e28 Mark II Digital to Analogue Converter 8 Channel | PCM 32 bit - 384 kHz DSD 64 Fs: 2.8224 / 3.072 MHz DSD 128 Fs: 5.6448 / 6.144 MHz DSD 256 Fs: 11.2896 / 12.288 MHz Owner’s Manual (Windows) PLEASE READ BEFORE OPERATION REV. 1.0.
Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................................................................... 2 Safety Information ....................................................................................................... 4 Explanation of Graphical Symbols ............................................................................................................ 4 Important Safety Instructions ....................................................................
Direct Connection to Analogue Power Amplifier .................................................................................... 14 Analogue Interconnect Recommendations ............................................................................................ 15 Connecting the Power Adapter............................................................................................................... 15 Surge Protectors ....................................................................................
Safety Information Explanation of Graphical Symbols The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
• • • • The power adapter is used as the mechanism for cutting off power, therefore make sure it is easy to unplug. To ensure proper ventilation around this product, do not place this product on a sofa, bed or rug. High temperature will lead to abnormal operation of this device. Do not expose this device or batteries to direct sunlight or near heating objects. When moving the device from a cold location to a warm one, or vice versa, moisture may condense on components inside the device.
This product, when no longer usable, when disposed off can’t be treated as generic garbage, but must be disposed of at a collection point for recycling of electrical and electronic equipment, in compliance with the WEEE regulation (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment). By making sure that this unit is correctly recycled, you will help preventing potential damages to environment and human health, which could be caused by the incorrect treatment of this product as generic garbage.
Welcome Thank you for purchasing the exaSound e28 Mark II DAC! The e28 DAC brings the highest quality of stereo and multichannel music reproduction to computer audiophiles. It delivers up to 8 channels with unprecedented bit-perfect low-jitter precision. e28 supports PCM at sampling rates up to 32bit/384kHz, and DSD 256 Fs up to 12.288 MHz. We hope that the e28 DAC will help you to enjoy world-class music experience for years to come. Please take a few minutes to read right through this manual.
Quick Start Package Contents The following items should be in the box: • e28 DAC • Power supply • A-B USB cable • IR Remote Control Proper Device Placement Place the device on a stable solid base, far from heat sources. Do not expose the device to direct sunlight. Allow at least 2.5 cm (1'') around the device for ventilation. Do not place the device on fabrics, inside enclosed space, or in contact with curtains. Do not place the device on top of power amplifiers or any other equipment that emits heat.
Rear Panel Connectors - RCA Coaxial SPDIF IN 1 Optical SPDIF IN 2 12V Trigger Output Power Adapter Connector USB IN RCA Line Outputs Rear Panel Connectors - Mini-XLR Coaxial SPDIF IN 1 Optical SPDIF IN 2 12V Trigger Output Power Adapter Connector SPDIF IN1 - Coaxial SPDIF Input SPDIF IN2 - Optical TOSLINK SPDIF Input DC 12V / 1.5A - Power Adapter Connector 5.5mm /2.
Infrared Remote Control Volume Up Display Light On/Off Next Input Previous Input Power Volume Down Mute Your unit is pre-programmed to work with the supplied remote control. The e28 DAC can be re-programmed to work with most infrared remote controls using Sony and NEC IR protocols, for example the Sony RM-EZ4 Universal Remote, or the Apple Remote Control.
exaSound Dashboard (Windows) View Selector Close Button Channel View Master Volume Channel Volume Channel View Channel Labels Minimised View Mute Button Sampling Rate Right-click the Dashboard Icon to display the exaSound menu System Tray exaSound Dashboard Icon Page | 11
Features The e28 DAC is based on the ES9018 Sabre32 reference DAC chip. It delivers 32-bit precision capable of resolving the smallest signal details. ES9018 features patented 32-bit Hyperstream™ architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator. It delivers the industry’s highest performance levels that will satisfy the most demanding audio enthusiasts. Windows ASIO Driver Advantages Using ASIO brings unique advantages that are hard to achieve and reliably verify with other Windows driver technologies.
Hardware Volume Control and Volume Bypass The e28 DAC volume is controlled by the ES9018 DAC chip. It is completely independent from the Windows software volume control. Audio data is always bitstreamed over the USB interface at full scale 0db/32bit resolution. Volume processing is performed by the DAC chip right at the border between the digital and the analogue domains.
Connecting and Powering the e28 DAC Before connecting, turn off the power to all the components in your system. Connecting the Digital Inputs All digital inputs are galvanically isolated to eliminate ground loop noise. The e28 DAC accepts three digital inputs • USB - This is the recommended and most capable input. It supports 2 to 8 channels PCM and DSD. PCM is supported with 32 bit resolution at standard sampling frequencies from 44.1 kHz to 384 kHz. DSD sampling rates range from 2.8224 MHz to 12.
Avoid connecting the e28 DAC to receivers and any other sound processing equipment that performs analogue to digital (ADC) conversion. Digitizing the analogue output signals back to the digital domain for processing will undo the benefits that e28 brings to you. Remember that your sound system is as good as the weakest link in the sound processing chain. Analogue Interconnect Recommendations Over-engineered interconnects made from exotic materials are unnecessary.
Remote Control Setup The e28 DAC is pre-programmed to work with the supplied remote control. If you like, you can reprogram the e28 DAC to work with a different IR remote control. The exaSound e28 DAC can be trained to recognise commands from most infrared remote controls using Sony and NEC IR protocols. Use the following procedure to change remote control button assignments or to pair the e28 DAC with a different remote control: 1. Power on the e28 DAC. Make sure that the unit is not in playback mode. 2.
Windows ASIO Drivers Step-by-step Setup Guide PC System Requirements • • • • • Operating systems: o Windows 8 x86 or Windows 8 x64 o Windows Server 2012 R2 o Windows 7, 32 or 64 bit o Windows XP / 32 bit with the latest service packs installed Recommended CPU for operating at 352.8 and 384 kHz - 2.4GHz dual-core Intel i7 or better USB 2.0 / USB 3.
4. Connect the e28 DAC. You should see a pop-up message on the computer screen indicating that e28 DAC is successfully installed. Note that this message has a different appearance on Windows XP and Windows 7. Windows 8 may not display the message. 5. Upon completion of the Windows ASIO driver installation you will see the exaSound e28 Dashboard Icon in the System Tray area next to the clock.
6. If you don't see it, right-click on the clock and select Customize Notification Icons from the menu. 7. Scroll down to the exaSound e28 Dashboard icon and from the dropdown select Show icon and notifications. Click OK. 8. You should be able to see the exaSound e28 Dashboard icons at all times. The Icon changes to indicate playback, and displays an exclamation mark when the USB cable is disconnected: exaSound Dashboard Stop Icon Play Icon USB Cable Disconnected Icon 9.
Using the e28 DAC Computer Playback Using the Asynchronous USB Input Before turning your amplifiers ON, always check the e28 DAC front panel to make sure that the volume level is below -25dB. • • • The e28 DAC can be controlled from the front panel buttons, using an IR remote control or from the computer screen. Make sure that all cables are connected. Turn on the unit using the Power button on the front panel of the remote control. The front panel display will light up.
• • Use the arrow button between the right channel and the master volume to toggle between Channel View and Minimised View. Use the X button in the top right corner to minimize the exaSound e28 Dashboard window. Power On/Off • • The e28 DAC has an automatic power-on function and it will turn itself on when playback is detected. The e28 DAC automatically turns itself off after a period of inactivity. Use the Power Off Timeout setting to adjust the inactivity time interval before shutdown.
Start playback. You will see the level indicators moving and the current sampling rate displayed on the exaSound Dashboard. The e28 DAC front panel display will indicate the stream format (PCM or DSD), the sampling rate and the master volume level. Note: level indicators are inactive in DSD mode. Volume Bypass When the volume sliders for the exaSound driver in the Audio MIDI Setup application are set to 0dB, the hardware volume control is turned off and the e28 DAC operates in Volume Bypass Mode.
Settings Menu • • • Click on the exaSound icon on the Menu and select Settings. Use the Max Volume setting to prevent accidental playback at volume levels that are too loud. The e28 DAC automatically turns itself off after a period of inactivity. Use the Power Off Timeout setting to adjust the time interval before shutdown. Settings changes may not come into effect until playback is restarted.
Specifications D/A Converter IC ESS Technology ES9018S Sabre32 Reference DAC PCM Sampling Rates Asynchronous USB ASIO 44.1kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 352.8 kHz, 384 kHz DSD Sampling Rates Asynchronous USB ASIO DSD 64 Fs: 2.8224 MHz, 3.072 MHz DSD 128 Fs 5.6448MHz, 6.144 MHz DSD 256 Fs: 11.2896 MHz, 12.288 MHz Sampling Rates-SPDIF Coaxial IN 1 PCM 44.1kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz Sampling Rates-SDIF Optical IN 2 PCM 44.1kHz, 48 kHz, 88.
Volume Matching between Channels Better than 0.1 dB Line Output Unbalanced (RCA) or Balanced (Mini -XLR), gold-plated contacts Line Output Level 4 Vrms (balanced) 2 Vrms (unbalanced) Line Output Impedance 200 ohms Line Output Offset < 5 mV Headphone Amp Current Output 200 mA peak Headphone Amp Output Impedance 1 Ohm, 20Hz-20KHz Headphone Amp Output 0-4V Headphone Amp THD+N 0.00077% , 1Vrms into 60ohms Headphone Jack 1/4" TRS SE Power Jack Diameter Internal: 2.5mm x External: 5.
Limited One Year Warranty exaSound Devices are warranted against defective workmanship or materials for one (1) calendar year from the original date of purchase. This warranty applies only to exaSound brand products manufactured by exaSound and sold to the original consumer by either exaSound or an exaSound authorized reseller. This warranty does not apply to exaSound brand products imported and sold by unauthorized dealers, distributors, or other sellers.
TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE, please follow these instructions: • Contact exaSound customer service via email at CustomerService@exaSound.com with details of the defect claimed, product model, serial number, date and place of the original purchase. • If it is determined that your product needs service, a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number will be issued to you along with return instructions and address of an exaSound service center.
