Totaldac D1-server Manuale utente
TOTALDAC d1-server User's Guide
2014 July 20th
1
Typical system
A system based on the d1-server is typically composed of:
1. An Ethernet/Wifi router
2. A NAS (ethernet storage disk)
. A TotalDAC d1-server with its USB cable
4. A remote to select the music, an Ipad mini for example
5. Then a Hifi system with a DAC, a power amplifier and speakers
2
The Wifi router
The Wifi router is a box with several ethernet (RJ45) connectors and a Wifi access. It is the heart of
the network. It makes a communication link between several equipments: computers, Ipad, NAS
(network disks), the Totaldac d1-server and possibly a connection to the Internet.
Most people have already a router at home, often our internet box (DSL, cable or anything else) have
already several available ethernet (RJ45) connectors and a Wifi access.
It is usually possible to use this internet box as a router for the hifi system.
It is also possible to use a second, independent ethernet/Wifi router, making a second Wifi network
in the house. The possible reasons for using a second router are:
1) The hifi system is not is the same room as the Internet box and no ethernet cable is arriving
in the Hifi room.
2) An independent network will be small and fully under control, this can make the system
sound better than when you have several computers, printers, a DSL link, TVs with a building
antenna connected to the network.
) An independant network can be moved anywhere : another room, a friend's house for a test,
a Hifi shop, a Hifi show, you can move it anywhere without new network configuration
required.
4) Having a local network disconnected to the public phone line you have less risks during a
thunder lightning.
5) The internet provider box can have limitations hard to understand and hard to modify by the
user.
6) The full bandwidth is dedicated to the audio streams.
When using your current Internet box as an ethernet/Wifi router for the hifi system you just need to
enter the Wifi password in the Ipad to connect the Ipad to this network.
You can also buy a second ethernet/Wifi router, from your local shop or from Totaldac.
When you switch OFF the music router, the Ipad connects automatically to another known Wifi
network, and when you switch ON the music router again the Ipad doesn't go back automatically to
the music Wifi network. You have to manually connect to the music Wifi network (TOTALDAC).
Note1: the ethernet/Wifi router have also a dedicated RJ45 input which can be connected to the
Internet box to add Internet functionality to the local router.
Note2: Sometimes it is necessary to switch OFF the firewall in the router otherwise it can disconnect
the d1-server (called Cubox in the network).
Warning: A router has usualy one specific RJ45 connector (blue for example) and 4 normal RJ45
connectors. The special connector can only be used as an Internet input (from your Internet box),
only the 4 other connectors can be used for the NAS, d1-server and computer.
4
The music files
Many music file formats are supported :
.dsf and .dff (DSD)
.flac
.wav
.aiff
.ALAC Apple Lossless
.AAC (lossy)
.ogg (lossy)
.mp (lossy)
Lossy formats are not recommended because their sound quality is not guaranteed. Instead
uncompressed or lossless compressed formats are recommended.
Most formats can contain tags. Tags are information integrated in the music files such as album name,
track number, artist, composer... and sometimes a picture of the CD album. They are usually
compatible with all music players (in computers, streamers or anything else).
DBpoweramp or Exact Audio Copy are possible Windows applications to rip CDs to .flac.
The Ipad application can use the Folder.jpg album pictures .
Take care, folder.jpg is different from Folder.jpg , you can choose the exact case sensitive spelling in
the Ipad application MPAD.
The music files are not stored inside the d1-server, they are stored externally.
They can be stored in a NAS (ethernet disk) or in a USB stick or in a bigger USB disk.
Advise:
It is recommended to add a picture of the album cover named “Folder.jpg” in each album directory.
At the end of the document an annexe shows how to transform automatically your library to have
only Folder.jpg as cover pictures.
Many CD ripping software and audio files vendors like Qobuz do that automatically even if the
“Folder.jpg” file can be a hidden file.
5
Using a NAS for the music storage
A NAS is a storage memory which is connected to the ethernet network (using a RJ45 cable). It is now
very commonly used to store music. So it is visible by all computers and music servers connected on
the same network. A NAS works exactly like a computer which shares a folder on the local network.
The files can be read or new files can be added by any computer connected to this local network.
To be detected by the d1-server the NAS MUST be named
totaldac-nas
To change this you must enter in the NAS configuration page and fill “device name” or “server name”.
Then no IP address has to be entered anywhere, it is fully automatic.
Then a shared folder MUST be created in the NAS with the name
music-nas
The shared folder must be compatible with Windows file sharing (also called SMB or samba or CIFS).
This is the most common folder sharing type, usually activated by default in a NAS.
There must be no password to access the NAS, just a guest account with read and write possibility
and NO PASSWORD.
If you buy a NAS from Totaldac this configuration will be already made by Totaldac.
To add music on the NAS you can connect a computer to the music network (using an ethernet cable
between the computer and the router). The computer will see the shared directory and then you can
copy more music files in it.
For example from a Windows computer you can access the NAS typing
\\totaldac-nas\music-
nas
in the file explorer.
Note: Win8 can display \\TOTALDAC-NAS because Windows is not case sensitive.
Whenever you are not sure if the NAS is really working you can check using a computer on the
network. If the computer can see it the d1-server on the same network can see it.
A NAS is connected though ethernet, so it has a galvanic isolation between the disc and the d1-server.
The NAS from Synology and Qnap have been tested with success with the d1-server, there are
recommended NAS.
Note: If you want to use several NAS to increase the total memory capacity the second NAS must be
named totaldac-nas2 and the third NAS must be named totaldac-nas3.
6
Using a USB disk for the music storage
It is also possible to use a USB stick or a USB disc for the music storage. In this case the files are seen
locally by the d1-server only. To add music on a USB stick or disk you must unplug it from the d1-
server and plug it into a computer.
The supported file systems are FAT 2 or NTFS or linux file system.
At power ON the d1-server checks the USB disk integrity. If it contains errors it will correct it and this
can take time.
It is not allowed to use small 2.5inch box because they use the USB 5V power supply with most time
more than 500mA current consumption which is out of USB specification and can damage the d1-
server. Also the high current taken from the d1-server could make electro-magnetic pollution in the
d1-server power supply. So it is better to use small USB stick which require only a low current or use a
big .5inch box which always uses an external power supply, usually 12V. You can also insert a silent
2.5inch hard disk drive (or SSD) in a .5inch box via a mechanical adapter if necessary.
Please don't use a 2.5inch box even with an external 5V power supply because most time the
external 5V power supply is just in parallel with the USB cable power supply, so the poor quality
external supply will send ripple current to the d1-server and send pollution to the d1-server, resulting
in not the best sound.
A USB disk has no galvanic isolation between the disk, power supply and the d1-server.
Note: You can use several storage types at the same time, a NAS and a USB disk for example.
7
The Totaldac d1-server
The Totaldac d1-server is composed of a Totaldac reclocker and an embedded small computer.
When using a NAS as a music storage and AES-EBU link to the DAC (most recommended situation) the
d1-server connections looks like this:
A USB cable/filter is used to connect the reclocker USB input to the embedded computer bottom USB
connector.
The microSD card is also visible, it can be changed to upgrade the embedded computer software.
8
The d1-server infra-red remote control
A remote control is included in the package.
The remote control unctions are:
-VOL+ key (indication N°8): increases main volume control
-VOL- key (indication N°5): decreases main volume control
-"on/off" key (indication N°11): switches the DAC ON or OFF, the audio circuits are maintained warm
in OFF mode.
-"mute" key (indication N°9): mutes all analog outputs
-Numerical keyboard, selects among 4 digital inputs:
--number "1": selects input1 RCA
--number "2": selects input2 XLR
--number " ": selects input optical
--number "4": selects input4 USB, this input must be selected when the reclocker is used as a music
server
-"0" and "-/--" keys: goes to previous or next menu to adjust the phase polarity, earth connection,
display on/off...
-PROG+ key (indication N°4): increases the current parameter in the active menu
9
-PROG- key (indication N°6): increases the current parameter in the active menu
-"teletext" key (indication N°2): stores to memory all current settings, for example you can store the
USB input selection when you use the reclocker as a music server.
New available keys rom so tware version V3.5, to select one Totaldac equipment among two or
three using a single remote control:
--number "7": selects the remote control receiver of the server only
--number "8": selects the remote control receiver of the reclocker only
--number "9": selects the remote control receiver of the DAC only
--number "6": selects the remote control receiver of all Totaldac products
Available menus:
PHASE: can invert the absolute phase of the signal, set to "NORMAL" by default.
EARTH: when "CONNECTED" is selected the signal ground is connected to the earth. When
"UNCONNECTED" is selected the signal ground and the earth are isolated. Choose the best
configuration to get the best silence from your amplifier or the best sound when listening to music.
DISPLAY: when "ON" is selected the display is always switched on, when "OFF" is selected the display
is switched off 10 seconds after the last remote control action.
DSD --> PCM: for the reclocker and d1-server, set ON or OFF the DSD (DoP) to PCM 176KHz/24
conversion.
Set ON if the DAC which follows the reclocker/server is not DSD compatible.
Set OFF if the DAC which follows the reclocker/server is DSD compatible. The reclocker/server volume
control must be set to 0dB to allow to pass the DSD in DoP format.
Note: to use as a music server please select the USB input and save the configuration so it will be
automatically on USB input for next power ON.
10
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