Gato Audio DIA-250S User manual

DIA-250S
Integrated Amplifier/DAC
User Manual

Gato Audio DIA-250S - Integrated Amplifier/DAC
Page 2
Contents
Contents 2
Don’t be a stranger 3
Package contents 3
Safety rst! 4
About the amplier 5
General design 5
Class-D Output Stage 5
Analogue Input Stage 5
D/A Converter 5
USB Versatility 5
Connectivity 5
LED Display 5
Setting up your amplier 6
Basic connection 6
Overview 6
Connecting to a Bluetooth device 7
Connecting a computer to USB 7
Connecting an Apple iPad to USB 7
Connecting an Apple iPhone to USB 7
How does it work? 8
Power on 8
Standby 8
Adjusting the volume 8
Muting 8
Input selection 8
Display dimming 8
Sample rate read-out 8
Direct 9
Protection warnings 9
RC-3 remote control 10
How to insert/replace the battery 10
Functions 10
Installing USB Driver 11
Requirements 11
Windows PC Installation and Set-Up 11
Mac Installation and Set-Up 12
USB audio troubleshooting 13
Make it last! 14
If all else fails… 14
Technical specications 15

User Manual
Page 3
Don’t be a stranger
Thank you for purchasing the Gato Audio DIA-250S. We are absolutely condent that it will bring you many hours of listening pleasure.
We hereby cordially invite you to join the Gato Audio family by registering your product online. You may also consider signing up for our
newsletter to receive information about exciting new products, events and technical updates.
All this and more on www.gato-audio.com
Our very best,
Gato Audio
Package contents
Please check that the following is included in the package:
• 1 Gato Audio DIA-250S integrated amplier
• 1 Mains cable
• 1 Gato Audio RC-3 remote control
• 1 CR2032 3 V battery
• 1 CD-ROM with USB driver for Windows
• 1 Bluetooth antenna
• This manual - which you should be reading now 

Gato Audio DIA-250S - Integrated Amplifier/DAC
Page 4
Safety first!
Mains plug and cable:
• Insert the mains plug fully into the mains outlet socket
• Do not use any mains cable other than the one provided with this amplier
• Do not defeat the ground connection
• Do not move the amplier around while it is connected to mains
• Do not place heavy objects on the mains cable or place the cable near high-temperature objects
• Do not use damaged mains plugs or socket outlets
Liquids:
Electricity and liquids are not a safe combination, therefore:
• When cleaning the amplier, remove the mains plug
• Do not handle the mains plug with wet hands
• Do not spray any liquid directly onto the amplier
• Do not place liquid containers above or near the amplier
• Keep liquids away from the amplier
…And:
• This is not a toy and should not be handled like one (by children OR adults)
• Do not remove the covers of the amplier (for service see page 14)
• Do not attempt to put foreign objects inside the amplier (for service see page 14)
• Do not cover the amplier with cloth
• Do not place the amplier on sloped or unstable surfaces
• When the amplier will not be used for a long time, remove the mains plug
• Never connect or disconnect cables when the amplier is switched on
• Do not short the amplier outputs
• This unit is made for indoor temperature (15-25OC or 59-77 OF). If it has been exposed to cold temperature, let it adjust itself to indoor
temperature before use
• Make sure that your amplier is able to breathe by securing a minimum safe distance around the heat sinks of 100 mm or 4 inches
• The amplier can get hot during use. Normal operating temperature is from room temperature to 50OC or 122OF
DIA-250S Input
Standby
100 mm / 4” 100 mm / 4”

User Manual
Page 5
About the amplifier
General design
The Gato Audio DIA-250S Class-D integrated amplier are designed and built to a vision of combining technology, power, sonic performance,
connectivity, versatility, stunning looks and compact design. The amplier features built-in D/A converters with electrical, optical, USB and
aptX Bluetooth inputs. High quality analogue input is via RCA connectors or via XLR connectors for true balanced signals. Both balanced
and unbalanced line outputs are provided. The DIA-250S oers 250 watts per channel into 8 ohm loads and doubles its power output into
4 ohm loads. Modern Class-D technology enables extremely high eciency, thereby providing both enormous power and huge voltage
swing. Besides the obvious benet of having this much power, the huge voltage swing from these powerhouses gives eortless dynamic
headroom without clipping, all in the service of bringing you stunning musical performance.
Class-D Output Stage
The DIA-250S amplier oers state of the art Class-D output stages with dedicated and optimized switch mode power supplies. The multiple
stage power amplier is built around proven technology from International Rectier, optimized with a precision high frequency oscillator
and PWM modulator. A pair of precision switching MOS-FET transistors, with super low on-resistance ensures the high frequency switching
is done perfectly and with as little loss as possible. The output lters are made from quality PP capacitors and low DCR coils, converting the
high power PWM signals back into detailed and smooth analogue music.
Analogue Input Stage
The analogue input stage is where everything begins. It not only connects external inputs and the built-in D/A converter with the output
stage, it adapts impedances, adjusts levels and switches signals. A super-gentle embrace of the delicate analogue signals is important for
the total performance of the amplier. At Gato Audio we have utilized our many years of experience in“voicing”analogue ampliers to make
this particular stage perform at its very best. We tuned the input stage to perform with a natural and lifelike sound, aecting the original
signal as little as possible.
D/A Converter
The built-in D/A converter oers real high end performance, enabled by the use of a dedicated power supply, a balanced-driven Burr-Brown
PCM1794 D/A converter, an optimized high bandwidth I/V converter, and an analogue stage with low-Q, low pass lters. All digital inputs are
upsampled to 24bit/192kHz. This D/A converter will upgrade any digital source - such as wired or wireless streaming from your computer or
CD drive - to a high end level of detail and musical performance.
USB Versatility
The true 24bit/192kHz digital input via the state of the art asynchronous USB circuit is especially worth highlighting. It enables the possibility
of a sonic performance vastly above that of any CD. It is the key note of making these ampliers a quality-enhancing connection point for
your Mac, PC or even your iPhone and iPad.
Connectivity
We had our eye on versatility and connectivity when designing the DIA-250S. The amplier oers not only a wide range of digital and
analogue inputs, but also line outputs, a trigger signal for external power ampliers, and a congurable home theater input. The HT input
can turn the amplier into a xed level power amplier for use in a surround setup, without compromising the sonic performance.
LED Display
By choosing a large high contrast white LED dot matrix display, we gave the DIA-250S a distinct appearance, easy to understand, easy to see
and operate – even at remote control distance. In addition to displaying output level and selected input, it also displays the sample rate of
the digital input – revealing the quality. The LED display is fully dimmable by the remote control.