MSB Technology Link DAC III User Manual page 2

Thank you for purchasing the world famous LINK DAC III. I am sure
you will be very pleased with it. If you ordered any of the user installable
upgrades factory installed, a storage and shipping box is included for the
upgrade in case you ever need to return it to us for service. Please retain
these boxes.
At least 100 hours of burn-in is required on this DAC. Custom-
ers generally recommend one month.
Front Panel
The front panel is quite simple with no user controls. LEDs indicate
power, the input source, the sampling frequency and whether an option
is installed and is active.
Power - The blue power LED lights up any time power is applied. The
LINK should always be left plugged in with the blue LED lit.
Option - The option LED will never light unless an option is installed. It
indicates a specific function for each option, such as upsampling or HDCD.
It will light in the full brightness and half brightness mode for further dif-
ferentiation between multiple options.
Source - Both the coaxial and optical inputs are indicated on the display
with separate LEDs. When an active digital signal is attached to the
LINK III the LED will light, even if no music is playing, or the source is
data (like Dolby Digital or DTS). If both sources are active, both LEDs
will light, but the COAXIAL input will take priority. If no LED is lit, the
analog pass-through is active.
Sample Frequency - These LEDs indicate the incoming sampling fre-
quency, whether music is playing or not, and whether the source is data
or not. The 192 LED will not light without the 192 option installed.
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Operation
The operation of the LINK III is fully automatic.
Software
Virtually all PCM digital sources can be decoded including 24/96K and in
the future with a small upgrade, 192K (DVD-A). The frequency of the
incoming signal is indicated on the front panel with LEDs. Note that many
DVD players play 96K-24 bit DVDs but output at 48 kHz. Some players
offer a menu option to select 96K but many do not. To get the true 96K
output a 96K digital output upgrade is available from MSB. Discussion of
adding copy protection is underway in an AES working group. Should
decryption be required to play back new software, an upgrade board will
be offered at a reasonable price to plug into the LINKs upgrade sockets.
Troubleshooting
No "Source" indicated - Check for bad cable, or cable plugged into the wrong
output on the transport.
No sound - Check that source is valid audio source. Change to a standard CD just
to be sure. Check that analog outputs are connected to the "outputs" not the
"inputs".
Still no sound - connect an analog output from the source directly to the volume
control. Verify that the rest of the system is working. Now move the same analog
output to the analog input on the LINK. Add a new cable from the analog output to
the volume control. Disconnect the digital inputs and confirm that the system still
works. Now plug in a digital source. You should hear a click and the front LEDs
should light.
Key Specifications
THD+N (0dBFS, 1kHz) = -96dB,
Dynamic Range (-60dBFS, 1kHz) = -106dB
Signal to Noise (Digital zero with no muting) = -106dB
Warranty
All MSB products carry a one year warranty. No returns accepted without an RMA.
Upon receipt, MSB will repair or replace any defective product. All product shipped
FOB La Honda. Shipping is the responsibility of the consignee.
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