Sonic Frontiers SONIC FRONTIERS TRANSDAC User manual

T H E S O N I C F R O N T I E R S T R A N S D A C

A. Digital Source Select Switch-Thistwopositiontoggleselectsthedesireddigitalinputpath,(Toslinkplasticfibreopti-
calorRCA-coax connector).
B. Coax Source Indicator-TheLEDwilllightto indicate when the Digital Source Selector Switch (A) has selected the Coax
digitinputpath.
C. Optical-Toslink Source Indicator LED -This LED will light to indicate whentheDigital Source Selector Switch (A) has
selectedtheOpticalToslinkdigital input path.
D. Lock LED -This LED will light to indicatewhen the TransDAC is synchronized tothe incoming digital data stream.
E. IEC Socket -The detachable power cordconnects here. When the TransDACis plugged in to apower source, the unit is
on.SeeFigureI
F. Optical-Toslink Input - This is the inputsocket for an S/PDIF Toslink -fiber optical connection to the digitalsource.
G. Coaxial Input-This istheinputsocketfor a coaxial - S/PDIF-RCAconnectionto the digital source. The coaxiaI-S/PDIF
-RCA cables impedance should be 75 ohms.
H. Left and Right Channel RCA Single-Ended Audio Outputs -These line leveloutputs are connected to preampli-
fier,integratedamplifierorreceiver inputs.
TheTransDACisfactoryset for the correctoperatingACvoltagefor the area in which it is sold. If a differentoperatingvolt-
ageisrequired, please contact an authorized SonicFrontiers dealer, distributor or the factory directly.
CONTROL FUNCTIONS AND CONNECTIONS
A DCB
E HGF

OPERATION OF THE TRANSDAC
Place the TransDAC on a solid shelf or table away from major
heatsources and magnetic fields. Plug the detachable AC power
cordinto the IEC socket (E).See Figure 1.
Usingyour favorite digital interconnect, connect a digital source
whichfeaturesaCoaxialor Optical Toslink digital output to the
Coaxial(G) or Optical-Toslink (F) digital inputsoftheTransDAC.
Both inputs may be connected to two separate sources at one
time. See Figure 2. Select the desired source using Digital
SourceSelectorSwitch(A)
Using your favorite analog interconnect, connect the left and
Right RCA Audio Outputs (H) to a correspondingleft and right
line-levelinputon
yourpreamplifier,integratedamplifieror receiver.
SeeFigure2.
PlugtheAC power cord of the TransDAC into an AC outlet. Once
the TransDAC is plugged in, the unit is receiving power and is
ON. It is safe to leave the TransDAC plugged in, unplug it for
extendedperiodsofnonuse.
Turnon digital source(s) and amplifier(s) andstart listening to
yourfavoritepiecesofmusic.
Figure 1 -Alignsocketpinsto
correspondingholesandpush
togetherfirmly.
Figure 2 -Connectionsmadeto
theTransDACfromdigitalsources
andtoalinelevel amplifier.
ConnectionstotheOptical- Toslink and
CoaxialDigitalOutputsofthe Digital
Source(s)tothedigitalOptical - Toslink
(F)and Coaxial (G) digital inputs of the
TransDAC.
ConnectionfromtheRCAAudio Outputs
(H)of the TransDAC to line levelinputs
ofapreamplifier,integratedamplifier or
receiver;leftchanneltoleft channel,
rightchanneltorightchannel.
BackPanel of TransDAC.

LIMITED FIVE YEAR WARRANTY
Sonic Frontiers, Inc. warrants to the purchaser that each
TransDACis free of manufacturing defects fora period of five
(5)years from the date of purchase. Toreceive this warranty,
theoriginalpurchasermustmail to Sonic Frontiers, within thir-
ty (30) days from date of purchase, the enclosed Warranty
RegistrationCardcompleted. Sonic Frontiers, Inc. will then val-
idate the warranty to the original purchaser. This warranty is
subjecttothe following conditions and limitations:
I. Warranty applies only to theoriginal purchaser.
2, This warranty is void and inapplicable if the product has
beenhandled other than in accordancewith the instructions in
thisOwner’sManual,abusedor misused, damaged by accident
or neglect or in being transported, or the defect is due to the
productbeing tampered with, modified or repaired by anyone
other than Sonic Frontiers, Inc. or an authorized Sonic
Frontiers’repairdepot.
3.Warrantydoesnotcovernormal maintenance.
4.Sonic Frontiers, Inc. shall not be responsible in anyway for
consequential or indirect damages or liabilities resulting from
theuse and operation ofthe product covered hereinor result-
ingfrom any breach of this warranty or any impliedwarranty
relatingtosaidproduct.
During this period, Sonic Frontiers, Inc. will repair or replace
any defective components free of charge. A Return
Authorization (RA) Number is required before any product is
returned to our factory for any reason. This number must be
visible on the exterior of the shipping container(s) for Sonic
Frontierstoacceptthereturn.
Unitsshipped to us without a Return Authorization Number or
without a visible RA Number on the exterior of the shipping
containerswillbereturnedto the sender, freight collect.
Unitsto be repaired by Sonic Frontiers, Inc. must besent ship-
ping and insurance prepaid by the original purchaser in the
originalpackingmaterial.Areturned product should be accom-
paniedby a written description of the defect,Repairedunits will
bereturnedby Sonic Frontiers, Inc. shipping and insurance pre-
paid.All other warranties or conditions either written or implied
arevoid.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Water and Moisture - This product should not be used near
water.Do not expose this producttorainormoisture to prevent
fireorshockhazard.
2. Heat - This product should be situated away from heat
sourcessuchasradiators,heat registers, stoves, or other appli-
anceswhichproduceheat.
3. Power Sources - This product should be connected to an
AC power source of the same rated voltage. The engine ship-
pingcontainers will stipulate the AC voltage this unit car oper-
ateon.
4. Cleaning - A regular dusting with a soft, non-abrasive cloth
willgenerallykeepthefinish of the faceplate and chassis look-
inglikenew.Atno time should you allow any liquid to come in
contact with the TransDAC; it may run into the electronic cir-
cuitryandcause damage which will not becoveredunder your
warranty.
5. Servicing- Do not open this product. No user serviceable
partsinside. Refer servicing to an authorized service technician.
6,Non Use Periods - The power cord of this product should be
unplugged from the outlet when left unused for an extended
periodoftime.
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
Under no circumstances does Sonic Frontiers, Inc. assume lia-
bility or responsibility for injury or damages sustained in the
useor operation of this equipment or for damages to any other
equipment connected to it, Sonic Frontiers,Inc. reserves the
right to make design changes or improvements without the
obligationtorevise prior versions. All specifications are subject
tochangewithoutnotice.
Note:
Werecommendthatyouretain all of the packing material and
shippingboxes for your TransDAC. They are custom designed to
preventshipping damage from occurring. Sonic Frontiers, Inc.
will accept no responsibility for any damage occurring to an
TransDAC that is shipped in packing material other than the
originalSonicFrontiers’packingmaterial.

Designinga budget conscious productcan be much more
difficult than designing a cost-no-object, state,of the-art
product.Cost considerations force compromises in a design
that are not necessary with an unlimited budget. Only by
careful testing and listening can it be determined where
designcompromisescausetheleastsonicpenalty,andmore
importantly, where any compromise is intolerable. This
extra care taken to develop the Sonic Frontiers TransDAC
provedworthwhile.This modest unit boasts an exceptional-
lymusicalsound.
Startingwith the power supply, theTransDAC detachable
powercordrunsthroughan AC input RFI/EMI filter to clean
upthe power source and free it of noise, thenfeedingapot-
ted toroidal power transformer, chosen for its minimum
straymagneticfieldsandquiet operation.
Attheheartofthe digital section is two 20 Bit Burr-Brown
PCM1702 DAC modules (one per channel).
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
InputReceiver CrystalCS8412
DigitalFilter NPC5813APT
8XOversampling
D/AConverters Two20 Bit Burr-Brown
PCM1702PJ
FrequencyResponse DC to 20 kHz +0 -0.25 dB
S/NRatio 105dBUnweighted
Crosstalk < -1 00 dB 20 Hz to 20 kHz
THD+N <0.0I%
Thesechips offer low power consumption,low heat dissipa-
tion and a better low-level linearity than the Burr Brown
PCM 63, and can be found in digital processors five times
thepriceoftheTransDAC.
Thedeparture from tubes in the analog output stage isa
new approach for Sonic Frontiers. Analog Devices AD844
and AD847 high speed op amps are implemented to bring
theconverteddigitalsignalto line level signal. Small in size
andpoweruse, the output stage easily fits in a smaller, eco-
nomical chassis while delivering a high level of perfor-
mance.
The Sonic Frontiers TransDAC is a unique addition to the
growingmarket of budget DACS. Aswith all Sonic Frontiers
products the TransDAC offers strong value and extreme
qualitywhile delivering a high level ofmusicality.
Digital Inputs Coaxial(RCA),OpticalToslink
OutputVoltage 1.969VRMS
OutputStage
Analog Devices AD844 & 847
HighSpeedOpAmps
AnalogOutputs IPr.Single-EndedRCA
Dimensions 9.5’ Wide x 7” Deep x 2” High
(24cm x 17.8 cm x 5 cm)
Weight 4.5lb(2.1kg)
Warranty 5YearsPartsandLabour
The Sonic Frontiers TransDAC - big performance in a small
package - and at a small price.
2790 Brighton Road, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, L6H 5T4 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone]