Specifications

8
Rear Panel Digital Details - (right
to left)
Power Input – This product must be plugged into
a DAC IV SELECT Power Base. It will not work
with any previous MSB power supplies.
RS-232 – The RS-232 input is used for controlling
the DAC or volume control using a remote system.
The complete table of commands can be found
under the support tab of our web site.
Toslink – Although this format has the lowest
bandwidth, it is one of the more common outputs
on low-end products. It also offers ground
isolation between products and noise immunity
over long runs. It is unlikely to work at sample
rates over 192 kHz.
Coaxial – A good input for short runs and lower
frequencies. Limited to 384 kHz, 24 bit data.
BNC – Same as Coaxial but with a BNC connector.
Another digital input.
Balanced digital – The AES/EBU Professional
input is the preferred standard input. The
balanced nature of this input allows great cable
lengths as well as total noise immunity. Limited
to 384 kHz, 24 bit data.
MSB PRO I2S – The MSB PRO I2S uses CAT-6
cabling. It provides an input for use with other
MSB products. It can handle data up to 384 kHz
and 32 bits. This interface also outputs the clock
to keep the transport in sync.
MSB Signature USB2 – This USB input is installed in one of the AUX positions so that as USB changes, it will be easy to upgrade the
input. It can handle data up to 384 kHz and 24 bits. It requires computer power so please use standard USB cables. See the box below
for setup. For more detailed and up-to-date information check our web site.
Aux 1 and 2 – These are all purpose expansion slots. They can be congured as a USB input, MSB PRO I2S Input, MSB Network or extra
XLR or RCA digital inputs. It can also become a second analog input. They will also accommodate anything new that comes along.
The MSB PRO I2S Network
One of the most powerful features of MSB products is the PRO I2S network. Most
new MSB products have a PRO I2S connection available. The MSB PRO I2S has the
following capability:
• Works with standard UN-SHIELDED CAT6 cable
• Simultaneous transmission of 8 audio channels with 32 bit resolution at 384 kHz
sampling rate.
• MSB CAN Interbox communication Bus (for communications between
boxes)
• Low Jitter master clock distribution from the DAC back to the Transport.
This network is our answer to 384 kHz audio transmission and multichannel transmission
in the same package. We provide network
outputs on our own transports and offer
a source upgrade to your transport as
well. With multichannel sources, up to
8 channels of decoded data can be
sent through one wire to separate
DACs. CAT6 wire is very convenient
as it has become the standard for
all computer networks. Several
cables are available for connecting
MSB transports to the Diamond Line
including CAT6 cable at any length
up to 80 feet.
Apple MAC OS - USB Setup
On the MAC the USB is plug and play. The MAC
will recognize the USB DAC and its capabilities
and will allow the output to be set to any sample
rate desired. The bad news is, with certain
programs such as iTunes, the output sample rate
has to be set manually when the le sample rate
changes. So if you set the output for 192 kHz, and
played a 192 kHz le, it would play perfectly, but
if you then played a 44.1 kHz CD, the MAC OS
would upsample that le to 192 kHz. Computer
upsampling is not too bad, but does not compare
at all with the quality of the upsampling done by
MSB. Better to change the output to 44.1 kHz
and play the le bit-perfect. Fortunately there is
an APP called BIT PERFECT. Download it and
the MAC with the MSB USB 2 is perfection itself.
The Apple Audio MIDI Setup screen is shown
above. Notice that the presence of the MSB USB
Signature DAC has allowed 352.8 and 384 kHz
sample rates to show up on the menu. Normally
they are not present. iTunes will play at whatever
sample rate you select in this setup.