Wadia Digital 581 Owners manual

581 Disc Player

Table of Contents

Preliminaries

Brief History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Installation and Set-up

Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Installing the Tip-Toes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Connecting to Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Connecting to AC Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Connecting Directly to a Power Amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Using with a Preamplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Optimizing the Output Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Connecting Digital Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Choosing a Digital Cable (Wadia 581i only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

General Operation

Front Panel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Display Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Display Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Remote Control Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Theory of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Menu Screen Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Playback Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Digital Algorithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Appendices

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Software License Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Environmental Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

581 Disc Player Information & Operation Manual

Thank You

All of us at Wadia would like to offer thanks and congratulations to you for purchasing the Wadia 581 Disc Player. We sincerely believe that your Wadia 581 Disc Player will bring you many years of musical pleasure and satisfaction.

While every new owner is anxious to begin listening, we encourage you to take a few minutes to read this manual and familiarize yourself with the full capabilities of the Wadia 581 Disc Player.

If you are in a hurry to begin listening, please read the sections of this manual where the symbol at right is shown.

Brief History

Wadia was originally founded in 1988, making it one of the first high-end audio companies dedicated to digital audio. Wadia was formed by a group of engineers who were committed to using advanced digital technology to improve the performance of digital audio equipment.

Wadia’s first product, the Wadia 2000 Decoding Computer, was a breakthrough. For many listeners it proved the viability of the Compact Disc as a musically involving format.Since then Wadia has continued to develop new methods and technology. Each product resulted in a new standard of performance for digital audio decoding.

Here is an abbreviated list of the technological innovations Wadia engineers have pioneered:

• First company to introduce an outboard Digital-to-Analog converter

• First company to develop an audio optimized upsampling digital filter

• First company to apply glass fiber-optics to home audio

• First company to recognize clock-jitter as a source of audible distortion

• First company to test and apply mechanical de-tuning to the development of audio component chassis design

• First company to offer a CD perfect digital volume control

• First company to develop a Direct to Digital Amplifier - PowerDAC

• Patented DigiMaster upsampling algorithm, optimized for reproducing music

• RocLock proprietary jitter reduction technology

• ClockLink proprietary jitter reduction technology

• Swift-Current zero-feedback current to voltage converter

• Direct-Connect system to connect digital audio products directly to an amplifier

Although Wadia’s digital expertise and track record exceed those of any audio company, technology alone does not guarantee musical performance. Wadia designs are born of a delicate balance of technology shaped by a passion for music.

Wadia is proud to introduce the Wadia 581 Disc Player, a breakthrough in sonic performance and value, and a strong statement of our years of dedication to music.

581 Disc Player

Installation and Set-up

Unpacking

Use care in unpacking your Wadia 581 Disc Player. Inspect it for any shipping damage and call your dealer immediately if any is found.

Do not plug your Wadia 581 Disc Player into an AC outlet if you find shipping damage.

We advise saving all packing materials so that the unit can be easily and safely shipped if the need arises.

Accessories

Provided with the Wadia 581 are the following accessories:

• AC power cord

• Four tip-toes with threaded studs

• Four steel coasters

• RCA/BNC adapter

• Remote Control

• Two type AAA batteries

Do not tip the unit onto the back panel. This can damage input and/or output connectors.

Installing the Tip-Toes

With the unit still positioned on its side, screw one of the tip-toes into the bottom of each corner post.

Position the Wadia 581 Disc Player where you would like it to reside in your system. We recommend choosing a solid, non-resonant, level surface for best performance. If this surface is susceptible to damage, place one of the steel coasters under each tip-toe.

Connecting to Your System

Check to make sure your Wadia 581 Disc Player has been manufactured for operation at your AC line Voltage. Attempting to use the player at any voltage other than the specified on the rear of the unit may damage the unit. Damage caused by improper operation is not covered by warranty. If the voltage specified is different from your AC voltage, contact your Wadia dealer.

Connecting to AC Power

The best performance is obtained when the Wadia 581is Disc Player plugged directly into the wall with the power cord provided. The Wadia has power conditioning, surge suppression and an extremely sophisticated overall protection scheme. It should not be necessary to use surge protectors power conditioners or aftermarket power cords, some of which may degrade the sonic performance. If you wish to experiment with any of these devices, work closely with your local dealer – and most of all, trust your own ears.

Connecting Directly to a Power Amplifier

Avoid allowing static shocks to be applied to the inputs or outputs. To prevent static shocks, touch any grounded surface, such as the Wadia 581 Disc Player chassis, before connecting or removing a cable. It is unlikely that a static shock will damage the unit, but it may cause the Wadia 581 circuitry to “lock-up” (see Lock-Up under Tr ouble Shooting).

Inputs and outputs can be safely connected to the Wadia 581 Disc Player

1 Before the unit is powered up 2 When the unit is in Relay-Mute mode

We strongly recommend that you use your Wadia 581 Disc Player connected directly to your power amplifier. Even if you purchased your Wadia 581 with the intention of connecting it to your preamplifier, we suggest that you try direct connection to your amplifier. Many listeners are surprised by the improvement in performance over even the most expensive preamplifiers.

To connect your Wadia 581 Disc Player to a power amplifier, ensure that your power amplifier is turned off then connect your analog interconnects from the Wadia 581 analog outputs to the amplifier’s inputs.

Using with a Preamplifier

While the Wadia 581 Disc Player was designed to be used without a preamplifier, no compromises were made in its design that will prevent excellent operation in a conventional system with a preamplifier.

When using a preamplifier, set the Wadia 581 Disc Player volume control to its maximum level.

CHECK

VOLTAGE

HERE

581 Disc Player

Optimizing the Output Level

Best performance is obtained when operating the Wadia Volume Control near the top of its range. If needed, the maximum output level of your Wadia 581 Disc Player can be adjusted to match the overall sensitivity of your system so that the critical listening will take place with the volume control operating near the top of its range.

The maximum output level of the Wadia 581 Disc Player is adjustable by means of a set of internal switches. The Wadia 581 Disc Player is factory set to accommodate the most common range of system sensitivity. If you find that your typical volume level during critical listening is below 65 on the volume display, it will be advantageous to use a different setting. To change the output level, consult your dealer. .

Connecting to Other Digital Sources

The Wadia 581i Disc Player is equipped with digital inputs which can accept digital signals from any of the established digital formats. Input 1: Glass-fiber optical Input 2: Coaxial with BNC connector Input 3: Plastic-optical TOSLINK Input 4: AES/EBU with XLR connector

The Wadia 581i Disc Player digital inputs will decode any word length up to 24-bit, and any of the standard digital audio sampling frequencies up to 96kHz.

Choosing a Digital Cable (Wadia 581i only)

While the Wadia 581i Disc Player supports all currently accepted transmission formats for digital audio, we recommend using a high quality glass-fiber cable such as the one available from Wadia. Wadia Digital was the first company to use glass fiber-optic data transmission in digital audio. We have continually improved this format and believe that it offers the best, most consistent performance of all the available options.

Based on our experience, here is a list of digital interface methods in descending order of performance:

1 Glass optical (as implemented by Wadia) 2 AES/EBU using XLR connector 3 Coaxial cable using BNC connector 4 Coaxial cable using RCA connector 5 TOSLINK plastic-optical cable

The quality of any of these transmission methods depends on the quality of the cable and the sophistication of the transmitter and receiver. For example, a high quality coaxial cable can outperform a low quality AES/EBU cable. A high quality AES/EBU cable will outperform a poorly implemented glass optical system.

If you are using a coaxial cable we recommend that you have the cable terminated with a BNC connector. This will provide higher performance than an RCA connector. Your Wadia 581 comes with an RCA/BNC adapter that can be used for experimentation between different types of coaxial cable.

Again, we highly recommend that you take advantage of your dealer’s experience and, most importantly,

trust your ears.

All XLR-type inputs and outputs on the Wadia 581i Disc Player, both digital and analog, use the standard audio pin configuration:

Pin 1 - Ground Pin 2 - Positive signal Pin 3 - Negative signal

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