North Star Design SAPPHIRE User manual

Sapphire SACD/CD Player
Operating Manual
North Star Design®
SAPPHIRE
SACD/CD PLAYER

Rev. 1.0 July 08

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO
NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an 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.
Marking by the “CE” symbol (shown left) indicates compliance of this device with the EMC
(Electromagnetic Compatibility) and LVD (Low Voltage Directive) standards of the
European Community.

Important Safety Instructions
Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your North Star
Design® SAPPHIRE SACD PLAYER.
1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or disconnecting
any cables, or when cleaning any component.
2. This product must be terminated with a three-conductor AC mains power cord which includes
an earth ground connection. To prevent shock hazard, all three connections must ALWAYS be
used.
3. AC extension cords are not recommended for use with this product.
4. NEVER use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning audio components.
5. NEVER operate this product with any covers removed.
6. NEVER wet the inside of this product with any liquid.
7. NEVER pour or spill liquids directly onto this unit.
8. NEVER bypass any fuse.
9. NEVER replace any fuse with a value or type other than those specified.
10. NEVER attempt to repair this product. If a problem occurs, contact your North Star Design® retailer.
11. NEVER expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures.
12. NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.
13. ALWAYS keep electrical equipment out of the reach of children.
14. ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms.

Introduction
Welcome to the North Star Design “family” and congratulations on your purchase of our new
SACD/CD PLAYER SAPPHIRE. With its combination of features, precision electronic circuitry and
accurately machined chassis components throughout, your SAPPHIRE SACD PLAYER will offer
you many years of musically satisfying enjoyment. Please take a few moments to read the
remainder of this Operating Manual. A thorough understanding of the operational features will allow
you to gain the maximum performance and ease of use for which this SACD PLAYER was
designed.
Enjoy the music!
North Star Design s.r.l.
Via Lenin, 132 – Fraz. San Martino Ulmiano
56017 San Giuliano Terme (PI)
ITALY
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.northstar.it
Initial Inspection
Inspect the shipping container for damage. If the shipping container, packing material, SACD
PLAYER or accessories are damaged or missing, notify your dealer and the shipper (if a claim is to
be made). Note: Many shippers require notification and an inspection within twenty-four (24) hours
of delivery to ascertain the nature of damages incurred.
Your SACD PLAYER SAPPHIRE has undergone extensive performance evaluations, listening
tests, quality control inspections and a minimum twenty-four (24) hour burn-in period prior to
shipment and should be in a perfect operational condition upon receipt. If the SACD PLAYER does
not operate correctly, please notify your dealer immediately.
We strongly suggest that you save all packing materials. If the SACD PLAYER is returned to your
dealer the original packing materials must be used for shipment. Neither North Star Design nor the
shipper can be held responsible for damages incurred during transit if the original factory packing is
not used. All factory returns require that a Return Authorization number be issued by North Star
Design prior to shipment.
Contents
Ensure that all of the auxiliary components listed below are enclosed into the box.
1 One (1) Operating Manual
2 One (1) AC power cable
3 One (1) Remote Control
4 One (1) warranty card (in some countries warranties are provided by the respective importer)
Installation
Locate the SAPPHIRE SACD PLAYER as close as possible to its final installation point. Allow
access to the rear panel for making connections.

Front & Rear Panel Function Controls
Before attempting any system interconnection, please familiarize yourself with the front and rear
panel controls of the SAPPHIRE SACD PLAYER. The descriptions below refer to the numbers and
letters associated with the features in the diagram above.
Front Panel
1 STAND-BY PUSHBUTTON
When in stand-by mode, push to switch in Operate mode. When in Operate mode, push to switch in
Stand-by mode.
WARNING: Always put in stand-by the SACD Player before switch-off the unit by rear panel
switch.
2 PREV PUSHBUTTON
When pressed select the previous track
3 NEXT PUSHBUTTON
When pressed select the next track
4 REPEAT PUSHBUTTON
Press this button once and all the tracks will be repeated. The display will show «RPT TRACK».
Press the button again, and it will repeat the disc. The display will show «RPT DISK». Press the
button again, and the display will show «RPT OFF».
5 DISPLAY
6 SACD DISC LED INDICATOR
Glows blue when the Player read the SACD layer.

7 REMOTE SENSOR RECEIVER
8 OPERATE LED INDICATOR
The Operate LED show the operating mode of your SACD Player:
Glows blue when the SACD Player is in Operation mode.
Off the SACD Player is in Stand-by.
9 STAND-BY LED INDICATOR
The Stand-by LED show the operating mode of your SACD Player:
Glows red when the SACD Player is in Stand-by.
Off the SACD Player is ready to use.
If the SACD Player will not turn on, you may want to check the rear panel AC
mains switch , your AC connections, or have your dealer inspect the rear panel fuses.
10 DISC TRAY
11 OPEN/CLOSE PUSHBUTTON
12 PLAY/PAUSE PUSHBUTTON
13 STOP PUSHBUTTON
14 DISC SELECTION PUSHBUTTON
When the Player is in STOP, with a SACD inside, press to change layer, from SACD
to CD and from CD to SACD.
Rear Panel
Caution!
Switch Off the SAPPHIRE SACD PLAYER when you need to connect or disconnect any cables.
15 AC MAINS SWITCH
This switch may be used to disconnect the power supply from the AC mains without having to
actually unplug the SACD Player from the wall outlet. If you plan to be away for an extended period,
or have any other reason to turn the SACD Player completely off, you may use the AC mains
switch.
16 AC MAINS FUSES
Two slow-blow 500mA (220-240V), 800mA (100-120V) fuses are located inside a small drawer in
the AC main inlet. If you suspect that your AC fuse have blown, disconnect the SACD Player from
the AC mains and contact your North Star Design dealer for assistance.
17 AC MAINS INLET
Standard IEC power cords is provided with the SAPPHIRE SACD Player. High quality power
cords will improve the sonic performances; ask your North Star Design dealer.
The North Star Design SAPPHIRE SACD Player has been safety-tested and is designed for
operation with a three-conductor power cord. Do not defeat the “third pin” or earth ground
of the AC power cord.

18 UNBALANCED ANALOGUE OUTPUT
Use this output to connect the SACD Player to the input of a preamplifier or integrated amplifier
using interconnect provided with RCA connectors (not shipped with the equipment).
19 BALANCED ANALOGUE OUTPUT
Use this output to connect the SACD Player to the input of a preamplifier or integrated amplifier
using interconnect provided with XLR connectors (not shipped with the equipment).
Danger! Potentially dangerous voltages and current capabilities exist within the SAPPHIRE
SACD Player, when connected to the AC mains. Do not attempt to open any portion of the
SACD Player cabinet.
There are no user-serviceable parts inside the SAPPHIRE SACD Player. All service of this
product must be referred to a qualified North Star Design dealer or distributor.

REMOTE CONTROL

1. STBY Standby on/off
2. 0-9 Press these buttons to select a specific track on the disc. For track 10 and above, the
second digit of the number must be pressed within one second. Then press PLAY button to
change rapidly.
3. AUDIO When the Player is in STOP, with a SACD inside, press to change layer, from
SACD to CD and from CD to SACD.
4. SOUND MODE When the Player read a SACD disc, pressing this button, you can select
6ch or 2ch tracks.
5. STOP – OPEN/CLOSE Pressing this button you stop the reproduction; pressing for more
than one second, the button made the OPEN/CLOSE function.
6. PAUSE On/off.
7. PLAY
8. NEXT TRACK Pressing once you select the next track; keeping pressed the button you
select forward searching function; 5 searching speed are available pressing the next track
button.
9. PREVIOUS TRACK Pressing once you select the previous track; keeping pressed the
button you select backward searching function; 5 searching speed are available pressing
the previous track button.
10. REP Press this button once and the current track will be repeated. The display will show
«RPT TRACK». Press the button again, and it will repeat all the tracks. The display will
show «RPT DISC». Press again and the display will show «RPT OFF».
11. A/B Repeat a segment of the disc/track. Press the button once to mark the start Press it
again at the end of the desired sequence. The selected area will play continuously until the
STOP button is activated.
12. TRACK The Player will reproduce the first 6 seconds of each track.
13. SHUF Tracks will be played in a random order.
14. DISPLAY Pressing this button you can select the display brightness; Mode 1, Mode 2,
Normal
15. TIME Normally the display show the time from incoming of the track. Pressing once the
display will show the time remaining at the end of the track. Pressing again the display will
show the time from the incoming of the disc. Pressing again the display will show the time
remaining at the end of the disc.
Replacing remote control batteries
Replace used batteries opening the battery compartment cover. Lift the cover off, and insert a fresh
set of batteries. Be careful to follow the + and – polarity indications at the bottom of the battery
compartment. Battery: 2 x CR2025: 3Volts.

SPECIFICATIONS
Channel Separation Better than 110dB
CD formats supported SACD Stereo, CD, CD-R
Digital to analogue converter Dual differential 24 bit DACs
Frequency response 0 Hz – 20kHz (PCM)
0 Hz – 39 kHz (DSD)
Dynamic range > 100 dB (PCM)
> 130 dB (DSD)
Maximum Output (0dbFS) 3.66 V balanced
1.83 V single ended
Output 1 pair XLR balanced audio output
1 pair RCA single ended audio output
Output impedance 110 Ohm
Power supply 100 V, 120 V, 230 V, 240 V (50-60 Hz)
factory set for destination country
Power consumption 35 W max.
Dimensions 17 in (W) x 15.5 in (D) x 3.35 in (H)
43.5 cm (W) x 35 cm (D) x 8.5 cm (H)
Shipping Weight 26lbs. (12.0 kg)

NOTES
north star design
NORTH STAR DESIGN s.r.l.
VIA LENIN, 132 – Fraz. SAN MARTINO ULMIANO
56017 SAN GIULIANO TERME (PI)
ITALY
PHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
E-MAIL: [email protected]
WEB: www.northstar.it