e20 Digital to Analogue Converter DSD 256 Fs / 12.288 MHz DXD 32bit / 352.8 kHz PCM 32 bit / 384 kHz Owner’s Manual (Windows) PLEASE READ BEFORE OPERATION REV. 1.0.
Table of Contents Table of Contents.......................................................................................................... 2 Safety Information ....................................................................................................... 4 Explanation of Graphical Symbols ............................................................................................................ 4 Important Safety Instructions .....................................................................
PC System Requirements ........................................................................................................................ 14 Windows ASIO Driver Installation ........................................................................................................... 14 Configuring Audio Player with ASIO Output ........................................................................................... 16 Using the e20 DAC .................................................................
Safety Information Explanation of Graphical Symbols 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.
• • • • • Unplug the power adapter if you are not going to use the device for an extended period of time. Hold the power adapter when unplugging. Do not pull on the cord. The power adapter is used as the mechanism for cutting off power, therefore make sure it is easy to unplug. To ensure proper ventilation around this product, do not place this product on a sofa, bed or rug. High temperature will lead to abnormal operation of this device.
This product, when no longer usable, when disposed off can’t be treated as generic garbage, but must be disposed of at a collection point for recycling of electrical and electronic equipment, in compliance with the WEEE regulation (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment). By making sure that this unit is correctly recycled, you will help preventing potential damages to environment and human health, which could be caused by the incorrect treatment of this product as generic garbage.
Welcome Thank you for purchasing the exaSound e20 DAC! The e20 Mk II is the first high-end DAC capable of achieving DSD playback at sampling rate of 11.2896 MHz. e20 Mk III introduces another first - DSD 256 Fs at 12.2888 MHz. In addition to offering the highest digital audio resolution, the e20 DAC has jitter, distortion and noise levels that are vanishingly low, creating an astonishingly clean and analog-like sound.
Quick Start Package Contents The following items should be in the box: • e20 DAC • Power supply • Mini A-B USB cable • IR Remote Control Proper Device Placement Place the device on a stable solid base, far from heat sources. Do not expose the device to direct sunlight. Allow at least 2.5 cm (1'') around the device for ventilation. Do not place the device on fabrics, inside enclosed space, or in contact with curtains. Do not place the device on top of power amplifiers or any other equipment that emits heat.
Rear Panel Connectors Coaxial SPDIF IN 1 USB IN XLR Line Outputs Optical SPDIF IN 2 Power Adapter Connector SPDIF IN1 - Coaxial SPDIF Input SPDIF IN2 - Optical TOSLINK SPDIF Input DC 12V / 0.
Features The e20 DAC is based on the ES9018 Sabre32 reference DAC chip. It delivers 32-bit precision capable of resolving the smallest signal details. The chip features patented 32-bit Hyperstream™ architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator. ES9018 delivers the industry’s highest performance levels that will satisfy the most demanding audio enthusiasts. Windows ASIO Driver Advantages Using ASIO brings unique advantages that are hard to achieve and reliably verify with other Windows driver technologies.
Connecting and Powering the e20 DAC Before connecting, turn off the power to all the components in your system. Connecting the Digital Inputs All digital inputs are galvanically isolated to eliminate ground loop noise. The e20 DAC accepts three digital inputs • USB - This is the recommended and most capable input. It supports 2 channels PCM up to 32 bit resolution at standard sampling frequencies from 44.1 kHz to 384 kHz, and DSD from 2.8224 MHz to 12.288 MHz (e20 MK III).
Analogue Interconnect Recommendations Over-engineered interconnects made from exotic materials are unnecessary. When selecting cables, the following characteristics are important: • Reliable electrical contact • Low resistance • Robust mechanical design Remember that cables act as filters. The shorter the cable, the more transparent your system will be.
Remote Control Setup The e20 DAC is pre-programmed to work with the supplied remote control. If you like, you can reprogram the e20 DAC to work with a different IR remote control. The exaSound e20 DAC can be trained to recognise commands from most infrared remote controls using Sony and NEC IR protocols. Use the following procedure to change remote control button assignments or to pair the e20 DAC with a different remote control: 1. Power on the e20 DAC. Make sure that the unit is not in playback mode. 2.
Windows Drivers Setup PC System Requirements • • • • Operating systems: o Windows 8 x86 or Windows 8 x64 o Windows Server 2012 R2 o Windows 7, 32 or 64 bit o Windows XP / 32 bit with the latest service packs installed USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 interface 2 GB of RAM 10 GB disk space, mainly for music files Windows ASIO Driver Installation The first step required in the Windows setup process is to install the exaSound ASIO driver: 1. Don’t connect the e20 DAC to the PC until the driver is installed.
4. Connect the e20 DAC. You should see a pop-up message on the computer screen indicating that e20 DAC is successfully installed. Note that this message has a different appearance on Windows XP and Windows 7. Windows 8 may not display the message at all. 5. Upon completion of the Windows ASIO driver installation you will see the exaSound e20 Dashboard Icon in the System Tray area next to the clock.
6. If you don't see it, right-click on the clock and select Customize Notification Icons from the menu. 7. Scroll down to the exaSound e20 Dashboard icon and from the dropdown select Show icon and notifications. Click OK. 8. You should be able to see the exaSound e20 Dashboard icons at all times. The Icon changes to indicate playback, and displays an exclamation mark when the USB cable is disconnected: exaSound Dashboard Stop Icon Play Icon USB Cable Disconnected Icon 9.
Using the e20 DAC Computer Playback Using the Asynchronous USB Input Before turning your amplifiers ON, always check the e20 DAC front panel to make sure that the volume level is below -25dB. • The e20 DAC can be controlled from the front panel buttons, using an IR remote control or from the computer screen. Make sure that all cables are connected. Turn on the unit using the Power button on the front panel of the remote control. The front panel display will light up.
Volume Control The e20 DAC volume is controlled by the ES9018 DAC chip. It is completely independent from the Windows software volume control and it preserves the maximum possible signal to noise ratio. The volume level changes in steps of 0.5 dB. At first power on, the volume level is set to -40dB. When the dashboard is closed it remembers the volume level settings. Use the sliders on the exaSound e20 Dashboard window to control the volume for individual channels, and the master volume.
Playing Music from SPDIF Sources The e20 DAC makes it possible to enjoy greatly improved level of sonic clarity and fidelity from SPDIF sources. The sonic improvement is the result of the outstanding jitter cancelling capability, superb signal to noise ratio, and low distortion levels of the e20 DAC. You can connect up to two SPDIF devices, such as disk players and wireless music servers. To use SPDIF sources: 1.
Specifications D/A Converter IC: ESS Technology ES9018S Sabre32 Reference DAC PCM Sampling Rates Asynchronous USB ASIO 44.1kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 352.8 kHz, 384 kHz e20 DSD Sampling Rates Asynchronous USB ASIO DSD 64 Fs: 2.8224 MHz DSD 128 Fs: 5.6448 MHz, e20 Mk II DSD 64 Fs: 2.8224 MHz DSD 128 Fs: 5.6448 MHz DSD 256 Fs: 11.2896 MHz e20 Mk III DSD 64 Fs: 2.8224 MHz 3.072 MHz DSD 128 Fs: 5.6448 MHz 6.144 MHz DSD 256 Fs: 11.2896 MHz 12.
Number of channels 2 Windows 8 x86, Windows 8 x64, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 7 x86; Windows 7 x64; Windows XP x86 Operating System Requirement (ASIO Compatible Player required for all Windows platforms) Mac OS X Mavericks, OS X Yosemite Digital Volume Control Steps 0.5 dB Volume Matching between Channels Better than 0.
Limited One Year Warranty exaSound Devices are warranted against defective workmanship or materials for one (1) calendar year from the original date of purchase. This warranty applies only to exaSound brand products manufactured by exaSound and sold to the original consumer by either exaSound or an exaSound authorized reseller. This warranty does not apply to exaSound brand products imported and sold by unauthorized dealers, distributors, or other sellers.
TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE, please follow these instructions: • Contact exaSound customer service via email at CustomerService@exaSound.com with details of the defect claimed, product model, serial number, date and place of the original purchase. • If it is determined that your product needs service, a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number will be issued to you along with return instructions and address of an exaSound service center.