Owner’s Manual
HPA-DAC4
Dante
®
Accessory Card
AtlasIED.com
– 8 –
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
1601 Jack McKay Blvd. • Ennis, Texas 75119 U.S.A.
Telephone: 800.876.3333 • Fax: 800.765.3435
Setting Levels In The HPA Amplifier to Avoid Clipping
It is important to set the input levels within the system to avoid clipping the amplifier input or
the output HPA-DAC4 card.
Note:
The best way to prevent clipping the HPA-DAC4 is to place a
limiter set for 0dB in the signal path prior to the network output of the transmitting device (always
recommended).
1. Set the HPA-DAC4 card to 0dBFS = 20dBu. The shunt needs to be on.
2. Set the HPA amplifier input sensitivity to .775V. (This is the factory default setting)
3. Set the HPA front panel level controls to the max or fully clockwise. The HPA comes with a front
panel level security cover to prevent tampering.
4. Most of the time a DSP processor will be used as the Dante
®
Transmitter. It is highly
recommended that a limiter is placed before the network output. This is shown in Figure 5. Set
the limiter maximum output to 0dB. This will prevent the amplifier input or HPA-DAC4 from
clipping, but will be enough signal to achieve maximum amplifier output.
Note:
The HPA-DAC4
clips at +7dBu.
5. With the HPA front panel levels set to max, increase the source level until the HPA Limit LEDs just
begin to blink, then, back down the source level slightly so Limit LED only blinks occasionally.
6. After the proper source levels have been set, adjust the HPA amplifier output level to the desired
sound levels.
Selecting the Router OR Network Switch – Important!
It is extremely important when selecting a router or switch for the Dante
®
network; not all routers
or switches are the same. The size of the Dante
®
network will influence which router or switch is
needed to handle network traffic. There are three things to look for at a minimum or system dropouts
may occur. Refer to Audinate
®
for products they recommend.
1. Gigabit speed.
2. If using a network switch, it must be a “managed switch” type.
3. If using a router with a built-in switch, it should have DD-WRT firmware or Open Source firmware.
