Exogal Ion Power DAC User manual

EXOGAL 4657 Aspen Ridge Circle, Eagan, MN 55122 www.exogal.com
Ion Power DAC
User Guide

Ion Power DAC
User Guide
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Thank You
All of us at EXOGAL would like to say thank you, and congratulations for purchasing the EXOGAL Ion
Power DAC. We sincerely believe that your Ion is an amazing add-on to your Comet that will bring you
many years of musical enjoyment and satisfaction.
The EXOGAL ion PowerDAC is a companion to the EXOGAL Comet and is not designed as a general
purpose amplifier or an amplifier to be paired with any non-EXOGAL product.
The EXOGAL Ion PowerDAC is not a traditional Class D Digital Amplifier. It is a first of its kind
amplification product that modulates power directly as opposed to “pushing” power through an
amplifier circuit. We think that you will find the Ion PowerDAC to be the “fastest” amplifier on the
market which will reveal transient passages and details in your music that you’ve never heard before.
Because it’s new and different, and we know that every new owner is anxious to begin listening, we
encourage you to take a few minutes to read this manual and familiarize yourself with the full
capabilities of the EXOGAL Ion.

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Installation and Set-up
The EXOGAL Ion is a power accessory unique in the world of high-end audio. Make sure
you read this section! It contains important information that you need to know before
you incorporate the Ion into your system!
Unpacking
Use care in unpacking your EXOGAL Ion. Inspect it for any shipping damage and call your dealer
immediately if any is found.
Speaker Connections
Use only high-quality speaker cables and take great care not to short the Plus (+) and Minus (-)
inputs while the unit is powered on. The EXOGAL Ion’s binding posts will accept bare wires up to 12
gauge with 12mm (1/2”) of stripped insulation, standard banana jacks, or spade lugs of size X.
Speaker Relationship to Ground
The EXOGAL Ion PowerDAC speaker outputs are similar to the outputs of traditional amplifiers
when used in a "bridged" mode. When used with speakers (as intended) connect the Red (+) of the
speaker to the Red (+) of the Ion (and vice versa with the Black (-)).
WARNING: If you connect test or measurement equipment to your Ion you must ensure that
the Ground leads of your equipment are isolated from AC or Earth Ground. Failure to observe this
precaution has the potential to damage the Ion's output section and will void your warranty.
Do not, under any circumstances, connect the Ion PowerDAC's Red(+) or Black(+) speaker output to the
AC or Earth ground of your system. The speaker outputs are designed to "float" and grounding either
side may damage the output circuitry.
Before Connecting AC Power
Do not plug your EXOGAL Ion PowerDAC into an AC outlet if you find shipping damage!
In the Box
Provided with the EXOGAL Ion PowerDAC:
Ion PowerDAC Unit
AC power adapter
IEC Power cord for the country in which the Ion PowerDAC is purchased
We advise saving all packing materials so that the unit can be easily and safely shipped if the need
arises.
Do not tip the unit onto the back panel. This can damage to the input and/or output connectors.

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Speaker Cables
While we realize that audio hobbyists love to experiment with various types of speaker wires, we highly
recommend against using cables that are essentially “Magnet Wire”-based construction. These are 12-
18 AWG copper cables with a lacquer coating. They look like this:
We recommend against these types of cables for two reasons. First, the lacquer coating is by its very
nature very fragile. If this coating fractures and flakes off, you have the risk of a short circuit. While the
Ion PowerDAC like virtually all other amplifiers on the market today, employs a protection mechanism
against short circuits, these interruptions are annoying and the protection circuits can weaken over time
making amplifiers and PowerDACs more sensitive to going into protection under low impedance
conditions. Secondly, these types of cables are prone to having extremely high capacitance which can
cause stress on the output devices. This stress will show up in the form of the amplifier or PowerDAC
running hotter than normal which could shorten the life of your amplifier or your Ion PowerDAC.

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Subwoofers
You can easily use a subwoofer with your Ion but we don’t recommend you use the High-Level Input
connections on your subwoofer.
The High-Level Inputs are not designed to work with the outputs of a PowerDAC and while you won’t
likely damage anything, you may be unsatisfied with the sound quality. Instead, we recommend that you
use the line level inputs on your subwoofer and connect them to the RCA Analog Outputs on the Comet
–when the Ion is your amplification device, the Comet will also output the full audio range to the RCA
Analog Output for the express purpose of using a subwoofer. Also, set your phase selector to 0°. Adjust
the subwoofer’s Crossover and Gain (or Volume) knobs to match your particular system.
Connecting to AC Power
The best performance is obtained when the EXOGAL Ion is plugged directly into the wall with the power
adapter provided. The EXOGAL Ion has some power conditioning and surge suppression built in. It
should not be necessary to use surge protectors, power conditioners or aftermarket power cords, some
of which may degrade the sonic performance. If you wish to experiment with any of these devices, work
closely with your local dealer –and most of all, trust your own ears.
Avoid allowing static shocks to be applied to the inputs or outputs. To prevent static shocks, touch any
grounded surface before connecting or removing a cable. It is unlikely that a static shock will damage
the unit, but it may cause the EXOGAL Ion circuitry to “lock-up” (see Troubleshooting: Lock-up –page
15).
Inputs and outputs can be safely connected to the EXOGAL Ion:
Before the unit is powered up
When the unit is in Full-Mute mode
When the unit is in Standby Mode

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Power
Connect the EXOGAL Ion Power Supply to the 4-pin XLR connector on the back of the EXOGAL Ion
PowerDAC. Insert the connector fully until the lock mechanism engages with an audible “click”.
Pins 1 & 2: +24V DC
Pins 3 & 4: Ground

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Audio Input
The EXOGAL Ion PowerDAC has one audio input source:
EXONET EXONET is an EXOGAL-proprietary digital interface which allows EXOGAL
components to seamlessly connect, integrate and communicate. While the EXONET
Input connector may look like an HDMI connector, it is not an HDMI connector!
To connect the EXOGAL Comet to the EXOGAL Ion PowerDAC, insert the included EXONET cable into the
EXONET Input connector of the Ion PowerDAC. Insert the other end of the EXONET cable into the
EXONET Output connector on the Comet.

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Ensure that the EXONET cable is fully inserted into the ION PowerDAC (as well as the Comet’s Output!)
Stacking the Comet and the Ion.
If you prefer to stack your Comet DAC and Ion PowerDAC, we
recommend that you install the rubber feet on the bottoms of each unit
(to prevent slippage) and that you stack the Ion on top of the Comet. The
Ion chassis is also a heat sink and if you stack the Comet on top of the Ion
then you limit the chassis’ ability to remove heat from the Ion. You won’t
damage the Ion but you may find it shutting down unexpectedly due to a
thermal overload under some listening conditions!
In order to prevent thermal shutdowns of the Ion PowerDAC, simply ensure that there are several inches
of free space around the Ion for proper cooling. The Ion does not emit a great deal of heat but in an
enclosed space, it will build up. The Ion may be placed in an enclosed cabinet (such as an entertainment
center) if the cabinet has proper venting for consumer electronics.

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Connecting the Speakers
The Ion PowerDAC uses standard binding posts and can accept bare wire, banana plugs, spade lugs.
Note that these binding posts used to be referred to as “5-Way Binding Posts”, due to mandated
international safety requirements there are now really only 3 basic ways to use them.
No matter how you make your speaker interconnects, always ensure that the positive terminal of the
speaker connects to the positive binding post and the negative terminal of the speaker connects to the
negative binding post!
Bare Wire
If you use bare wire, make sure that the stripped wire goes through the hole in the center post of the
binding post before you spin down the binding mechanism. Do not attempt to use larger than 4-gauge
wire in the binding post. Do not attempt to snake or “curve-wrap” a larger wire around the post; you will
not get a reliable connection! The EXOGAL Ion’s binding posts will accept bare wires up to 4 gauge with
12mm (1/2”) of stripped insulation.
Tighten the bare wire finger tight (do not use a tool to overtighten the binding post –you may cut or
weaken the wire.)

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Banana Jacks
If you connect your speaker wires using banana plugs, connect the wires to the plugs per the banana
plug manufacturer’s instructions and then plug the banana plugs into the connectors.
Spade Lugs
The Ion binding posts will accept lugs with an outer width of 0.55” (14mm) and a post diameter of
0.3125” (8 mm). Attach your speaker wire to the spade lugs using the technique dictated by your choice
of lugs –always follow the lug manufacturer’s instructions. Once the wire is firmly attached to the lugs,
insert the lugs through the gap in the bottom of the lug designed to accept the lug. Do not modify the
binding post to accept a larger lug! Tighten the knurled knobs to finger tight –do not use tools.

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Power up
The Ion is a product that is unlike any other amplifier on the market. It incorporates complex computing
circuitry and is in many ways a computing device, just as much as it is a high-performance audio
product.
As with any computing device, you’ll find that it will take a short time for the device to “boot up” before
you can begin listening to music. In general, the Ion PowerDAC will take less than 20 to 30 seconds to
properly initialize.
The LED on the front of the ion will show you a series of flashes in different colors to let you know where
it is in the Boot process. These flash codes are shown below:
Initially, the LED will be off. When you connect the Ion to AC power, the LED will begin to slowly flash
Red. During this time, the Ion’s main processor is starting up.
After a few seconds, you will see a rapid flashing of alternating Green and Amber. During this period, the
Ion is initializing its audio power section.
When the Ion has fully booted, and completed initializing the audio power section, it will be in Standby
mode and the LED will be a solid Amber.
Selecting the Ion
When the Ion is selected (as the EXONET output on the Comet), the Ion will begin a slow Green flash
indicating that it is in Mute mode. (You may also briefly see a slow Amber flash as the Ion starts. This is a
brief period where the Ion’s audio power supplies are fully charging and if you unmute during this time,
there will be a slight delay before you will hear music. This is a normal characteristic of a PowerDAC.)
The Ion is ready to play but it is now in the Mute mode. When you change the volume, or unmute the
Ion via the remote, the light will change to steady Green.

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Note: Whenever you select the Ion as the Comet’s output, it will always be in Mute mode. This is a
protective measure because a PowerDAC is controlling power directly, unlike a traditional
amplifier that simply modulates it. This is a mechanism that protects your speakers from any
potential DC spikes and possible damage.
You can exit the Mute mode by either touching Volume Up or the Mute button on the EXOGAL Comet’s
remote control or the Comet application on your mobile device. Select the volume level of your choice
using the Comet remote control’s volume buttons or the EXOGAL smartphone application.
You can reenter Mute mode by pressing the Mute key on the remote or the application. The Ion
supports the Comet’s half-mute and full-mute modes.
Other LED Flash Modes
The Ion can give you a tremendous amount of information via the multicolor LED. For example:
Errors
If the Ion detects an overload (such as a short) or an over temperature condition The LED will
rapidly flash Amber alerting you to a condition that requires immediate attention.
If the LED is slowly flashing Red, it means the Ion has encountered an error and has put itself
into Protect Mode. This could be due to a correctable measure (such as an output that has been
shorted for a long time) or it could indicate a failure inside the Ion.
If the LED is a solid Red, the Ion has encountered an internal error and you should speak with
your dealer for further guidance and any possible service.

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Other Situations
If the LED is either slowly or rapidly flashing between Red and Green, the Ion has suffered an
internal error. Cycle the power and see if the error clears itself. If it does not, contact your
dealer for service.

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Other Back Panel Connectors
The Power and EXONET Connectors have been previously described in the manual. There are two other
connectors on the back panel as well:
Serial The 3.5mm serial connector is used to update the Comet’s internal firmware. When
the Comet and Ion are connected using their Serial ports, the firmware in both units
can be upgraded using the same update utility.
USB Control The USB Control connector allows the Ion to be controlled via an automation system
(just like the Comet) and it is also used during the firmware update process. It is a
standard micro USB connector.

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Specifications
POWER OUTPUT: 200W 4 ohms, 100W 8 ohms per channel
POWER OUTPUT 1% THD: 275W 4 ohms, 150W 8 ohms per channel
MINIMUM LOAD: 2 ohms per channel
PEAK OUTPUT CURRENT: 20 amperes per channel
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 5 Hz to 22kHz
THD: 0.03% THD @ 1W @ all frequencies into 4 ohms
OUTPUT NOISE: 170uVRMS A-weighted 10Hz-20KHz
VOLTAGE GAIN: NA, Digital Input
DAMPING FACTOR: > 30 into 1 ohms, >100 into 4 ohms
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE @ 100Hz: < 0.03 ohms
DYNAMIC RANGE: >105dB, A-weighted
INPUT VOLTAGE FOR MAX OUTPUT: NA, Direct Digital Input
INPUT CONNECTION: EXONET, proprietary digital interface
OUTPUT CONNECTION: 3-way Binding Post
OPERATING POWER: 800 W Max, Typical 50W
STANDBY POWER: <2 W
OPERATING VOLTAGES: Universal , 100-240VAC 50/60 Hz
SIZE: 1.875 x 7.45 x 11.5 in., (47.6 x 190 x 292 mm)
WEIGHT: 9 lbs, 4.08 kg
TUBES REQUIRED: Ha-ha! Just kidding! It’s a digital product and we wanted to see if you were reading
this!
Specifications subject to change without notice.

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Appendices
Troubleshooting: Lock-up
If the EXOGAL Ion experiences a powerful static shock or sudden AC surge, it is possible to “lock-up” the
computer circuitry. A locked-up computer may result in erratic display, no output, and no response to
remote commands. If your EXOGAL Ion should lock-up, unplug the AC cord. Wait at least 30 seconds
before re-plugging in the unit. If the unit still does not operate normally, contact your dealer.
Environmental Care
EXOGAL makes every effort to be an environmentally conservative company. We appreciate it if our
customers join our efforts. Please dispose of all packaging in a responsible manner in accordance with
your local laws.

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Safety Precautions
! IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS!
To get the best performance from your EXOGAL Ion, and for your own safety, please read and follow
these important safety instructions.
1. Before operating the EXOGAL Ion please read all operating and safety instructions.
2. Never place the EXOGAL Ion near heat sources such as radiators, fireplaces, stove, or other
appliances that produce heat. Avoid placing the EXOGAL Ion where it will be subject to direct
sunlight or low temperatures.
3. AC extension cords are not recommended for use with this product. If an extension cord must
be used, be sure it is an approved type and has sufficient current carrying capacity to power this
product.
4. Before cleaning the EXOGAL Ion, always disconnect the power supply cord. Use a soft cloth and,
if necessary, dampen with plain water. Never apply water, or any other cleaner, directly to the
chassis.
5. If you smell smoke, or an abnormal smell, immediately unplug the EXOGAL Ion from the power
supply and contact your EXOGAL dealer.
6. Unplug unit if it becomes wet.
7. THERE ARE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE THE EXOGAL Ion!
Do not attempt to repair or modify your EXOGAL Ion
All service should be performed by qualified service personnel