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DCS Bartok DAC User Manual

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Bartók DAC
User Manual
DCS311659 - V03

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  • Page 1 Bartók DAC User Manual DCS311659 - V03...
  • Page 2 Information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice, and whilst it is checked for accuracy, no liabilities can be accepted for errors. dCS is Data Conversion Systems Ltd. Company registered in England No. 2072115. This product incorporates the following dCS proprietary technology: Ring DAC™...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Overview Front panel Rear panel Setting up Connecting the power supply Switching the unit on and off Connecting analogue outputs dCS Mosaic Connecting PCM inputs Connecting a computer Clocking Using Power Link Using the Bartók DAC Navigating the menus Changing the input...
  • Page 4 Configuration settings Display settings System tests Updating the software Specifications About the software Maintenance Replacing a blown mains fuse Cleaning the unit Troubleshooting Support Contact details Limited warranty General information Warranty exclusions Obtaining service Operating conditions Compliance FCC compliance statement Made for iPhone®...

  • Page 5: Safety

    • Do not install the unit near heat sources. • Use only the attachments and accessories specified by dCS. CAUTION To prevent the risk of electric shock and ensure the best audio performance, connect the unit to mains earth (ground) using the correct power cable.
  • Page 6 NOTICE Damage caused to the unit by misuse of a mains regenerator or by a malfunctioning mains regenerator is not covered by the warranty. • We do not recommend the use of mains regenerators. • If you want to use a mains regenerator with variable voltage and frequency, set the voltage to match your local voltage.

  • Page 7: Getting Started

    Power cable If an item is missing from the box, contact your dealer. Bartók DAC is intended to be controlled by the dCS Mosaic Control app. A dCS Universal IR remote control is available as an optional extra. We recommend that you keep the original packaging of the unit. If you need to order replacement packaging, see www.dcsaudio.com.
  • Page 8 Digital inputs Input Recommended cable and connector AES / EBU 110 Ω screened, twisted pair cables fitted with one male 3 way XLR connector and one female 3 way XLR connector. Word Clock 75 Ω coax cables fitted with BNC connectors. / SPDIF SPDIF RCA 75 Ω coax cables fitted with RCA phono connectors. Toslink Toslink fibre-optic cables.

  • Page 9: Overview

    Overview Front panel Item Description Display Displays menus and information about the current input, for example, track name and artist. ► For more information, see "Display" on the next page. Remote control Aim the remote control at the remote control receiver. receiver Power button Press to switch on the unit.
  • Page 10 Display When streaming music from the network or a USB device, the display shows the following information: Area Description Information about the current song, for example, the artist, album name, track name, or file name Data rate (word length and sample rate for PCM, or DSD or DSDx2) Status icons ►...

  • Page 11: Rear Panel

    Icon Description Clocking sync mode Settings are locked Phase is inverted Channels are swapped Decoding MQA format data Decoding MQA Studio format data Display is set to automatically turn off Incorrect clock detected (AES and SPDIF inputs only) Rear panel Item Description Balanced outputs...
  • Page 12 Dual AES pair. Dual AES supports the following inputs: • PCM data (24/88.2 to 24/384) • dCS-encrypted DSD data from Vivaldi, Rossini, Scarlatti, and Paganini Transports • DoP data (DSD/64 or DSD/128 over PCM) ► For more information, see "Enabling and disabling Dual AES" on page 37.
  • Page 13 • Class 2, which accepts files up to 384 kS/s, DSD/64 or DSD/128 in DoP format. A dCS USB Class 2 driver needs to be installed on computers running Windows™ versions before Windows™ 10 Creator's Update. No additional driver needs to be installed on Apple desktops and notebooks running macOS 10.6.3 or above.
  • Page 14 You can change the RS-232 mode in the UNIT SETTINGS menu. ► For more information, see "Changing the RS-232 mode" on page 38. You can use the RS-232 socket to connect your Bartok DAC to a Rossini Master Clock, creating a Power Link. ►...

  • Page 15: Setting Up

    Setting up Connecting the power supply Use the supplied power cable to connect your Bartók DAC to the power supply. 1. At the rear of the unit, insert the power cable into the power socket. 2. Connect the plug to a power supply. Switching the unit on and off At the rear of the unit, there is a power rocker switch next to the power cable.

  • Page 16: Connecting Analogue Outputs

    Connecting analogue outputs You can connect your Bartók DAC to preamplifiers and power amplifiers. The unit has two types of analogue output connections: balanced and unbalanced. These outputs are independent, which allows you to connect each output to a different amplifier. Output connection type Cable to use Balanced...

  • Page 17: Dcs Mosaic

    For more information, see "Changing the line output level" on page 37. dCS Mosaic dCS Mosaic is a bespoke collection of hardware and software modules that allow you to access your digital music. With dCS Mosaic, you can stream content from the following: •...

  • Page 18: Connecting Pcm Inputs

    We fully test our products with the MinimServer UPnP server software. For more information about MinimServer, visit www.minimserver.com For more information about configuring your network for dCS Mosaic, contact your dealer. To connect your Bartók DAC to your network: 1. At the rear of the unit, connect an Ethernet cable to the NETWORK MAIN socket.
  • Page 19 UNIT SETTINGS > SYNC MODE menu page. Connecting a Dual AES input Some audio equipment can output in Dual AES. Example products include a dCS SACD transport, a dCS upsampler, or a sound server. 1. Use XLR cables to connect your Bartók DAC to the source equipment. Ensure the cables are not swapped.

  • Page 20: Connecting A Computer

    • Class 2, which accepts files up to 384 kS/s, DSD/64 or DSD/128 in DoP format. A dCS USB Class 2 driver needs to be installed on computers running Windows™ versions before Windows™ 10 Creator's Update. No additional driver needs to be installed on Apple desktops and notebooks running macOS 10.6.3 or above.

  • Page 21: Clocking

    Windows 10™, Windows 8.1™, or Windows 7™ 1. Open the Control Panel and select Sound. 2. Select the Playback tab. 3. Use the right mouse button to select dCS Bartok DAC Audio 4. Select Set as Default Communication Device. 5. To get the best sound quality: a.
  • Page 22 SACD Transport. On dCS Transports, Dual AES is the main output, carrying SACD data and upsampled CD data. To listen to CD playback in native 16/44.1 format, connect the AES 3 output...
  • Page 23 Analogue outputs 1. Connect the Word clock output 1 on the Rossini Master Clock to the WORD CLOCK IN 1 socket on the unit. 2. Connect the Word clock output 2 on the Rossini Master Clock to the WORD CLOCK IN 2 socket on the unit. 3. Connect the Word clock output 3 on the Rossini Master Clock to the Word Clock input on the Transport.
  • Page 24 Using the unit in Master Mode with a Transport To reduce jitter when using the unit with a Transport, use the unit in Master Mode and slave the Transport to it. Analogue outputs 1. Press the Input button on the unit to select the input you want to use. 2.

  • Page 25: Using Power Link

    Using Power Link Power Link allows you to switch the Bartók DAC and a connected Rossini Master Clock on and off at the same time, or put them both in and out of sleep mode. To enable Power Link, connect the RS-232 socket on the rear of your Bartók DAC to the RS-232 socket on a Rossini Master Clock.

  • Page 26: Using The Bartók Dac

    Using the Bartók DAC Navigating the menus To navigate menus and lists on the unit, press the buttons on the front of the unit. Button Action Menu Open a menu or select an item. ► Input Move to the next item. ◄...

  • Page 27: Playing Music With Apple Airplay

    You can use the Mosaic Control app to play music from online streaming services, such as Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, and Deezer. You can also listen to Internet Radio. For more information, see the Mosaic Control User Guide at https://dcs.community/mosaic-user- guide. About MQA files MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording.

  • Page 28: Using Roon

    MQA files that are streamed bit-perfect using a network connection or from the USB2 socket are extracted and rendered to the original sample rate. The MQA icon and the decoded sample rate are shown on the display. MQA files extracted by another device to 24/88.2 or 24/96 and then presented bit-perfect to the USB1, AES or SPDIF sockets are rendered to the original sample rate.
  • Page 29 To play music from a USB storage device: 1. Connect the USB storage device to the USB2 socket. 2. Hold down the Menu button for 2 seconds to open the file browser. 3. Press the Menu button. 4. Find the file that you want to play. •...

  • Page 30: Settings

    You can change settings in the menu on the unit, or using the Mosaic Control app. ► For more information, see "dCS Mosaic" on page 17. To change settings for the unit using the Mosaic Control app, select from the left of the screen on your mobile device.

  • Page 31: Software Menus

    Adjust the display brightness. DISPLAY ON/OFF Set the display to automatically switch off after a period of inactivity. LOGO ON/OFF Turn the dCS logo light on and off. GENERATOR CHANNEL CHECK Test the system for swapped channels. PHASE CHECK Test the system for phase reversals.

  • Page 32: Renaming Digital Inputs

    Renaming digital inputs To help identify inputs connected to the Bartók DAC, you can rename them. You need to connect the unit to a computer and run a terminal emulator program to rename the inputs. Example terminal emulator programs include Tera Term, PuTTY, or ZTerm. To rename the digital inputs using Tera Term on a Windows™...

  • Page 33: Viewing Information About The Unit

    This information can help you find setup or connection errors. Version. Displays the main software version and network firmware version. You may need this information when contacting your dealer. Contact. Displays contact details for dCS. Update. For service use only. Use the Mosaic Control app to update the product.

  • Page 34: Audio Settings

    Audio settings Changing the absolute phase of analogue outputs When listening to music, if the character of the instruments sounds wrong then it may be because the track was recorded with both channels phase-inverted. You can correct the absolute phase of the outputs. 1.
  • Page 35 Changing the DSD filter The DSD filter is active when you are playing DSD files or upsampling PCM data to DSD. 1. Press the Menu button. 2. Select AUDIO SETTINGS > DSD FILTER. 3. Press the Menu button to change the DSD filter. Filter 1.

  • Page 36: Unit Settings

    Mapper 1. The new default mapper design, which drives the Ring DAC™ core at either 5.644 or 6.14 MHz. Mapper 2. The classic mapper design, used on version 1 dCS products. This mapper design drives the Ring DAC™ core at either 2.822 or 3.07 MHz.
  • Page 37 Changing the line output level You can change the maximum line output level to match your amplifiers, speakers, and room. The difference between two adjacent settings is about 10 dB. 1. Press the Menu button. 2. Select UNIT SETTINGS > OUTPUT LEVEL. 3. Press the Menu button to change the setting. You can set the line output level to 6V, 2V, 0.6V, or 0.2V rms.
  • Page 38 Enabling and disabling the buffer By default, there is a buffer delay in the unit. This buffer delay mutes the unit before you hear audible clicks caused by changes in sample rate or clock frequency. The delay is 0.72 seconds with 44.1 kS/s data, and 0.16 seconds with 192kS/s data.

  • Page 39: Configuration Settings

    Configuration settings Locking settings When settings are locked, you cannot change the following: • Sync mode for all inputs • Output level • Dual AES • Channel swap • Balance • DSD filter • USB1 audio class • RS-232 mode When the settings are locked, you cannot save or restore configurations, or perform a factory reset.
  • Page 40 The default settings are below. Setting Value Volume -30 dB Balance Centre Input Network SYNC MODE AUDIO for all inputs except USB and Network WORD CLOCK 1-2 AUTO for USB and Network FILTER 1 for all sample rates DSD FILTER AES1/2 DUAL Auto PHASE Normal OUTPUT LEVEL...

  • Page 41: Display Settings

    When the menu is open on the unit, the display stays on in both settings. Enabling and disabling the dCS logo light You can enable or disable the dCS logo light that is next to the display. 1. Press the Menu button.

  • Page 42: System Tests

    NOTICE Conditioning the unit at high volumes can damage amplifiers and loudspeakers. Before conditioning the unit, reduce the volume to a low level. dCS is not liable for any damage to equipment due to incorrect use of the conditioning feature.

  • Page 43: Specifications

    44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96kS/s when set to USB Class 1 (no driver required). • 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8 or 384kS/s when set to USB Class 2 (no special driver is required for OSX 10.6.3 onwards, load the latest dCS USB Class 2 driver for Windows). •...

  • Page 44: About The Software

    Please note that not all software updates produce an audible improvement. We recommend that you keep your software up to date. Check the dCS web-site occasionally for news of the latest software updates. This manual is for Bartók DAC software version 2.0x.

  • Page 45: Maintenance

    Maintenance dCS audio products do not need regular maintenance. The only user-serviceable part of the unit is the mains fuse. If the unit is damaged, contact your fulfilment centre. Replacing a blown mains fuse There is a fuse below the power inlet of the unit. If the fuse blows, you can replace it.

  • Page 46: Cleaning The Unit

    5. Push the fuse holder back into the unit with the writing the correct way up, until you hear a click. Cleaning the unit If the case of the unit gets dusty or dirty, you can clean it with a lint-free cloth. •...

  • Page 47: Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting If the unit is not working correctly, you can view status information about the unit in the menu. ► For more information, see "Viewing information about the unit" on page 33. Problem Cause Solution Unit doesn't switch on. Supply voltage is incorrect. Check if the voltage on the back of the unit is the same as your local supply voltage.
  • Page 48 Problem Cause Solution USB storage device is The format of the storage Connect a USB storage device that is not detected. device is incorrect. formatted as FAT16, FAT 32, or unencrypted NTFS. The reading time is slow. High-capacity drives can take long time to read and process.

  • Page 49: Support

    Manufactured by: Data Conversion Systems Ltd. Unit 1, Buckingway Business Park, Anderson Road, Swavesey, Cambridgeshire, CB24 4AE, www.dcsaudio.com You can download this user manual free of charge from our website. To order a printed copy of this user manual, contact dCS.

  • Page 50: Limited Warranty

    If the product is purchased and registered with dCS within 6 months of the date the unit was originally shipped from dCS, we will start the warranty on the purchase date. For units registered later than 6 months from the ship date, we will start the warranty from the ship date unless the registration is supported by the original sales invoice.

  • Page 51: Operating Conditions

    Operating conditions • The supply voltage must remain within +/-10% of the A.C. voltage specified on the back panel. • The supply frequency must be in the range 49 Hz to 62 Hz. • Ambient temperature range: 0°C (32°F) to 45°C (113°F), non-condensing. •...

  • Page 52: Compliance

    (That is, make certain the equipment and the television or radio are on circuits controlled by different circuit breakers or fuses.) (USA only) If necessary, consult dCS Americas LLC or an experienced radio / television technician for additional suggestions. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by dCS Americas LLC could void the manufacturer’s warranty.

  • Page 53: Works With Apple Airplay

    Bartók DAC has been certified with the following products: • iPhone X • iPhone 5s • iPhone 8 Plus • iPhone 5 • iPhone 8 • iPad Pro (10.5 inch) • iPhone 7 Plus • iPad Pro (12.9 inch) 2nd Generation •...
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