Troubleshooting - FAQ

The unit fails to power up
Check the rated supply voltage shown on the rear of the unit matches the local supply voltage.

Check that there is power available on the mains cable and that the power switch on the back panel is set to the I position (ON). Connect the power cable, wait 10 seconds then press the Power/Standby button.

Check that the mains fuse has not blown - if so, correct any obvious cause then replace the fuse as described in the manual.

The Main Display turns on briefly when a control is operated, then turns off
This happens when the Display is turned off. Set the Display to ON to stop the display blanking out.

The unit fails to respond to the controls
Check that the indicator above the POWER button is not lit - if so press the POWER button to return to normal operation. Alternatively, switch off, wait 10 seconds and switch on - SLEEP mode will be cancelled.

• While locking to a source or changing some settings (e.g. Filter), the microcontroller inside the unit is busy and will not respond to new commands for a few seconds.
• Short mains supply drop-outs or electrical storms may occasionally cause the microcontroller to lock up. Switch off the unit, wait 10 seconds then switch on again. If this does not clear the fault, please contact your dealer.

How long should I allow for burn-in?
Burn-in is a progressive process and is subjective. Most of the burn-in improvement occurs in the first 4 hours of use. Further improvements occur over the course of the following week, but these become more subtle as time progresses.

Please bear in mind that the components in your system work together, and every system is different. We cannot comment on the burn-in characteristics of your system.

Please alsonot ethat improvements are evident in the early stage of any listening session- commonly known as the 'warm up' phase.

Cleaning the case
To remove loose dust or finger marks from the case, we recommend that you use a clean, dry, lint-free cloth.

To restore the finish on the front and back panels, we recommend applying small quantities of a lanolin based cleaner, using a clean, dry, lint-free cloth and then wiping off. Do not allow lanolin to collect around the buttons.

Small amounts of glass cleaner containing ammonia may be used to clean other surfaces, but avoid spraying onto the connector contacts. 

How do I change the mains voltage setting?

• Early products - Elgar, Elgar Plus Mk1 and Purcell Mk1: the supply voltage is set by wire jumpers.
• Classic range: the supply voltage is set by replacing a wired jumper on the Power Board. Jumpers may be purchased from dCS. Later versions (fitted with Power Board 4F-4H) will require a new Power Board if changing between 100/115V setting and 220/230V settings.
• Current range: The voltage is set by 2 or 3 switches on the Power Board.

Note: Doing this invalidates product warranty so in ALL cases, please contact your local distributor for help.

What are the latest software issues for current dCS products?
• Software for our current products is updated from time to time. Please check the Technical Specs section of the relevant product page on our webstto see the latest operating software version.
• Update discs for all current products except the Puccini U-Clock are available at no charge from your national dCS distributor. When requesting discs, please quote the unit serial number and the issue of software that is currently loaded (from the Information>Version Information menu page).

What are the final software issues for Classic dCS products?
• Software for the Classic range is final, we will not develop it further for any reason.

The final issues for units shipped from March 2001 onwards are:
Delius Mk2 (with 1394) 2.25 (identical to 2.30 licensed version)
Elgar Plus Mk2 (with 1394) 4.31 (identical to licensed version 4.42)
P8i 1.10
Purcell Mk2 (with 1394) 2.25 (identical to licensed version 2.30)
Verdi 1.28 (identical to licensed version 1.30)
Verdi La Scala 1.03 (identical to licensed version 1.10)
Verdi Encore 1.10
Verona 1.21

• Update discs for these products are available direct from dCS, we make a small charge for this service. When requesting discs, please quote the full serial number of the unit (from the SERIAL menu page) and the issue of software that is current loaded (from the ISSUE menu page).
• Please do not ask us to supply licensed versions of Classic software on disc! If you load such a version, the unit will stop working until a license is loaded at dCS.

• The final software issues for early units shipped between April 1999 and February 2001 are:

Delius Mk1 up to D04799 1.13
Delius Mk1 (no 1394) D04801 onwards 2.13
Elgar original version 2.16
Elgar Plus Mk1 (no 1394) 3.10
Purcell Mk1 (no 1394) 1.23
• These early versions do not feature CD Update, they are updated by fitting or loading a new software chip (ROM). Please contact dCS if you would like to update the software in early units, quoting the unit serial number (from the SERIAL page of the menu AND from the back panel) and the issue of software that is current loaded (from the ISSUE menu page). We will do our best to help.
• Sorry, but we cannot offer software updates for original Elgar units shipped before April 1999.

How can I find the software issue loaded in my unit?
• For the Classic range, open the menu as described in the manual, scroll to the ISSUE page and select it. For units with a 1394 interface, select the page again to see the 1394 code issue (Db:x.xx). To open the Elgar's menu, briefly press the Vol/Bal and Display buttons together to open the menu, use the Display button to scroll and the Vol/Bal button to select. For other Classic units, press the Function or Menu button to open the menu, press the < or > button to scroll and the Function or Menu button to select.
• For the current range, press the Menu button 3 times to see the Version Information menu page.
• For the Puccini U-Clock and Debussy DAC, connect the USB interface to a computer and find the USB Hardware Device Id page as described in the manual. The "Revision" is the software issue.

How do I get the upsampling license for the Puccini Player?
• Please register your purchase with dCS, either through our web-site, or by email to info@dcsltd.co.uk or by post. Upsampling licenses are supplied free to owners of Puccini Players shipped from dCS after 1st April 2009 onwards. If your Player was shipped before this date, the license charge is GBP 350 (+ VAT in the EU). We can accept payment by Visa or MasterCard only. Licenses are usually sent by email, complete with instructions.
• Please ensure that your Puccini Player is loaded with software issue 1.12 or later. Once you have the unique license code for your Player, you can load it in a few minutes using the remote control.

Please note that the DAC may indicate there is a fault in the system but the cause may be elsewhere.

The DAC fails to lock to a digital audio source or displays "No Input"

• Ensure the correct input is selected.
• Check that the digital audio cable is of the correct type, correctly connected and not damaged. Try another cable. Damaged cables are a VERY common cause of malfunctions!
• Check that the source is switched on.
• If the 1394 interface is selected and the Sync mode is set to WClk, this indicates that the DAC is not receiving a 44.1kHz Word Clock.
• Some (non-dCS) CD players do not generate a digital output unless the disc is playing - set the player in "play" mode and check that the unit locks.
• Occasionally, we find a CD player whose sample rate is outside the standard +/-300ppm tolerance specified for digital audio. If the DAC locks to another source but not to your CD player, the player may need servicing.
• If you are using the DAC in Master mode or with a separate Master Clock, use the Sync button to set the DAC to Audio. If the unit locks, check the Word Clock connections and settings.
• If you are using an Upsampler, make sure it is actually locked to the source.

The DAC locks but the audio output is low or absent

• Check that the MUTE indicator is off. If not, press the Mute button.
• Check that the audio output cables are correctly connected, the equipment following the DAC is switched on and correctly set up.
• Ensure the Volume and Balance controls are correctly set.
• Ensure the source is sending audio data (non-audio data can cause an automatic mute).
• Ensure the Output Level is correctly set - turn the Volume control down by 10dB before changing this setting.

The audio output is monophonic

• If the source is Dual AES, check that the DAC is also set to Dual AES.
• If the source outputs Single AES on two connectors and both are connected to the DAC, check that the DAC is NOT set to Dual AES mode.
• If the DAC is set to Dual AES, check that both AES cables are connected and undamaged.
• The source disk / tape may actually be monophonic.
• The Left and Right channels are swapped
• Check that the audio output cables are not reversed.
• If the DAC has a Channel Swap feature, make sure this is not set to Swap.
• Check that the channels are not swapped elsewhere in the system.
• If you are using Dual AES mode, ensure that the AES 1 input is connected to the output on the source equipment carrying the Left channel data (probably labelled AES1 or AES A) and the AES 2 input is connected to the output on the source equipment carrying the Right channel data (probably labelled AES2 or AES B). See the manual for the source equipment for information.

The sound on one audio output channel is low or missing

• The Output Level setting is controlled by 2 latching relays, one or both can flip over if the unit is bumped hard. To correct this, open the menu and change the Output Level setting to 6V, then change it to 2V. Check that both channels are now at the same level.
• Check that the Balance control is correctly set.
• Check that the audio output cables are connected correctly and are not damaged.
• Check that the balance is not offset elsewhere in the system.
• It is possible to connect the balanced analogue outputs to an unbalanced input, provided that pin 3 on the XLR is connected to ground. Do not leave pin 3 floating, as this will make the output level unstable. Connecting balanced outputs to unbalanced inputs is bad practice!

Crackles or pops occur while playing music

• High Frequency noise from DSD modes can upset some power amplifiers. Try changing the DAC filter.
• The digital audio cable connecting the DAC to the source may be damaged, intermittent or of the wrong type. Some expensive cables are not correctly designed for digital audio use. Try another cable.
• The CD may be dirty - clean it very carefully using a radial motion.
• The disc may be "copy protected". Check that the Compact Disc Digital Audio logo is printed on it. If the logo is missing, the disc is not a CD - please complain to the disc manufacturer.
• The disk / tape may be damaged or contain corrupted data.
• The DAC's audio output level may be high enough to overload a preamplifier or power amplifier. Set the Output Level to 2V (Low).
• Occasional clicks may be heard if the DAC is set to Master mode but the source is not locked to the DAC's WClk Output. Please correct the set-up.
• The source equipment may have a very high level of jitter - servicing is required.

The unit will not decode Dual AES

• Dual AES mode may be set to Off. Open the menu and set the Dual AES page to On or Auto. Connect a valid 88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192kS/s Dual AES source to both AES 1 and AES 2 inputs. Press the Input selector button repeatedly to select Dual AES mode.
• If Dual AES Auto mode is selected but the flags in the data stream indicate it is not Dual AES, the unit will select AES1 input and you will be unable to change this to Dual AES.
• Your source equipment may have two AES outputs but might not be capable of Dual AES operation or may be set for single AES. Check the manual for the source equipment.

The DAC drops out of Dual AES mode into AES1 or AES2

• Dual AES mode is only available if valid AES data streams are available on both AES 1 and AES 2 inputs. If either are interrupted or become corrupted while in Dual AES mode, the unit may default to single AES mode and select the valid input. Check for faulty wiring to the input which has been deselected. Once both data streams are stable again, Dual AES mode may be selected using the Input button or the Remote Control.
• If you are driving the DAC direct from an Upsampler that is always set to output Dual AES, you may find that changing inputs on the Upsampler causes the DAC to fall out of Dual AES mode. To prevent this, set the DAC to Dual AES - Auto.

Erratic operation when driving the Toslink Input with 96 or 88.2kS/s

• Check that your optical connections are clean, the connectors are properly installed and the cable is not damaged.
• The Toslink receiver device is an industry standard type which is not guaranteed to operate correctly at 96 or 88.2kS/s. Use a different digital input instead.

Connected to a non-dCS Transport, the DAC does not report 16/44.1

• Some CD Transports (e.g. ML31.7) add dither, so the DAC correctly reports 17/44.1 or something similar.
• Some CD Transports upsample to 48kS/s or 88.2kS/s, so the DAC correctly reports 16/48, 24/48, 24/88.2 or something similar.

The Scarlatti DAC's Display settings cannot be adjusted

• Use the rotary control to adjust the Scarlatti DAC's display brightness and contrast. The Scarlatti DAC is not consistent with our other products in this respect, this is minor bug in software issue 1.00 and 1.01.

Can you upgrade my Elgar to Elgar Plus?

• We still have enough parts to upgrade a small number of Elgar Mk1 (no older than serial number ELG510) and Elgar Plus Mk1 units to Elgar Plus Mk2 with 1394. The 2 main boards will not be replaced so the unit must be working correctly before the upgrade. This is a major upgrade, not just a software change, so it will be expensive. Please contact dCS for price and availability, stating the unit's serial number and software issue.

Is it possible to use the balanced and unbalanced outputs at the same time?

• The balanced and unbalanced outputs are separately buffered on all dCS products. You can connect them to different amplifier inputs without significant interaction.

Which is better - the balanced or unbalanced outputs?

• A balanced output stage driving a balanced input stage is designed to reject interference or power line hum. Signal currents do not flow through the ground wire between DAC and amplifier, so there is less need for a really clean grounding system.

• Our unbalanced stages output high quality signals, but our balanced output stages are rather special, featuring a discrete class-A design that behaves like an isolating transformer.

How do dCS DACs handle digital volume control?

• Volume control is performed in the digital domain in the FPGA, at very high resolution and sample rate. It is in the optimal position in the signal chain, after filtering but before the noise-shaping Ring DAC^TM modulator. As a result, our DACs and Players do not suffer from rapid loss of resolution with attenuation, as happens with some other manufacturer's products.

A CD-R does not play correctly
• Our Transports and Players are generally CD-R compatible but some brands of discs are more reliable than others due to differences in design. The CD-R must be formatted as a music CD, rather than a data CD. We cannot accept responsibility for problems playing CD-Rs.
• You can burn and update an incomplete music CD-R on a CD Re-Writer, but the disk must be finalised before it can be played on an audio CD transport. Finalising creates a Table Of Contents (TOC) at the start of the disk. If the TOC is missing, the transport will try to find it for some time. During this time, you will not be able to stop or eject the disk. Wait until the unit displays Disc Error, then open the tray and remove the disk.

A disc is stuck inside the Transport
• We have seen a few cases in which discs with blobs of glue or a sticky layer on the top surface have become stuck to the turntable inside the Scarlatti Transport. Please do not try to correct this yourself, but refer the problem to your distributor, who will open the unit, extract the disc and clean any remaining glue from the turntable. Obviously, this is not a warranty issue, so the distributor may make a charge for this service.
• In extreme cases, a very sticky disc could stick to the drive hub of a Paganini Transport or Puccini Player. The same solution applies. If a Verdi or Verdi La Scala fails to read a disc, it is possible that the Stop/Eject button will work while it keeps trying to read. To eject the disc, switch off completely (NOT just to Standby mode), wait 5 seconds, hold down the Stop/Eject button and switch on.

The Transport fails to read a disc, particularly a hybrid CD/SACD.
• Over the course of time (usually some years), dust or in smoky atmospheres, residue can build up in the optical system of the Transport. The first symptom of this is usually that the unit fails to read the SACD layer of a hybrid disc and defaults to the CD layer. In more extreme cases, CDs may not be read. If this happens, please ask your distributor to clean the focussing lens in the first instance.
• Solid state lasers last for years but eventually either dim or fail suddenly. A dim laser will cause difficulty reading some or all discs of that type (CD or SACD). A laser that has failed completely will result in all discs of that type being unreadable. Replacement laser modules are available.

The Transport fails to read a DVD
• Our products are not designed to play DVD.

The Transport has difficulty reading or playing a CD-format disc
• Please check that the disc or the packaging carries the "Compact Disc Digital Audio" logo. If it does not, the disc is likely to be a copy-protected disc, not a genuine CD. Such discs are deliberately not formatted as a Red-Book CD to discourage copying, but the methods used are completely uncontrolled. As a result, many do not play correctly on genuine CD players/transports. This is a fault of the disc, not the player! We suggest that you send such discs back to the disc manufacturer and demand a genuine CD in exchange. The disc manufacturers know they are in breach of consumer law and will co-operate.

The sound is mono when the Transport's Dual AES output is connected to the DAC
• Our Transports are fitted with 2 single AES outputs, they do not feature a Dual AES interface. Each single AES output carries stereo CD data - using two together does not change this to Dual AES.

There is no menu page to turn off the CD upsampling
• This feature appears on our Players because the DAC is built-in, the link between CD Transport and DAC is inside the unit. The Transport is different because the link to the DAC is external. To select either native CD data or SACD data down-sampled to PCM, change the DAC's input selection from 1394 to one of the PCM feeds from the Transport (AES, RCA, BNC, TosLink or SDIF, depending on model).

There is no menu page to turn off the CD upsampling
• This feature appears on our Players because the DAC is built-in, the link between CD Transport and DAC is inside the unit. The Transport is different because the link to the DAC is external. To select either native CD data or SACD data down-sampled to PCM, change the DAC's input selection from 1394 to one of the PCM feeds from the Transport (AES, RCA, BNC, TosLink or SDIF-2, depending on model).

Which CD mechanisms are used in your products?

• The Scarlatti Transport uses the Esoteric VRDS NEO VMK-3 CD/SACD mechanism. It is very heavily built for excellent mechanical stability. VMK-3 features a heavy cast duralumin turntable that supports the rim of the disc, rather than just gripping the centre of the disc - this has a noticeable effect on the solidity of the sound. The motor is a brushless direct-drive design for long life. We chose this mechanism because we believe it to be the best available, however, it is very expensive.
• The Paganini Transport and Puccini Player both use the Esoteric UMK-5 CD/SACD mechanism. This is a high quality mechanism but is a more conventional design than the VMK-3 and is more affordable. It uses the same laser module as the VMK-3. Esoteric fit this version of the mechanism with an aluminium tray exclusively for dCS, so you will not find it listed elsewhere.
• The Verdi Encore and the P8i Player both use a Philips SD5.2 CD/SACD mechanism.
• The original Verdi and Verdi La Scala both use a Sony SCD-04 CD/SACD mechanism.

Do your Transports support HDCD?
•  No. We have always believed the route to better sound quality is in a higher capacity format such as SACD or 24/96, rather than trying to establish a special version of the humble 16/44.1 CD. History has proved that our approach was correct.

The two most common mistakes when setting up a system with a Master Clock are:

1. Locking the DAC (and possibly the Upsampler) to the Clock but leaving the CD Transport unlocked and running in Master mode. This results in either occasional clicks (which may not be noticed) or frequent clicks (which can make the system unusable), depending on the difference between the two clock frequencies.
2. Using an incompatible mixture of sample rates in a system. Typically, upsampling CD data to 192kS/s while trying to lock the whole system to a Clock results in the DAC failing to lock and remaining muted.

Please note: The sample rates used MUST be exact multiples of the Clock frequency:

• With the Clock set to 44.1kHz, you can use 44.1, 88.2 or 176.4kS/s or DSD (2.822MS/s).
• With the Clock set to 48kHz, you can use 32, 48, 96 or 192kS/s.

The Clock will not lock to an External Clock source
• If you decide to lock the Scarlatti Clock to an external clock source (such as a GPS receiver), ensure the source is more accurate and stable than the Clock's internal oscillator!
• Set the Coupling menu page to the correct setting: Bipolar for RF sources or TTL for Word Clock sources operating at TTL levels. This must be correct or the Clock will not lock reliably, if at all.
• The Clock is designed to lock to a stable external source whose frequency accuracy is within +/-300ppm of nominal. However, if the external source is anywhere near these limits or is so unstable that the Clock loses lock, it is not a suitable reference for a Master Clock.

Using a Master clock for different devices.
When using one of our Master Clocks to synchronise components in your system please make sure that all components accept the same frequency clock signal. Our clocks output 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz only.

Does the Puccini Player have a separate clock?
Yes. The Puccini range now features a patent pending (GB0817141.5) separate grade 1 system clock to further reduce jitter and improve performance. Puccini U-Clock also features a USB to SPDIF converter, which enables Puccini owners to present sound files from a computer to the legendary dCS Ring DAC inside the Puccini at the same time as clocking the PC or Mac source.

Is the Puccini U-Clock compatible with the Paganini system?

Yes. All of our Clocks generate industry-standard Word Clock and all our products that are fitted with a Word Clock input will accept industry-standard Word Clock.

I am not interested in computer audio - is it worth my buying a U-Clock?

Clean clocking is essential for good sound quality in a digital system. You will find that adding a U-Clock to your dCS system will substantially improve disc playback (provided that your amplifier and speakers perform to a high standard). The U-Clock is our least expensive Clock - but still a good product.

Is it worth upgrading my Verona to one of your new Clocks?

When designing our new Clocks, we were even more careful to ensure the Word Clock Outputs are as clean as possible. The main factors in the improvement were the very low-power LCD display and the improved power supplies. The result is that all of the new clocks (even the Puccini U-Clock) are audibly better than the Verona.

A CD Player is basically a CD Transport with a DAC built-in, so many of the points in the Transport Issues and DAC issues sections are relevant to Players also.

The Player fails to output digital data

• If you are playing an SACD, there will be no data on the Digital Outputs because Puccini does not down-sample DSD data.
• Ensure the Digital Outputs are not turned off in the menu.

A CD-R does not play correctly

• Our Transports and Players are generally CD-R compatible but some brands of disks are more reliable than others due to differences in design. The CD-R must be formatted as a music CD, rather than a data CD. We cannot accept responsibility for problems playing CD-Rs.
• You can burn and update an incomplete music CD-R on a CD Re-Writer, but the disk must be finalised before it can be played on an audio CD transport. Finalising creates a Table Of Contents (TOC) at the start of the disk. If the TOC is missing, the Player will try to find it for some time. During this time, you will not be able to stop or eject the disk. Wait until the unit displays Disc Error, then open the tray and remove the disk.

The Player fails to read a disc, particularly a hybrid CD/SACD.

• Over the course of time (usually some years), dust or tobacco residue builds up in the optical system of the Player. The first symptom of this is usually that the unit fails to read the SACD layer of a hybrid disc and defaults to the CD layer. In more extreme cases, CDs may not be read. If this happens, please ask your distributor to clean the focussing lens in the first instance.
• Solid state lasers last for years but eventually either dim or fail suddenly. A dim laser will cause difficulty reading some or all discs of that type (CD or SACD). A laser that has failed completely will result in all discs of that type being unreadable. Replacement laser modules are available.

The Player fails to read a DVD

• Sorry, but our products are not currently DVD compatible.

While playing a disc, the sound suddenly stops

• If someone was touching the remote control at the time, they may have pressed the Input+, Input- or Mute button accidentally.
• Make sure the disc is a genuine CD or SACD, not a copy-protected disc or CD-R.

The Player has difficulty reading or playing a CD-format disc

• Please check that the disc or the packaging carries the "Compact Disc Digital Audio" logo. If it does not, the disc is likely to be a copy-protected disc, not a genuine CD. Such discs are deliberately not formatted as a Red-Book CD to discourage copying, but the methods used are completely uncontrolled. As a result, many do not play correctly on genuine CD players/transports. This is a fault of the disc, not the player! We suggest that you send such discs back to the disc manufacturer and demand a genuine CD in exchange. The disc manufacturers know they are in breach of consumer law and will co-operate.

The CD tray will not open

• The CD mechanism is disabled when the Digital Inputs are selected. Change to Disc mode to open the CD tray.

The audio output is low or absent

• Check that the MUTE indicator is off. If not, press the Mute button.
• Check that the audio output cables are correctly connected, the equipment following the DAC is switched on and correctly set up.
• Ensure the Volume and Balance controls are correctly set.
• DAC mode: Ensure the source is sending audio data (non-audio data can cause an automatic mute).
• Ensure the Output Level is correctly set - turn the Volume control down by 10dB before changing this setting.

The Left and Right channels are swapped

• Check that the audio output cables are not reversed.
• Check that the channels are not swapped elsewhere in the system.

The sound on one audio output channel is low or missing

• The Output Level setting is controlled by 2 latching relays, one or both can flip over if the unit is bumped hard. To correct this, open the menu and change the Output Level setting to 6V, then change it to 2V. Check that both channels are now at the same level.
• Check that the Balance control is correctly set.
• Check that the audio output cables are connected correctly and are not damaged.
• Check that the balance is not offset elsewhere in the system.
• It is possible to connect the balanced analogue outputs to an unbalanced input, provided that pin 3 on the XLR is connected to ground. Do not leave pin 3 floating, as this will make the output level unstable. Connecting balanced outputs to unbalanced inputs is bad practice!

Crackles or pops occur while playing music

• The CD may be dirty - clean it very carefully using a radial motion.
• The disc may be "copy protected". Check that the Compact Disc Digital Audio logo is printed on it. If the logo is missing, the disc is not a CD - please complain to the disc manufacturer.
• The disk / tape may be damaged or contain corrupted data.
• The Player's audio output level may be high enough to overload a preamplifier or power amplifier. Set the Output Level to 2V. 
• DAC mode: The digital audio cable connecting the Player to the source may be damaged, intermittent or of the wrong type. Some expensive cables are not correctly designed for digital audio use. Try another cable.

Player in DAC mode fails to lock to a digital audio source or displays "No Input"

• Ensure the correct input is selected.
• Check that the digital audio cable is of the correct type, correctly connected and not damaged. Try another cable. Damaged cables are a VERY common cause of malfunctions!
• Check that the source is switched on.
• Some (non-dCS) CD players do not generate a digital output unless the disc is playing - set the player in "play" mode and check that the unit locks.
• The sample rate of the external source may be outside the standard +/-300ppm tolerance specified for digital audio. Have the external source serviced.
• If you are using an Upsampler, make sure it is actually locked to the source.

• Some CD Transports (e.g. ML31.7) add dither, so the DAC correctly reports 17/44.1 or something similar.
• Some CD Transports upsample to 48kS/s or 88.2kS/s, so the DAC correctly reports 16/48, 24/48, 24/88.2 or something similar.

Can your Players upsample the data from the digital inputs?

• In April 2009, we released Puccini Player software issue 1.12 to make provision for DSD upsampling of data from the Player's digital inputs. Once the new software is loaded, this feature can be turned by loading a unique license code from the remote control. We will supply free licenses for Puccini Players shipped from dCS since 1st April 2009, all you have to do is register your Player with dCS. The license charge for Players shipped before April 2009 is currently GBP 350 (+ VAT inside the EU) - please contact dCS for details.
• We had intended to add DSD upsampling for the P8i's digital inputs some years ago. Unfortunately, the Philips mechanism used in the P8i became unobtainable much sooner than expected, so production stopped and the software to add this feature was never developed. We apologise to any P8i owners who were expecting this feature to be added.

Can my Puccini Player lock to a Master Clock when using the digital inputs?

• Yes, we added this feature to the Puccini Player in software issue 1.10. If you have earlier software loaded, please contact your dealer to request an update disc.

Can your Players handle hi-res files?

• The Puccini Player's digital inputs currently supoprt up to to 24/192kS/s.
• The P8i Player's digital inputs are limited to a maximum of 24 bits at 48kS/s. As we stopped making this product in 2006, this will not change.

After leaving a P8i in Standby for some hours, it freezes

• This is a known bug in the Philips mechanism controller board. To clear this, switch completely off, wait 10 seconds, then switch on. Sorry, we have no better solution for this as we do not have access to the Philips firmware.

The DAC cycles between Locking and No Input
• This is usually caused by a damaged audio cable, or a cable connector that is not securely fitted to the back panel.

The DAC loses lock occasionally, then re-locks and un-mutes
• This can be caused by the use of unscreened digital audio cables or cables with the wrong characteristics. The cable picks up interference (for example from a thermostat) which corrupts the data stream or clock signal and throws the system out of lock. Running the system without an earth (or ground) connection can make this worse.

The system does not sound as good as when demonstrated
• If you are running your system without a secure earth (or ground) connection, please consult a qualified electrician about installing earth wiring. This is essential for safety, but you will be surprised at the sonic improvement produced by secure earthing.
• If you are using a preamplifier, try driving your power amplifier directly from the DAC instead. Our DACs have digital volume and balance controls built in. Even good preamplifiers tend to veil the fine detail.
• If your system is new, it will improve if you burn it in for a few days.

Using active speakers, there is a small balance error

• The analogue output levels in our products are checked and are typically matched to better than 0.05dB. Faults can occur, but this is unlikely to be the cause.
• Check the Balance on the Player/DAC is set central and change the Output Level setting to 6V then 2V.
• Make sure the Player's output connections are correct, especially if the balanced outputs are used.
• This is most commonly caused by a mismatch in the gains of the active speakers.

Can dCS products be stacked?

• Scarlatti is not designed to be stacked, although the DAC, Clock and Upsampler could be stacked by using suitable anti-vibration feet.
• Paganini, Puccini and Debussy units may be stacked, but this does not give best sound quality.
• Vibration-absorbing products or proper audio racking really does make a sonic difference.
• Please take the advice in the manuals regarding placement away from heat sources.

Noisy output from the DAC's Balanced outputs, OK from Unbalanced outputs

• This is almost always caused by an incorrect connection of the DAC's Balanced output to the amplifier's UNBALANCED input connected to an XLR socket, with pin 3 floating.
• It is possible to connect the balanced analogue outputs to an unbalanced input, although this is bad practice. Scarlatti, Paganini, Puccini, Debussy and Elgar: connect XLR pin 2 to signal, XLR pin 3 to screen and XLR pin 3 to XLR pin 1. Do not leave pin 3 floating, as this will make the output level unstable and the signal noisy. Delius and P8i: connect XLR pin 2 to signal and XLR pin 1 to screen.

Note that any 1394 bus faults will be reported by the DAC only. Transports and Upsamplers will not report problems because they are not required to extract data from the bus and so do not carry out the same integrity checks.

1394 code

Our 1394 interface system for DSD has evolved over time and is now stable. If you encounter problems that are definitely related to the 1394 interface, as an essential first step, please ensure the 1394 code issues in the system are compatible. The final version of 1394 interface code in our older products, Db:2.06 (used in Elgar Plus, Delius, Purcell and the Verdi series), has been tested briefly with Scarlatti and Paganini units running 1394 code issues 3.00 & 4.02 - no problems have been found. Earlier versions (e.g. Db:2.03) are not compatible with 3.00 & 4.02.

The DAC displays Search.. in 1394 mode
• This indicates that there is a problem somewhere on 1394 bus, not necessarily in the DAC. It could be caused by a loose or faulty 1394 cable, a loop in the 1394 connections, a damaged 1394 interface or cable, incompatible 1394 code in one or more units or an incomplete CD Update. Check the connections and the software issues.
• Connecting a 1394 bus in a loop prevents the system working at all, the DAC will display Search.. permanently. To correct this, remove the one of the cables. Some examples of a 1394 loop are:
- Connecting two 1394 cables between Transport and DAC.
- Using 3 x 1394 cables to: connect Transport to Upsampler, Upsampler to DAC and DAC back to Transport.

Compatibility with iLink interface
Our 1394 interface is not compatible with iLink. The IEEE1394 Overview section of your dCS product manual states what the 1394 interface WILL do.
 

The Unit Information menu page details the unit set-up and tells you what it is locked to, what mode it is in and so on. In normal use, the following may appear on the display.

Transport
• No Disc: The disc is an unrecognisable type which cannot be read or the disc has been loaded upside-down.
• Loading: The Table Of Contents (TOC) on the disc is being read.
• Sync: (greyed out) The Transport is attempting to lock to a 44.1kHz Word Clock.
• Sync: The Transport is locked to a 44.1kHz Word Clock.
• ?Sync?: (greyed out) The Transport cannot lock to the signal on the Word Clock Input, usually because the clock frequency is wrong.

DAC
Some of these messages are examples, the actual display may depend on the source equipment.
• 0/44.1: The DAC is locked to source (at 44.1kS/s in this case), but there is no audio data (0 bits).
• No Audio: No audio data has been detected on the 1394 input.
• Locking: If this does not clear in a few seconds, it indicates that either the clock frequency is wrong, the sample rate is out of range or the cable is damaged.
• 1394 Search..: Either the DAC is trying to find a 1394 source connected to the bus, there is no cable connected or the 1394 bus is connected in a loop.
• 1394 No Input: The 1394 input is selected but there is no source connected or the source is switched off.
• dCS STT (No Clk): The 1394 source is connected and identified but there is no clock connected.
• dCS STT No Audio: The 1394 source is connected and identified but there is no audio data.

Clock
• Cal: The unit needs calibrating.

What is clone mode?

As you may have seen, any kind of operation on the audio will extend the word length to 24 bits. Due to filter ripple when upsampling, we drop the level by 0.1dB for all conversions ( even 44.1->44.1 ). Clone mode is a mode where you tell the Upsampler you want the same bits out as in when possible. When it's on, and the in=out, the clone icon comes on the status display, and whatever you put in comes out. In Clone mode OFF, 16/44.1 will come out slightly quieter at 24/44.1 With Clone Mode ON, you'll get out 16/44.1 at the same level.

Listening to music with different sample rates

The ideal scenario for multiple sample rates being input is to use USB input. Then decide on the optimal output sample rate, and set the master clock to be a sub-multiple of this (e.g. for DSD, use a 44.1kHz clock rate). Next lock the DAC and Upsampler to Master Clock. Now, when the input sample rate changes, nothing loses lock.

Differences between Scarlatti Upsampler and Purcell
The Scarlatti Upsampler features the new generation control board already present in our other Scarlatti products, which alone will deliver performance beyond the level of the Purcell. A key feature of the SUP is a USB2.0 input which allows users to upsample PC/Mac sound files and/or pass them to any DAC at up to 192kS/s, or to a dCS DAC at up to and including DSD at the same time as clocking the PC/Mac source.The Upsmapler operatesin Master mode to eliminate jitter inherent in the computer source.

Support for Inputs Higher than 16.44.1
Debussy, Scarlatti and Vivaldi can accept pcm data up to and including 24/192kS/s and DOP (DSD over PCM) via USB and some of the other digital inputs. 

What file formats does Scarlatti Upsampler support?

The audio flowing between the PC and the dCS device is packetised PCM. It is the job of the PC, and in particular the codec's installed on that PC to decode file formats and present them to the upsampler in one of these formats. In general, if the PC can play the file (using JRiver, Foobar, iTunes etc.), it will work. 

Yes. DSD Upsampling on the digital inputs is now a standard feature on Puccini Player.  

Is there a clock in the Scarlatti Upsampler which can be used?

The clocking arrangement of the Upsampler is very flexible and very sophisticated. There are the following options:

When set to USB input and with no wordclock input Upsampler will operate in Master mode. However, with Wordclock selected as reference the unit will accept a wordclock at 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2 or 96kHz whatever the input or output sample rates are. As the accuracy of the Upsampler in master mode is only +/-10ppm, there can be advantages in locking the unit to an external wordclock.

In a system containing a Transport and a DAC, there are two options :

Use the Transport as Master device - this is most appropriate when upsampling to 48, 96 or 192kS/s.
Connect the Wordclock out from the Transport to the Wordclock in of the Upsampler and choose wordclock as the sync input for USB and (optionally) whichever input is being fed from the Transport. Connect outputs from the Upsampler to the DAC as desired, not forgetting the wordclock cable - especially if you intend to use 1394.

Use the DAC as Master device - this is only appropriate if you only wish to upsample to 88.2, 176.4kS/s or DSD. Set the DAC as Master and connect the DAC's wordclock out to the Transport's wordclock in. Connect the Wordclock out from the Transport to the Wordclock in of the Upsampler and, again, choose wordclock as the sync input for USB and (optionally) whichever input is being fed from the Transport. Connect outputs from the Upsampler to the DAC as desired.

Why are filters offered in the Upsampler if there are filters in the DAC? Is this not correct that double filtering will alter the phase behaviour?

To avoid imaging and aliasing problems Upsampling necessarily requires filtering. For example, upsampling from 44.1k requires filtering at 22.05k to eliminate the images of the signal from the wider bandwidth of the output sample rate and, probably more importantly, to prevent these images aliasing back in-band when resampled to the new sample rate. In effect, when using an upsampler, you are substituting the 22.05kHz filter in the DAC with a 22.05kHz filter in the Upsampler and an additional filter at (if you're upsampling to 192kS/s) 96k in the DAC. As a result, it is entirely appropriate for the Upsampler to offer a choice of filters as it provides the primary anti-imaging filtering.

We have released the dCS Guide to Computer Audio to help you to set up your dCS system with a computer quickly and easily.

Click here to download a copy.  

Operating System Support
Our USB products use the "Audio Class" in USB. This means no special drivers are required, and any playback software can access the upsampler as an audio device. Tested on Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Mac OS X.

File formats supported

The audio flowing between the computer and the Upsampler is packetised PCM at 32,44.1,48,88.2 or 96k.Puccini U-Clock and Debussy DAC will also accpet 176.4kS/s & 192kS/s.

It is the job of the PC, and in particular the codec's installed on that PC to decode file formats and present them to the Upsampler/U-Clock/DAC in one of these formats. In general, if the PC can play the file (using Foobar,  iTunes etc ), it will work correctly.

Preferences when ripping music
Please ensure that you rip your music at a lossless compression to ensure bit perfect reading of the CD. WMA, WAV, AIFF and FLAC are all suitable methods of ripping data from a CD.

Can I connect my dCS DAC directly to the Firewire port on my PC to make it work?
No. The Firewire port on dCS products is for the transmission of encrypted DSD data from dCS players to dCS DACs. In order to connect your PC directly to a dCS DAC you must use either Puccini U-clock or Scarlatti/Paganini Upsampler, both of which have USB inputs.

How can I listen to music on a usb pen drive through my dCS products?
The device connected to the upsampler doesn't have to contain all of the audio. It makes perfect sense to have something small and silent connected by a cable to dCS (e.g. Laptop), but then have a large HDD or even a small pen drive containing sound files connected to the laptop. In this scenario when the user selects the audio for playback, the Mac/PC streams all of it in one go from the pen drive, then outputs that down the USB.

Is it possible to connect a Mac Mini to the Puccini (to utilise the Puccini DAC) for playing back music files from a hard disc?
Yes. It is possible in two ways; Using a Toslink to SPDIF adapter you can connect the Mac mini from the single mini plug (3.5mm) optical / audio output connection direct to the additional digital inputs on the rear of Puccini. Alternatively, using the patent pending (GB0817141.5) Puccini U-Clock, you can connect the Mac mini to Puccini Player using USB.

Asynchronous USB
In USB, there are numerous modes for synchronising the audio between the PC (the host ), and an audio device. The most popular of these, Adaptive, is where the audio device synchronises itself to the USB "frame" provided by the PC. This tends to be relatively poor in terms of both absolute frequency and jitter. The one used by the upsampler is called "Asynchronous" (NOT to be confused with asynchronous rate conversion). In this scenario, the audio device synchronises the audio by providing a feedback pipe to the PC. The PC then is effectively locked to the audio device, which can have a much more accurate clock and much lower jitter. In our case, the use of a master clock can mean excellent absolute frequency as well.

USB vs. wi-fi
Wi-Fi cannot guarantee bandwidth, or quality of service. This means that for a user sitting down for a listening session can have dropouts caused by microwave ovens being turned on, sudden bandwidth spikes caused by e.g. other people on the network suddenly deciding they must download huge amounts of pornography, etc. Large amounts of buffering will help to a large extent, but we regard this as a compromise in sound quality. Our customers buy our equipment for no compromise listening to music and we believe that having the source connected by a wire to the U-Clock or Upsampler for the best sound should not be alien to our customers. You can now buy silent PCs/laptops/Macs, and as devices such as the iPod touch has proved, the remote interface can be in their hands at the listening position.

USB vs. Ethernet
USB is isochronous. This means that the host & client both know how much bandwidth is available at the outset, and the host can guarantee that bandwidth will be available all the time. Ethernet/wifi cannot guarantee bandwidth - there is a concept of "Quality of Service", but this is not set in stone - especially with wifi. The mechanism for transmitting real-time audio over Ethernet is not especially well defined.

USB vs. Firewire
USB was chosen because it natively supports a mechanism by which the rate of data delivery from the host device (PC) can be controlled by the receiver. This allows the receiving device to feature a high quality clock and/or slave to an external clock source and be immune from the jitter and other inaccuracies of the host PC's clock. Firewire does not provide for this type of feedback, so is less suitable for this type of application. Additionally, USB is more widely available, especially on older PCs, making our solution accessible to a greater quantity of potential users.

Can I stream music from remote or online sources?
Yes. The device connected to the upsampler doesn't have to contain all the audio. It makes perfect sense to have something small and silent connected by a cable to us (e.g. Laptop), but then have a large HDD somewhere else connected wirelessly. In this scenario when the user selects the audio for playback, the Mac/PC streams all of it in one go from the Network Assigned Storage (NAS), then outputs that down the USB.

Cables
• All dCS products come with cables that allow you to start listening immediately. The cables supplied with our products are deliberately "commercial grade", because we know that most customers will prefer to use "audiophile grade" cables that are considerably more expensive. This is fine, provided the digital cables meet the requirements for impedance, balance and screening.
• Note that unscreened digital cables may pick up interference that can cause the equipment to momentarily lose lock.
• Broken or crushed cables are major source of problems, so please make sure your cables are in good condition.
• Word Clock and SDIF cables MUST be DC coupled, AC coupled cables will not work with these interfaces.

The Remote Control fails to control the unit
• The Remote Control is normally shipped with the batteries packed separately for safety reasons. If you are using the Remote Control for the first time, you must fit the batteries first.
• The Pronto's battery pack is supplied discharged, please charge it before use.
• If the Remote Control has not been used for a long time or has gradually lost range, the batteries should be replaced or recharged.
• If you have just replaced the batteries but the unit still does not work, check that the batteries are fitted the right way around. If two or more batteries were fitted the wrong around, the Remote Control may be permanently damaged. If this occurs, contact your dealer for advice.
• For correct operation, there must be a clear line of sight between the infrared transmitter at the end of the Remote Control and the infrared receiver on the front panel. If the line of sight is blocked (for example by a coffee table) the Remote Control may operate erratically or not at all.
• While the unit is displaying Locking or Wait ..., the system timing is fluctuating and this may temporarily disrupt the operation of the Remote Control. Once the unit locks, normal operation will be resumed.

Which dCS Remote Control Handsets work with which dCS products?

• We use a common set of RC5 remote control codes in our products, but not all products are compatible with every dCS remote handset.
• Note that the software in the audio product may not support every code sent by the remote. For example: Elgar Plus does not recognise the Filter- command sent by the basic remote, the Scarlatti DAC does not recognise the Input- command sent by the basic or Premium remotes.
• All 3 Pronto models loaded with configuration v2.00 or later will support all current dCS models.
• The Paganini basic remote and the metal Premium Remote will provide basic support for Elgar/Elgar Plus, Delius and the DAC functions of the P8i Player. Both remotes are compatible with the current DACs, Transports and Players. Both remotes are NOT compatible with Verdi, Verdi La Scala, Verdi Encore or the transport functions of the P8i Player - the problem is double-entry of track numbers.
• The Premium Remote supports the Paganini Upsampler and Scarlatti Upsampler v1.10 onwards.
• Scarlatti / Paganini Clocks and Verona are only supported by a Pronto.
• The Puccini U-Clock does not feature any form of remote control.

RS-232 Codes for dCS Products

• You can download a list of RC5 and RS232 codes from www.dcsltd.co.uk/page/support .
• Note that we cannot offer further support for custom installations.

Some buttons on the Pronto TSU3500 or RU960 do not work

• We have found occasionally that when Pronto models RU960 & TSU3500 are used for the first time, some of the buttons do not work - particularly the track number buttons. This is an initialisation error that can happen when a nearly discharged battery is connected. If this occurs, the following procedure has been found to re-start the Pronto correctly.

1. Fully charge the Pronto as described in the Pronto manual.
2. Open the back cover and disconnect the battery pack.
3. Wait 10 seconds then re-connect it the battery pack.

My Pronto 3500 does not control my new Scarlatti Upsampler

• The Upsampler was not even planned when the Scarlatti system was launched in 2007. You can download a new configuration file for your Pronto from www.dcsltd.co.uk/page/support and use the ProntoEdit NG software supplied with your Scarlatti Transport to load the new configuration into your Pronto from a PC running Windows XP.

Using isolating feet underneath your units

• If you intend to use isolating feet or pads, we suggest that you use 3: place one at each side near the front edge of the unit and one in the centre near the back edge.

You can find out the latest software version for your dCS unit by checking the technical specs section of each product page. For example, to find out latest software version for Scarlatti Upsmapler click here to read the Technical Specs.

The most common mistake when CD Updating is failure to follow the instructions supplied with the update disc. Please take care, follow the instructions and be patient!

All of our products with this feature are CD Updated as part of the production and QA process, so we are confident that updating works reliably in your unit.

CD Update cannot be selected
• CD Updating a DAC, Clock or Upsampler is only possible if the unit is locked to a 16/44.1 PCM source. If the unit is locked to some other format, the CD Update menu page may be disabled to avoid mistakes. Similarly, a Transport or Player must not be in SACD mode.

CD Update is interrupted or fails
• If a software update from a dCS CD is interrupted, the original software may be recovered by switching the unit off and on, then waiting a few minutes. See the notes supplied with the update CD.
• The Update CD may be dirty, damaged or incorrectly burned.
• If you are driving the DAC from an Upsampler or other device, ensure it is set to bit-for-bit (Clone) mode or bypass it while updating the DAC.
• CD Updating relies on bit-perfect data being received. If your CD Transport / Player upsamples to 48kS/s or 88.2kS/s or adds dither (a few models do this), the update program will reject the corrupted data. Use or borrow an "ordinary" CD Transport / Player for the update.

CD Update is interrupted and fails to recover
• It is just possible (but very unlikely) that the recovery will fail if the recovery code was being over-written when the interruption occurred. If you are very unlucky and this happens, ask your dealer or distributor for help. New software must be loaded from an EPROM in this situation.

After a CD Update, the 1394 interface does not work
• During a CD Update, the microcomputer in the 1394 interface board cannot communicate with the main microcomputer and will stop responding. Turn the unit completely off (NOT just to SLEEP mode) to re-boot the system.
• If a CD Update includes an update to the 1394 code, this is carried out as a separate step, as described in the instructions supplied with the update disc. If the unit is prevented from updating the 1394 code, the interface may keep trying to update but fail to do so. Please follow the update instructions carefully.
• If a CD Update includes an update to the 1394 code but the interface is left connected to another active interface, this will prevent the 1394 update working. Please disconnect all 1394 cables and follow the update instructions carefully.
Updating our older models without disconnecting the 1394 interface sometimes corrupts the 1394 code, causing the 1394 interface to stop running permanently. In such cases, 1394 code must be reloaded from a ROM by an authorised dCS distributor.

How updates are loaded on Clock products
• Scarlatti Master Clock has a reference input which is used to connect the Transport to Clock in order to load an update CD. Paganini Master Clock has a dedicated update input to be used when loading an update from CD.
 

Note: The limited product warranty on dCS products applies to the original owner. dCS warranties are non-transferrable, unless express permission from dCS is given and the product is re-registered. dCS provides a warranty only on products imported by our authorised distributors and sold by their authorised dealers.

dCS warrants our products against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 3 years from the date the unit was originally shipped from dCS.

During the warranty period, dCS will repair or, at our absolute discretion, replace a faulty product. Warranty repairs must only be carried out by dCS or our authorised service agents. Please contact your dealer if your unit requires service.

Read our Warranty policy in full.