Setting Up Beetle - AudioQuest Beetle User Manual

Setting Up Beetle

1. Power and Data: Beetle's USB port is designed to accept power
from the included external power supply, or both power and data
from a computer or handheld mobile device. Beetle's analog-linear
power supply (included) should be used whenever Beetle is not
connected to a computer's USB bus.
2. To connect Beetle to a system, a portable device, or to powered
speakers, a cable or an adaptor with a 3.5mm plug on the sending
end is required. Insert the cable's 3.5mm plug into Beetle's analog
output, and then plug the other end into your audio system.
AudioQuest offers a complete line of 3.5mm-equipped Bridges &
Falls analog interconnects, including 3.5mm-to-3.5mm, 3.5mm-to-
RCA, and 3.5mm-to-DIN cables, as well as a 3.5mm-to-RCA adaptor
that can be used in combination with RCA-to-RCA cables. For more
information, visit www.audioquest.com/analog-interconnects/.
3. Adjusting the volume: Beetle is equipped with a bit-perfect
(64-bit precision) digital volume control, enabling high-precision
adjustment of output volume while in either the USB or Bluetooth
mode. This ensures playback and adjustability with no sacrifice to
the authenticity of the originating file.
For Bluetooth or USB (before playback begins): To ensure bit-
perfect playback and volume adjustability, set the volume control
of the playback application (such as iTunes or Tidal) to 100%. Adjust
the volume from the OS system's volume control by using the
volume up/down keys or buttons on an Apple computer, Windows
PC, or mobile device. (We recommend beginning with the volume
set to 50%.)
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For Optical: By the very nature of the Optical (S/PDIF) interface, it
is not possible to send volume control commands along the signal.
Therefore, for optical playback, we cannot enable or adjust the
digital volume control within the Beetle. We suggest controlling
the volume from your preamplifier or receiver. That said, most
applications, such as iTunes, Tidal, Spotify, etc., have a built-in
volume selector. Adjusting the volume in any of these applications
will affect the overall output of Beetle. (We recommend beginning
with volume set to 50%.)
Beetle has the following inputs:
Asynchronous Bluetooth – when activated, Beetle's LED will turn
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blue for 10 seconds.
Optical – when activated, Beetle's LED will turn red for 10 seconds.
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Asynchronous USB audio – when activated, Beetle's LED will
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change color for 10 seconds, in accordance with the host device's
output sampling rate:
Green = 44.1kHz; Blue = 48kHz;
Amber = 88.2kHz; Magenta = 96kHz.
Note: Red = Standby. Any input, while active, will have exclusive control over Beetle. If, after
60 seconds, an input is not seen as active, it will time out, at which point access to any
input will be available and granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
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