Aesthetix Audio PandoraRomulus Owners Manual

							
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PANDORA DAC 
 
ROMULUS CD Player-DAC 
 
 
 
 
 
Owner’s Manual 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Aesthetix Audio Corporation 
5220 Gabbert Rd., Suite A  ♦ Moorpark, CA. 93021 
Phone: (805) 529-9901
  
						

							
  
 
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangl\
e, 
is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous 
voltage” within the product’s enclosu re that may be of significant 
magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. 
 
 
 
 
The exclamation point within an equilate ral triangle is intended to alert 
the user to the presence of  important operating and maintenance 
(servicing) instructions in the  literature accompanying the product.
 
 
 
 
 
WARNING 
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, 
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE 
 
 
 
CAUTION: TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NO T USE THE AC (POLARIZED) PLUG WITH AN 
EXTENSION CORD, RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET UNLESS THE BLADES CAN BE FULLY INSERTED 
TO PREVENT BLADE EXPOSURE. 
 
 
Extension cords are not recommended for use with this product. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  2 
						

							
 
  3
PREFACE 
INTRODUCTION 
 
This manual covers the use for both the 
Pandora DAC and The Romulus DAC/CD Player.  
The name Pandora will be used where it applies  to both products and the name Romulus will 
be used where it applies to the Romulus only. 
 
Thank you for purchasing the Pandora/Romulu s CD player-DAC.  It has been engineered to 
deliver the highest attainable sound quality.  This  is its sole purpose.  Only the highest grade 
electronic components are used in  the Pandora, including:  non-inductive Roederstein metal 
film resistors in the signal  path; polystyrene, polypropylene,  and electrolytic power supply, 
bypass, and signal capacitors;  low noise matched vacuum tubes; glass epoxy circuit boards; 
16 gauge aluminum chassis; custom wound low flux power transformers. 
 
The integration of the personal  computer (PC) into the home stereo system has provided a 
revolutionary way to purchase, organize, and play  your digital music collection. The Pandora 
digital-to-audio (D/A or DAC) converter prov ides an equally revolutionary way to play back 
your music files with unprecedented fidelity and  realism.  Connected via the omnipresent 
USB port, the Pandora generates a fixed-frequency  master audio clock and requests the data 
from the computer at the correct time for jitter-f ree playback of your music.  This is all done 
using the standard device drivers  (up to 96K for Windows, additional driver required for 192K) 
supplied with all recent operat ing systems, allowing simple installation and operation with 
most computers.  The Pandora al so utilizes opto-couplers to provide total electrical isolation 
for the connections between your computer  and music system.  This minimizes the 
introduction of unwanted radio-frequency interfer ence (RFI), generated by all computers. 
 
Note:  Avoiding the use of wireless networks (e .g., Wi-Fi) by employing wired connections 
instead, will reduce RFI levels in your home and  results in improved sound quality for any 
music system. 
 
 
PLACEMENT 
 
The Pandora should be located away from possible sources of hum such as power cords, 
power transformers and the like.  It should not be  located near any other heat source such as 
a power amplifier or power supply.  It must be kept  well ventilated any time it is on.  If it is 
positioned within an enclosed space then fans may  be warranted.  All air vents must remain 
unobstructed.   
 
BURN IN TIME 
 
This unit has a break in period of about 400  hours during which continuous improvement in 
sound quality will be observed. 
 
  
						

							
 
  4
IMPORTANT 
 
Save all packaging in a dry place away from 
fire hazards.  Your Pandora is a precision 
electronic instrument and should be properly pack aged any time shipment is made.  In the 
unlikely event that you have to retu rn your Pandora to the factory for service, or if you send it 
to us for updating, the original packaging  will best protect the unit from shipping damage. 
 
In order to achieve the fullest flexibility  and enjoyment from your Pandora, we highly 
recommend that you read this manual in full  before connecting the unit to your audio system. 
 
Note: It is imperative that the  Pandora be operated in a well vent ilated environment and the 
immediate external temperature be maintained as  specified.  External cooling fans may 
be required in some cases.  Do not stack any equipment directly above or below the 
Pandora to protect it from overheating, as  well as the continued functionality of any 
equipment near and around it. 
 
 
WARNING 
 
United States law prohibits dis position of these commodities to Libya, Laos, North Korea, 
Cambodia or Cuba unless otherwise  authorized by the United States. 
 
 
AFTER MARKET and THIRD PARTY MODIFICATIONS 
 
 
Please note that any after market and/or third par ty modifications will void the warranty.  In 
the case of changing the feet  on a unit, in order to prevent any damage (which will also not 
be covered under warranty), please verify that  the screws being used to secure non-Aesthetix 
feet do not screw any deeper into  the chassis than the original ones.  The original screw is 
10-32 by 3/8” and extends into the chassis 1/8 inch. 
 
 
Acknowledgements 
 
 
© 2011-14 Aesthetix Audio Corporati on.  All rights reserved.  Mostly written and Illustrated by 
Glenn Buckley 
 
No part of this publication may be reproduced or  transmitted in any form or by any means, 
electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without  the express written permission of Aesthetix 
Audio Corporation. 
  
						

							
 
  5
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 
  
Please carefully read each item of t
he operating instructions and safety pr ecautions before installing and using 
this product.  Use extra care to follow the warnings  written on the product itself and/or in the operating 
instructions.  Keep the operating  instructions and safety precautions for future reference. 
  
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE ANY OF THE COVER 
PANELS. 
 
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.  REFE R ALL SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE 
PERSONNEL ONLY. 
 
TO PREVENT FIRE OR SHOCK HAZARD, DO NOT A LLOW LIQUIDS TO SPILL OR OBJECTS TO FALL 
INTO ANY OPENINGS OF THE PRODUCT. 
 
THIS UNIT IS SUPPLIED WITH A 3 PIN GROUNDE D AC PLUG. ALWAYS INSERT THE AC PLUG INTO A 
GROUNDED OUTLET.  DO NOT REMOVE THE GR OUND PIN OR DISABLE THE GROUND FOR ANY 
PURPOSE. 
 
BEFORE MAKING ANY CONNECTIONS TO THE  PANDORA, FIRST TURN OFF THE POWER AND THEN 
DISCONNECT THE AC POWER CORD. 
 
WHEN INSTALLING THE PANDORA IN YOUR SYSTEM,  MAKE CERTAIN TO ALLOW A MINIMUM OF 4 
INCHES OF VENTILATION ON EACH SIDE OF THE  UNIT.  ALSO ALLOW AT LEAST 3 INCHES OF 
VENTILATION SPACE ABOVE THE UNIT.  IMPR OPER VENTILATION OF THE UNIT MAY CAUSE 
OVERHEATING, WHICH MAY DAMAGE THE UNIT AND  CAUSE A FIRE.  PLACE THE UNIT ON A SOLID 
SURFACE ONLY. I.E. NOT ON CARPET, ETC. 
 
DO NOT PLACE THE PANDORA NEAR HEAT SOURCES  SUCH AS DIRECT SUNLIGHT, STOVES, HEAT 
REGISTERS, RADIATORS OR OTHER HEAT PRODUCING EQUIPMENT. 
 
IF REPLACEMENT OF THE AC LINE FUSE AND/ OR ANY INTERNAL FUSE BECOMES NECESSARY, 
REPLACE ONLY WITH SAME VALUE AND T YPE OF FUSE.  NEVER BYPASS THE FUSE. 
 
IF THE AC CORD BECOMES DAMAGED, DO NOT USE IT.  IMMEDIATELY REPLACE IT W\
ITH A NEW 
ONE OF THE SAME OR BETTER RATING. 
 
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE PANDORA BE OPE RATED IN A WELL VENTILATED ENVIRONMENT AND 
THE IMMEDIATE EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE BE MAIN TAINED AS SPECIFIED.  EXTERNAL COOLING 
FANS MAY BE REQUIRED IN SOME CASES.  DO  NOT STACK ANY EQUIPMENT DIRECTLY ABOVE OR 
BELOW THE PANDORA AS TO PROTECT IT FROM  OVERHEATING, AS WELL AS THE CONTINUED 
FUNCTIONALITY OF ANY EQUIPMENT NEAR AND AROUND IT. 
 
IF THE TOP COVER HAS TO BE REMOVED, FI RST TURN OFF THE REAR PANEL POWER SWITCH AND 
WAIT A MINIMUM OF 15 MINUTES. 
   
						

							
 
  6
 
Table Of Contents 
  
PREFACE........................................................................\
.................................................... 3
 
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................\
...................................... 3  
PLACEMENT........................................................................\
............................................ 3  
BURN IN TIME ........................................................................\
......................................... 3  
IMPORTANT ........................................................................\
............................................ 4  
WARNING ........................................................................\
................................................ 4 
AFTER MARKET and THIRD PAR TY MODIFICATIONS .............................................. 4  
Acknowledgements....................................................................\
.................................... 4  
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ........................................................................\
............................ 5  
The Hand Held Remote ........................................................................\
............................... 7  
Pandora Front Panel Layout ........................................................................\
........................ 8  
Pandora Display Layout.................................................................\
...................................... 9  
Rear Panel Layout........................................................................\
..................................... 1 0 
CONNECTION S ........................................................................\
........................................ 11  
AC Power: ........................................................................\
.............................................. 11 
USB Audio Input Speed ........................................................................\
.......................... 11  
OPERATION ........................................................................\
............................................. 1 2 
STANDBY........................................................................\
............................................... 1 2 
INPUT Select  Buttons ........................................................................\
............................. 12 
MUTE ........................................................................\
................................................... .. 12 
Volume Cont rol (VC) ........................................................................\
.............................. 12  
DISPLAY ........................................................................\
................................................ 12 
Advanced display functionality........................................................................\
............. 13  
REMOTE TRIGGER ........................................................................\
............................... 13  
RS232...................................................................\
....................................................... ... 13 
Memory Bu ffering........................................................................\
................................... 13  
SETUP........................................................................\
.................................................. .. 13 
Configuring your  computer ........................................................................\
.................. 13  
Romulus........................................................................\
................................................ ...... 14 
Romulus Front  Panel Layout ........................................................................\
..................... 14  
Romulus Display Layout ........................................................................\
............................ 15  
Operation ........................................................................\
.............................................. ..... 16 
INPUT ........................................................................\
.................................................. ... 16 
CD CONTROL  buttons ........................................................................\
........................... 16  
Appendix A Troubleshooting  Guide ........................................................................\
....... 17  
Appendix B Specificat ions ........................................................................\
..................... 18  
    
						

							
The Hand Held Remote  
The Pandora/Romulus CD player-DAC can be controlled using either the front panel buttons or the 
supplied hand held remote control.  Basic functions are selectable from both locations.  Additional 
functions are accessible only on the remote control.  This remote contro\
l can also be used with the Rhea, 
Calypso and Janus preamplifiers.  Functions for these  other products will be discussed in their respective 
Owner’s manuals.  Please note that all CD functions apply to the Romu\
lus only.  
 
1.  Standby button.  Toggles the Pandora between Standby and Operate.  
2.  Display.  Toggle to turn the Display on and off.  
3.  Numeric entry and Enter buttons.    
4.  Information button.  Press to view track or disc information.  
5.  Repeat.  Press once to repeat the current Romulus track, 
twice to repeat the current disc and 3 times to always repeat 
the entire disc, even if  the disc has been changed. 
 
6.  Random Romulus track play.  
7.  Up and Down.  Press to control volume when the optional 
volume controls are installed.  
 
8.  Mute.  Say no more.  
9.  Left and Right.  Not used.  
10. Scan Back.  When quickly pressed once, advances to the previous Romulus track and begins  playing.  When held, it 
scans back through the current track until released.  Also 
closes the drawer, if open. 
 
11. When pressed once quickly, advances to the next Romulus  track and begins playing.  When held, it scans forward 
through the current track until released.  Also closes the 
drawer, if open. 
 
12. Pauses the CD in play.  Pr ess Pause again, or play to 
continue playing the CD.  Also closes the drawer, if open. 
 
13.  Stops the disc from playing.  
14.  Plays the current CD track.   Restarts play when paused.  
15. Eject. Opens or closes the drawer.  
16.  Input Select buttons.  
17.  Toggles absolute phase.  
18. Pressing either the left of right Input arrow buttons motions 
the unit through its inputs. 
 
19.  Used to sync the video from  a different device with the audio 
output of the Pandora. 
 
20 - 23 N/A with Pandora.  
24 – 26. Unit select buttons.  Pandora/Romulus must be  selected. 
  Figure 1 – Hand Held Remote HRC-2 
 
 
  7 
						

							
Pandora Front Panel Layout 
 
 
STANDBY
AESTHETIX
14512
11 1 3
3
26 78910
PHASE
RNDM ALL FOREVER
LOCK
ONE
REPEAT
AES MUTE
RCA TOSUSB AUX
PANDORA
DISPLAY
  
Figure 2 – Pandora Front Panel Layout  
 
 
 
1. STANDBY  button. After the rear panel  MAIN POWER switch is turned on and the information pages are 
displayed, press the front panel  STANDBY button to exit the standby mode.  Pressing this 
button again will put the Pandora into  STANDBY and illuminate the Standby  LED. 
 
2. Standby  LED.  Illuminates when the Pandora is in Standby. 
 
3. DISPLAY  button.  Press to extinguish or turn on the display. 
 
4. DISPLAY.    Refer to the next page for a detailed description. 
 
5.  Pressing the left side of the  DISPLAY will decrement* the volume, when the opt ional volume control is installed. 
 
6. AES/EBU  input select button. 
 
7. RCA S/PDIF input select button. 
 
8. TOSLINK  input select button. 
 
9. USB1  input select button. 
 
10. USB2  input select button.  This button is inactive if only one USB card is installed. 
 
11.  Pressing the right side of the  DISPLAY will increment* the volume, when the opt ional volume control is installed. 
 
12. MUTE  button.  Toggle to mute or un-mute the Pandora. 
 
13. Mute  LED.  Illuminates when the unit is muted. 
 
 
 
  8 
						

							
Pandora Display Layout 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Figure 3 – Pandora LED Display Layout   
 
 
 
1.  Pressing the left side of the Display will decrement* the volume, when the optional volume control is installed. 
 
2.  Displays the name of the currently selected input.  When a digital signal  is present at any of the rear panel 
inputs, the sample rate is displayed.  In a Signature  version, when a DSD or DSD2X signal is detected, this 
part of the display will read DSD or DSD2, respectively. 
 
3.  When the optional volume controls are installed,  the volume level will show while it is being changed, and 
remain for 3 seconds after.  When a USB input is se lected, C1 or C2 will be displayed for approximately 5 
seconds, indicating the current position of t he Class 1/Class 2 switch on the rear panel. 
 
4.  Illuminates when the Output Phase is reversed (minus). 
 
5.  Illuminates when the Pandora locks onto a digital input signal. 
 
6.  Pressing the right side of the Display will increment* t he volume, when the optional volume control is installed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  9 
						

							
Rear Panel Layout 
 
ANALOG OUTPUTS
MADE IN USAAESTHETIX
RS-232 TRIGGER
LEFT
3
RIGHT
1
2
ON
OFF
TOS
COAX
DIGITAL INPUTS
AES EBU
DIGITAL INPUTS
USB
Class 2 Class 1
SERIAL NUMBER 0000
12
345 6 7 9 11 1
10
8Left channel outputs2  
Figure 4 - Rear Panel Layout     
1.  Right Single-Ended output jack.  
2.  Right Balanced output jack.  
3. MAIN POWER Switch.   Disconnects AC to all circuits.  It is  recommended that this be left ON at all times 
during regular use with the exception of whenever cables are connect ed/disconnected or when the unit is 
not going to be used for an extended period of time.
  
4.  AC POWER INPUT  including Chassis  FUSE.  Replace with same type and rating only.  (Spare fuse inside).  
5. DB9  RS232 connector.  Used for connecting a system contro l device to the Pandora to control and monitor 
its functions.
  
6. Remote  TRIGGER jack.  When the STANDBY  button is pressed to take the Pandora out of standby, the 
rear panel  TRIGGER jack becomes active with a 5 VDC signal.   A compatible receiving device such as the 
Atlas Power amplifier will receive this signal and w ill change its mode from standby to operate.  When the 
Standby button is pressed again the signal goes  to 0V and puts the receiving device into STANDBY mode. 
 
7.  Blank jack plate.  This slot can  be used for an additional Digital Input board.  
8. USB  type B Input jack.  The USB 2.0 standard specifies a maximum cable length of 16 feet (5 meters).  It is 
not recommended to use extenders or hubs with the Pandora. 
 
9. Push  SWITCH selects  CLASS 1 or 2.  Refer to the “USB Audio Input  Speed” section on the next page.  
10. TOSLINK  Input jack.  
11. SINGLE-ENDED (RCA COAX)  digital Input jack.  
12. AES/EBU (XLR) digital Input jack. 
 
 
 
  10