SPL Director User manual

Professional Fidelity
Mastering Grade Listening
VOLTAiR
120V DC A udio Rail
V
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DAC Preamplifier
Director
SOURCE
Director – User Manual
DA Converter and Preamplier
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2
Welcome
and thank you for choosing the Director.
The Director combines two units in one: a reference-class preamplifier with six inputs ( x analog and  x digital)
and both balanced and unbalanced outputs as well as a reference-class DA converter for PCM up to  kHz and
up to Double Rate DSD (DSD).
VOLTAiR technology is what we also call the SPL V Rail Technology within the Professional Fidelity series. This
makes the Director an outstandig device in terms of dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio and headroom delivering an
exceptional sound experience with invincible serenity, transparancy and realness.
VOLTAiR
120V DC Audio R ail
V
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L
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ON
DAC Preamplifier
Director
SOURCE
RISK OF ELEC TRIC SHO CK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION
RISQUEDE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE
NE PAS OUVRIR
ATTENTION
USB
AES
OPTICAL
COAX
IR
L
R
L
R
L
12
ANALOG < SOURCES > DIGITAL
1 ON: RCA Di rect Out
2 ON: XLR Di rect Out 5 ON: Ref +15dB 6 ON: Ref +18dB
3 ON: Zero f lag auto-m ute enabled
4 ON: RCA In -10d BV to 0dBuON BOTTOM SIDE:
DIP SWITCHES
Made in
Germany
OUT OUT R OUT L
R
B
A
Voltage Se lection: 1. Re move Fuse Hold er
2. Excha nge Fuses 3. Fl ip Over 4. Rei nstall
~115V A C/~230V A C, 50 Hz/60 Hz, P max . 45 W
Fuses: 23 0 V: T 500mA L 250V, 115 V: T 1 A L 250V
AMP CTL
IR
PGM IR PGM
SOURCE
VOLUME
Refer to
Manual

Content
Getting started 
Front view 
Rear view 
Bottom view 
DIP switches 
VOLTAiR – V Rail Technology 
Comparisons 
Operation 
Source Selection 
Volume 
IR Remote Control 
Volume 
Source Selection 
AMP CTL (Amplifier Control) 
DIP switches 
Slave Thru 
Digital  
RCA input HiFi level / Studio level 
Reference level DA converter 
Specifications 
Inputs and Outputs 
Analog inputs 
Digital inputs/sample rates 
Outputs 
Measurements 
Internal Voltages 
Power supply 
Dimensions (incl. feet) 
Weight 
Important Notes 
Declaration of CE Conformity 

4
Getting started
Getting started
Read thoroughly and follow the instructions as well as the security advices of the Quickstart
which is enclosed in the scope of delivery! You can also download the Quickstart here.
By pressing the -Button you get to the table of contents.
By pressing the -Button you get to the front view of the unit.
By pressing the -Button you get to the rear view of the unit.
By pressing the -Button you get to the bottom view of the unit.
By pressing the -Button you get to the previous content.

5
Front view
Front view
VOLTAiR
120V DC A udio Rail
V
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ON
DAC Preamplifier
Director
SOURCE
Power LED
6

6
Rear view
Rear view
RISK OF E LECTRI C SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION
RISQUE DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE
NE PAS OUVRIR
ATTENTION
USB
AES
OPTICAL
COAX
IR
L
R
L
R
L
12
ANALOG < SOURCES > DIGITAL
1 ON: RCA Direct Out
2 ON: XLR Direct Out 5 ON: Ref +15dB 6 ON: Ref +18dB
3 ON: Zero flag auto-mute enabled
4 ON: RCA In -10dBV to 0dBuON BOTTOM SIDE:
DIP SWITCHES
Made in
Germany
OUT OUT R OUT L
R
B
A
Voltage Selection: 1. Remove Fuse Holder
2. Exchange Fuses 3. Flip Over 4. Reinstall
~115 V AC/~230 V AC, 50 Hz/60 Hz, P max. 45 W
Fuses: 230 V: T 500mA L 250V, 115 V: T 1 A L 250V
AMP CTL
IR
PGM IR PGM
SOURCE
VOLUME
Refer to
Manual
Digital Audio Inputs
7
Mains Switch 11
Mains Voltage 10 Analog Audio Inputs
8
Analog Audio Outputs
14

7
Bottom view
Bottom view
DIP switches
Factory setting

8
VOLTAiR – 120V Rail Technology
VOLTAiR – V Rail Technology
VOLTAiR is the synonym for our V Rail Technology within the Professional Fidelity series. The audio signals are
processed with an unequalled +/-V DC, which corresponds to twice that of discrete operational amplifiers and
four-times that of semiconductor operational amplifiers.
VOLTAiR Technology reaches outstanding technical and sonic performances. Technically especially in terms of
dynamic range and headroom and sonically especially in reproducing the finest details and delivering a totally
relaxed sounding audio experience. Music sounds absolutely natural.

9
VOLTAiR – 120V Rail Technology
Comparisons
These diagrams show how our VOLTAiR Technology compares to other circuits.
The direct relation between operating level and maximum level is fundamental for the classification: the higher
the operating level, the higher the maximum level a circuit can handle. And since virtually all essential acoustic
and musical parameters depend on this relation, a higher operating voltage also has a positive impact on the
dynamic range, distortion limit and signal-to-noise ratio.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Volt
30 V 36 V
120 V
+ / -  Volt + / -  Volt + / - Volt
Operating Voltage
120
125
130
135
140
145
dB
124,2
129,1
141,4
OPA @ V OPA @ V SPL- OP@ V
Dynamic Range

10
VOLTAiR – 120V Rail Technology
Do bear in mind that dB scales do not represent linear but rather exponential increases. A dB increase corre-
sponds to doubling the acoustic power, +dB correspond to twice the sound pressure level, and +dB corre-
spond to twice the perceived loudness.
When it comes to volume, the VOLTAiR Technology exhibits a performance, in regard to maximum level and dynamic
range, that is twice that of common components and circuits given that its values are approximately dB higher.
THD measurements show a difference of more than dB compared to the OPA at V — in terms of sound
pressure level, that corresponds to an improvement of more than %. The operating level most commonly used for
audio equipment is +/-  volts.
Max. Audio Level
OPA @ V OPA @ V SPL- O P@ V
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
dBu
21,5 22,5
33,2
TL @ V OPA @ V SPL- O P@ V
-115
-113
-111
-109
-107
-105
dBu
-106
-111,7
-114,2
THD&N