6
Connecting your Zdac
Always disconnect the AC cords to your Zdac and preamplifier or amplifier before plugging in
or unplugging the its audio output jacks.
Inserting or removing an output cable while the preamp
or power amp are turned on can result in a blast of sound that can damage your loudspeakers. Make
sure there is no strain or tension on any cables that could cause them to pull loose.
Zdac Input Connections
You can connect up to three digital sources to the Zdac:
Opt (Optical)
The optical input is a Toslink receiver. It is compatible with any Toslink-equipped digital source
component. The Zdac optical input accepts these standard sampling rates: 8
kHz, 11.025
kHz, 16
kHz,
32
kHz, 44.1
kHz, 48
kHz, 88.2
kHz, 96
kHz, 176.4
kHz and 192
kHz. It accepts16 bit and 24 bit word
lengths.
Note:
176.4
kHz and 192
kHz require a very short optical cable. Be careful when handling the optical
cable. It has limited flexibility and it cannot be bent at a sharp angle without impairing its ability to
transfer the digital signal from your source to the Zdac.
Coax (Coaxial)
The Coax input connector is an RCA jack, also called S/PDIF. It is compatible with any S/PDIF coaxial
digital output. The coaxial input accepts these standard sampling rates: 8
kHz, 11.025
kHz, 16
kHz, 32
kHz, 44.1
kHz, 48
kHz, 88.2
kHz, 96
kHz, 176
kHz & 192
kHz. It accepts16 bit and 24 bit word lengths.
Note:
Please use a 75 ohm digital interconnect cable. Standard audio and video interconnect
cables do not have the correct 75 ohms impedance and impedance mismatches compromise digital
transmission by causing high amounts of jitter. While the Zdac is virtually immune to jitter, we
recommend that you do not introduce compromises into the digital signal chain.
Note:
It is equally important to use a 75 ohm interconnect if your source component is equipped with
a BNC output connector instead of an RCA jack. Use an interconnect cable that is terminated with a
BNC plug rather than an RCA plug which requires an RCA-BNC adapter.
USB
The USB connector is a USB type B. The USB accepts sampling rates of 44.1
kHz, 48kHz, 88.2
kHz
and 96
kHz. It accepts 16 bit and 24 bit word lengths. The Zdac uses the USB 1.1 Audio standard
which allows use of
15’ (5 m) cables without any performance penalty.
