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Related Manuals for WEISS MEDUS
Summary of Contents for WEISS MEDUS
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Page 1: Owners Manual
Weiss Engineering Ltd. Switzerland www.weiss-highend.com MEDUS OWNERS MANUAL... - Page 2 OWNERS MANUAL FOR WEISS MEDUS D/A CONVERTER INTRODUCTION ustomer Congratulations on your purchase of the MEDUS D/A Converter and welcome to the family of Weiss equipment owners! The MEDUS is the result of an intensive research and development process. Research was conducted both in analog and digital circuit design, as well as in signal processing algorithm specification.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
OWNERS MANUAL FOR WEISS MEDUS D/A CONVERTER TABLE OF CONTENTS The MEDUS D/A Converter Features Operation Technical Data A short history of Weiss Engineering Our mission and product philosophy Advanced digital and analog audio concepts explained Jitter Suppression, Clocking Up-sampling, Oversampling and Sampling Rate Conversion in General... -
Page 4: The Medus D/A Converter
THE MEDUS D/A CONVERTER The MEDUS is a State Of The Art D/A Converter which handles PCM as well as DSD signals. Both digital and analog sections are designed with great care for all the details which make the MEDUS a truly remarkable DAC. - Page 5 OWNERS MANUAL FOR WEISS MEDUS D/A CONVERTER Outputs: Our discrete OP-AMPs are also used in the output stage, two per audio channel for a differential output. Output levels can be set between –4.0dBu and +27.0dBu (6dB less on asymmetrical outputs). The level setting is done in 1dB steps via a rotary switch at the back of the unit.
- Page 6 Mechanical Design: The MEDUS employs a twin metal frame. The inner chassis is made of steel and acts as a very effective shield against electrostatic and electromagnetic radiation. The outer frame is made of massive anodized aluminium for additional shielding, resulting in optimal heat convection and beautiful looks.
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Page 7: Operation
• The MEDUS should be placed horizontally on a plane surface. Avoid putting any other equipment or any other material on top of the MEDUS as not to compromise the MEDUS’ heat convection system. Mains Connection Before connecting the mains cable make sure the voltage selector switch on the back of the unit (integrated into the mains connector) is set to the appropriate voltage. - Page 8 In that case the analog outputs are muted. The MEDUS automatically synchronizes to the incoming signal. If the sampling rate of the signal is not within a range of +- 80ppm of one of the nominal sampling rates (44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 172.4, 192kHz) then the blue LED of the active input is flashing.
- Page 9 Note, it is normal when after setting the basic output level the MEDUS output mutes again for a short time.
- Page 10 OWNERS MANUAL FOR WEISS MEDUS D/A CONVERTER Remote Control The Remote Control allows to control the following parameters: basic output level with the gain trim keys as described above output volume in the digital domain with 0.5dB steps over a range of 60dB. With the 0dB setting (maximum...
- Page 11 OWNERS MANUAL FOR WEISS MEDUS D/A CONVERTER Display The display shows the following parameters: input number: 1…4 input sampling rate: unlocked, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz, DSD input word length: 16, 20, 24 Bit (shown if an audio signal is present) gain: 0….
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Page 12: Technical Data
OWNERS MANUAL FOR WEISS MEDUS D/A CONVERTER Technical Data Digital Inputs: (3) XLR connectors, (1) Toslink connector (optical) (3) RCA connectors (1) USB connector All inputs accept professional or consumer standard , i.e. accept AES/EBU or S/PDIF signals Sampling Frequencies: single wire scheme: 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4 or 192kHz on any of the four inputs Sampling Frequencies: dual wire scheme: 88.2, 96.0, 176.4 or 192kHz on inputs 1 and 2... - Page 13 OWNERS MANUAL FOR WEISS MEDUS D/A CONVERTER Converter chip: Over-sampling sigma-delta converter Four converters per channel Synchronization: Synchronized via input signal Extremely efficient Jitter attenuation down to subsonic frequencies Sampling Frequencies: 44.1 kHz, 48.0 kHz, 88.2kHz, 96.0kHz, 176.4khz, 192kHz DSP algorithms:...
- Page 14 OWNERS MANUAL FOR WEISS MEDUS D/A CONVERTER Measurements: The measurements below have been taken at the following conditions (unless noted otherwise): +24.0dBu output level (-3dBFS input level), 192.0kHz sampling frequency (fs). Frequency Response: Signal To Noise Ratio (SNR) @ -40dBFS input: @ fs = 44.1kHz: 0Hz ...
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Page 15: A Short History Of Weiss Engineering
Our list of clients includes big names, like SONY, BMG, EMI, Warner, Hit Factory, Abbey Road, Teldec, Telarc, Unitel, Gateway Mastering (Bob Ludwig), Bernie Grundman Mastering, Masterdisk, Sterling Sound, Whitfield Street, Metropolis and hundreds more. For a more comprehensive list you are invited to visit our pro audio website at www.weiss.ch. -
Page 16: Our Mission And Product Philosophy
2008 Introduction of the MINERVA Firewire DAC, VESTA Firewire Interface, ATT202 passive attenuator 2010 Introduction of the DAC202 DAC, INT202 Firewire Interface, MEDEA+ DAC 2012 Introduction of the MAN301 Network Player 2013 Introduction of the MEDUS DAC, INT204 USB/DSD Interface... -
Page 17: Advanced Digital And Analog Audio Concepts Explained
OWNERS MANUAL FOR WEISS MEDUS D/A CONVERTER ADVANCED DIGITAL AND ANALOG AUDIO CONCEPTS EXPLAINED Jitter Suppression and Clocking What is jitter and how does it affect audio quality? In the audio field the term jitter designates a timing uncertainty of digital clock signals. E.g. in an Analog to Digital Converter (A/D) the analog signal is sampled (measured) at regular time intervals;... - Page 18 (e.g. CD player) and the D/A converter unit or by the same mechanisms as described above except for the motors of course. In the case of a stand-alone D/A converter (as the MEDUS), one has to take two different jitter contamination pathes into account.
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Page 19: Upsampling, Oversampling And Sampling Rate Conversion In General
This means that the MEDUS is virtually immune to the quality of the audio source regarding jitter. For a CD player as a source this means that as long as the data is read off the CD in a correct manner (i.e. - Page 20 OWNERS MANUAL FOR WEISS MEDUS D/A CONVERTER A physical law states that in order to represent any given analog signal in the digital domain, one has to sample that signal with at least twice the frequency of the highest frequency contained in the analog signal.
- Page 21 For the MEDUS we have decided to do part of the up-sampling (the most critical part in fact) in the Digital Signal Processor (DSP) chip external to the D/A chip.
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Page 22: Reconstruction Filters
The feedback is added to lower the distortion figures even further. The distortion figures of the MEDUS, which by the way are excellent, are predominantly caused by the D/A converter and not by the output stage. -
Page 23: Dithering
OWNERS MANUAL FOR WEISS MEDUS D/A CONVERTER Dithering You have probably not heard the term dithering in conjunction with audio. Actually it is a term widely used in the professional audio realm but not so much in the High-End Hi-Fi market. - Page 24 If you would like to dive further into those issues I recommend to visit the website of Mr. Bob Katz, a renowned Mastering Engineer and a Weiss Engineering customer. He publishes articles on Dithering and Jitter and many other topics at...
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Page 25: Contact
OWNERS MANUAL FOR WEISS MEDUS D/A CONVERTER CONTACT For any questions, suggestions etc. feel free to contact us at: Weiss Engineering Ltd. Florastrasse 42 8610 Uster Switzerland Phone: +41 44 940 20 06 Fax: +41 44 940 22 14 weiss@weiss.ch Email: http://www.weiss-highend.com... - Page 26 When the Firewire input is selected, the synchronization master always is the MEDUS unit, i.e. the computer is slaved to the MEDUS. The sampling rate is set via the Weiss Firewire IO window. On a Mac system the sampling rate set in AudioMidi sets the one in the Weiss Firewire IO window and vice versa.
- Page 27 # 1 and input # 2 depending on the sampling rates: For sampling rates of 176.4 kHz or 192 kHz select input # 1, the MEDUS should then go into dual wire mode, i.e. both LEDs of input # 1 and # 2 are lit.
- Page 28 For the dual wire version: select input # 1 (independent of the sampling rate you are testing at) and wait until the MEDUS locks. Then press and hold the input # 1 selection button. If the LEDs start to flash, the player software is indeed bit transparent. If the LEDs stay lit, the player is not bit transparent.
- Page 29 On a Windows based system the use of ASIO or WASAPI is highly recommended. These systems make it simple to achieve bit transparent playback. In addition the sampling rate of the MEDUS is switched automatically depending on the sampling rate of the file played.
- Page 30 The connected MEDUS device can be controlled through the “Weiss Firewire I/O” Control Panel. Windows: The control panel can be accessed by clicking on the “Weiss Firewire IO” icon on the desktop. Device Settings / General: The device settings should be pretty self-explanatory.
- Page 31 Master: Is the device which is sync master on the virtual bus in case multiple devices (“MEDUSs”) are connected. Sync Source: The clock to which the MEDUS should sync to. Usually this is the MEDUS’ internal clock generator. Sampling Rate: The sampling rate of the device when internally clocked.
- Page 32 Master: Is the device which is sync master on the virtual bus in case multiple devices (“MEDUSs”) are connected. Sync Source: The clock to which the MEDUS should sync to. Usually this is the MEDUS’ internal clock generator. Sampling Rate: The sampling rate of the device when internally clocked.
- Page 33 ST output. Also possible is to use the Weiss CHIRON-glass1T module to convert an AES/EBU output to optical and then connect that to the ST input at the MEDUS via a glass fiber. For more information see this page:...