CH X1 User manual

X1 External Power Supply
User Manual

Dear Client,
We are honored that you have chosen the CH X1 External Power Supply to ta e your existing CH Precision setup to the next level.
Our team made every effort to design and manufacture this top quality product and is proud to present it to you. We hope your
X1-powered system will bring you countless hours of emotion from your musical collection.
Before you start your musical journey, we indly as you to pay attention to the information contained within this manual. The X1,
as you will discover in the following pages, is a Swiss precision product designed for ultimate performance. However, in order to
reach sonic excellence, your unit needs to be setup and operated correctly and this what this manual is all about. If you have any
questions or require assistance, please don't hesitate to contact your authorized dealer.
We hope you will enjoy your CH Precision system for many years.
The Concert has just begun...
Cossy F.
Heeb T.

Table of contents
1 Technical highlights............................................................................................................................................................. 6
1.1 Electrical characteristics............................................................................................................................................... 7
1.1.1 Mains filtering................................................................................................................................................... 7
1.1.2 Transformers..................................................................................................................................................... 7
1.1.3 Rectifying and filtering secondary windings......................................................................................................... 7
1.1.4 Discrete regulation............................................................................................................................................. 7
1.2 Mechanical construction.............................................................................................................................................. 8
2 Before use.......................................................................................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Pac age content......................................................................................................................................................... 9
2.2 Safety notice.............................................................................................................................................................. 9
2.3 User manual............................................................................................................................................................ 10
2.4 Mains supply............................................................................................................................................................ 10
2.5 Transport and pac aging........................................................................................................................................... 10
2.6 Cleaning.................................................................................................................................................................. 11
2.7 Maintenance and service........................................................................................................................................... 11
3 Installation....................................................................................................................................................................... 12
3.1 Unpac ing your unit................................................................................................................................................. 12
3.2 Positioning your unit................................................................................................................................................ 12
3.3 Connections.............................................................................................................................................................. 13
3.3.1 CONTROL board............................................................................................................................................... 14
3.3.1.1 USB port................................................................................................................................................. 15
3.3.1.2 Push-buttons........................................................................................................................................... 15
3.3.2 POWER SOURCE board..................................................................................................................................... 15
3.3.2.1 Power connector..................................................................................................................................... 15
3.3.3 Power cord receptacle and voltage selection...................................................................................................... 16
4 Operation......................................................................................................................................................................... 17
4.1 Front panel.............................................................................................................................................................. 17
4.2 Configuration........................................................................................................................................................... 18
5 Firmware update.............................................................................................................................................................. 19
5.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................. 19
5.2 Firmware update procedure...................................................................................................................................... 19
5.2.1 Preparing the firmware image.......................................................................................................................... 19
5.2.2 Updating the firmware..................................................................................................................................... 19
6 Troubleshooting................................................................................................................................................................ 21
7 Specifications.................................................................................................................................................................... 22
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1 Technical highlights
CH products are proudly designed and manufactured in Switzerland by CH Precision Sàrl. Our engineers have put all their now-
how and ingenuity to bring you the X1, a top performance, ultra low-noise, high current capable, DC-regulated external power
supply capable of powering up to two CH Precision units.
An X1 fitted with two regulation boards can be used to power two CH Precision devices simultaneously (such as a C1 controller, a
D1 disc transport, a L1 line preamplifier or a P1 phonostage), with the advantage of dedicated transformers for analog and digital
sections, and cascaded voltage regulation. However, for ultimate performance, the X1 can be dedicated to power a single CH
Precision unit.
X1 main components
(1) Mains switch and power cord receptacle (on bac panel)
(2) Adjustment shafts and screws
(3) High noise-rejection mains filter
(4) Digital power supply transformer
(5) Standby power transformer (ensures green mode Standby)
(6) PMOLED display (on front panel)
(7) Power supply output connectors (one or two per X1), must be connected to C1 and/or D1 and/or L1 and/or P1
(8) USB A-type receptacle for firmware update
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(1)
(2)
(6)
(2)
(2) (2)
(3)
(7)
(9)
(4)
(5)
(13)
(8)
(11)
(12)
(10)

(9) Power supply regulation boards (one or two per X1)
(10) Motherboard
(11) Filtering board
(12) Rectifiers
(13) Analog power supply transformer
1.1 Electrical characteristics
The X1 is a high grade linear power supply delivering the analog and digital DC power supplies required by a C1, D1, L1 and a P1
on high current capable M23 19-poles connector(s). Input AC voltage can be set to 100V, 115V or 230V AC to accommodate local
mains supply.
1.1.1 ains filtering
The X1 transformer primary windings are individually filtered by massive RLC balanced networ s. Both common mode and
differential harmonics and bac ground noise get heavily attenuated. The critical analog power supplies are therefore isolated from
the noisy digital power supplies, leading to unprecedented micro-dynamics and signal-to-noise ratio.
1.1.2 Transformers
X1 houses no less than 3 magnetically shielded toroidal transformers, with static shields between primaries and secondaries:
•An overspecified transformer is dedicated to analog power supplies, holding multiple sets of secondary windings (one of
them being exclusively used generate the purest Mastercloc signal)
•The second overspecified transformer is dedicated to digital power supplies, capable of delivering high current pea s
required by high performance DSPs and FPGAs, without radiating noise
•A tiny transformer is used as standby transformer to ensure green standby mode, meeting the latest energy saving
regulations
All three transformers are mounted on a separate steel plate which is isolated from the main aluminium base plate through silent
bloc s.
1.1.3 Rectifying and filtering secondary windings
A large array of low ESR capacitors follows fast switching rectifier bridges on all secondary windings. This creates a proper energy
reservoir responding extremely fast to high current demands, ensuring the transformers wor under minimal stress condition,
leading to less radiated noise and excellent component preservation over time.
1.1.4 Discrete regulation
Discrete (power-transistor and op-amp based) ultra low noise regulators are used throughout the regulation stages of the X1 and
special care has been paid to the Mastercloc power supply, which is completely decoupled from all other power supplies. This
ensures an ultra-low jitter cloc source for the whole system.
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When the X1 external power supply is connected to a CH Precision device, the latter's internal power supply is turned off (only the
standby transformer remains active, requiring its mains lead to remain plugged in). Turning the internal power supply off ensures
that no power supply induced noise or radiations are generated inside that unit, thus permitting optimal operating conditions for
the circuitry.
Moreover, all DC-regulated voltages delivered by the X1 get regulated once more inside the CH Precision unit it powers, leading to
vanishingly low noise floor.
1.2 echanical construction
The X1 external power supply is assembled from high-quality aluminium and steel elements with no visible screws on the front, top
and side panels. The front panel, base, side panels and top cover are machined from aluminium. The mains filtering section is
isolated from the rest of the machine in a dedicated compartment to avoid any contamination of unclean power distribution grid to
the secondary windings of the transformers by radiated noise. Pin assembly of all chassis elements provides smooth joints between
elements while screws every 6cm ensures protection against electromagnetic interferences. First class mechanical and chemical
surface treatments provide the luxury finish of the X1.
Four steel feet support the unit. Each feet ends with a elastomer ring to sit on delicate surfaces but is also equipped with a height
adjustable steel spi e to fine tune unit positioning. Horizontal adjustment is done with the provided screwdriver through the four
adjustment shafts accessible from the top of the unit. In addition to providing convenient horizontal adjustment from the top of the
unit, the shafts also serve as vibration evacuation channels for any stac ed unit. Special shaft covers are provided to interface with
the spi es of the stac ed unit. Any vibration from the upper unit is transmitted by the shaft cover to the shaft and from the shaft to
the lower unit feet or spi e, forming a privileged path for vibrations evacuation.
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2 Before use
Please read this manual carefully before ma ing connections or operating your X1. After reading this manual, please store it in an
accessible place for future reference. If after reading this manual you feel unsure about how to ma e connections or how to
operate the unit, please contact your authorized dealer for assistance.
2.1 Package content
Ma e sure that the pac age content is complete. If not, please contact your authorized dealer. Your pac age should contain:
•The X1 external power supply unit
•One or two Power Lin Cables (configuration-dependent)
•A power cord
•Four adjustment steel spi es
•A suction cup (used to unscrew the top covers)
•An accessory box containing:
◦a spi e adjustment screwdriver
◦a Torx 10 screwdriver
◦four stac ing covers
◦a USB stic containing the latest CH Precision firmwares.
◦four CH Support Discs
Please store the pac aging for future transportation. Chec your X1 external power supply for apparent damages. In case of
damage, please contact your authorized dealer. If your X1 is still very cold following transport, please let it warm up to room
temperature before powering it up (in order to avoid condensation inside the unit).
2.2 Safety notice
Ma e sure to observe the following rules:
•Install your X1 external power supply unit on a stable base
•Do not install your X1 near water
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•Always handle with care. The X1 is quite heavy, so as someone to help you handle it
•Do not expose the unit to any ind of liquid
•Do not install in direct sunlight or near any heat source such as radiators or other apparatus generating heat
•Do not install in a confined space and allow sufficient airflow around the unit
•Do not operate under high ambient temperature (>40°C) or with extremely high humidity such as in humid cellars
•Only use options and accessories specified or recommended by the manufacturer
•Only connect CH Precision compatible devices (such as C1, D1, L1 or P1)
•Do not open the unit nor try to service it. Do not install any option board yourself. Always refer to a qualified technician
for service, maintenance or hardware upgrades. Failure to do so will void the unit's warranty
2.3 User manual
Please read this manual carefully before ma ing connections or operating your X1 external power supply. Keep this manual at
hand for future reference. If after reading this manual you feel unsure of how to ma e connections or how to operate the unit,
please contact your local authorized dealer.
2.4 ains supply
Ma e sure to use 3 terminals (phase, neutral and earth) power cords. Ma e sure that the mains voltage selection at the bac of
the unit matches your local mains voltage.
Always disconnect your X1 external power supply from the AC wall soc et in the following cases:
•When ma ing connections (it is also recommended to disconnect the rest of the system from AC wall power)
•When cleaning the unit
•During thunderstorms
•When unused for a long period of time
Ma e sure your X1 external power supply is disconnected from other CH Precision devices when running a self-test.
2.5 Transport and packaging
The X1 external power supply must always be stored in its original pac aging for transportation. Doing so will ensure optimal level
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