Gold Note DAC 7 User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
DAC7
Italian Hi Speed digital to analog converter
GOLD NOTE
DAC7
Power
INPUT
IN>
kHz
44,1 48 88,2
kHz
96 176,4 192
<IN

OWNER’S MANUAL page 1
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR
BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED
SERVICE PERSONNEL.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within 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 electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence
of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying
the appliance.
This appliance has a serial number located on the rear panel.
Please record the model and serial numbee and retain them for
your records.
Serial Number: Model:
WARNING
TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN
OR MOISTURE
Do not disassemble any part of the product.
Do not use any part of the product for other purposes.
For service and problems of any kind, contact qualified Gold Note personnel.
Protect the product from rain and humidity and keep away from heat sources, electric and
electronic motors etc.
The power Chord supplied must be used only on this unit.
Gold Note does not have responsibility for any improper use of this unit

OWNER’S MANUAL page 2
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
1Read these instructions.
2Keep these instructions.
3 Heed all warnings.
4 Follow all instructions.
5 Do not use this apparatus near to any water.
6 Clean only with dry cloth.
7Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance
with the manufacturer's instructions.
8Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat
registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that
produce heat.
9 Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or ground-
ing-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider
than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third
grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provid-
ed for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your
outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete
outlet.
10 Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched
particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point
where they exit from the apparatus.
11 Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufac-
turer.
12 Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table
specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When
a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus
combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
13 Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when
unused for long periods of time.
14 Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is
required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way,
such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been
spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus
has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate
normally, or has been dropped.
• Do not expose this apparatus to drips or splashes.
• Do not place any objects filled with liquids, such as vases, on
the apparatus.
• Do not install this apparatus in a confined space such as a
book case or similar unit.
• The apparatus draws nominal non-operating power from the
AC outlet with its POWER or STANDBY/ON switch not in the ON
position.
• The apparatus should be located close enough to the AC
outlet so that you can easily grasp the power cord plug at any
time.
• The main plug is used as the disconnect device, the discon-
nect device shall remain readily operable.
• If the product uses batteries (including a battery pack or
installed batteries), they should not be exposed to sunshine, fire
or excessive heat.
• Caution should be taken when using earphones or head-
phones with the product because excessive sound pressure
(volume) from earphones or head- phones can cause hearing
loss.

OWNER’S MANUAL page 3
INTRODUCTION & SPECIFICATIONS
The Gold Note USB DAC is a real asynchronous 24/192 high resolution Digital to Analog Converter
based around an USB High Speed 480Mb/s port allows the maximum speed available to stream data
flux with loss & compression 100% free.
The DAC7, can play any kind of high resolution up to 24bit and 192KHz audio tracks files from any
source hooked with including the computer.
The audio files are streamed into the DAC7 directly via its USB ports without the need of any Digital
over-sampling, internal convertion downgrade the signal audio purity.
The audio tracks can be played from any computer after installation of the supplied special drivers allow
total compatibility and superior sonic performance.
The DAC7 displays the real resolution of the files fed into the unit to guarantee the user always the kind
of resolution achieved.
The DAC7 features also a number of traditional Digital inputs and output as S/P-Dif RCA, Optical, AES/E-
BU XLR to match all the other digital sources possible to it.
The Gold Note DAC features top quality digital technology offering one of the most powerful unit of the
high end audio market.
MAIN DETAILS
•ASYNCHRONOUS USB DAC 24/192 High Speed 2.0 USB
DAC
•SAMPLE RATE SUPPORTED 44.1 -48 -88.2 -
96-176.4 -192 (KHz)
•AUDIO FORMAT SUPPORTED available
•FREQUENCY RESPONSE 20Hz – 20KHz @ +/- 0.3dB
•THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) 0.001% Max.
•RATIO SIGNAL TO NOISE -105dB
•DYNAMIC RESPONSE 125dB
AUDIO INPUTS
•USB high speed 2.0 for computer linking
•DIGITAL INPUT 2 per RCA coax -1 per Tos-Link Optical
•AUDIO OUTPUTS
•ANALOGUE OUTPUT Stereo RCA and XLR balanced
•LINE OUTPUT LEVEL (fixed) 2Volt RMS
POWER
•MAINS SUPPLY ~100V ~115V ~230V - 50 or 60Hz
(depending on market destination not convertible)
•POWER SUPPLY Hybrid with Temperature Automatic
Stabiliser
•POWER CONSUMPTION 50watt Max
UPGRADES
•EXTERNAL PSU Plug & Play Power Supply Unit
•EXTERNAL AC FILTER Dumbo AC
•Other: Gold Note Lucca Power Chord
PHYSICAL
•DIMENSIONS 200mm L x 80mm H x 260mm D
•WEIGHT 4Kilos (9Lbs.)
FINISHES
•FRONT PANEL Brushed Black or Silver anodised
aluminium
•Black powder coated

OWNER’S MANUAL page 4
TECHNICAL INFO AND OPTION
OPERATING CONDITIONS
Once the DAC7 has been correctly wired and posi-
tioned on a solid shelf it is ready to play.
DAC Main Functions
After the eventual installation of the driver (see page 6
of this manual) the DAC is ready to play.
The unit features an outstanding flexibility, for which
the Main functions are:
Asynchronous High-Speed USB PORT – The DAC-7
High-Speed USB port allows top quality data flux trans-
fer that enables the unit to play any high resolution
audio format, including 24/192 WAV native files and
any PCM studio master with no compression or down-
grade resolution to let them work.
Through the High-Speed USB port the Gold Note DAC
can run any computer Player* such as Foobar2000,
I-Tunes, Windows Media Player, Winamp, JRiver Media
Center as any other else from any Computer and
platform preferred. It is only necessary to install the
drivers exclusively available on the internet web site
http://www.Gold Note.com at the unit MANUALS &
DOWNLOAD area [APPENDIX B].
* Be sure to choose the best quality computer Player
to run the music. The quality of the computer Player is
fundamental for high quality performance. For sugges-
tion about best players please visit the SUPPORT/UTIL-
ITY area of www.Gold Note.com
DIGITAL INPUT – The Gold Note USB DAC features two
S/P-Dif RCA 75ohm ports, One optical Tos-Link.
All digital inputs allow a large connectivity to let the
Gold Note USB DAC could let the unit become the main
unit of the audio system.
HOW TO INSTALL THE DRIVERS/SOFTWARE TO
PLAY WITH THE COMPUTER
Power Supply Unit (PSU7) via the professional Tyco
connectoThe Gold Note USB DAC drivers can work with
any USB 2.0 computer available on the market:
WINDOWS Computers: to let the unit work with Windows
XP, Vista or Windows 7 it is necessary to download the
proper Drivers available on the Gold Note web site @
http://www.Gold Note.com.
Once linked to the Gold Note web-site enter the unit
item under Micro Line area and the MANUALS & DOWN-
LOAD area in order to access the latest drivers avail-
able here: http://www.Gold Note.com/index.php?op-
tion=com_content&view=article&id=89:-
dac-7-digital-to-analogue-converter&catid=33:dac&It
emid=103
During the installation the Computer and the Gold Note
DAC must be ON and linked together.
Some computer may need a manual installation
indicated on the On Screen instruction during first
operation of the driver installation Wizard.
More details are available on visual screen-shot
instruction of the [APPENDX A] instruction forward.
of the driver’s installation.
The Apple Computers having Mac OS X 10.5 or newer
work without the need of external drivers only select-
ing the Gold Note device from the SYSTEM PREFER-
ENCES of the computer audio/sound options.
If you experience any trouble with your computer
please be sure you have the USB audio options and
drivers of the computers itself updated to the latest
available options.
Check your computer instruction to learn more.
For any technical questions please email to service@-
Gold Note.com sending the details of the computer
used and the serial number of the USB DAC owned.

OWNER’S MANUAL page 5
FRONT PANEL
GOLD NOTE
DAC7
<IN
TOS USB
COAX 1 COAX 2
IN>Power
INPUTkHz
44,1 48 88,2 96 176,4 192
kHz
RED/GREEN LED Light – With RED light ON the unit is powered by the
internal power supply. With Green light ON then unit is powered by
optional external power supply.
PLEASE NOTE: When the unit is thermally stabilized the ON
Red/Green light feds down.
<IN Key - Select the INPUT
Automatically the light
indicate the linked
sample rate
ON/OFF - Master switch, it turns the unit
ON/OFF completely
IN> Key - Select the INPUT

POWER:
- External PSU-7 or PSU-9 IN (optional)
- IEC PLUG with FUSE - 100 -240 Volt - 50/60Hz
with 1A fuse
ANALOGUE AUDIO OUT
- XLR Balanced Left-Right
Analogue Audio OUT
- RCA Unbalanced Left-Right
Analogue Audio IN
DIGITAL AUDIO IN:
- TOS LINK - Optical Digital Input
- COAX – Two Coaxial Digital Input 1 & 2
- USB – Asynchronous High-Speed USB port
OWNER’S MANUAL page 8
REAR PANEL
OWNER’S MANUAL page 6
1
2
3
5
6
7
4
2
1
5
3
4
6
7

OWNER’S MANUAL page 7
WARRANTIES
WARRANTIES REGISTRATION
To validate the warranty is necessary to register the unit on the Gold Note
internet web site within 15 days from the purchase on the appropriate area of
the web site: http://www.goldnote.it/
If the unit is not registered correctly or is been purchased from a different coun-
try of the purchaser origin/home the unit will not be covered by any warranty
and the eventual registration refused.
The warranty does not does not cover in any case: Tubes, Phono Car-
tridge Styli and Batteries.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
All GOLD NOTE® products are the result of meticulous technological research,
and consequently their correct functioning is guaranteed. In spite of this it is
possible that problems may emerge which non-specialist users cannot resolve.
In this case, contact your dealer who will advise you on how to resolve the prob-
lem.
Do not return any object directly to the factory or to the national distributor or
without being authorized to do so. In such cases both GOLD NOTE® and the
distribution agents operating within your territory decline responsibility of any
kind.
Please Note: Descriptions and technical characteristics may vary in any
moment without notice.

OWNER’S MANUAL page 8
SYMPTOM DESCRIPTION CAUSE REMEDY
THE DAC DOES NOT
WORK WHEN THE UNIT
IS SWITCHED ON
SPEAKER HUMMING
PROBLEMS
External HDD (Hard Disk
Drive) and USB Stick do
not work with the DAC
• The AC DAC plug is disconnected
from the AC wall plug or the fuse is
blown
• The USB external device connect-
ed does not load audio file
THE USB INPUT
DOES NOT WORK
DIGITAL INPUTS
DOES NOT LOCK THE
EXTERNAL SOURCE
SACD PLAYER DOES
NOT LOCK ON THE
DAC
COMPUTER DOES
NOT SHOW THE
FREQUENCY SAMPLE
RATE PLAYED
• The USB cable used is not USB
2.0 certified and is not really
balanced
The Units does not
lock the external
digital signal
The speakers hum
when the DAC is
connected to the
system
The amplifier creates
a ground loop with
the DAC because
• The Gold Note DAC detect all
native sample rate resolution digital
inputs automatically only!
• Analog cables do not have the
negative pole rightly connected
• The DAC is grounded correctly
with DC continuous coupling with
the chassis
•The Gold Note DAC is a Digital to
Analog Converter that for this
reason can’t play flash memories
directly because they do not have
internal players.
• Connect it being sure that the AC wall
plug works and check the fuse.
• The Drivers of the DAC are not correctly
installed into the computer used
• Use exclusively USB 2.0 certified and
really balanced connecting cable
• The Source does not send a
proper digital signal or is not a
S/PDIF compliance unit
• Check the Transport used
• If possible play the CD Audio layer of
the SACD disc if played digitally
• Most of the SACD disc have
anty-copy file unable the digital
output port
• The computer may require a manual
setting
• Be sure in your home AC system ground
is correctly grounded
• Isolate one the ground of the plug of
the DAC to fix the issue and check the
home AC system to verify is well grounded
• It is necessary to use an external digital
source to play the Gold Note DAC
• The USB stick and HDD can be played
through the computer
TROBLESHOTING

USER NOTE
OWNER’S MANUAL page 9

OWNER’S MANUAL page 10
USER NOTE

Via della Gora, 6
Montespertoli (Florence) Italy 50025
Tel. + 39 0571 675005
Fax. + 39 0571 675013
www.goldnote.it