Playback Designs MPD-5, Руководство пользователя

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MPD-5 User Manual
9
2. CONNECTING THE MPD-5 TO A PC VIA THE USB-X INTERFACE
Supported PCM audio resolutions: all sample rates up to 384kHz and word lengths up to 24 bits.
Supported DSD audio resolutions:
2.8224MHz (as on SA-CD) and 5.6448MHz.
Connection protocol and method: USB 2.0 / Audio class 2.0 compliant, asynchronous mode where MPD-
5 generates high precision clock master and computer is clock slaved.
PC requirements: Windows 7 or later
ASIO compatible player software such as JRiver, Foobar,
MediaMonkey etc.
Internet connection for downloading software from
www.playbackdesigns.com .
Mac requirements: OS X (10.6.6 or later)
iTunes with or without plug-in to automate sample rate switching.
Internet connection for downloading software from
www.playbackdesigns.com .
In order for your computer to communicate with the MPD-5 and to exchange audio data custom driver
software needs to be installed before you can connect it to the MPD-5. If your computer is a Mac running
OSX 10.6.6 or later you don’t need any driver software as OSX already supports all PCM formats up to
384kHz sample rate. DSD file playback is supported via the DoP standard using PCM frames which is also
supported by OSX without any additional driver. A driver has to be installed on all Windows based PCs for
any kind of audio playback via the MPD-5.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR PC USERS:
The Windows operating system is by design not a real-time system. It is designed to allow certain processes
to take time away from real-time processes such as playing audio. This can result in audible dropouts,
sometimes very short, but sometimes also quite long. Some PCs are pre-configured with drivers and
processes by the manufacturer that cause such dropouts, and others are user-installed with additional
software that do not allow flawless real-time playback of audio. Fortunately, there is a free utility software that
allows you to test your PC for real-time capability:
1. Go to http://www.resplendence.com/latencymon and download the utility program LatencyMon.
There is also a good description of the program and some more technical background on the same
website.
2. Run LatencyMon, leave it running for 10-15 minutes and the software will tell you if you PC is suitable
for playing audio without dropouts.
If you are considering purchasing a new PC, this utility program is small enough and doesn’t require any
installation which allows you to load it onto a flash stick and test it on the PC you are thinking about buying.
Most computer stores will allow this test.
Preparing your MPD-5 for the connection with the USB-X interface
1. Before connecting the USB-X interface to anything check in the Setup Menu (explained elsewhere in
this manual) that the option "PLINK INPUT" is set to USB-XII. You should never attempt any changes
in the menu with the USB-X interface connected.
2. Connect the optical cables as outlined in the drawing below. For this you have to remove the
protective caps on all cable ends as well as on the connectors on the rear panel of the MPD-5. If the
optical cables provided with the MPD-5 are not long enough you can easily replace them with much
longer ones. The specifications are ST DUPLEX to ST DUPLEX 62.5/125 multimode fiber optical
cable. They are usually available in computer stores.
3. Turn on power on the MPD-5 and select PLINK input from your remote. Do not connect the USB
cable from the computer yet, until the driver software for your computer is properly installed, if
required.