MAYFLOWER ELECTRONICS ARC MK2 User manual

ARC MK₂ Quick Start
1. Plug USB cable into PC, Mac, or PS4
and insert USB cable into ①
(A USB 3.0 port is strongly recommended)
optional: plug Toslink cable into “Opt In” instead
2. Select input mode ②
USB for PC/Laptop
PS for use with the PlayStation Console
OPT for Toslink Connection
3. Plug headphones/headset into ③
4. Optional: Plug microphone into ④
5. Turn on power and set volume ⑤
6. Optional: if no sound comes through headphones,
press output selector ⑥

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ARC MK₂ Owner's Manual
Table of Contents
Introduction ………………………..............3
Features .............................................3
Safety Precautions .............................4
Unpacking + Contents ...................…..4
Connections + Controls .....…..............5
Operation ..............................…..........6
PS4 Settings……………………………………..8
Xbox One Settings……….…………………..9
Troubleshooting ....................…........10
Specifications ...................................14
Warranty ..........................................14

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Introduction
Thank you for choosing the Mayflower Electronics ARC MK₂. This combination DAC + Headphone
Amplifier is designed to enrich your gaming environment with high fidelity sound, advanced audio
processing, and an integrated microphone amplifier with noise filter. The ARC is fully compatible with
the PS4 gaming console, Windows, Mac, and most Linux distributions. In optical input mode it is also
compatible with the Xbox.
The Digital-Analog Converter (DAC) in the ARC has been
developed based on customer response to our high quality
amplifier products. By bypassing your system's lower
quality internal DAC and keeping the audio stream digital
until the OP-amp, sound quality is enhanced and noise is
minimized.
Three input options are provided to ensure compatibility
with your gaming system. A USB input provides
connectivity to most systems, while an SPDIF optical input
allows connection of equipment that is not able to
recognize the ARC as an audio device, such as the Xbox.
The optical input can also be used to connect the ARC to
your home audio equipment. A combination mic out /
analog in 3.5mm connector allows connection of phones,
mp3 players, etc…
A microphone jack both amplifies and conditions the input signal to ensure the best communication
with your team. An analog microphone output can pass the microphone signal to your own mixing
equipment for custom audio feeds.
Improvements Since ARC v1
The USB port now provides power. A separate power supply is no longer necessary for most systems
Microphone quality has been significantly improved.
The headphone jack now accepts 4 pole headset connectors, eliminating the need for a mic /
headphone splitter.
A new output selector switch toggles between headphone and RCA outputs.
The rear mic output can now act as a 3.5mm analog input for phones, mp3 players, etc…
The ARC is made in the USA from US and global components.
Features
•Combination DAC + Headphone Amp with
adjustable digital level control.
•USB 3.0 and optical (TOSLINK) digital inputs.
•RCA pre-outs for powered speaker systems.
•Microphone amp with noise filter and analog
output.
•Selectable Dynamic Bass mode.

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Safety Precautions
•Listen to headphones at a comfortable level for moderate periods of time to avoid hearing
damage.
•Be aware of your surroundings when wearing headphones, as important external sounds may
be difficult to hear.
•Use a dry towel to clean. Do not allow the device to come into contact with liquids.
Unpacking + Contents
The ARC MK₂ DAC + Headphone Amp
USB cable

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Connections + Controls
Front
① DSP Mode Button
② DSP Mode LED
③ Power LED
④ Headphone / RCA Output Selector
⑤ Digital Volume Control + Power Switch
⑥ Microphone Input (3.5 mm)
⑦ Headphone / Headset Connector (3.5mm)
Back
⑧ RCA Speaker Pre-outs
⑨ Input Selector Switch
⑩ Combination Aux In / Mic out
⑪ Full-size USB Connector
⑫ Output Gain Selector
⑬ TOSLINK Optical Connector
⑭ 5v DC Power Connector (if needed)

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Operation
In most circumstances, the ARC will only need to be connected to an available USB port on your
system (a USB 3.0 port is recommended). Refer to the illustrations in the Connections + Controls
section to locate the items described below:
1. Ensure that the volume + power knob ⑤ is in the Off position (all the way counter-clockwise).
2. Remove the twist tie from the included USB cable and connect it between your system and the
ARC ⑪. Use a USB 3.0 port if available.
3. Connect your headphones or headset to the headset jack ⑦. This jack accepts 4 pole
headphone/mic connectors as well as standard headphones.
4. Optional: Connect your microphone to the mic input jack ⑥.
5. Power the ARC on by turning the volume + power knob ⑤ clockwise past the point where a
click is felt.
Your system should recognize the ARC and begin sending all audio processing through the ARC,
bypassing the internal sound card. If your system does not recognize the ARC, see the Troubleshooting
section.
6. Put on your headphones and adjust the volume to a comfortable level. The volume knob
rotates nearly 360 degrees, and it is normal to turn the volume past 12 O’clock to achieve
typical listening levels. If the level is not sufficient, first check your Windows audio volume and
ensure it is between 80% - 100%. If audio output is still insufficient, switch the output gain
selector ⑫ to the Hi position. For most headphones, the Lo gain setting is adequate.
Note: If no output is heard through the headphones, press the Headphone / RCA Selector ④.
Windows systems will need to have the audio output set to 24/96 mode. See the
troubleshooting section for information on changing this setting.
7. Optional: Test your microphone and adjust the software microphone volume on your system to
an optimal level.

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Input Options
In addition to the USB input, source equipment may be connected using a digital TOSLINK
connection ⑬. Simply move the input selector switch ⑨ to the OPT setting.
Source equipment such as cell phones or music players may be connected using the analog 3.5mm
jack ⑩. In this case, the ARC will automatically switch inputs without the need to change the input
selector switch.
Speaker Options
A pair of RCA pre-outs ⑧ are supplied to connect powered speakers. Simply use the Output Selector
④ to change outputs from headphone to RCA. When the RCA pre-outs are in use, volume is
controlled using your speaker system’s volume adjustment.
Sound Mode Options
The Mode button ① allows for the selection of two DSP audio enhancement modes to complement
your gaming environment. When the ARC is first powered on, the default mode is selected, which
does not alter the sound and the mode LED is turned off.
Pressing the mode button will cycle through the DSP modes, changing the color of the mode LED ②.
Continue to press the button until the desired mode is selected:
When the mode LED is blue, Dynamic Bass mode is selected, which evenly and smoothly transitions to
a more powerful deep bass response. This mode may improve sound quality depending on your
preferences, your headphones, and the quality of the input source.

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Microphone Options
The built-in microphone connections provide a sophisticated line filter to eliminates noise, distortion,
and clipping. If your teammates are having trouble hearing you, you may need to adjust the
microphone volume on your system.
An analog microphone output ⑩ has been provided for connection to custom mixing equipment.
This can be useful when capturing a game's video and audio for later viewing, or otherwise creating a
custom audio feed (such as a team music play list). Simply use a 3.5mm cable (not supplied) to
connect to your mixer or podcasting equipment.
Connecting the ARC to Your Home Audio System
1. Connect the ARC's optical input ⑬ to your receiver or pre-amp using a TOSLINK cable (not
included).
2. Connect the included USB cable to a USB power source, and plug it into the ARC ⑪.
3. Move the input selector switch ⑨ to the OPT position.
Note: If an optical connection is not available on your system, you may use the 3.5mm analog
input ⑩ instead. An RCA to 3.5mm adapter cable may be necessary.
PS4 Settings
You may need to adjust your PS4 audio settings to use the ARC. The ARC connects to the PS4 using the
included USB cable. Make sure the input selector switch ⑨ is set to the PS position, then perform the
following setup on your PS4:
1. Access the “Settings” menu
2. Select “Devices”
3. Select “Audio Devices”
4. Change the Input Device to the ARC if you are using the ARC’s microphone input
5. Change the output device to the ARC
6. Test and adjust the microphone level if using the ARC’s microphone input

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Connecting the ARC to your Xbox One
Refer to Figure 4 in the Troubleshooting section
The Xbox One uses a TOSLINK optical output rather than USB
1. Connect the ARC's optical input ⑬ to your Xbox using a TOSLINK cable (not included).
2. Connect the included USB cable to a USB power source, and plug it into the ARC ⑪.
3. Move the input selector switch ⑨ to the OPT position.
The Xbox One requires a CTIA splitter to use with headphone/mic headsets
1. Connect a CTIA Compliant headphone/microphone splitter to the Xbox controller (see
equipment list below).
2. Connect the splitter’s MIC jack to the microphone connector on your headset. You may need
an extension cable to make this connection.
3. Plug the headphone jack from your headset into the headphone jack ⑦ of the ARC.
Setting Xbox to output audio to the ARC
1. Open the guide (scroll left from Home)
2. Select “Settings”
3. Select “All Settings”
4. Select “Display & Sound”
5. Select “Audio Output”
6. Under “Speaker audio”, select Optical
audio and change the setting to
“Bitstream Out”.
Note: The ARC can only decode
uncompressed stereo.
Setting Xbox to output chat to the ARC
1. Open the guide (scroll left from Home)
2. Select “Settings”
3. Select “All Settings”
4. Select “Display & Sound”
5. Select “Volume”
6. Select “Party chat output”
7. Select “Speakers”
Headset volume and mic monitoring can be adjusted as necessary so that you can hear the voice chat
as well as yourself. These settings are adjusted from Settings...Devices & accessories, then select your
controller and modify the audio settings.
Equipment List for Xbox Connection
CTIA Compliant splitter: https://amzn.to/34qnYuu TOSLINK optical cable: https://amzn.to/2DfV7wX

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Troubleshooting
•The ARC does not power on, or cuts out during use:
It’s possible that your USB port does not provide sufficient power to the ARC. If you are unable
to find a sufficient USB port to power the ARC, contact support to request a power supply. You
can contact Mayflower support at [e-mail] or via telephone at 518-620-
6648.
•There is no sound output to the headphones or speakers:
The input selector switch ⑨ may be set to the wrong input source. Change the position of the
switch to see if normal output resumes.
Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable to reinitialize the USB audio driver ⑪.
Check to see that the volume switch is turned on and set to a reasonable volume ⑤.
Your system’s audio format may be set to an incompatible format. Check your speaker
properties to set the format to “24 bit, 96000 Hz” if available. You may need to restart your
system after changing this setting (See Figure 1).
Your system may be set to use the built-in sound device instead of the ARC. Check your device
manager’s sound properties to ensure the ARC is set as the default audio device (See Figure 2).
•The speakers do not produce any sound, or the sound is barely audible:
Windows system volume will need to be set at or above 80% to ensure full volume range from
the ARC.
The ARC only allows the connection of powered speakers. If your speakers are not self-
powered or the speaker power is turned off, you will not have sufficient volume. Use the
volume control on your speaker system to set the volume to an appropriate level.
•The ARC doesn't seem to work with my Xbox or other system:
Try to use a USB 3.0 port if available. If it still doesn’t work, it's possible that your system's USB
connection is not able to recognize the ARC as an audio device. In this case you will need to
use the optical TOSLINK connection ⑬ instead. Be sure to move the input selector switch ⑨
to the OPT position if using the TOSLINK connection.

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Troubleshooting (continued)
•The microphone volume is either too quiet or too loud:
The microphone’s volume may be adjusted using your system’s software (See Figure 3).
•Sound output is lost periodically during game play:
Your system may be set to output 5.1 channel audio rather than 2-channel audio. Try adjusting
your system’s audio output to 2-channel mode.
Your USB port may not deliver sufficient power to the ARC. Try another USB port or contact
support to request a power supply. You can contact Mayflower support at
[e-mail] or via telephone at 518-620-6648.
•I can’t hear anything while using the optical input:
The ARC can only decode certain audio formats. These include stereo uncompressed, or linear
PCM.
•The ARC buzzes or hums when touched:
The ARC relies on a physical ground via USB to whatever device is connected. If your device or
connected devices (IE gaming console to TV) does not have a grounded power plug (3 prong
wall connector) you may hear buzzing when the amplifier is touched. If using a computer
tower, laptop or gaming console plugged into a grounded TV or monitor, this will not be an
issue.
•If you encounter a problem not listed here, or are unable to solve your issue with the
information in this manual, please contact Mayflower Electronics at
[e-mail] or via telephone at 518-620-6648.

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Figure 1: Selecting a compatible format.
Figure 2: Setting the ARC as default audio device.

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Figure 3: Typical software microphone adjustment.
Figure 4: Xbox Connections

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Warranty
The ARC is warranted against material and
workmanship defects for a period of 10 years from
the date of purchase. Mayflower Electronics may
elect to repair or replace this product at their
option. Retain your invoice or order number as
proof of purchase and provide your order number
in any warranty communication to Mayflower
Electronics.
This warranty is only in effect if product is
purchased directly from Mayflower Electronics or
from an authorized retailer. Warranty is not valid if
serial number has been removed or otherwise
altered.
Cosmetic damage is not covered during the
warranty period. Opening the case or making
other modifications will also void the warranty.
ARC MK₂ Owner’s Manual, rev 3.0
Mayflower Electronics
2416 Riverfront Center
Amsterdam, NY 12010
518-620-6648
[e-mail]
Specifications
•Frequency Response: +/-0.05 dB (20Hz-20kHz)
•THD 1 Khz 150 Ohms: 0.0026%
•IMD CCIF 15 Ohms: 0.0007%
•IMD SMPTE: 0.001%
•Noise 24/96 (A Weighted): -109 dBu
•Max Output (32 Ohms) : 1W (THD+N < 0.003%)
•Max Output (150 Ohms): 365 mW (THD+N < 0.003%)
•Max Output (600 Ohms): 92 mW (THD+N < 0.003%)
•Output Impedance: 0.096 ohms
•Crosstalk (15 ohms) : -65 dB
•Channel Balance (50% volume): 0.2 dB
•Dynamic Range (A-Weighted): > 120 dB
•Linearity Error: -90 dBFS 24/96 -0.1 dB
•USB Jitter Components: 11025Hz -112dB
•RCA Line out: 1V RMS
Audio formats
•USB: 24/96, 24/48
•Optical: 24/192, 24/96, 24/48, 24/44.1,
16/192, 16/96, 16/48, 16/44.1
Dimensions
•4.25” W x 3.25” L x 1.25” H
•Weight: 8.5 oz.
* specifications subject to change
based on manufacturing updates.