HEED OBELISK DT User manual

Users Manual
Thank you for choosing our product!
We have designed the Obelisk DT with music lovers in mind, creating a sophisticated
CD-playing component for people in search of a truly musical player, even by the highest
analogue standards. We sincerely hope that you will agree, and that your Obelisk DT
will provide you with many years of impeccable, trouble-free operation.
Happy listening!
Your Heed Obelisk DT digital audio transport is designed to offer the highest level of
performance by avoiding compromise, wherever possible. This detailed guide contains
advice specifically concerned with using this CD/HDCD-playing audio transport, as well
as more general warnings about the use of domestic audio components.
digital audio transport
OBELISK DT
Please read it carefully.
u

Precautions
Instructions — All safety and operating instructions should be read and adhered to exactly as written here or as
depicted on the unit. Please retain for future reference.
Water and Moisture — The unit should not be used near water — that is, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink,
laundry tub,
in a wet basement, or swimming pool, etc.
Heat
—The unit should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, stoves, etc..
Power Sources —The unit should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions
or as marked on the unit.
Power-Cord Protection — Power-supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched
by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point
where they exit from the unit.
Lightning — For added protection during a lightning storm, or when left unattended and unused for long periods of time,
unplug the unit from the wall outlet. This will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power-line surges.
Object and Liquid Entry
— Care should be taken so that objects do not fall into and liquids are not spilled into the inside
of the unit. For this reason,no objects filled with liquid, such as vases or drinking glasses should be placed on the equipment.
Damage Requiring Service — The unit should be serviced by qualified service personnel when:
— The power-supply cord or the plug has been damaged;
—
Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into the unit; or the unit has been exposed to rain respectively;
— The unit does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a change in performance;
— The unit has been dropped, or the cabinet damaged.
The Obelisk DT does not have any user serviceable parts. It is essential that repairs and
updates are only carried out by our authorised trade partners —distributors and dealers —,
or at the factory by Heed Audio itself. Many components are custom made, tested or
matched and appropriate replacements are often unobtainable from other sources.
Therefore, users should not attempt to service the unit beyond those means described in
the operating instructions, or under any circumstances allow anyone to modify it.
Unauthorised repairs or modifications will invalidate the guarantee of the unit.
Grounding or Polarization —Precautions should be taken so that the grounding or polarization is not defeated.
Radio interference — All Heed components are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
in a domestic installation. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If your
Obelisk DT does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning off and on,
you are encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
— Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna;
— the separation between amplifier and receiver (radio tuner, television set, etc.);
— Connect the equipment into a power outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected;
— your Heed dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Maintenance / Cleaning — It is recommended to dust the equipment from time to time with a soft dry cloth.
Do not use cleaning solvents or abrasives for cleaning!
Always switch off and unplug the unit from the power supply when cleaning!
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9 S/PDIF coax output connector 11 Mains connector and fuse socket assy
10 Toslink output connector 12 Power on/off switch
3 CD tray opening / closing p
7 Next track :
4 Display dimming D
8 Play ;
1 Display for track number and time
5 Previous track 9
2 CD tray
6 Stop playing p
front panel
rear panel
The control buttons are duplicated on the remote control handset except for the dim function (4).
4

Installation
We believe that a Heed Audio component should optimally be installed by an approved Heed dealer. Nevertheless, the
procedure
is straightforward enough to enable you to install your new Obelisk DT yourself by following the instructions
contained herein.
Should any problems be experienced which are not covered here, contact your local dealer. If you are
unable to do so, or problems persist, however, do not hesitate to contact our distributor/reseller in your country (see our web-
site <www.heedaudio.com> “worldwide distributors” for details), or contact us directly at Heed Audio …we're here for you!
When opening the box and unpacking the unit, you will find the following items:
— (1) Heed Obelisk DT digital audio transport
—
(1) Heed OBELISK remote control handset
— (1) Heed DigiCon digital signal cable
— (1) IEC-norm mains power cord
— (1) Users Manual
You can place the Obelisk DT on any stable surface. Due to its state-of-the-art topology in all key areas, such as data reading,
sampling, transferring and buffering, it is much less susceptible than most players to environmental or internal influences, such
as the mechanism or power supply, and therefore needs no fancy equipment rack, isolation board or spikes for decoupling.
Before performing any connections or disconnections, ensure that the on/off power
switch (12) of the unit is in the 'off' position.
Always check that the voltage and frequency of the mains supply corresponds to the
specifications marked on the unit!
_ q Insert the power cord's IEC type plug into the power inlet connector (6) of the Obelisk DT.
_ q Connect the power cord's mains plug to your power outlet.
There are two output connections available to transmit digital audio data created by the Obelisk DT to a D-to-A converter:
S/PDIF coaxial (9) and TOSLINK optical (10).
Theoretically, there are no differences between the signals transmitted via optical TOSLINK or coaxial S/PDIF connectors
— both carry exactly the same information. Selection of one over the other rests mainly on the availability of appropriate
connectors on the chosen equipment and the preference and convenience of the user. In practice, there are pros and cons
with both. TOSLINK cables do not work well (and may even suffer permanent damage) if tightly bent, and their high light-
signal attenuation limits their effective range to ca. 6 metres (20 ft). On the other hand, TOSLINK cables are not susceptible
to ground loops and RF interference, like coaxial cables. In terms of sonic performance, however, we are convinced that
coaxial connections have the edge over optical ones. With its smartly designed output stage, the Obelisk DT can drive almost
any length of coaxial cable with no data loss, to boot.
If you use Heed Obelisk amplification equipped with one of the optional DAC modules (Heed Audio Dactil-1 or Dactil-2),
you can connect the Obelisk DT directly to the amplifier. When the DAC module is correctly mounted in the Obelisk chassis,
the Number 1 input (in case of the Obelisk PRE it can also be Number 2 as an alternative) transforms into a true co-axial input.
(Either the Left or Right RCA jack may be used to receive the digital signal, but only one of them may be used as such, with
the other remaining unconnected.)
unpacking
placement
connection to mains supply
output connections
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Operation
Once the Obelisk DT is connected to the mains supply, as well as to your Obelisk amplifier
equipped with a Dactil DAC card or, alternatively, to an external D-to-A converter of a
competitor
brand via the digital cable included, remove the protective films — the small
fixing strip holding the tray firmly during the transport, and the large film covering the
whole surface
— from the front panel. You can detach them by peeling off and grabbing
the films at any of the corners.
Note: This step concerns only the appearence of the amplifier, it has no electrical or mechanical influence on the functioning
of the unit.
When all steps of installation are correctly completed, your Obelisk is ready for action!
After switching on, the unit carries out an automatic self-diagnostics. During this procedure,
the display shows: (-- ----). As long as this sign is displayed, do not push any button and do
not switch off the unit!
_ q If there is no disc in the tray, is shown on the display. It also signalizes that the unit is ready to be used.
_ q If the tray already contains a disc, the unit automatically reads in this after having carried out the automatic self-diag-
nostic process. During the read-in process the display shows: (-- ----). Following that, the display shows the number
of tracks / files and their total length (minutes : seconds) recorded on the disc. The unit is ready for immediate play.
Note: In case of an MP3 or an HDCD disc the read-in time can be longer depending on the library structure of the disc
and the number of tracks recorded on it. After having read in the disc, the display shows the number of tracks / files,
while the rest of the display shows: 00.00. It is possible that the number of files recorded on the disc is higher than
99, or the length of the disc is longer than 99 minutes. In this case, the display's right field shows the number 99.
Regardless of that, also the files beyond 99 can be played.
_ q Push the p (3) button. The display shows: OPEO . As soon as the tray has moved forward completely, place a
disc on it.
_ q Close the tray by pushing the p (3) button again. The LOAD sign appears on the display. The unit begins automatically
to read in the disc and when ready displays the relevant details of the disc, such as number of tracks and total
length. If a disc other than an audio CD or MP3 is inserted, or if the audio CD disc is damaged, the unit automatically
opens the tray again. If this happens, replace the disc with an undamaged audio CD or MP3 disc.
The initial reading of the disc - the LOAD sign is shown on the display — takes 15 seconds.
This time cannot be shortened and therefore there is no point pushing various buttons,
such as
4
;
or
9 :
during this process. Wait until the LOAD sign changes to the track
number / disc length sign on the display and then start playing the disc. The longish time is
down to the generously sized 32 MB buffer which guarantees almost jitter-free data transfer
and entirely shock-free operation of the unit. Asmall price for superior performance!
_ q The tray can also be closed by pushing the 4
;
(8) button. If operated in this way, the disc begins to play from the
first track automatically after the initial reading in.
Always operate the tray with the p (3) or 4
;
(8) buttons! Do not place anything other than
an audio CD or MP3 disc on it when it is open — it cannot hold anything which is substantially
heavier than a disc. Avoid bending it in any way and do not push it in by hand because
that can cause severe damages to the unit!
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powering up the DT
inserting a disc in the tray
OO DISC

_ q As soon as the LOAD sign disappears and disc details are shown on the display, the unit is ready for play.
Push the
4
;
(8) button, and play starts with the first track.
_ q In “play” mode you can go to the track you want to play by using the 9 and : (7) buttons, skipping forward :
and backward 9 .The display moves to higher or lower track numbers accordingly. If you push the
4
;
(8)
button after stopping at the track you wish to listen to, play starts at the chosen track. If you change your mind and
do not want to play that track, just push the p (6) button, and the unit is restored to its default state.
_ q You can pause play by pushing the
4
;
(8) button, and continue playing by pushing it again. In “pause” mode the
display
shows the currently played track number and P .
If you do not want carry on listening to the disc, stop playing with the
p (6) button instead
of keeping the unit in “pause” mode. Never leave the unit in this mode for long!
_ q You stop playing the disc by pushing the p (6) button. After that the display shows the disc details.
_ q If you push the : (7) button while playing, the display shows the current track and changes to the next one almost
immediately and continues playing it from the beginning.
_ q If you push the 9 button while playing, the display shows the current track and starts playing it again from the
beginning. If the playing of the current track lasts less than 2 seconds, you can skip back one track by pushing the
9 button again. In other words, you need to push the 9 button twice to skip back one track.
The display has two visual states: Constant (lit permanently) and Automatic (dimmed permanently unless operated).
You can switch between these states by pushing the D(4) button. By default, after switching on, the display lights up and
remains (Constant).
_ q In any of its functional states, also when playing, you can switch to the Automatic state. By pushing the D(4) button
the display is switched off immediately and only a little pin-point blue LED shows that the unit is switched on.
_ q While in Automatic state, the display lights up immediately when any of the operational buttons are pushed, although
this does not restore functionality. To restore functionality, you need to push the button again or, alternatively, to hold
down the button longer than for half a second. By doing the latter, not only does the display light up, but also the
relevant function is performed. In Automatic state, the displays dims after 7 seconds, no matter whether the unit
remains idle or starts to play.
When using the “pause” function, during the initial reading in of the disc, and while
skipping between tracks and starting to play a track, the display remains switched on.
_ q The Automatic state — when the display is dimmed — can be switched back to Constant (continuous lighting) by
pushing the
D(4) button. The display remains switched on permanently afterwards.
playing the disc
using the display
playing previous / next track
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Note:
Although you can use your Obelisk DT within seconds of switching it on, as with all audio equipment the
best sound quality will be reached after a period of warm-up time, preferably 10-15 minutes. We recommend
keeping the unit switched on continually for optimum performance. However, your Obelisk DT should be
switched off if left unattended for extended periods, or in the event of thunderstorm. As mentioned previously,
it is also necessary to switch the unit off when connecting or disconnecting cables.
(5)
(5).
(5)
(5) (5)

Troubleshooting
Basic problem-solving with the Obelisk DT is similar to troubleshooting other hi-fi components.
Always check the most obvious possible causes first, such as the following:
Display does not light.
Display is in Automatic (dim) mode.
Push any button on the unit or on
the RC handset.
If the unit is switched on and push-
ing the buttons does not activate
the display, switch off the unit and
switch it on again after a minute.
If the problem persists, contact
your Heed dealer and seek advice.
Display shows characters not
illustrated in the “Operation”
chapter.
Switch off the unit and switch it on
again after a minute.
If the problem persists, contact
your Heed dealer and seek advice.
Unit does not read in the disc. Disc is either damaged or has a
format not supported by the
Obelisk DT.
Remove the disc and replace it
with an undamaged audio CD or
MP3 disc.
Unit does not play the disc. Non-supported disc format. Remove the disc and replace it
with an audio CD or MP3 disc.
Switch off the unit and switch it on
again after a minute.
If the problem persists, contact
your Heed dealer and seek advice.
Problem Probable cause Remedy

SPECIFICATIONS
Supported disc types: CD-DA, CD-R, CD-RW
Supported formats: CD digital audio, HDCD, MP3
Output format: digital, 2-channel, 44.1 kHz, 16-bit S/PDIF signal
Output connections: S/PDIF coaxial (75 Ohm RCA), TOSLINK optical
Weight: 3.9 kg
Consumption: max. 15 W
If within three years of the purchase date your Heed OBELISK DT proves to be defective for any reason
other than accident, misuse, neglect, unauthorised modification or fair wear and tear, Heed Audio Ltd.
will, at its discretion, replace the faulty parts without charge for labour.This factory warranty is valid only
for units sold into countries with no appointed Heed distributor. Service enquiries in countries with
appointed distributor should be addressed first to the supplying dealer and / or Heed distributor.
Warranties granted in these countries are entirely at the discretion of distributor.
FACTORYCONTACT
DISTRIBUTOR CONTACT
WARRANTY
HEED Audio Kft. (Ltd) Tel/Fax: [phone]
Reviczky Gyula u. 9-11eMail: [email protected]
H-1181 Budapest
Hungary Web: www.heedaudio.com
Heed OBELISK DT - Users Manual 1.1 (2010)