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DAC III Users Manual
Unique Product - a Preamp or a DAC?
This product has the option to be a unique combination of a very high performance DAC and the ultimate passive preamp. It is intended
to be used as both for the best possible sound in your system. Our preamp philosophy is based on the belief that from the moment analog
audio is created, every transition that is made degrades the quality. That means that an active preamp with many stages if perfect would
have no effect and any imperfection would result in degradation of the music. That is why we offer a passive preamp within the DAC III,
to achieve the simplest, shortest possible signal path, with the least possible degradation of the true music.
The Preamp Upgrade
The DAC III Preamp has just one analog input and many digital inputs. It is designed to be the
last component in your system before the amplifiers. With its incredibly low impedance, especially
for a passive preamp, it can drive long interconnects and handle any type of amplifier input stage
design with optimum performance.
Depending on how many analog sources you have in your system, you may be able to eliminate
your current preamp. If you currently have only CD and vinyl in your system, you would attach
your CD players digital output to the DAC III and the output of your phono preamp to the analog
input. Your system is now complete, with the shortest possible signal path and the best sound
you can achieve. The same idea applies to use with an SACD player. Since SACD does not
normally come out the digital output, the analog SACD is attached to the analog input on the
DAC III and the digital output for CD playback. The MSB XPORT upgrade will allow SACD and
DVD Audio to be output via the MSB network directly to the DAC III.
If you have a complex system with a preamp with many analog inputs, attach the outputs of your
preamp to the input on the DAC III. Shift any digital sources over to digital inputs on the DAC
III and again, you will achieve optimum results. Set your preamp to a volume that matches the
DAC III output and use nothing but the DAC III volume control in your system.
The volume control modules can be easily installed or removed by your dealer.
Setup and Quick Start
The front panel is quite simple with few user controls. Set the input source to auto and start
with all the other options off (No LED lit). On power up, the volume is reset to -62 dB. Turn
the volume knob up until you hear music.
Power - The Platinum comes standard with an inboard power supply. A switch on the back
allows the unit to be switched between 240V and 120V. Please check your setting before
plugging the unit in. Leave the Platinum powered on all the time.
Inputs - The Platinum comes standard with two MSB Network (CAT5), AES/EBU balanced,
coaxial and optical digital audio inputs, as well as a balance analog input, ranked in
order of performance. Connect any digital input to any active digital audio source. The
frequency of the incoming signal will be read out on the front panel and analog audio will
be found on both balanced and single-ended analog outputs.
Outputs
Connect the balanced or single-ended analog outputs to any amplifier and audio should
be present. The output level is controlled with the knob or remote.
Burn-In
The concept of burn-in is little understood. Does it take your ears some time to get used to the
incredibly detailed and life like sound of an MSB product or is something actually changing. The
feedback we receive leads us to recommend at least 100 hours of burn-in on this DAC. Customers
generally recommend one month.
DAC III Preamp
Phono
Preamp
CD or DVD-A
Transport
AMPs
Analog
Digital
Analog
DAC III Preamp
SACD Player
AMPs
Analog
Digital
Analog
DAC III Preamp
Universal Player
with XPORT
Upgrade
AMPs
MSB
Network
Analog