω, 1 W)

S/N ratio ............................................ 100 dB or more

(analog input, when 8Ω load, rated output, A-weighted)

Frequency response .....................10 Hz – 100 kHz (+1/−3 dB)

(8 Ω, 1 W, analog input)

PRE OUT audio outputs

RCA connectors ......................................... 1 pair (L/R)

Output impedance ........................................ 150 Ω

Frequency response ................. 10 Hz – 100 kHz (+1/−3 dB)

(analog input, when 200mVrms output)

S/N ratio ........................................ 103 dB or more

(analog input, when 1kHz/2Vrms output, A-weighted)

Total harmonic distortion .......................... 0.005% or less

(analog input, when 1kHz/2Vrms output, 20kHz LPF)

Headphones output

3.5mm 4-pole stereo mini jack .....................................1

Practical maximum output .................. 280 mW + 280 mW

(GAIN set to HIGH, into 32Ω load, distortion 10%)

Compatible impedance range ......................... 16–600 Ω

Analog audio inputs

RCA connectors ......................................... 1 pair (L/R)

Input impedance .......................................... 30 kΩ

Maximum input .......................................... 2 Vrms

3.5mm stereo mini jack* ........................................... 1

Input impedance .......................................... 22 kΩ

Maximum input .......................................... 2 Vrms

Digital audio inputs

COAXIAL digital

RCA connector ................................................. 1

OPTICAL digital

Square (TOSLINK) connector. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Round connector* .............................................. 1

(−24.0 to −14.5dBm peak)

USB-B port. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

(USB 2.0 standard)

PCM data sampling frequency

COAXIAL digital

32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz

OPTICAL digital

32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz

USB ........44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz

352.8 kHz, 384 kHz

Quantization bit depth

COAXIAL digital/OPTICAL digital ........................ 16/24-bit

USB ................................................ 16/24/32-bit

DSD data sampling frequency

COAXIAL digital/OPTICAL digital ......................... 2.8 MHz

(supported using 176.4kHz/24-bit DoP transmission)

USB ................................. 2.8 MHz, 5.6 MHz, 11.2 MHz

*This is a combined analog (LINE 2) and optical (OPT 2) input connector.

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