Sonnet Morpheus User manual

Sonnet MORPHEUS
Morpheus owner’s manual
Updated 10-11-2019

Sonnet MORPHEUS
Introduction
Dear Customer,
What more can you do a ter a long period o launching one o the best dacs available today? The idea o having similar high end sound like the
older top designs but in an a ordable version! Introducing Morpheus by Sonnet Digital Audio, a power ul Digital Pre Ampli ier , a product that is
comparable to others with a price that is twice as high! The biggest di erence between his predecessors is the act that the Morpheus is based
on a new generation o R2R ladder dacs, using improved orward correction technology. The amount o energy as used in earlier models was
unacceptable as it orced our designers to use huge power supplies and larger areas or electronics. Now by using the new SDA-2 dac module
power requirements has decreased by a third. This reduction leads to lesser heat and there ore more R2R ladders can be used on a smaller
area. By placing these modules in upright position even more space was available so as a result we were able to use our modules.
As the SDA-2 module is using our R2R ladder networks in balanced mode, a total o sixteen R2R ladders are involved to give the Morpheus top
per ormance. Needless to say that we use Non Oversampling techniques. Our own designed and engineered DAC chips will guarantee a unique
listening experience! The result o this process is an extremely high linearity, right down to -144 dB, which gives the Morpheus a realistic 24 bit
dynamic range. Due to new technology as used or the Volume control, the Morpheus can be used in both “variable” or “ ixed mode”. As a result
the Morpheus can be used as a digital pre ampli ier and driving power ampli iers directly without intervention o a normal pre ampli ier or as a
normal dac having a ixed output level . Due to this new approach the Morpheus is a step orwards as it omits all electronics as used or a
normal pre-ampli ier. It is musical, honors the Non-oversampling principle and simultaneously incorporating the technological progress that has
been made over the years while developing our products.
We wish you many years o enjoyment experiencing music!
You’re sincerely
Sonnet Digital Audio

Sonnet MORPHEUS
Sa ety Instructions
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read Instructions.
2. Keep these Instructions.
3. Heed all Warnings.
4. Follow all Instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with a dry cloth.
7. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including ampli iers) that produce heat.
8. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused or long periods o time.
9. Re er all servicing to quali ied service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus
has been damaged in any way, such as a power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has
been spilled or objects have allen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to
rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
10. The Morpheus pre ampli ier must be placed on a irm, level sur ace where it is not exposed to dripping or splashing.
11. Be ore making connections to the dac, ensure that the power is o and other components
are in mute or stand-by mode. Make sure all cable terminations are o the highest quality,
ree rom rayed ends, short circuits, or cold solder joints.
12. THERE ARE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE THE "Morpheus" pre ampli ier.
Please contact Sonnet Digital Audio i you have any questions not addressed in this guide.
13. Sonnet Digital Audio cannot be held accountable and/or responsible or any orm o damage or health issues in licted to you, other people,
pets, companies and non-living objects, that are caused by any orm o usage o the product which is not described in this manual.
14.By actually using this product and turning it on or the irst time, you agree to these terms

Sonnet MORPHEUS
Connecting
Cautio ! Please co ect your i terco ects first before co ecti g the mai s power cable!
Power requireme ts: Check i the product is made con orm the power requirements o your area. On the back side the product is marked or
the speci ic mains voltage.
Optical i put: Use an optical (Toslink) cable to use the optical input. The optical input can be used or sampling rates up to 96 kHz.
Coaxial i put: A 75 Ohm coaxial cable should be used to connect the dac to other digital equipment. To avoid ground loops it has a galvanic
isolation and can handle a maximum sample rate o 192 kHz

Sonnet MORPHEUS
Connecting
USB i put: Use an USB cable to connect the dac to your computer. Only when using a Windows operating system you should install special
drivers. In case o Linux or MAC no drivers are required. The USB input can handle sampling rates up to 384 kHz.
(For installing drivers or PC , Linux or MAC, we re er to the website o the USB manu acturer https://amanero.com/drivers.htm )
RCA outputs: Standard interlinks can be used to connect the dac to your ampli ier. The "Morpheus" is designed con orm the "Red book
standard" so the maximum output will be 2 Volts RMS . Your (pre)ampli ier should handle this output levels.
XLR outputs: Standard XLR line cables should be used to connect the dac to your (pre) ampli ier. The "Morpheus" is designed con orm the
"Red book standard" so the maximum output or the XLR output will be 4 Volts RMS. Your (pre)ampli ier should handle this output levels.
Mai s i let: Use a power cable to a grounded power outlet.
Remote switch: Depending the type o power ampli ier it is possible to switch it “On” or “O ” by using one or both o the remote switches. For
connection a 3 pole XLR mini connector can be used and depending the way your power ampli ier should be powered, it can be wired
accordingly. The ollowing connections are available:
A) Commo
B) Normally closed whe Morpheus is switched off.
C) Normally ope whe Morpheus is switched off.

Sonnet MORPHEUS
Operating
Remark: When the Morpheus is ully connected and switched to ”on” or the very irst time, the volume will be set to -40dB. Every time when
the Morpheus is removed rom mains, this setting is coming back and is built in to avoid excessive volume levels in case that the unit is used as
a digital pre ampli ier. During normal use the unit will remember his last setting. When using the Morpheus in conjunction with a normal analog
pre ampli ier it can be used in “Fixed mode” In Fixed mode the Morpheus will give a ixed output level, based on user preset value. In ixed
mode the user setting will be stored in memory and always remembered, also a ter removing the unit rom mains.

Sonnet MORPHEUS
Operating
Sta dby positio : To reduce power, the dac mother board will be switched “O ” in stand-by mode. Just the ront panel is activated to control
the system. Power consumption will be reduced to 0.5 Watts. Any control is possible by using the ront power button or the remote control.
Source selectio : The digital inputs can be selected by pressing the source button at the ront . When switching the Morpheus to “On”, the irst
channel (Coax) will be selected. When pressing this button repeatedly, the next “AES/EBU ” input will be selected ollowed by “Optical” and
“USB”. The next step is back to “Coax” again. In case o using the remote control, source selection can be done in two directions.
Volume co trol: The volume control is a so called rotary encoder so it has no end stops like a normal potentiometer. By turning the volume
knob, the output level will be changed in steps o + or - 1 dB. A ter reaching a level o -64 dB the Morpheus will automatically switch to mute
mode. Increasing the volume level will disable the mute setting. In case that the Morpheus is set or “ ixed output level” the volume knob has no
unction except the “mute unction”. The volume level is visible on the ront panel display by exact Decibel level and a thermometer scale. In
ixed mode the display tells you the ixed user setting like -10dBF The “F” stands or ixed.
Mute fu ctio : By pressing the volume knob the Morpheus will switch into ‘’mute mode’’ Pressing the volume knob again brings back the
actual volume level. The mute status is visible on the ront panel display.
Error i dicatio : When no digital data is coming in, the ront panel display will show “NO DATA ”

Sonnet MORPHEUS
Menu settings
E ter the me u setti gs
The menu settings are accessible by pressing both source and power buttons simultaneously. The ollowing settings are available:
Variable /Fixed volume By de ault the Morpheus is set or variable volume setting . In the menu this can be set to a ixed level and is based on
the last volume setting. So in case that the volume level was set or -10dB the Morpheus can be used as a normal dac having a ixed level o
-10dB. Especially in case o very sensitive pre-ampli iers this setting can avoid overload o the ampli ier input circuitry . When the Morpheus is
switched to “O ” this setting is still in the memory and comes back when the Morpheus is switched to “On” . Even when the Morpheus is
disconnected rom mains this ixed setting will be remembered.
First set your volume or the desired volume setting. To set the Morpheus to “ ixed” mode press both ront panel buttons on the Morpheus
simultaneously to enter the menu mode. The ollowing display will be visible:
Rotate the Volume knob clockwise until the display shows the “On” status. Next press the volume knob to enter this new setting into the
memory.

Sonnet MORPHEUS
Menu settings
The new setting will be visible and were the “F” stands or “Fixed” Leave the menu by pressing the ront panel source button.
Back light By de ault the back light o the display is switched to “on”. By entering this menu setting, the user can select that the display is “On”
only in case o an event like changing volume or selecting a source, but will switched “O ” a ter the time set by the user . The time that the
display is “on” can be changed rom 1 to 60 seconds. To set the display “On time” press both ront panel buttons on the Morpheus
simultaneously to enter the menu mode. The volume setting is the irst item visible. Now use the source button on the ront o the Morpheus
only ones to enter the display mode. The ollowing display will be visible:
Rotating the volume knob clockwise tells the number o seconds that the display remains “On” . Push the volume knob until the right “On time”
is ound. The set volume level is stored in the memory o the Morpheus.

Sonnet MORPHEUS
Menu settings
DSP fu ctio s Options like MQA or other DSP modules are detected automatically when installed but can be bypassed in the menu. By
de ault the “MQA/DSP” option is switched to “On” . To set the “MQA/DSP” to “O ” press both ront panel buttons on the Morpheus
simultaneously to enter the menu mode. The volume setting is the irst item visible. Now use the source button on the ront o the Morpheus
twice to enter the “MQA/DSP ”mode. The ollowing display will be visible:
Turn the volume knob counter clockwise to switch the “MQA/DSP” unction to O . Rotating the volume knob clockwise will activate
the “MQA/DSP” setting again. Press the volume knob to enter this setting in the memory o the Morpheus.
Leave the menu by pressing the source button on the ront panel o the Morpheus.