Cary Audio Design CD-500 User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
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CD-500
CD Player
NOTE: Before installing your new component, please read this manual carefully
as it will inform you of the product specications, proper installation and correct
operating procedures for your unit. Also included in this manual are guidelines
on how to service and care for your new Cary Audio Design product.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Important Safety Instructions ............................................................2
Welcome
Product Overview ..................................................................................4
Unpacking and Installation ....................................................................5
Specifications........................................................................................6
Controls & Displays
Front Panel.............................................................................................8
Rear Panel ............................................................................................10
Pin Assignment ....................................................................................11
Remote Control....................................................................................12
Playback
Starting Playback .................................................................................14
Stopping Playback ..............................................................................14
Various Playback Functions ................................................................15
Service and Care
Care and Cleaning................................................................................18
Factory Service ....................................................................................18
Non-Warranty Repairs .........................................................................18
Shipping Instructions ...........................................................................18
United States Limited Warranty ......................................................19
1

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: The triangle with the lightning flash symbol displayed on the unit advises the user of dangerous
uninsulated voltage inside the product’s enclosure.
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the cover. There are no user-serviceable parts
inside; it is recommended that only qualified personnel service this component.
ALERT: The triangle with the exclamation point symbol on the component suggests that the owner refer to
important operating and maintenance instructions in the owner’s manual.
1. OWNER’S MANUAL: Before powering up the equipment, read all safety and operating instructions and
follow them as instructed. Retain the safety and operating instructions for future reference.
2. ATTACHMENTS: Use only those attachments recommended by the unit manufacturer, as others may
cause hazards.
3. ACCESSORIES: Do not place the unit on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The unit may
fall, causing injury to a person or damage to the unit. Mount the unit according to the manufacturer’s
instructions with the suggested mounting accessory.
4. WALL OR CEILING MOUNTING: Mount the unit to a wall or ceiling only in the manner recommended
by the manufacturer.
5. WATER AND MOISTURE: Do not use the unit near water (for example, near a swimming pool, bath tub,
wash bowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub) or in a damp environment (like a basement or outside in the rain).
6. OBJECT AND LIQUID ENTRY: Do not push objects of any kind into the unit through openings as they
could touch dangerous voltage points and short-out parts, possibly resulting in a fire or electric shock. Avoid
spilling liquid of any kind on the unit. If water or any metal object (such as a paper clip, coin, or staple)
accidentally falls inside the unit, disconnect it from the AC power source immediately and contact Cary
Audio Design for further instructions.
7. HEAT: Position the unit away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other units
(including amplifiers) that produce heat.
8. VENTILATION: Slots and openings in the cabinet create ventilation to protect the component from
overheating. These openings on the top and bottom panels must remain unobstructed. Allow at least 6 inches
(16cm) of clearance above the unit and an opening behind the unit for airflow. Do not place the unit on a
bed, sofa, rug, built-in bookcase, or rack without adequate ventilation.
9. GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION: As a safety feature, the unit may be equipped with a polarized
alternating current line plug in which one blade is wider than the other. This plug will fit into the power
outlet only one way. If you cannot insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the plug. If the plug still
will not fit, contact a licensed electrician to update your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of
the polarized plug.
10. POWER SOURCES: Operate the unit only from the power source indicated on the marking label. If you
are unsure of the type of power supplied to your home, consult your unit dealer or local power company.
11. POWER CORD PROTECTION: Arrange power supply cords so that they do not suffer from foot traffic
or pinching by items placed on or against them. Pay close attention to cords where plug enter the AC outlet
and where they exit from the unit.
12. LIGHTNING: For added protection during a lightning storm or when is the component is idle for long
periods of time, unplug the unit from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable system. This will
help protect the unit from lightning and power line surge damage.
13. POWER LINES: Do not locate an outside antenna system in the vicinity of overhead power lines or other
electric light or power circuits. When installing an outside antenna system, take extreme care to avoid
touching the power lines or circuits; contact with them could be fatal.
14. OVERLOADING: Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords, or integral convenience receptacles as
this increases the risk of fire or electric shock.
2

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
15. REPLACEMENT PARTS: When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used
replacement parts specified by the manufacturer or those having the same characteristics as the original
parts. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock or other hazards.
16. SAFETY CHECK: Upon completion of any service or repairs to the unit, ask the service technician to
perform safety checks to ensure the unit is in proper operating condition.
17. IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:
•Before connecting a new product such as the CD 303T to your audio or home theater system, turn off
all other equipment (preferably unplugging them from the AC power source). Many audio components
feature automatic turn-on circuits that may activate during an installation, potentially causing damage to
electronic components and/or speakers. This type of damage is not covered by product warranties, and
Cary Audio specifically disclaims responsibility for any such damage.
•Power Cord: The removable power cord provided with your player was specifically
designed for use with this product, but other AC cords may be used. Consult your dealer
for advice on AC power cords and high quality wire in your system.
•AC Fuse: The fuse is located inside the chassis and is not user serviceable. If the unit does not power
up, contact an authorized service representative
•Wiring: Cables running inside walls should have the appropriate markings to indicate compliance and
listing by the UL, CSA or other standards required by the UL, CSA, NEC or your local building code.
Questions about cables inside of walls should be referred to a qualified custom installer, a licensed
electrician, or low-voltage contractor.
18. RECORDING COPYRIGHT: Recording of copyrighted material for other than personal use is illegal
without permission of the copyright holder.
19. NOTE TO CATV SYSTEM INSTALLER: This reminder is provided to call the CATV system installer's
attention to article 820-40 of the NEC, ANSI/NFPA 70, which provides guidelines for proper grounding
and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the building
as close to the point of cable entry as practical.
20. FCC INFORMATION FOR USER:
•CAUTION: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by Cary
Audio Design could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
•NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with 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 a residential
installation. This equipment generates and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions it may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from where the receiver is
connected.
21. OUTDOOR ANTENNA INSTALLATION/SAFE ANTENNA AND CABLE CONNECTION:
•If an outside antenna or cable system is connected to the
equipment, be sure the antenna or cable system is grounded in
order to provide protection against built-up static charges and
voltage surges. Article 810 of the National Electrical Code,
ANSI/NFPA 70 (in Canada, Part 1 of the Canadian Electrical
Code) provides information regarding proper grounding of the
mast and supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an
antenna discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, location of
antenna discharge unit, connection to grounding electrodes and
requirements for the grounding electrode.
•outside antenna system should be located well away from power
lines, electric light or power circuits and where it will never come into contact with these power sources
if it should happen to fall. When installing an outside antenna, extreme care should be taken to avoid
touching power lines, circuits or other power sources as this could be fatal. Because of the hazards
involved, antenna installation should be left to a professional.
3

WELCOME
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Cary Audio Design would like to thank you for purchasing the new CD-500 player.
The CD-500 is the latest in a series of optical disc players that use a specially selected
Read Only Memory (ROM) drive for reading the disc. The ROM drive allows multiple
passes to be made, ensuring that the correct data is recovered from the disc and improves
the standard Compact Disc's error-correction capabilities by a factor of 100. It also allows
complete buffering of the recovered data.
To ensure the lowest possible jitter in the digital circuitry, the CD-500 incorporates three
buffers. Two of these buffers are configured as ‘First In First Out’ buffers (FIFO). By the
time the data is passed to the Digital to Analog Converters (DACs) or to the digital
output, the jitter is incredibly low - in fact the CD-500 has the lowest jitter we have ever
measured on a CD player - around 90 picoseconds, with the jitter spectrum held below
0.1 Hz.
The signal path includes proprietary design error correction and concealment, and Cary
Audio Design’s acclaimed 'Resolution Enhancement' DSP circuitry, in which the original
44.1 kHz, 16-bit audio is first expanded to 24 bits and then can be upsampled to 96, 192,
384, 512 and 768 kHz in one of three 190 Millions of Instructions Per Second (MIPS)
processors operating with 48-bit internal precision. This is 'true' DSP upsampling, unlike
anything else available in the marketplace.
The CD-500 incorporates HDCD decoding capabilities. It has 192kHz, 24 bit Burr Brown
1792u DAC chips in the critical digital to analog converter section. The CD-500 contains
audio grade Elna capacitors in the audio circuit for incredible bass, extremely musical
midrange, and extended highs.
Cary Audio Design firmly believes in high performance products that offer incredible
value for the money. With its leading edge technology, exceptional sound performance
and ease of use, the CD-500 offers exceptional performance in its class.
Thank you for your continued support.
1020 Goodworth Drive
Apex, NC 27539
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]
www.caryaudio.com
4

WELCOME
UNPACKING AND INSTALLATION
Unpacking
Your Cary Audio Design product was shipped in a carton particularly designed to protect
its contents, and special care has been taken to prevent damage during shipping.
Carefully remove your new component from its packing carton and examine it closely for
signs of shipping damage. If shipping damage is discovered, document the damage with
photographs, contact the transport carrier immediately, and retain the packing as
evidence.
We strongly recommend saving all original packing cartons to protect your component
for storage or future shipping.
Power Requirement
The CD-500 is designed to operate from AC mains current. The specified AC voltage is
either 110-120 volts or 220-240 volts AC at 50-60 Hz.
Connections
•Digital Outputs: These outputs send a digital signal and should be connected
only to the appropriate digital input of an accompanying component.
•Analog Outputs: These are for connection to the CD or AUX input jacks of an
accompanying preamplifier or amplifier.
Warranty Card
If you are the original purchaser of this unit and you purchased it in the United States, fill
out the enclosed warranty registration card and return it to Cary Audio Design within 15
days of your purchase. Warranty restrictions apply. Consult the warranty section of this
manual for details. Please keep a copy of the original sales receipt from your Authorized
Cary Audio Design dealer to validate the warranty if necessary.
5

SPECIFICATIONS
Operating the CD-500 is a simple procedure since each unit is designed for long-term
stability in virtually any home operating situation. However, if the unit is operated
outside the parameters outlined in this owner’s manual, damage may occur. Please read
this manual carefully before operating your new CD-500.
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
................................................................................................................................................
CD Mechanism Triple-beam laser, multi-speed CD/DVD ROM transport
................................................................................................................................................
Formats CD AUDIO (CD-DA), CD-R, CD-RW
................................................................................................................................................
Master Clock Jitter Below measurable levels
................................................................................................................................................
Digital Sample Rates (Fs) 44.1, 96, 192, 384, 512 or 768 kHz sample rates for CD
playback to the analog audio outputs
................................................................................................................................................
Digital Filter Software with HDCD decoding and 8x Over sampling
Digital Filter
................................................................................................................................................
Digital / Analog Converters 4-channel, Burr Brown PCM 1792U
................................................................................................................................................
Analog Filter 3rd Order Bessel
................................................................................................................................................
Analog Outputs Balanced XLR, Single–Ended RCA
................................................................................................................................................
Digital Outputs Coaxial, Toslink operating at Sample Frequency (Fs) from
44.1 kHz 16 bit to 192 kHz 24 bit
................................................................................................................................................
Communication RS232 full remote configuration interface
................................................................................................................................................
Trigger Input 12.0 V DC
................................................................................................................................................
IR Input PHILIPS RC 5 IR code
................................................................................................................................................
Power Input Configured at factory
for either 110-120 or 220-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz
................................................................................................................................................
Power Consumption 50 Watts
................................................................................................................................................
6

SPECIFICATIONS
AUDIO (CD)
................................................................................................................................................
Frequency Range 2 Hz - 22 kHz (44.1 kHz)
................................................................................................................................................
Amplitude Linearity 0.1 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
................................................................................................................................................
Phase Linearity 3 degrees (20 Hz - 20 kHz)
................................................................................................................................................
Dynamic Range 129 dB (1 kHz)
................................................................................................................................................
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 122 dB (1 kHz)
................................................................................................................................................
Channel Separation 104 dB (1 kHz)
................................................................................................................................................
Total Harmonic Distortion 0.003% (1 kHz)
................................................................................................................................................
Audio Output Level 3.0 V RMS (220 Ωoutput impedance)
................................................................................................................................................
Balanced Output Level 6.0 V RMS (440 Ωoutput impedance)
................................................................................................................................................
7

CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS
FRONT PANEL
1. POWER
Press once to turn the power on.
Press again to turn power off.
2. ANALOG OUTPUT SAMPLE RATE COVERTER
This switches the analog output sample-rate converter mode.
44.1 kHz ---> 96 kHz---> 192 kHz ---> 384 kHz ---> 512 kHz---> 768 kHz --->
3. DISC HOLDER
Load discs here.
4. DISC HOLDER OPEN/CLOSE
This opens and closes the disc holder.
5. PLAY
Press this button to start playback of the disc.
6. STOP
Press this button to stop playback.
7. AUTOMATIC SEARCH REVERSE
Press this button to return the pickup to the beginning of the current track.
Press again to return to previous tracks.
8. AUTOMATIC SEARCH FORWARD
Press this button to move the pickup forward to the beginning of the next track.
Press again to move ahead to other tracks.
8

CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS
9. HDCD INDICATOR
This indicator lights when the HDCD decoding function is ON.
This function decodes HDCD disks at the 44.1kHz setting ONLY. This is a
part of the HDCD algorithm.
10. ALPHANUMERIC DISPLAY
This multi-character display provides a wide range of information concerning the
operation of the CD-500.
11. ANALOG OUTPUT SAMPLE RATE CONVERTER INDICATOR
This indicator lights when the analog output sample rate converter function is on.
12. POWER INDICATOR
This indicator is illuminated when the player is attached to AC mains. After
pressing the power button, the light will go out and the alphanumeric display will
illuminate.
9

CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS
REAR PANEL
1. RIGHT CHANNEL ANALOG OUTPUT JACK (BALANCED)
Use this jack for connection to the amplifier/preamplifier balanced input jack.
2. RIGHT CHANNEL ANALOG OUTPUT JACK (RCA UNBALANCED)
Use this jack for connection to the amplifier/preamplifier RCA unbalanced input
jack.
3. LEFT CHANNEL ANALOG OUTPUT JACK (RCA UNBALANCED)
Use this jack for connection to the amplifier/preamplifier RCA unbalanced input
jack.
4. LEFT CHANNEL ANALOG OUTPUT JACK (BALANCED)
Use this jack for connection to the amplifier/preamplifier balanced input jack.
5. DIGITAL OUTPUT JACK (TOSLINK)
44.1 kHz -192 kHz digital data input to this jack.
6. DIGITAL OUTPUT JACK (COAXIAL)
44.1 kHz -192 kHz digital data input to this jack.
7. DC TRIGGER INPUT TERMINALS
Connect a device that can triggered by DC +12V.
8. IR INPUT JACK
Use this jack to connect external IR sensors.
10

CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS
9. POWER INPUT (AC IN)
Connect to AC mains using the included power supply cord.
10. RS 232 JACK
Use this jack for connection to computer control.
PIN ASSIGNMENT
The pin assignments of all of the XLR-type male analog outputs, the XLR-type male
digital output, and XLR-type female digital inputs are as follows:
Pin 1: Signal ground
Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting)
Pin 3: Signal - (inverting)
Connector ground lug: chassis ground
Refer to the owner's manual for the other components in your audio system to verify that
the XLR pin assignments of its input connectors correspond to the CD 500 Professional
Version. If they are different, wire the XLR cable so that the appropriate XLR output pin
connects to the equivalent XLR input pin.
Pin 1: Signal ground
Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting)
Pin 3: Signal - (inverting)
Connector ground lug: chassis ground
11

CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS
REMOTE CONTROL
1. POWER: Use to turn the power on and off.
2. PROGRAM: Preset tracks to be played by
keying in track numbers. When using
PROGRAM function, the player must be in
STOP mode.
3. NUMBER: Use the number buttons to select a
track. Playback starts from the selected track.
4. TIME: Displays the remaining time of a track or
it displays the total remaining time of a disc.
5. STOP: Use to stop play.
6. VOLUME: Volume decrease for analog
outputs.
7. PREVIOUS: Use to jump to the start of the
previous track.
8. BRIGHT: Use to select the player display
brightness level.
9. DELETE: Use to clear a program.
10. PAUSE: Use to pause and resume play.
11. FORWARD: Use to search for a passage.
12. PLAY: Use to start play.
13. REVERSE: Use to search for a passage.
12

CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS
14. MUTE: Use to mute and resume sound.
15. REPEAT: Use to repeat play. Press once for
single track, press a second time to repeat all
tracks, and press a third time to clear.
16. OPEN/CLOSE: Use to open and close the disc
holder.
17. VOLUME: Volume increase for analog outputs
18. NEXT: Use to select the next track during play.
19. SRC: Sample Rate Converter. Press to select
sample rate: 44.1 kHz, 96kHz, 192 kHz, 384
kHz, 512 kHz, 768 kHz.
13

PLAYBACK
STARTING PLAYBACK
1. Press the POWER button to turn the power on.
2. Press the OPEN/CLOSE button.
The disc holder opens.
3. Load the disc you want to play.
4. Press the PLAY button.
Playback starts then stops automatically after the last track on the disc has been
played.
STOPPING PLAYBACK
To stop playback, press the STOP button.
14

VARIOUS PLAYBACK FUNCTIONS (REMOTE CONTROL UNIT ONLY)
Playing a Specific Track [Direct Play]
1. Use the number buttons and “+ 10” button to select
the desired track. Playback starts from the selected
track.
Stopping Playback Temporarily [Pause]
1. During playback, press the PAUSE button on
the remote control unit.
2. To resume playback from the position at which
the disc is paused, press PLAY button.
15

Automatic Search
1. Press the NEXT button.
•Press the button more than once to move ahead
to the beginning of subsequent tracks.
•When the NEXT button is pressed during
random playback, the next track is selected at
random and played.
2. Press the PREV button.
•Press the button more than once to move back
to the beginning of previous tracks.
Finding the Desired Spot While Listening to the Sound
Use this function to skip forward or backward
while listening to the sound. This function comes
in handy for finding a particular spot in the
middle of long tracks.
1. During playback, press the button.
•Press the button again, normal playback
resumes from that point.
2. During playback, press the button.
•Press the button again, normal playback
resumes from that point.
16

Playing the Tracks in the Desired Order [Programmed Play]
Use this function to select the desired tracks on the
disc and play them in the desired order. Up to thirty-
five tracks can be programmed.
1. In the stop mode, press the PROGRAM button.
2. Press the number to select the track to be programmed.
•For example, to program the 3rd and 9th tracks to
play, press PROGRAM, 3, PROGRAM, 9.
3. Press the PLAY button.
•The tracks are played in the programmed order.
4. To clear program, press PROGRAM, DELETE
Repeat Play [Repeat Play]
This button is used to play all the tracks repeatedly using
this sequence:
1. In the PLAY mode, press the REPEAT button twice.
•The "RepAll" indicator becomes illuminated.
•To cancel the all-track repeat mode, press the
REPEAT button once more.
Also, this button is used to play a single track repeatedly
using this sequence:
1. During playback, press the REPEAT button once.
•The "Rep-1" indicator lights.
•To cancel the one-track repeat mode, press the
REPEAT button two times.
17

SERVICE AND CARE
CARE AND CLEANING
Unplug the unit from the wall outlet. Clean the cabinet housing and front panel of the
CD-500 with a soft cloth and a glass cleaner (such as Windex). Removing the cover
during cleaning is not advised. The frequency of cleaning will vary based on the
cleanliness of the environment and the number of hours the CD-500 is operated.
FACTORY SERVICE
Careful consideration has been given to the design of your CD-500 to keep maintenance
problems to a minimum. Any problems or requests for service should be referred to our
Customer Service Department at 919.355.0010. Do not return the CD-500 to the factory
without a return authorization number (RA) from the Customer Service Department.
Refer to the next section for details about returning equipment to Cary Audio Design.
Should the unit be lost or damaged in shipment, Cary Audio Design will assume no
responsibility if the shipping company refuses to pay for damage due to your improper
packing or lack of insurance. Please use the original shipping carton for shipping the
player.
NON-WARRANTY REPAIRS
Cary Audio Design will provide repair service for its products charging on a time and
expense basis. Please call Cary Audio Design at 919.355.0010 for more information
about out-of-warranty service and repair fees.
SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS
In the event that the owner needs to return the unit to Cary Audio Design for service or
repair of a possible defect, he must follow the following steps:
1. Contact Cary Audio Design at 919.355.0010 to obtain a Return Authorization
(RA) number prior to shipping; include this number with the package.
2. Submit a copy of the original sales receipt; blank receipts will not validate the
limited warranty for service by Cary Audio Design. The original sales receipt
must contain the following information:
•the authorized Cary Audio Design dealer’s name
•the date of purchase
•the unit’s sales price
•the buyer’s name and address
3. Describe in detail the problem.
4. Note the unit’s model number and serial number.
5. Ship or deliver:
•With all freight and insurance charges prepaid and in its original packing
container or equivalent, ship the component to:
•Cary Audio Design - 1020 Goodworth Drive, Apex, NC 27539
18