MSB Technology The Reference DAC User manual

The Reference DAC
User Guide
Check our website for the most recent user guides,
rmware and drivers at:
www.msbtechnology.com
Technical support email is:
[email protected]
04.12.2023

Reference DAC Support Page
All Reference DAC support topics, as well as a full PDF version of this
user guide, can be found online by visiting the URL listed below or by
scanning the following QR Code.
https://msbtechnology.com/dacs/reference-support/
Reference Series Youtube Playlist
Any Reference DAC support videos, as well as other related product
videos, can be found online by visiting the URL listed below or by
scanning the following QR Code.
https://www.youtube.com/
playlist?list=PLA1wHoJozHNeXUpdBSSQEiGtsaQHHggjT
This user guide is modeled after the following rmware revisions:
The Reference DAC: 31.21
The Reference Digital Director: 11.11

Setup and Quick Start
The interface is simple with few user controls. Input source defaults
to auto switching. The display will let you know if you have an active
input. Make the necessary connections, power on your system and
turn the volume knob up until you hear music.
Step 1.
Unbox the units and place the units into their desired locations in
your audio system.
Step 2.
When connecting to the Reference Powerbase, you’ll have two
Hybrid Power cables. Use both cables to connect each of the power
connectors located on the Reference Powerbase to both of the power
connectors located on the back of the Reference DAC.
How to Disconnect Hybrid Power Cables
To disconnect a Hybrid Power cable, simply pinch the collar portion
of the cable where the arrow symbol is located and pull the collar of
the cable directly back from the jackpanel. No twisting or rotating is
required to disconnect the cable.

Step 4.
Connect all of your desired digital audio sources to the matching
digital inputs on your Reference DAC. The DAC will automatically
switch to any active digital input source. The Frequency of the
incoming digital source will be displayed on the unit when a source
has been switched to.
Step 3.
Connect the Analog outputs of your Reference DAC to the power
amplier(s) in your audio system.
Step 5.
Connect the Reference Powerbase using the supplied IEC cable. The
unit will automatically switch to the required mains voltage.
Step 6.
Turn on your DAC using the button on the front of your Reference
Powerbase, play a digital audio le, and slowly turn up the volume on
your Reference DAC until you can hear music.

Menu
Button
The Menu button is single purpose. It will enter the
setup menu at the top of the menu tree. If in the setup
menu (it doesn’t matter where) this button will exit the
setup menu and return to the normal audio listening
function.
Arrow
Buttons
The right and left arrows switch inputs. The ‘Auto’
mode will be in the list of inputs. The right and left
arrows switch inputs. If ‘Auto’ is selected, the unit will
automatically switch inputs based on priority (Input
slot B is higher than Input slot A). When a source
with a higher priority becomes active, the unit will
automatically switch to the new higher priority input.
Toggling through the inputs manually will defeat any
auto switching. When in the setup menu, the arrows
move right and left through the menu structure.
Volume
Knob
This knob adjusts the volume between 0 and 106.
Display The display shows the Input, bit-depth, sample rate, or
volume.
DAC User Interface

Reference Powerbase
The powerbase contains isolation technology. The powerbase
detects the input voltage and switches to 120 volt or 240 volt
operation. It is also available in a xed 100 volt conguration. The
Reference powerbase has over-voltage protection.
Two fuses are provided:
- 5A 250V SLO BLO - 5 mm x 20 mm miniature fuse (This is the main fuse).
- 100mA 250V SLO BLO - 5 mm x 20 mm miniature fuse
(This is for the standby supply only).
Reference Powerbase User Interface
There is one button on the front of the powerbase— as well as
two control features just under the front of the powerbase, on the
bottom.
LED
indications
White - Power On
Red - Power o
White/Red - Unit is in “Normal” mode but the 12v
trigger has turned it o.
Display
brightness
This is a rolling wheel to control the brightness for
the power indicator light
Power control Normal - This sets the powerbase as the 12 volt
trigger master.
Linked - This sets the powerbase as the 12 volt
trigger slave. The ‘master’ powerbase will control
this unit.

The MSB Remote
1Power On/O Powerbase on and o. When the
powerbase is linked to an amplier or MSB
product, this button will turn o the entire
system
2Indicator LED While in use:
White - Command Sent
Red and White - Command Sent
and Low Battery
Red Flashing - Needs Charging
While charging:
Red - Charging
White - Fully Charged
3Input Toggles directly through DAC inputs
4Phase Invert Toggles phase invert (I - on display)
5 Video Mode Toggles video mode (V - on display)
6 Display On/O Toggles Display On/O
7Volume/Scroll The center scroll wheel controls DAC
volume and scrolls when in the menu.
8Mute/Select DAC mute and select when in the menu.
9Track Backward Skip backward
(Renderer only)
10 Play/Pause Play and pause
(Renderer only)
11 Track Forward Skip forward
(Renderer only)
12 DAC Menu Enter DAC menu
While in menu:
Up - Volume Up
Down - Volume Down
Enter - Mute
Return - DAC Menu
13 Stop Stop media
(Renderer only)
14 Track Repeat Track or playlist repeat
(Renderer only)
15 Charging Port Micro-USB to charge the remote battery

Saving Menu and Startup Settings
When changing settings in the menu, use the enter button in the
center of your volume wheel on the remote, or the right arrow on the
DAC faceplate to conrm settings in the DAC menu. After you have
made your changes in the DAC menu, use the menu button to exit
the DAC menu completely to save the changes you have made while
in the DAC menu.
The DAC will not save any of your settings until you exit the menu.
The “Action Buttons” on your remote change certain settings on
your DAC without navigating the DAC menu (Phase Invert and Video
Mode). However, these settings reset every time the DAC is reset or
powered o. If you would like these settings to persist through resets
or power os, you simply have to choose the action button setting
that you wish to be default and then enter and exit the DAC menu by
double clicking the Menu button on your remote or DAC faceplate.
If at any point the DAC seems to be improperly setup or you want to
start fresh with your settings and functions, there is a “Reset” option
near the end of the DAC menu. Simply select this and conrm “YES”
before closing the DAC menu and restarting the unit.
Phase Invert
Phase invert is a button located on the remote to allow the user an easy
way to invert the audio phase. This is a situational based feature that is
not always needed, but can be used to x certain recording or system
setup requirements.
Video Mode
Video mode is a button located on the remote to reduce signal latency
and compensate for lip-sync delays when using your DAC for audio and
video simultaneously. It is best to only use this feature when needed
because the reduced latency causes reduced jitter rejection.