Balanced Audio Technology REX DAX User manual

REX DAC
WARRANTY REGISTRATION FORM
Unit Serial Number: _______________________________________
Customer Name: _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
_______________________________________
Date of Purchase: _______________________________________
Purchased From:
Dealer Name: _______________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
_______________________________________
IMPORTANT NOTE:
In order to receive the full five year product warranty, please mail this
completed form together with a copy of your sales receipt to Balanced Audio
Technology at the address below - within thirty days of purchase. Failure to
do so will result in the product having a warranty of only one year from the
date of manufacture.
1300 First State Blvd. Wilmington DE 19804 Tel: [phone] [e-mail]

REX DAC
Balanced Digital to Analog Converter
Owner's Manual
1300 First State Blvd. Wilmington DE 19804 Tel: [phone] [email protected]

Introduction
Thank you for your purchase of the Balanced Audio Technology REX DAC. Please read
this owner's manual to obtain the full benefit of the REX DAC in your system. It will
provide you with the needed safety information and operating procedures for this exceptional
unit.
Package Contents
Included in the box should be the following:
Description Quantity
REX DAC 1
Power Cord 1
Spare Fuse* 1
Torx Wrench (T-15) 1
Spare Top Cover Screws 5
User’s Manual 1
VK-R4 Remote Control 1
* See Fuse section for specification
Save all the packaging material in a safe dry area for the unlikely event that you need to
return the REX DAC to the factory for service.
WARNINGS:
To prevent the possibility of serious injury, electrical shock or fire:
DO NOT operate with the cover removed.
DO NOT expose to rain or moisture.
DO NOT defeat the ground power-plug.
DO NOT replace fuse with anything other than the same type and rating as supplied by the
factory.

Reseating Tubes
Normally, reseating tubes upon delivery is not required. However, if any tubes
have noticeably drifted out of position due to high transportation stress, it will be
advisable to reseat the tubes. Use the supplied Torx wrench to remove the top cover.
Reseat the tubes in their sockets and reinstall the top cover.
NOTE: Should tube replacement be needed, only properly matched tubes from the
factory should be used.
Physical Placement
It is recommended that you provide for at least 6" of free space around the unit for proper
ventilation.
Mount the unit on a hard surface with proper ventilation underneath.
Do not stack the REX DAC on top of other units, nor vice versa.
Connecting the REX DAC to Your System
All connections can be found on the rear panel of the REX DAC.
Inputs:
The REX DAC has six inputs:
AES
Coax 1
Coax 2
Toslink 1
Toslink 2
USB
These can be selected via either the front panel controls, or the VK-R4 remote control.
Outputs:
Two balanced output connectors are located on the rear panel.

Operating the REX DAC
Turning the REX DAC On:
After connecting the REX DAC to the power line, briefly press the Standby button.
When you turn the REX DAC On, it will automatically go through a gentle power-on
sequence. This sequence takes 50 seconds, during which time the blue Standby LED will
be flashing. After this time, the Standby LED will turn OFF and the unit is ready to play.
The REX DAC output is muted during this sequence, which is indicated by the blue LED
above the Mute button. The unit will automatically un-mute at the end of the warm-up
cycle. At this point, select your source and the REX DAC will be ready to play.
Placing the REX DAC in and out of Standby Mode:
The REX DAC features a Standby switch on the left side on the front panel.
When you are finished playing music, simply place the REX DAC in Standby mode by
pressing this switch. The blue Standby LED will turn ON. To turn the unit back on,
simply press the switch again and the unit will automatically go through the standard
power-up sequence. After the blue LED stops flashing you can play music.
Turning the REX DAC OFF
Press and hold the Standby button to turn the REX DAC off. All front panel indicators will be
turned OFF. It will automatically mute.
Front-panel REX DAC controls
STANDBY Button and LED
The Standby button is used to turn the unit ON and OFF and to switch the preamplifier into its
Standby mode. The LED indicates the status of the unit’s power circuitry and has four states:
LED OFF with Display OFF DAC is in OFF state
with Display ON DAC is in ON state
LED Flashing DAC is going through its Power-ON routine
LED ON DAC is in STANDBY mode

When the unit is plugged into a power line, it will stay in the OFF state until the Standby button
is pressed. The LED will then start blinking and the unit will go through a 50second warm-up
sequence. At the end of that sequence it will turn ON.
Pressing the button again will switch the unit into its Standby mode.
The REX DAC can be turned OFF by pressing and holding the Standby button.
MUTE Button and LED
The Mute button disables the REX DAC output. It is recommended that the Mute be engaged
any time the signal cables are changed or any other system configuration changes are being
made. This function is also accessible via the VK-R4 remote control.
LED OFF DAC output is live
LED ON DAC output is muted
Note that the REX DAC has two mute modes: manual and automatic. When the unit is powered
up it automatically self-mutes until the proper operating points of the circuitry are reached. It
will then automatically go into Play mode. Turning the REX DAC OFF even for short time, will
make the unit reset its power sequencing circuit and mute its output. It will then require 50
seconds for the unit to become operational again.
INPUT selection buttons 1through 5
These allow the user to select any of six available inputs to be played. The input name selected
will be indicated on the unit front panel display as well. This function is also accessible via the
VK-R4 remote control.
Please note that the button 4 will toggle between the two TosLink inputs, indicated as Tos1
and Tos2.
FUNCTION Button
This button allows you to provide custom names for each source input. Pressing the function
button will cause the first character to blink. Each character can be changed by using the Up and
Down buttons on the VK-R4 remote control. Once the proper character is found, a push on the
Function button will lock it and move the programming to the next character. A long push on the
Function button will save the selection and exit the programming mode.

DISPLAY Brightness ( via VK-R4 remote control)
The REX DAC display can be dimmed or turned completely OFF by simply pressing the
DISPLAY button on your VK-R4 remote control.
Each press will reduce the brightness of display and LED indicators in steps from full ON
to OFF, and then one press back to full ON. The LED indicators will dim but never turn
completely OFF. With the display OFF, issuing any remote control command that would
normally require a display change (i.e.: source selection) will automatically turn the
display back ON for short period of time.
Fuse Protection:
A blown fuse in the REX DAC is an indication of a serious problem. If a replacement
fuse fails as well, no further attempts should be undertaken. Please contact the factory
for professional service.
The proper fuse ratings are as follows:
For 100-120 VAC Units: 2A 250V Slow Blow
For 200-240 VAC Units: 1.0A 250V Slow Blow
Servicing
The Balanced Audio Technology REX DAC should require no service other than
changing tubes to maintain its high performance. The six vacuum tubes used in the REX
DAC are quality 6C19s rated for approximately 5000 hours of use. Please direct any
further service inquiries to the factory.
Cleaning
To remove dust, occasionally wipe the front and top surfaces of your REX DAC with a
damp soft cloth. If fingerprints appear, you may use a mild, non-alkaline soap solution.
Do not use abrasive cleaners, as they may damage the fine finish of the unit.
Factory supplied fuses should be only replaced with the same type and rating.

Connecting the REX DAC to a Windows or Apple Computer
Specifications:
Supported PCM audio resolutions: all sample rates up to 384 kHz and word lengths up to 24
bits.
Supported DSD audio resolutions:
2.8224 MHz or single DSD as on SA-CD
5.6448 MHz or double DSD
11.2896 MHz or quad DSD
Connection protocol and method: USB 2.0 / Audio class 2.0 compliant, asynchronous mode
where the REX DAC generates a high precision clock master and the computer is clock
slaved.
Windows PC configuration
PC requirements: Windows 8/10 with ASIO compatible playback and/or recording software
such as Foobar 2000 or JRiver Media Center, etc.
In order for your computer to communicate with the REX DAC using a Windows PC, custom
driver software needs to be installed. No such driver installation is needed for an Apple
computer.
Windows driver software installation and first time connection:
This manual will provide Windows examples for connecting the REX DAC to Foobar2000
software as well as JRiver Media Center software. Such examples are for instruction only
and do not constitute an endorsement by BAT. The principle for connection will be the same
for other Windows playback software.
Windows configuration steps:
Important: Do not connect the REX DAC to your computer yet.
1. Launch your favorite internet browser and navigate to the downloads page on our website
http://balanced.com/download-manuals.
2. Click on USB Windows Driver to download the latest driver:
akdesigndrv_usb_audio_driver-2.0.zip for PC.
3. Unzip this driver to a convenient location.
4. Double click on: akdesigndrv-2.0.exe and follow the instructions on your screen. This
will install the driver necessary to communicate with
the REX DAC via USB.

5. Once the driver is installed, power on the REX DAC.
6. Connect your USB cable between REX DAC and your PC.
7. The computer will take a moment to enumerate or identify the REX DAC on its USB bus
and will notify you when it is installed successfully.
8. Confirm the driver installation in device manager, where it will show up as:
AKDesign USB Audio under the Sound, Video and Game Controllers tab.
Note that the device will not be listed in the Sound Control panel.
9. Configure your playback software to receive and send audio data from and to the ASIO
interface. Depending on your software this may be identified as “AKDesign USB ASIO” or
simply as ASIO.
Configuration Examples
Foobar2000 example
1.1. Open the Foobar2000 webpage at http://www.foobar2000.org/download
to download the following:
Foobar2000 v1.3.17.exe
foo_out_asio.fbk-component
You’ll find these by scrolling down the webpage to Get add-on foobar2000 components.
Click on this and scroll down to ASIO support 2.1.2.
1.2. Double click on the foobar2000_v1.3.17.exe. Click Run, Accept terms and
conditions, and follow the default installation instructions on your screen.
After installation is complete foobar2000 will open on your screen. Close it.

1.3. Double click on foo_out_asio.fbk-component Click Yes on the warning sign and
foobar2000 will pop up. Click Yes when the restart message pops up.
1.4. Turn on the REX DAC. Select the USB input and plug the DAC into the USB port of
your computer. Windows will show a message in the right bottom corner of your display that
device is being configured.
1.5. Open Foobar2000 and go to Library - Configure - ASIO.
In ASIO drivers window (see picture bellow) Select AKDesign and click OK.
(If AKDesign driver is not listed run akdesigndrv-2.0.exe one more time.)
Done
JRiver Media Center example
2.1. Open webpage www.jriver.com/download.html and choosethe appropriate download
for the operating system on your computer.
Note: JRiver Media Center is licensed software. In order to install the license has to be
purchased.
2.2. Install software following the prompts from Jriver on your display.

2.3. Turn on the REX DAC and plug it into the USB port of your computer.
2.3. Open JRiver Media Center. Choose Player on the top toolbar. Scroll down to Playback
options and click on it. A new window will open. Choose Audio on the left pane and Audio
Device on the right (see picture below)
Click on down arrow and choose AKDesign Audio (ASIO) click OK.
Done

Apple Mac Configuration Steps
Mac requirements: OS X (10.6.6 or later). Without additional software, this platform only
supports PCM format. For DSD playback, the DoP mechanism can be used, but it requires
playback software such as Audirvana that can implement DoP.
The REX DAC does not require a driver to work within the Apple environment. You will
simply need to configure the REX DAC as the preferred device for sound output. From the
Mac’s main window, click on the Apple logo in the top left corner. Now select System
Preferences, then Sound and you will see the following screen:
Select the REX DAC as the device for sound output.
Finally, confirm within your preferred software that the REX DAC is properly configured in
the audio system settings. Here, we show Audirvana software as an example:

Done.
Final note:
Computers that sleep or hibernate may revert back to the internal speakers for sound output
when they awake. Changing your sleep or hibernate settings can prevent this problem. If the
PC or Mac has lost connection to the DAC, you may need to power cycle the REX DAC so
that it can be recognized again.

Five Year Limited Warranty
Terms and Conditions
1. Limited Warranty
Upon receipt of the attached warranty registration form, Balanced Audio Technology warrants the
purchased product to be free from manufacturing, materials, and workmanship defects for five years
from date of original purchase, excepting vacuum tubes, subject to the following conditions. Failure to
return the enclosed registration form within 30 days from original purchase will result in a
warranty period of one year from the date of manufacture.
2. Vacuum Tubes
Vacuum tubes (including replacements under warranty) are warranted for one year from the date of the
original REX DAC purchase.
3. Limited to Original Purchaser
This warranty is for the sole benefit of the original purchaser of the covered product, and may not be
transferred to a subsequent purchaser of the product.
4. Conditions and Limitations
This warranty is subject to certain conditions and limitations, as follows. This warranty is void and
inapplicable if the product has not been used in accordance with the instructions found elsewhere in this
manual, or if it has been misused or abused, damaged by accident or neglect, or in transport once in
possession of the purchaser. The warranty is also void if the product has been repaired, modified, or
tampered with by anyone other than Balanced Audio Technology or its specifically authorized agents.
5. Remedy
If this product contains a materials, manufacturing, or workmanship defect that cannot be repaired at the
dealership where the product was purchased, it must be packed in original packaging and returned to
Balanced Audio Technology via insured freight, at the owners expense. If replacement packaging
materials are required, they will be supplied by the factory at a nominal charge. Returned products
must be accompanied by a written description of the defect, and a return authorization number
(available from the factory via phone or fax). Upon receipt of defective product, Balanced Audio
Technology agrees to repair the product without charge for parts (except vacuum tubes if the unit is more
than one year old), or labor. The product will then be returned via prepaid, insured freight, with carrier at
the sole determination of Balanced Audio Technology. This constitutes the purchasers sole remedy.
6. Design Changes
Balanced Audio Technology reserves the right to modify its products or change specifications at any
time without obligation or liability to previous purchasers.
7. Miscellaneous
Any implied warranties relating to the above product shall be limited to the duration of this warranty.
This warranty does not extend to any incidental or consequential costs or damages to the purchaser. This
warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may also have other rights which vary from state to state.