PANDORA DAC ROMULUS CD Player-DAC Owner’s Manual Aesthetix Audio Corporation 5220 Gabbert Rd., Suite A ♦ Moorpark, CA.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of significant 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 product.
PREFACE INTRODUCTION This manual covers the use for both the Pandora DAC and The Romulus DAC/CD Player. The name Pandora will be used where it applies to both products and the name Romulus will be used where it applies to the Romulus only. Thank you for purchasing the Pandora/Romulus CD player-DAC. It has been engineered to deliver the highest attainable sound quality. This is its sole purpose.
IMPORTANT Save all packaging in a dry place away from fire hazards. Your Pandora is a precision electronic instrument and should be properly packaged any time shipment is made. In the unlikely event that you have to return your Pandora to the factory for service, or if you send it to us for updating, the original packaging will best protect the unit from shipping damage.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Please carefully read each item of the operating instructions and safety precautions before installing and using this product. Use extra care to follow the warnings written on the product itself and/or in the operating instructions. Keep the operating instructions and safety precautions for future reference. CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE ANY OF THE COVER PANELS. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. PERSONNEL ONLY.
Table Of Contents PREFACE............................................................................................................................ 3 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 3 PLACEMENT.................................................................................................................... 3 BURN IN TIME .............................................................................................
The Hand Held Remote The Pandora/Romulus CD player-DAC can be controlled using either the front panel buttons or the supplied hand held remote control. Basic functions are selectable from both locations. Additional functions are accessible only on the remote control. This remote control can also be used with the Rhea, Calypso and Janus preamplifiers. Functions for these other products will be discussed in their respective Owner’s manuals. Please note that all CD functions apply to the Romulus only. 1.
Pandora Front Panel Layout ONE PANDORA REPEAT ALL FOREVER RNDM PHASE LOCK MUTE DISPLAY AESTHETIX STANDBY 1 2 AES 3 4 5 6 RCA 7 TOS 8 USB 9 AUX 10 11 12 13 Figure 2 – Pandora Front Panel Layout 1. STANDBY button. After the rear panel MAIN POWER switch is turned on and the information pages are displayed, press the front panel STANDBY button to exit the standby mode. Pressing this button again will put the Pandora into STANDBY and illuminate the Standby LED. 2. Standby LED.
Pandora Display Layout Figure 3 – Pandora LED Display Layout 1. Pressing the left side of the Display will decrement* the volume, when the optional volume control is installed. 2. Displays the name of the currently selected input. When a digital signal is present at any of the rear panel inputs, the sample rate is displayed. In a Signature version, when a DSD or DSD2X signal is detected, this part of the display will read DSD or DSD2, respectively. 3.
Rear Panel Layout ON AESTHETIX DIGITAL INPUTS OFF MADE IN USA DIGITAL INPUTS TOS ANALOG OUTPUTS RIGHT COAX USB LEFT RS-232 TRIGGER Class 1 Class 2 SERIAL NUMBER 0000 3 1 2 3 Left channel outputs 4 5 6 7 8 AES EBU 1 2 9 10 11 12 Figure 4 - Rear Panel Layout 1. Right Single-Ended output jack. 2. Right Balanced output jack. 3. MAIN POWER Switch. Disconnects AC to all circuits.
CONNECTIONS CAUTION: Make all input and output connections before turning on the rear panel Main Power switch. Mute or turn off the power amplifier when connecting/disconnecting cables. Figure 5 - Rear Panel Layout showing connections AC Power: The Pandora may be plugged directly into an un-switched wall outlet. Although proprietary RFI (radio-frequency interference) filtering is built into the Romulus, in some situations an AC power-line filter may provide additional sonic benefits.
OPERATION Important note: When first installing the Pandora, both it and the computer must first be set up. Once all connections have been made, turn on the rear panel Main Power switch. After the information pages are displayed, the Standby LED will illuminate. STANDBY Once the Standby LED is illuminated, press the Standby button once. The Standby LED will blink for approximately 30 seconds, then it will turn off. The display will be on and the Mute LED will be off.
Advanced display functionality This unit contains the ability to sense the ambient light level in the room and adjust the display and LEDs accordingly. Additional information about this can be found on the Aesthetix website – www.aesthetix.net REMOTE TRIGGER The remote trigger control allows the Pandora to control the standby state of a remote unit, such as the Atlas. Power Amplifier. Connect the Trigger Out jack from the Pandora to the Remote Trigger jack on the receiving device.
Romulus This section provides Instructions and information unique to the Romulus and is intended to be in addition to the Pandora instructions. Romulus Front Panel Layout DISPLAY 7 43.38 AESTHETIX 2 ROMULUS REPEAT ALL FOREVER RNDM PHASE LOCK MUTE INPUT STANDBY 1 ONE 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 STOP PAUSE PLAY EJECT 11 12 13 14 15 16 Figure 6 – Romulus Front Panel Layout 1. STANDBY button.
Romulus Display Layout Figure 7 – Romulus LED Display Layout 1. Pressing the left side of the Display will decrement* the volume, when the optional volume control is installed. 2. Displays the total CD time when the disc is stopped, or the track progress time when the disc is playing. When a digital signal is present at any of the rear panel inputs, the sample rate is displayed. In a Signature version, when a DSD or DSD2X signal is detected, this part of the display will read DSD or DSD2, respectively. 3.
Operation When first installing the Romulus, the CD will play by selecting the CD input and pressing play. To use the DAC, both the Romulus and the computer must first be set up. INPUT Pressing the Input button repeatedly will cycle through all inputs. Use this button to select the desired input. The order is: CD, AES1, RCA1, TOS1, USB1. When CD is selected, the Romulus takes a few seconds to read the disc, if installed, so that it can show the disc information in the display.
Appendix A Troubleshooting Guide If the Romulus should function abnormally during operation, please review the items in the following checklist. Please be sure to thoroughly check all other connected components such as speakers, preamplifiers, as well as cables. Symptom Possible Cause(s) Remedy No power or front panel lights and no sound. Power cable is not inserted 100% into AC input connector.
Appendix B Specifications USB Audio Input Signal: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 kHz 16, 20, and 24 bits. In a Signature version, DSD 1x and DSD 2x. S/PDIF Audio Input Signal: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192 kHz 16, 20, and 24 bits. In a Signature version, DSD 1x. Maximum Output Level: Balanced: 4.8 V rms without optional volume controls installed. Single-Ended: 2.4 V rms without optional volume controls installed.
90 DAY LIMITED WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS (3 Year optional extended service contract) 1. Aesthetix warrants the product designated herein to be free of manufacturing defects in material and workmanship, subject to the conditions herein set forth, for a period of 90 days from the date of purchase by the original purchaser.
