T+A MP 2500 R User manual

Software Version V 1.1 Order number 9103-0537 UK

USER MANUAL
R-SERIES 2000
MP 2500 R

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Welcome.
We are delighted that you have decided to purchase a product. With your new MP 2500 R you have acquired a top-
quality piece of equipment which has been designed and developed with the wishes of the audiophile music lover as
absolute top priority.
This system represents our very best efforts at designing practical electronic equipment incorporating solid quality, user-
friendly operation and a specification and performance which leaves nothing to be desired.
All these factors contribute to a piece of equipment which will satisfy your highest demands and your most searching
requirements for a period of many years. All the components we use meet the German and European safety norms and
standards which are currently valid. All the materials we use are subject to painstaking quality monitoring.
At all stages of production we avoid the use of substances which are environmentally unsound or potentially hazardous to
health, such as chlorine-based cleaning agents and CFCs.
We also aim to avoid the use of plastics in general, and PVC in particular, in the design of our products. Instead we rely
upon metals and other non-hazardous materials; metal components are ideal for recycling, and also provide effective
electrical screening.
Our robust all-metal cases exclude any possibility of external sources of interference affecting the quality of reproduction.
From the opposite point of view our products’ electro-magnetic radiation (electro-smog) is reduced to an absolute
minimum by the outstandingly effective screening provided by the metal case.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the faith you have shown in our company by purchasing this pro-
duct, and wish you many hours of enjoyment and sheer listening pleasure with your MP 2500 R.
elektroakustik GmbH & Co KG
License Notice
This product contains software in form of object code that is partially based on free software under different licenses,
especially the GNU General Public License. You can find details on this in the License Information which you should
have received with this product.
If you have not received a copy of the GNU General Public License, please see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.
For a period of three years after last distribution of this product or its firmware, T+A offer the right to any third party to
obtain a complete machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code on physical storage medium (DVD-ROM or
USB stick) for a charge of 20€. To obtain such copy of the source code, please write to the following address including
information about product model and firmware version: T+A elektroakustik, Planckstr. 9-11, 32052 Herford, Germany.
The GPL license and further information about Licenses can be found on the internet under this link:
http://www.ta-hifi.com/license-information
Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other
countries, used with permission. aptX is a trademark of Qualcomm Technologies International,
Ltd., registered in the United States and other countries, used with permission

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About these instructions
All the controls and functions of the MP 2500 R which are frequently used are described in the first section of these
operating instructions.
The second part 'Basic settings, Installation, Using the system for the first time' covers connections and settings
which are very seldom required; they are generally required only when the machine is set up and used for the first time.
Here you will also find a detailed description of the network settings required for connecting the MP 2500 R to your home
network.
Symbols used in these instructions

Caution!
Text passages marked with this symbol contain important information which must be observed if the
machine is to operate safely and without problems.

This symbol marks text passages which provide supplementary notes and background information; they
are intended to help the user understand how to get the best out of the machine.
Notes on software updates
Many features of the MP 2500 R are software based. Updates and new features will be made available from time to time.
The update process takes only a few minutes. See the chapter entitled “Software update” for how to update your device
via the internet connection.
We recommend you to check for updates before using your MP 2500 R for the first time. To keep your device up to date
you should check for updates from time to time.
IMPORTANT! CAUTION!
This product contains a laser diode of higher class than 1. To ensure continued safety, do not remove any covers or
attempt to gain access to the inside of the product.
Refer all servicing to qualified personnel.
CLASS 1
LASER PRODUCT

The operation instructions, the connection guidance and the safety notes are for your own good -
please read them carefully and observe them at all times. The operating instructions are an integral
part of this device. If you ever transfer the product to a new owner please be sure to pass them on to
the purchaser to guard against incorrect operation and possible hazards.

All the components we use meet the German and European safety norms and standards which are
currently valid. This product complies with the EU directives. The declaration of conformity can be
downloaded from www.ta-hifi.com/DoC.

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Contents Page
Introduction..................................................................................................................................9
PCM and DSD.....................................................................................................................................................9
MP 2500 R and DSD...........................................................................................................................................9
MP 2500 R and PCM...........................................................................................................................................9
Front panel controls ..................................................................................................................10
Remote control...........................................................................................................................14
Basic settings of the MP 2500 R...............................................................................................16
Calling up and operating the menu....................................................................................................................16
Source names....................................................................................................................................................17
Display Brightness.............................................................................................................................................17
Display Mode.....................................................................................................................................................17
Language...........................................................................................................................................................17
Device name......................................................................................................................................................17
Energy Saver.....................................................................................................................................................18
Network..............................................................................................................................................................18
Music services...................................................................................................................................................18
Bandwidth limit...................................................................................................................................................18
FD 100 pairing...................................................................................................................................................19
Device Info.........................................................................................................................................................19
D/A Converter Settings..............................................................................................................20
Calling up and operating the D/A converter options...........................................................................................20
Oversampling (OVS)..........................................................................................................................................20
Output phase.....................................................................................................................................................20
Selecting sources in an integrated system .............................................................................21
Operating the sources in detail ................................................................................................21
Operation with the FM1000 remote control........................................................................................................21
Operation of the MP 2500 R with controls on the front panel of the device .......................................................21
Favourites lists........................................................................................................................................22
General information...........................................................................................................................................22
Calling up the Favourites list..............................................................................................................................22
Adding a favourite..............................................................................................................................................22
Erasing a favourite from the Favourites list........................................................................................................22
Selecting a favourite from the list.......................................................................................................................23
Directly selecting a favourite..............................................................................................................................23
Sorting Favourites lists ......................................................................................................................................23
Operating the radio.................................................................................................................................24
FM –Radio ...........................................................................................................................................................24
Selecting FM radio.............................................................................................................................................24
Display...............................................................................................................................................................24
Manual station search........................................................................................................................................24
Automatic station search ...................................................................................................................................25
Selecting a station from the Station list..............................................................................................................25
RDS functions....................................................................................................................................................25
Switching Radio Text on and off ........................................................................................................................26
Mono / Stereo....................................................................................................................................................26
DAB - Radio..........................................................................................................................................................26
Selecting DAB radio...........................................................................................................................................26
Display...............................................................................................................................................................26
Automatic station search ...................................................................................................................................27

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Selecting a station from the Station list............................................................................................................. 27
RDS functions................................................................................................................................................... 27
Internet-Radio ..................................................................................................................................................... 28
Selecting Internet Radio as source ................................................................................................................... 28
Selecting podcasts............................................................................................................................................ 28
Playback ........................................................................................................................................................... 28
Front panel display............................................................................................................................................ 29
Search function................................................................................................................................................. 29
Operating music services...................................................................................................................... 30
General information .......................................................................................................................................... 30
Selecting the music service............................................................................................................................... 30
Playback ........................................................................................................................................................... 30
Search function................................................................................................................................................. 31
Playlists and favourites ..................................................................................................................................... 31
Front panel display............................................................................................................................................ 31
Operating the SCL source (Streaming Client)..................................................................................... 32
General information on the streaming client...................................................................................................... 32
Selecting the SCL source.................................................................................................................................. 32
Playback ........................................................................................................................................................... 32
Playback of directories...................................................................................................................................... 33
Search function................................................................................................................................................. 33
Front panel display............................................................................................................................................ 33
Playing USB memory media (USB Media source) .............................................................................. 34
General information .......................................................................................................................................... 34
Selecting USB Media as source........................................................................................................................ 34
Playback ........................................................................................................................................................... 34
Playback of directories...................................................................................................................................... 35
Search function................................................................................................................................................. 35
Front panel display............................................................................................................................................ 35
Operating the Disc player...................................................................................................................... 36
Selecting the CD player as source.................................................................................................................... 36
Inserting a CD................................................................................................................................................... 36
Front panel display............................................................................................................................................ 36
Playing a CD..................................................................................................................................................... 37
Variations.......................................................................................................................................................... 37
Track Select...................................................................................................................................................... 37
During playback ................................................................................................................................................ 37
Playback mode ................................................................................................................................................. 37
Special features with Super Audio CD (SACD)................................................................................... 38
General information........................................................................................................................................ 38
Setting the preferred layer ............................................................................................................................. 38
Screen display................................................................................................................................................. 38
Playback Program............................................................................................................................................... 39
Creating a Playback Program........................................................................................................................... 39
Playing a playback program.............................................................................................................................. 39
Erasing a playback program ............................................................................................................................. 39
Operating the Bluetooth source ........................................................................................................... 40
Selecting the Bluetooth Audio source ............................................................................................................... 40
Setting up audio transfer................................................................................................................................... 40
Playback functions............................................................................................................................................ 40
Controlling the MP 2500 R................................................................................................................................ 41
NOTES ............................................................................................................................................................. 41
The MP 2500 R as D/A Converter.......................................................................................................... 42
General Information on ..................................................................................................................................... 42
D/A Converter Operation................................................................................................................................... 42
Selecting a........................................................................................................................................................ 42
D/A Converter Source....................................................................................................................................... 42
USB DAC operation in detail................................................................................................................. 43

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System-requirements.........................................................................................................................................43
Installing drivers.................................................................................................................................................43
Settings..............................................................................................................................................................43
Notes on............................................................................................................................................................43
software.............................................................................................................................................................43
Notes on............................................................................................................................................................43
operation............................................................................................................................................................43
Notes on setting up............................................................................................................................................43
Installation, Using the system for the first time, Safety notes..............44
Back panel connections............................................................................................................45
Installation and wiring...............................................................................................................47
Loudspeaker and signal cables .........................................................................................................................48
Mains cables and mains filters...........................................................................................................................48
Changing the batteries.......................................................................................................................................48
Care of the unit..................................................................................................................................................48
Storing the unit...................................................................................................................................................48
Safety notes................................................................................................................................49
Installation .........................................................................................................................................................49
Connection.........................................................................................................................................................49
Power supply.....................................................................................................................................................49
Mains leads / Mains plug...................................................................................................................................49
Enclosure openings...........................................................................................................................................49
Supervision of device operation.........................................................................................................................49
Service, Damage...............................................................................................................................................49
Over voltage ......................................................................................................................................................50
Approved usage................................................................................................................................................50
..................................................................................................................................................................50
Approval and conformity with EC directives....................................................................................................50
Disposing of this product ...................................................................................................................................50
FCC Information to the user ..............................................................................................................................50
Network Configuration ..............................................................................................................51
General Information...........................................................................................................................................51
Compatible hardware and UPnP servers...........................................................................................................51
Network settings menu ......................................................................................................................................51
Opening the network settings menu...................................................................................................................51
Operating the nenu, changing and storing IP addresses...................................................................................51
Closing the menu...............................................................................................................................................52
Interrupting the menu without storing the settings .............................................................................................52
The Configuration for a Wired Ethernet LAN or Power-Line LAN connection...............................................53
Setting the Parameters for a Wired Network......................................................................................................53
The Configuration for a WLAN connection.......................................................................................................54
Setting the parameters for a wireless network...................................................................................................54
Selecting and connecting a WLAN by hand......................................................................................................54
Searching for and Selecting the Network...........................................................................................................54
Entering the Password (for encoded networks) .................................................................................................54
Storing Network Settings and Restarting...........................................................................................................54
Connecting to WLAN via the WPS-function......................................................................................................55
WPS-function.....................................................................................................................................................55
Connecting WLAN automatically via the WPS function .....................................................................................55
Selecting the WLAN manually and conneting via WPS .....................................................................................55
FD 100 Radio Remote Control (optional).................................................................................56
Connecting the radio aerial................................................................................................................................56
Pairing the FD 100.............................................................................................................................................56

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Firmware update.........................................................................................................................57
Glossary / Supplementary Information ....................................................................................58
Technical description Digital filters / Oversampling...............................................................59
Network Terminology.................................................................................................................61
Trouble shooting........................................................................................................................63
Appendix A .................................................................................................................................67
Wiring diagram.................................................................................................................................................... 67
Appendix B .................................................................................................................................70
Specification ....................................................................................................................................................... 70

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Introduction
PCM and DSD
Two competing formats are available in the form of PCM and DSD, both of
which are used to store audio signals at very high resolution and quality. Each
of these formats has its own specific advantages. A vast amount has been
written about the relative merits of these two formats, and we have no intention
of participating in the dispute, much of which is less than objective in nature.
Instead we consider it our task to develop equipment which reproduces both
formats as effectively as possible, and exploits the strengths of each system to
the full.
Our many years of experience with both systems have clearly shown that PCM
and DSD cannot just be lumped together; it is essential to treat each format
separately, and take their specific requirements into account. This applies both
at the digital and analogue level.
For this reason the MP 2500 R employs two separate digital sections and two
D/A converter sections - each optimised for one format.
MP 2500 R and DSD
By its nature the DSD format involves a noise floor which rises above the range
of human hearing as frequency rises. Although this noise floor is not directly
audible, it does subject the treble units in the loudspeakers to a significant load.
It is also possible for the high-frequency noise to cause distortion in many low-
bandwidth amplifiers.
The lower the DSD sampling rate, the more severe the inherent noise, and it
cannot be disregarded, especially with the DSD64 format - as used on the
SACD. As the DSD sampling rate rises, the high-frequency noise becomes
increasingly insignificant, and with DSD256 it is virtually irrelevant. In the past it
has been standard practice to apply digital and analogue filtering processes in
an attempt to reduce DSD noise, but such solutions are never entirely without
side-effects on sound quality. For the MP 2500 R we have developed two
special techniques designed to eliminate the sonic disadvantages:
1.) The True-DSD technique, consisting of a direct digital signal path
without filtering and noise-shaping, plus our True 1-bit DSD D/A converter
2.) Analogue reconstruction filter with automatic bandwidth selection.
MP 2500 R and PCM
The PCM process makes extremely high-resolution sampling values available:
up to 32 bits. However, the sampling rate of PCM is significantly lower than that
of DSD, and the spacing in terms of time between the sampling values is
greater.
This means that it is extremely important with PCM to employ maximum
possible precision when converting the high resolution into analogue signals.
Here at our answer was to develop quadruple D/A converters which
provide a four-fold improvement in accuracy over conventional converters. A
further very important aspect of PCM reproduction is to reconstruct the curve of
the original analogue signal between the sampling points with great accuracy,
since these points are much more widely spaced in comparison with DSD. To
this end the MP 2500 R employs a polynomial interpolation process (Bezier-
Spline interpolation) developed in-house at , which in mathematical terms
delivers the smoothest curve for a given number of reference points (sampling
points). The output signal generated by Bezier interpolation exhibits a very
“natural” shape, devoid of the digital artefacts - such as pre- and post-oscillation
- which are usually produced by the standard oversampling process. More
detailed information on this can be found in the chapter “Technical
description, oversampling / up-sampling”

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Front panel controls
All the important functions of the MP 2500 R can be controlled using the buttons and the rotary knob on the front panel.
Direct-acting buttons are provided for fundamental functions such as source select. Functions which are needed less
frequently are controlled using a menu which is called up by pressing the button.
All information relating to the machine’s state are displayed on the integral screen. The following section explains the
functions of the buttons on the machine, and the information provided on the screen.
 On / Off switch

A brief press on the button switches the unit on and off.


In Comfort Standby mode the button of the MP 2500 R glows dimly to
indicate its state of readiness. In Eco Standby mode the button is not
lit. (see chapter ‘Basic settings of the MP 2500 R')

Caution!
The mains button is not an isolation switch. Certain parts of the machine remain
connected to mains voltage even when the screen is switched off and dark. If
you know you will not be using the machine for a long period, we recommend
that you disconnect it from the mains by withdrawing the mains plugs from the
wall socket.
 Source selection
  SRC
Pressing one of these buttons selects the desired listening source. Press one of
these buttons repeatedly if neccessary until the desired listening source appears
on the screen.
 CD drawer
The drawer is opened and closed by pressing the button.
If you press the / button after placing the CD in the machine,
the drawer closes and playback starts with the first track.
The open drawer also closes if you enter the number of a track using the remote
control handset.