Dan D'Agostino MLife User manual

MLife integrated amplifier
Owner’smanual

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page2
Legalnotifications
DanD’AgostinoMasterAudioSystemsisaregisteredtrademarkofD’AgostinoLLC.
Theinformationinthisowner’smanualissubjecttochangewithoutnotice.Current
Version1.0ofthismanualwasproducedbytheDanD’AgostinoLLCengineering,sales
andmarketingdepartments.
TheinformationinthismanualisthesolepropertyofD’AgostinoLLC.Anyreproduction
inwholeorpartwithouttheexpressedwrittenpermissionofD’AgostinoLLCis
prohibited.Nomaterialhereinmaybetransmittedinanywayincludingeitherelectronic
ormechanicalmethodsforanypurposewithoutexpressedwrittenpermissionof
D’AgostinoLLC.
CAUTION:NOUSERSERVICEABLEPARTSINSIDE.Donotopentheamplifier’s
chassisorremoveanyofitsscrews.ContactD’AgostinoLLCoryourdealerifyouhave
serviceneeds.
WARNING:Donotexposethisamplifiertomoistureorexcessivehumidity,anddonot
useitoutdoors.Firehazardmayresult.
Thelightningflashwitharrowhead,withinanequilateraltriangle,is
intendedtoalerttheusertothepresenceofuninsulated“dangerous
voltage”withintheproduct’senclosurethatmaybeofsufficientmagnitude
toconstituteariskofelectricalshocktopersons.

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page3
The
exclamation
pointwithin
an
equilateral
triangleis
intendedto
alertthe
usertothe
presenceof
important
operating
maintenanc
e
(servicing)
instructions
inthe
literature
accompanyi
ngthe
appliance.
MLifelimitedwarranty
D’AgostinoLLCwarrantstheMLifeagainstmanufacturingdefectsanddefectsin
materialsforfiveyearsfromthedateofpurchasefromanauthorizedDanD’Agostino
MasterAudioSystemsdealer,subjecttotheconditionslistedbelow:
1)ThewarrantycoversonlynewproductspurchasedfromanauthorizedD’Agostino
LLCdealer.
2)Thewarrantyisnontransferableandisvalidonlyfortheoriginalpurchaser.
3)Thewarrantyisvalidonlyiftheproducthasbeenusedaccordingtotheinstructions
intheowner'smanual.Damageduetoaccidentsorownerabuseorneglectisnot
coveredunderthiswarranty.
4)AllservicemustbeperformedbyanauthorizedDanD’AgostinoMasterAudio
Systemsdealer.Damageresultingfromservicebyotherpartiesisnotcoveredunder
thiswarranty.
5)Allproductsreturnedforservicemustbepackagedintheoriginalcontainerandmust
includeaphotocopyoftheoriginalpurchasereceipt.Iftheoriginalcontainerhasbeen
lostordiscarded,contactD’AgostinoLLCforareplacement.

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page4
6)IftheproductmustbeshippedbacktoD’AgostinoLLCforwarrantyservice,the
customershallpayshippingcosts.D’AgostinoLLCwillpayforreturnshipping.
7)BeforeshippingtheproducttoD’AgostinoLLCforservice,thecustomermustfirst
obtainaReturnAuthorization(RA)numberbycallingD’AgostinoLLC.TheRAnumber
mustbemarkedclearlyonthesideofthepackage.
8)ThiswarrantycoversonlydefectsinproductsmadebyD’AgostinoLLC.Itdoesnot
coverincidentalorconsequentialdamages,ordamagestootherproductsresultingfrom
defectsinD’AgostinoLLCproducts.
9)U.S.residents:Dependingonwhichstateyoulivein,youmayhaveotherrightsnot
elaboratedinthisdocument.Forfurtherinformation,contactD’AgostinoLLC.
10)Residentsofothercountries:Yourauthorizedimporterordealerbearsthedirect
responsibilityforwarrantycoverageofyouramplifier.Pleasecontactyourimporteror
dealerwithrequestsforserviceunderwarranty.D’AgostinoLLCwillworkwithyour
importerordealertoassurethatthetermsofthewarrantyarefulfilled.
Forquestionsonwarrantyandservicematters,contactD’AgostinoLLCat:
+1.480.5753069or+1.2036448743,oremail[email protected].

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page5
AnotefromDanD’Agostino
Founder,CEO,andChiefDesignerofDanD’AgostinoMasterAudioSystems
ThankyouverymuchforpurchasingtheMomentumMLife.I’mespeciallyexcitedabout
thiscomponent,becauseitfulfillsadreamI’vehadforthelastdecade:tocombinethe
uncompromisedsoundqualityIdemandwiththeincredibleconvenienceandunlimited
listeningoptionsprovidedbynetworking,theInternetandsmartphones.
TheMLifeispureMomentum,rightdowntothecoreanalogpreampandpoweramp
circuits,whichareessentiallythesameastheonesintheMomentumintegrated
amplifier.Ithasthesamemusicality—andthesameeffortlesspower—thatallmy
amplifiersareknownfor.Withthisamp,youcantrulyachievethemaximum
performanceyourspeakersarecapableof,nomatterwhatspeakersyouuse.
IhavetoadmitI’vealwayslovedtheconveniencethatmassmarketwirelessaudio
productsoffer.Ihaven’tbeensatisfiedwiththeirsound,butIknewitwaspossibletodo
better.TheMLifeisproof.Forthefirsttime,Momentumqualityaudiocircuitryandbuild
qualityarecombinedwiththefeaturesfoundinthebestwirelessaudioproducts.
Thelisteningoptionsareendless.Youcanlistentofullquality,losslessaudiostreamed
throughAirPlayorfromUSBdrivesandsticks.YoucanstreamInternetservicessuch
asRhapsody,SiriusXMandTuneInRadio.Youcanevenstreamfromyourphoneor
tabletviaBluetooth.Andofcourse,youstillhavefiveanalogaudioinputs—feedinga
pureanalog,fullybalancedsignalpath—togetthebestsoundyou’veeverheardfrom
yourturntable,musicserver,orthefrontleftandrightchannelsofyourhometheater.
TheanalogcircuitsintheMLifeusethroughholeconstruction,inwhichthecontactlegs
ofthecomponentsgoallthewaythroughthecircuitboardandaresolderedfrom
underneath.Thistechniquewasthenormdecadesago,butitwasmostlyabandoned
whenlessexpensivesurfacemountconstructionwasinvented.
WeassembletheMLifebyhandinourArizonafactory,literallyabout20feetfrommy
desk.Theunityou’vepurchasedhasbeenfullytestedtoensureitworksperfectlyand
achievestheperformanceIdemand.IhopeyouenjoyusingtheMLifetofindgreatnew
music—andtoenjoyyouroldfavoritesmorethaneverbefore!
Sincerely,

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page6
Packagecontents
Ifanyofthefollowingitemsaremissing,pleasecontactyourdealer:
1MLifeencasedinprotectivestaticclingvinyl
1owner’smanual
1pairofwhiteliftinggloves
1microfibercleaningcloth
1ACpowercord
1DCcable(powersupplytomainunit)
1Ethernetcable
1WiFirouter
1AppleiPodtouchpreloadedwithMomentumapp
UnpackingtheMLifefromthePelicancase
Whiletheintegratedamplifierisstillinitscase,pleasemoveittoalocationnearthe
placewhereitwillbeinstalled.Removealljewelryincludingwatches,ringsandbelts
fromyourpersontoavoiddamagetotheexterioroftheintegratedamplifierduringthe
removalandinstallation.WerecommendthattwopeoplelifttheMLife.Becauseitis
machinedfromsolidaluminum,itismuchheavierthanitlooks.
ThefinishoftheMLifeisextremelydelicate.Toitspristinesurface,westronglysuggest
wearingthesuppliedwhiteliftinggloveswhenhandlingtoavoidabrasion,fingerprints
causedbyoilsfromskin,etc.SeeOperation:Maintenanceforinstructionsoncleaning.
Installationrequirements
Thisamplifier’sdensemetalchassismakesitmuchheavierthanmostotherintegrated
amps,somakesurethesurfacethatwillsupportthiscomponentcansafelyholdits
weight.
Adequateventilationmustbeprovidedfortheamplifier.Thereshouldbeatleast3
inchesofclearanceoneachsideand3inchesofclearanceatthetop.Thebottomvents
mustnotbeobstructedbythickcarpet,dust,etc.Werecommendthattheintegrated
ampbeinstalledinanopenequipmentracktoassureproperventilation.Theampmay
beinstalledinaclosedcabinetorinanequipmentcloset,butthecabinetorclosetmust
bedesignedwithsubstantialventilationattopandbottom;activeventilation(i.e.,
poweredfans)ispreferred.Donotplacetheintegratedampdirectlyonacarpetedfloor.
DonotplugtheMLifeoranyotherDanD’AgostinoMasterAudioSystemsproductintoa
powerstriporpowerconditioner.

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page7
TheMLifeisdesignedwithspecialconefeetthatscrewintothebottomofthemain
chassisandmatchupwithindentationsonthetopofthepowersupply.Thebottomof
thepowersupplyhassoftfeetdesignedtoisolatethemainchassisassemblyfrom
vibration.(Thesefeetwillnotstainormarthesurfaceunderneaththem.)
Toattachtheconefeet,firstremovethevinylwrapthatcoverstheamplifierandprotect
thefinish.(Savethevinylwrapintheboxtouseagainifyoueverneedtoshipthe
amplifier.)Usetwopeopletoturntheintegratedamplifierchassisupsidedownand
placeitonasoftbutsecuresurface—afewtowelsdrapedoverasturdytable,for
example—andplacethevinylwrapatopthetowelsforextraprotection.Screwthefeet
allthewayintothethreadedholesonthebottomofthechassis.Nowplacethepower
supplyintheplacewhereyouwanttoinstalltheMLife.Usetwopeopletoturnthe
integratedampbackoveragain.Placeitcarefullyatopthepowersupplychassis,lining
upthepointsoftheconefeetwiththeindentationsonthetopofthepowersupply.
Ifyouneedtoreturntheamplifierforservice
IfyoushouldneedtosendtheMLifebacktousforservice,besuretousetheoriginal
boxandmaterialsforshipment.
Beforeyoushiptheamplifier,unplugitfromthewallandletitcooldownfor6hours.To
protectthefinishduringshipping,rewraptheamplifierinthevinylcoveringitcamein.
Makesuretheampiscompletelycoolandhasnotbeenpluggedinfor6hoursbefore
youdothis.Wrappingtheamplifierwhenitiswarmwillcausethevinyltoleechintothe
amplifier’ssurfaceandwillpermanentlydamagethefinish.

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page8
Frontpanel
1.Sourceselectorbuttons
2.Volumesettingindicator
3.Volumecontrolknob
4.LCDscreen
5.Bluetoothantenna
6.Standby/PowerOnbutton
7.Headphonebutton

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page9
Rearpanel
1.AmplifierDCinput(frompowersupply)
2.Rightchannelspeakeroutput
3.Toslinkopticaldigitalaudioinput
4.USBdigitalaudioinput
5.XLRanalogaudioinputjacks
6.Leftchannelspeakeroutput
7.Headphonejack
8.RJ45Ethernetjack
9.PowersupplyDCoutput(toamplifier)
10.IECpowercordconnectorandfuseholder
11.RS232controlinput
12.3.5mmIRcontrolinput

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page10
TypicalMLifeconfiguration
ThisdrawingshowsatypicalMLifeinstallation,usingthewirelessrouterincludedwith
theMLife.Anexistingwirelessroutermaybeusedinsteadofthesuppliedrouter.For
bestperformance,connectalldigitalfilesources(NASdrive,computer,etc.)tothe
samerouterthattheMLifeisconnectedto.Wiredconnectionsarepreferred,especially
ifyouarestreaminghighresolutionaudiofilesfromanetworkedsourcetotheMLife.
Specificrequirementsandsuggestionsforeachoftheaboveconnectionsarediscussed
onthefollowingpages.

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page11
MakingconnectionstotheMLife
Speakercables
Installthespeakercablesfirst.Werecommendtheuseofhighqualitycablesterminatedwith
spadeorringlugsthatwillfittheMomentum’sbindingposts.Weadviseagainsttheuseofpin
connectors,bananaplugsorbarewireconnections.Notethatthepositive(+)bindingposthas
aredringandthenegative()bindingposthasablackring.Doublechecktoconfirmthatyou
areconnectingyourspeakercable’sconductorstotheappropriatebindingposts—redto
positive,blacktonegative.Ifyourcablesaremarkedtoshowdesiredsignalflow,orientthe
cablesothattheinstallationconformstothecablemanufacturer’sinstructions.
Toinstallspeakercablestippedwithspadelugsorrings,useabindingpostwrenchto
carefullylooseneachspeakerbindingpost.Turncounterclockwisetoloosen.Ifusingspade
lugs,inserteachspadelugsothatitstwotinesstraddlethebindingpost,thentightenthe
bindingpostnutwiththebindingpostwrench.Ifusingrings,removethebindingpostnut
entirely,placetheringonthebindingpost,thenreplacethenutandtightenitsecurely.Afirm
connection,tightenoughthatthespadelugorringcannotmove,isallthat’sneeded.Too
muchtorquecoulddamagethebindingposts.Donotuseaconventionalwrenchtotightenthe
bindingposts.
Analoginterconnectcables
WerecommendtheuseofhighqualitybalancedXLRaudiointerconnectcableswith
theMLife.IfyouhaveasourcedevicethatdoesnotofferXLRconnections,please
contactyourD’AgostinoMasterAudioSystemsdealertoacquiretheproperadapters.
Firstconnectthesourcedevices(phono,server,etc.)totheappropriateinputs.Connect
eachXLRcable(orXLRtoRCAadapter)totheappropriateXLRjackbypushingthe
plugintothejack.Toreleasetheplug,pushonthesmalltabatopthejackandgently
detachtheplug.Nevergraspinterconnectcablesbythecableitself—youcoulddamage
thecable.Besuretoconnectleftchanneltoleftinput,rightchanneltorightinput.
NotethattheMLifedoesnotincorporateaphonostage;youwillhavetoaddan
externalphonostageinordertousetheMLifewithaturntable.Werecommendusing
theDanD’AgostinoMasterAudioSystemsMomentumphonostage.
DigitalaudioandEthernetcables
TheMLifehasaninputforaToslinkopticaldigitalaudiocable,aUSBcableandan
Ethernetcable.TheToslinkandUSBcablesarefrictionfit—justpushtheminandpull
themout.Besuretograspthecablebytheconnectorandnotbythecableitself,
otherwiseyoucoulddamagethecable.
TheEthernetcablepushesintotheconnectorontheMLifeandlocks.Toremovethe
cable,pressthetabontheundersideoftheconnectorandgentlypullthecableout.

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page12
DCcableforpowersupply
TheMLifeissuppliedwithaspecialmulticonductorDCcablethatinterfacesthepower
supplywiththemainchassis.Toconnectthecable,simplyaligntheconnectorinthe
jackonthebackpanelandpushitintoplace.BesuretohookuptheDCcablebefore
youconnectthepowersupplytotheACoutlet,anddisconnecttheACbeforeyou
removetheDCcable.
ACcord
ThepowersupplyissuppliedwithahighqualityACcordtippedwitha15ampIEC
connectorattheMLifeendandathreeconductorACplugattheotherend.Youmay
useadifferentpowercordwiththeMomentumifyouwish,aslongasitistippedwitha
15ampIECconnectorandathreeconductorACplug.Afterthespeaker,interconnect
cables,andpowersupplyconnectorcableareconnected,pushtheIECconnectoron
thepowercordintotheIECjackontheMLife.DonotplugtheMLifeoranyotherDan
D’AgostinoMasterAudioSystemsproductintoapowerstriporpowerconditioner.
Headphonejack
This1/4inchjackallowsconnectionofheadphonestotheMLife.Headphoneswitha
1/8inchplugmaybeconnectedusinga1/8inchto1/4inchadapter.Toactivatethis
output,presstheHeadphonebuttononthefrontpanelortheMLifeapp.Thiswillmute
thespeakers.Torestoresoundtothespeakers,presstheHeadphonebuttonagain.
IRcontrolinput
ThisisanIC5type3.5mminputforaremotecontrolsignal.Itcanbeusedwiththird
partyautomationandIRrepeatersystems.
Toactivatethisinput,pluginthecablefromthethirdpartysystem.Nowplugthepower
cordbackintothepowersupplyandpushtheStandbybuttononfrontoftheMLife.The
unitwillnowreceivecommandsfromthehomeautomationsystem.
RS232input
ThisDB9typeinputallowstheMLifetobecontrolledbyhomeautomationsystemsthat
useRS232.ConsultyourD’Agostinodealerformoreinformation.

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page13
Basicsetupforappbasedcontrol
WhileyoucanusetheMLifeonitsown,withouta
portabledevicetocontrolit,youcangetmuchmore
functionalityoutofitifyoucontrolitfromtheincluded
iPodtouch,orfromaportabledevicesuchasaniOS
orAndroidsmartphoneortablet.Ifyouwishtousea
differentdevicefromtheiPodtouch,downloadthe
freeappfromthePlayStoreonAndroiddevicesor
theAppleStoreoniOSdevices.Simplyclickonthe
PlayStoreorAppleStoreanddownloadtheappas
youwouldanyother.
Oncetheappisinstalled,youcanlaunchitfromthe
phoneortabletbytappingontheDanD’Agostino
icon.Werecommendyoukeepthisicononyour
phone’shomescreenforeasyaccess.
Connectingtherouter
AWiFirouterisincludedwiththeMLife.Usingthisrouteristheeasiestwaytosetup
theunit.ItwillgiveyoubasiccontrolthroughtheMomentumapp,andifyouconnectit
toanInternetmodem,itwillallowtheMLifetostreamdirectlyfromtheInternet.You
mayalsouseyourexistingrouterifyouwish.IfawiredconnectionfromtheMLifetothe
routerisnotpossible,youcanpurchaseaWiFiaccesspointtoconnecteitherdirectlyto
theMLifeortothesuppliedrouter.
SimplyconnecttheincludedEthernetcablefromtheRJ45Ethernetjackonthebackof
theMLifetooneoftheoutputsoftherouter(ortheaccesspointifyouareusingone).
NowontheiPodtouch(oranotherportabledevice),selectSettings,thenWiFi.Flickthe

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page14
onscreenWiFiswitchtotheOnposition.Alistofnetworkswillcomeup.Selectthe
routerconnectedtotheMLife.TheapponthedeviceshouldnowcontroltheMLife.

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page15
MatingwithBluetooth
TheMLife’sbuiltinBluetoothreceiverletsyoustream
musicdirectlyfromanysmartphone,tabletorBluetooth
equippedcomputer.Tomateyourportabledevicewiththe
MLife,selectStreamfromtheMomentumapp,thenselect
BluetoothfromtheStreammenuscreen.
Bluetoothmatingprocessesvarywithdifferentportable
devices.Ingeneral,youshouldgototheSettingsscreen
onyourportabledevice,selectBluetooth,andscanfor
availabledevices.Youshouldsee“MomentumMLife”
appearasoneofthedevices.Selectitandthetwodevices
willpair.Afterpairingonce,mostportabledeviceswill
automaticallypairwiththeMLifeifitsBluetoothinputis
selected.Withsome,youmayneedtogobackintothe
Settingsmenuonthedevicetopairitagain.
SettingupwithAirPlay
AppleAirPlayallowstheMLifetostreamfromany
computer(MacorWindows)runningiTunes,orfromany
iOSdevice,suchastheincludediPodtouchoraniPhone
oriPad.Thesedevicesmustbeconnectedtothesame
networkastheMLife.
ToconnectviaAirPlay,presstheStreambuttonintheapp,
thenpresstheSettingsbutton,thenpressAirPlaymenu
item.Ifyouareusingyourhomenetworkanditis
passwordprotected,you
willbepromptedtoenter
thepassword.
OncetheMLifeis
connected,youwillsee
theAirPlaylogoappear
inthebottomcornerof
theplaybackscreenon

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page16
theiPodtouchorotheriOSdevice,orinyouriTunes
playbackmenu.PresstheAirPlayiconandselect
“MomentumMLife”toconnecttheMLivethroughAirPlay.

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page17
OperatingtheMLifethroughtheapp
TheMLifeappallowscontrolofallofthebasicandadvancedfunctionsoftheunit.
Powerscreen
WhenyouentertheMomentumapp,iftheMLifeisnot
turnedonalreadyyouwillseethePowerscreen.Topower
uptheMLife,simplypressthebuttononthePowerscreen.
YouwillthenseetheSourcescreen.
Sourcescreen
TheSourcescreenletsyouaccessthemostfrequently
usedcontrolsontheMLife.
Sourceselection:Pressoneofthesixbuttons(Server,
DAC,Theater,Stream,PhonoorDock)toselectthese
sources.TheStreambuttonaccessesmanynetworkbased
andwirelesssources,suchasAirPlayandBluetooth.
Mute:Flicktheonscreenswitchinthemiddleoftheright
sideofthescreentothelefttomutetheaudiofromthe
MLife.Torestoretheaudio,flicktheswitchtotheright.The
Mutefunctiondoesnotworkwhenusingheadphones.
Volume:ToadjusttheMLife’svolume,touchthering
aroundtheonscreenmeter.Nowmoveyourfinger
clockwisearoundthemetertoraisethevolume,or
counterclockwisetolowerthevolume.

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page18
Standby:ThisbuttonturnsthepowerfortheMLifemainchassisoffandon.
Headphones:Pressthistoactivatetheheadphoneoutputandmutethespeakers.
Streamscreen
TheStreamscreenaccessesthevariousInternetbased
andwirelesssourcesthattheMLifecanaccess.
Airplay:ThisbuttonactivatestheMLife’sAirPlay
connection.TouseAirPlay,youwillneedaniOSdevice
(suchastheincludediPodtouch),aMaccomputer,ora
WindowscomputerwithiTunesinstalled.Seethe“Setting
upwithAirPlay”sectionearlierinthismanual.
Bluetooth:Anysmartphone,tabletorBluetoothcapable
computercanconnectwirelesslytotheMLife.For
instructionsonhowtoconnectyourdevicethrough
Bluetooth,seethe“MatingwithBluetooth”sectionearlierin
thismanual.
MediaServer:Thisbuttonallowsyoutoconnectnetworked
computersandharddrivesthroughDLNA.Formore
information,pleasecontactyourdealer.
USB:ThisbuttonletsyouaccessaudiofilesstoredonaUSBstickordriveconnectedto
theMLife’srearUSBjack.Pressingthebuttonwillbringupamenuintheappthat

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page19
showsthemusicstoredontheUSBdevice,ifthedeviceisconnected.Itmaytakeafew
momentsfortheMLifetoscanthroughallthemusicontheUSBdevice,dependingon
howmuchmusicisstoredonthedevice.
OpticalIn:PressthistousetheToslinkopticaldigitalinputonthebackoftheMLife.
RecentlyPlayed:Thisbuttonbringsyoubacktothemostrecentlyplayedstreaming
source.
Settings:Thisbuttonaccessesnetworkingconfigurationandotheradvanced
adjustmentssuchasfirmwareupgrade,language,factoryreset,etc.

D’AgostinoMLifemanual/page20
OtherSettingsscreen
TheOtherSettingsscreenletsyouaccesslessfrequently
neededcontrols.
Phase:PresstheNormalorInvertedbuttontoflipthe
system’sabsolutephase.There’sno“right”setting;itvaries
fromrecordingtorecording.Justusewhicheversounds
bestontherecordingyou’relisteningtoatthemoment.
Gain:TheIncreasedbuttonboostsgainby6dB.Usethisif
yoursourcedevicesignallevelislow(thishappensoften
withphonopreamps)orifthedigitalstreamyou’replaying
requiresyoutoturntheMLife’svolumeuptoorcloseto
full.UsetheNormalbuttontogobacktodefaultgain.
DarkMode:ThesebuttonsturntheMLife’sfrontLCD
screenandthebacklightforthefrontmeteronandoff,for
listenerswhopreferadarkenvironment.

Balance:ToadjusttheMLife’slefttorightchannelbalance,touchtheringaroundthe
onscreenmeter.Nowmoveyourfingerclockwisearoundthemetertoshiftthebalance
totheright,orcounterclockwisetoshiftthebalancetotheleft.Theonscreenneedleon
themeterwillshowyouthebalancesetting.
