Ion Power DAC
User Guide
10
Power up
The Ion is a product that is unlike any other amplifier on the market. It incorporates complex computing
circuitry and is in many ways a computing device, just as much as it is a high-performance audio
product.
As with any computing devic
e, you’ll find that it will take a short time for the device to “boot up” before
you can begin listening to music. In general, the Ion PowerDAC will take less than 20 to 30 seconds to
properly initialize.
The LED on the front of the ion will show you a series of flashes in different colors to let you know where
it is in the Boot process. These flash codes are shown below:
Initially, the LED will be off. When you connect the Ion to AC power, the LED will begin to slowly flash
Red. During this time, the I
on’s main processor is starting up.
After a few seconds, you will see a rapid flashing of alternating Green and Amber. During this period, the
Ion is initializing its audio power section.
When the Ion has fully booted, and completed initializing the audio power section, it will be in Standby
mode and the LED will be a solid Amber.
Selecting the Ion
When the Ion is selected (as the EXONET output on the Comet), the Ion will begin a slow Green flash
indicating that it is in Mute mode. (You may also briefly see a slow Amber flash as the Ion starts. This is a
brief period where the Ion’s audio power supplies are fully charging and if you unmute during this time,
there will be a slight delay before you will hear music. This is a normal characteristic of a PowerDAC.)
The Ion is ready to play but it is now in the Mute mode. When you change the volume, or unmute the
Ion via the remote, the light will change to steady Green.
