Instruction manual

DAC1 HDR Instruction Manual Rev I Page 9
before completely muting, and will ramp the
volume up after un-muting. The ‘Dim’
function will also fade the volume down, but
will not completely mute the audio. This is
convenient to reduce the volume to low levels
during television or radio commercials or to
conduct a conversation.
The level of the ‘Dim’ volume setting can
easily be set by the user with the remote
control. The DAC1 HDR will remember the
user’s preferred ‘Dim’ setting upon returning
to ‘Normal’ mode, and will recall it when ‘Dim’
mode is engaged again.
To engage ‘Dim’ mode, press the ‘Dim’ button
(
). To set the level of the ‘Dim’ mode,
simply press ‘Volume up’ or ‘Volume down’
button on the remote control until you
achieve the desired ‘Dim’ level. To exit ‘Dim’
mode and return to ‘Normal’ mode, simply
press the ‘Dim’ button again.
The ‘Dim’ level cannot be set higher the
‘Normal’ level. A minimum offset will be
reached when adjusting the ‘Dim’ level
upward. This minimum offset occurs just
below the ‘Normal’ level setting. If the user
continues to raise the volume above the
minimum offset, the DAC1 HDR will enter
‘Normal’ volume mode. There is also a
maximum offset limit.
The ‘Soft Mute’ button fades the volume down
to the ‘Dim’ level before completely muting
the analog outputs. When exiting ‘Soft Mute’
mode, the volume will ramp up to the
‘Normal’ volume setting.
While in ‘Normal’ or ‘Dim’ mode, pressing the
‘OFF’ button will immediately mute the DAC1
HDR. This ‘Mute’ function differs from the
‘Soft Mute’ function - it is an instantaneous
mute for occasions when immediate silence is
needed. Pressing the ‘OFF’ button while in
‘Mute’ mode will turn off the DAC1 HDR.
Volume Control Modes
The front-panel volume control sets the
output level of the headphone jacks and,
when in Variable output mode, also controls
the output level of the main outputs
(balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA analog).
A rear-panel switch selects between
Calibrated, Mute and Variable output
modes (switch up, middle and down,
respectively). In Calibrated output mode,
the output level of the main analog outputs
(XLR and RCA) is fixed at the level set by the
calibration trim-pots. In Variable output
mode, all analog outputs are controlled by the
Volume Control. Mute mode mutes the
main outputs but does not affect the
headphone outputs.
Direct Interfacing to Power
Amplifiers
The DAC1 HDR is designed to be able to
interface directly to power amps and powered
studio monitors. This configuration provides
the cleanest and shortest path from the
digital source to the monitor output and often
results in a substantial improvement in sound
quality.
The DAC1 HDR is equipped with 10, 20 and
30 dB output attenuators for optimal
interfacing. The pads optimize the output
signal level of the DAC1 HDR for the input
sensitivity of virtually any load (amplifier,
preamp, etc). Most power amplifiers and
powered monitors require the 20 dB pad
setting. The DAC1 HDR is factory-set with
the 20 dB pad enabled.
Source Selector and ON/OFF
Switch
A rotary Source Selector control selects any
of the 6 inputs to the DAC1 HDR. Pressing
the Source Selector toggles the DAC1 HDR
on and off. The on/off function features a
very fast soft mute/un-mute and doubles as a
mute control.