Positioning
The dac-1 should ideally be positioned on a good
hi-fi shelf or rack. If a specialist hi-fi rack is not
available, a high-quality shelf unit should be used.
Even more performance can be achieved if the
dac-1 is placed on a Vertex AQ Kinabalu support
system.
Users should avoid degrading the performance of
the dac-1 by placing it on top of other electronics
boxes such as transports or amplifiers. Also, care
should be taken with positioning to ensure that
cables lead away from the unit without being
pinched, trapped or bent in tight radiuses. Avoid
cables having high-load contact with rack uprights,
or walls to the rear or sides of the hi-fi.
Connectivity
Mains is fed to the unit via a high-quality IEC inlet
socket on the right of the rear panel. Use a high-
quality mains lead. The mains power on/off switch
is situated above.
Digital input is via the decoupled sub-chassis panel
in the centre of the rear panel. S/pdif can be input
via BNC or RCA sockets. Toslink can be input via
the optical socket.
Analogue output is via the decoupled sub-chassis
panel to the left of the rear panel. RCA analogue
outputs and XLR analogue outputs are provided.
Configuration
The left hand decoupled sub-chassis panel is also
fitted with 3 switches.
• The top switch toggles between optical input or
the s/pdif electrical coaxial input (BNC or RCA).
Set to required input.
• The middle switch disables or enables the
analogue XLR circuitry. Set to on if using the XLR
outputs, set to off if using the RCA outputs.
• The lower switch gives the option to defeat the
front-panel LED lamps.
Use
The front panel 'power' indicator is lit when the unit
is receiving power. The front panel 'error' indicator
is illuminated when the unit is not receiving data.
When the unit receives a digital data stream (16 bit,
up to 96KHz), the lamp will extinguish.
The unit is internally fused. If it ceases to operate,
inform your dealer.
Cleaning. Use only a soft dry cotton duster to clean
the case. The perspex top may be polished with a
specialist perspex cleaner. We recommend socket
contacts are cleaned occasionally with Caig Deoxit.
Aletheia dac-1
3
power on/off
switch
mains IEC
socket
s/pdif digital inputs. upper
socket BNC, lower RCA
toslink optical
input
XLR analogue
outputs
RCA analogue
outputs
front LED
defeat switch
XLR output
select switch
digital input
select switch
