e20 Digital to Analogue Converter DSD 256 Fs / 12.288 MHz DXD 32bit / 352.8 kHz PCM 32 bit / 384 kHz Owner’s Manual (Mac OS X) PLEASE READ BEFORE OPERATION REV. 1.0.
Table of Contents Table of Contents.......................................................................................................... 2 Safety Information ....................................................................................................... 4 Explanation of Graphical Symbols ............................................................................................................ 4 Important Safety Instructions .....................................................................
Software Installation ............................................................................................................................... 14 Using the e20 DAC ...................................................................................................... 17 Using the Asynchronous USB Input ........................................................................................................ 17 Volume Control ..............................................................................
Safety Information Explanation of Graphical Symbols 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 sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
• • • • • Unplug the power adapter if you are not going to use the device for an extended period of time. Hold the power adapter when unplugging. Do not pull on the cord. The power adapter is used as the mechanism for cutting off power, therefore make sure it is easy to unplug. To ensure proper ventilation around this product, do not place this product on a sofa, bed or rug. High temperature will lead to abnormal operation of this device.
This product, when no longer usable, can’t be treated as generic garbage. It must be disposed of at a collection point for recycling of electrical and electronic equipment, in compliance with the WEEE regulation (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment). By making sure that this unit is correctly recycled, you will help preventing potential damage to environment and human health, which could be caused by the incorrect treatment of this product as generic garbage.
Welcome Thank you for purchasing the exaSound e20 DAC! The e20 Mk II is the first high-end DAC capable of achieving DSD playback at sampling rate of 11.2896 MHz. e20 Mk III introduces another first - DSD 256 Fs at 12.2888 MHz. We hope that the e20 DAC will help you to enjoy world-class music experience for years to come. Please take a few minutes to read right through this manual. Investing a little time now is the best way to ensure that you make the most of your investment.
Quick Start Package Contents The following items should be in the box: • e20 DAC • Power supply • Mini A-B USB cable • IR Remote Control Proper Device Placement Place the device on a stable solid base, far from heat sources. Do not expose the device to direct sunlight. Allow at least 2.5 cm (1'') around the device for ventilation. Do not place the device on fabrics, inside enclosed space, or in contact with curtains. Do not place the device on top of power amplifiers or any other equipment that emits heat.
Rear Panel Connectors Coaxial SPDIF IN 1 USB IN XLR Line Outputs Optical SPDIF IN 2 Power Adapter Connector SPDIF IN1 - Coaxial SPDIF Input SPDIF IN2 - Optical TOSLINK SPDIF Input DC 12V / 0.
Features The e20 DAC is based on the ES9018 Sabre32 reference DAC chip. It delivers 32-bit precision capable of resolving the smallest signal details. The chip features patented 32-bit Hyperstream™ architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator. ES9018 delivers the industry’s highest performance levels that will satisfy the most demanding audio enthusiasts. Mac OS X High-Performance Driver We offer a custom high-performance OS X driver supporting standard PCM sampling rates from 44.
Connecting and Powering the e20 DAC Before connecting, turn off the power to all the components in your system. Connecting the Digital Inputs All digital inputs are galvanically isolated to eliminate ground loop noise. The e20 DAC accepts three digital inputs: • USB - This is the recommended and most capable input. It supports 2 channels PCM up to 32 bit resolution at standard sampling frequencies from 44.1 kHz to 384 kHz, and DSD from 2.8224 MHz to 12.288 MHz (e20 MK III).
Analogue Interconnect Recommendations Over-engineered interconnects made from exotic materials are unnecessary. When selecting cables, the following characteristics are important: • Reliable electrical contact • Low resistance • Robust mechanical design Remember that cables act as filters. The shorter the cable, the more transparent your system will be.
Remote Control Setup The e20 DAC is pre-programmed to work with the supplied remote control. If you like, you can reprogram the e20 DAC to work with a different IR remote control. The exaSound e20 DAC can be trained to recognise commands from most infrared remote controls using Sony and NEC IR protocols. Use the following procedure to change remote control button assignments or to pair the e20 DAC with a different remote control: 1. Power on the e20 DAC. Make sure that the unit is not in playback mode. 2.
Setup of exaSound e20 Driver and Dashboard for OS X System Requirements Operating System OS X Mavericks OS X Yosemite Recommended CPU for operating at 352.8 and 384 kHz 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 or better Disk Space 10 GB mainly for music files Software Installation 1. Don’t connect the e20 DAC to your Mac until the driver is installed. Don’t worry if you’ve connected the device already. Just disconnect it. 2. You should have received an email from us with username and password.
4. Locate the exaSound Dashboard icon on the menu bar. The red exclamation mark indicates that the USB cable is disconnected: 5. Connect the USB cable of the exaSound DAC. The red exclamation mark should disappear from the exaSound Dashboard icon. 6. Power on the DAC. The red square overlay on the exaSound Dashboard icon indicates that the device is On and in Stop mode. During playback the red square changed to a green triangle. 7.
9. Make the exaSound driver the default sound output device. 10. Make sure that the volume is set to less than -25db. At this point you can play some music with iTunes. Note: Configuration instructions for Audirvana Plus and JRiver are available in the Guides section of the exaSound Blog: http://www.exasound.com/Blog/tabid/74/articleType/CategoryView/categoryId/10/Guides.aspx.
Using the e20 DAC Using the Asynchronous USB Input Before turning your amplifiers ON, always check the e20 DAC front panel to make sure that the volume level is below -25dB. Please follow the safety measures below strictly. It is quite common to set the volume on your portable Mac to maximum. You should never do this when your e20 DAC is connected to powerful amplifiers and speakers. Playing music or sound effects at maximum level is dangerous for your health and may damage your equipment.
Volume Control The e20 volume is controlled by the ES9018 DAC chip. It is independent from the Mac software volume control and it preserves the maximum possible signal to noise ratio. The volume level changes in steps of 0.5 dB. At first power on, the volume level is set to match the volume level of your Mac. If the DAC is not connected to your Mac, when turned on the volume level is set to -40 dB.
Playing Music from SPDIF Sources The e20 DAC can improve the sonic clarity and fidelity from existing SPDIF sources. The sound improvement is the result of outstanding jitter cancelling capability, superb signal to noise ratio and low distortion levels of the e20 DAC. You can connect up to two SPDIF devices, such as disk players and wireless music servers. To use SPDIF sources 1.
Specifications D/A Converter IC: ESS Technology ES9018S Sabre32 Reference DAC PCM Sampling Rates Asynchronous USB 44.1kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 352.8 kHz, 384 kHz e20 e20 Mk II e20 Mk III DSD 64 Fs: 2.8224 MHz 3.072 MHz DSD Sampling Rates Asynchronous USB DSD 64 Fs: 2.8224 MHz DSD 64 Fs: 2.8224 MHz DSD 128 Fs: 5.6448MHz, DSD 128 Fs: 5.6448MHz, DSD 128 Fs: 5.6448MHz, 6.144 MHz DSD 256 Fs: 11.2896 MHz 12.288 MHz (Requires OS X 10.
Number of channels 2 Windows 8 x86, Windows 8 x64, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 7 x86, Windows 7 x64, or Windows XP x86 Operating System Requirement (ASIO Compatible Player required for all Windows platforms) Mac OS X Mavericks, Mac OS X Yosemite Digital Volume Control Steps 0.5 dB Volume Matching between Channels Better than 0.
Limited One Year Warranty exaSound Devices are warranted against defective workmanship or materials for one (1) calendar year from the original date of purchase. This warranty applies only to exaSound brand products manufactured by exaSound and sold to the original consumer by either exaSound or an exaSound authorized reseller. This warranty does not apply to exaSound brand products imported and sold by unauthorized dealers, distributors, or other sellers.
TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE, please follow these instructions: • Contact exaSound customer service via email at CustomerService@exaSound.com with details of the defect claimed, product model, serial number, date and place of the original purchase. • If it is determined that your product needs service, a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number will be issued to you along with return instructions and address of an exaSound service center.
