Bricasti Design M3 User manual

M3 Digital to Analog Converter
User Guide
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Unpacking and Inspection
After unpacking the M3 save all packing materials in the event you ever need to ship the unit. Thoroughly
inspect the M3 and packing materials for any signs of damage in shipment. Report any damage to the
carrier at once.
Precautions
The Bricasti Design M3 is a rugged device with extensive electrical protection. However, reasonable
precautions applicable to any piece of audio equipment should be observed.
Always use the correct AC line voltage as set by the manufacturer. Refer to the power requirements
section of the manual and adhere to any power indications on the rear or bottom of the chassis. Using
the incorrect AC line voltage can cause damage to your M3, so please check this carefully before
applying power.
Do not install the M3 in an unventilated rack or directly above any heat-producing equipment like
power amps, tube preamps etc. Maximum ambient operating temperature is 40 C, this would yield an
internal temp of 60 C as indicated on the M3 temp display. Exceeding the maximum ambient
temperature may cause the M3 to enter thermal shutdown and stop processing sound as a safety
precaution, and may cause damage to the internal processors and components.
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the M3 to rain or moisture.
Notices
In the interest of continued product development, Bricasti Design reserves the right to make improvements
to this manual and the product it describes at any time and without notice.
Copyright 2019
Bricasti Design LTD
2 Shaker Rd J100
Shirley MA 01464 USA
[phone]
bricasti.com
All Rights Reserved
This publication is protected by copyright and all rights are reserved.
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Conformity
EMC / EMI
This equipment has been tested and found to comply within the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant
to part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in residential installations.
Canadian Customers
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numerous de la classe B est conforme a la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
Certificate Of Conformity
Bricasti Design, 2 Shaker Rd, Shirley, USA, hereby declares on
its own responsibility the following products:
M3 –Digital to Analog Converter
-that is covered by this certificate and marked with the CE-label
conforms to the following standards:
EN 60065 Safety requirements for mains operated electronic
and related apparatus for household and general
use
EN 55103-1 Product family standard for audio, video,
audiovisual and entertainment lighting control
apparatus for professional use. Part 1: Emission
EN 55103-2 Product family standard for audio, video,
audiovisual and entertainment lighting control
apparatus for professional use. Part 2: Immunity
With reference to the regulations in the following directives:
73/23/EEC, 89/336/EEC
January 2019
Brian S Zolner
President
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Introduction
This M3 user guide covers theory of design and setup and use. In the future you can always find the latest
version available at our web site www.bricasti.com.
Congratulations on the purchase of your new M3 Dual Mono D/A Converter. We at Bricasti Design have
set out to design the world’s best of analog and digital and to offer the finest products made for the
professional and consumer audio markets.
Product Overview
The M3 features 2 fully differential conversion channels, each with its own D/A converter, and analog level
control circuitry. With our twin DAC design, the dynamic range for each channel is optimized by using the
stereo ADI 1955 D/A converters in a mono configuration for PCM conversion, clocking is implemented
with a technique called DDS (direct digital synthesis) which takes clock induced jitter to immeasurable
levels. DSD is converted with our own proprietary one bit analog converter.
Build Quality
The M3 is robustly constructed of milled and CNC machined aluminum sections, no typical bent metal
chassis and top cover found on most products. All sections of the construction, the front and rear panels, the
sides and even the bottom and top plates start out as solid blocks of aluminum which are precision
machined to shape, with exact tolerances for a perfect fit. These parts are then anodized and the text and
markings is laser etched for a clean and enduring look.
The Sound
The intention of the M3 is to provide a state of the art design, utilizing the best designs and materials that
can be found today. The converter and following analog stages are a very critical part of the digital and
analog audio chain. The sound of the M3 is intended to be transparent and revealing, and fully dynamic.
This in part is made possible by lowering the jitter to extremely low levels, providing a pure digital signal
chain without sample rate converters, superior digital filter design, pure DSD conversion, coupled to a fast
transparent analog signal path with analog level control, discreet analog output section and plenty of good
clean linear power for optimum analog performance.
Many hours of listening were done to tune the M3 to an exacting sound, with all types of music, and with
extensive testing done in the studio and in the home. We hope you find the M3 to be pleasing and
enjoyable to hear and use in the home, or as a precision tool for high level reference monitoring for the
professional.
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