NAD Comprehensive Guide for Using the S500 Compact Disc Player

NAD S500 Compact Disc Player

A NOTE ON INSTALLATION

Install the Compact Disc player on a level, vibration-free surface. Severe vibration, or operation in a tilted position, may cause the player to mis-track. The player may be stacked with other stereo components, as long as there is adequate ventilation around it.

If the player is placed in close proximity to a radio tuner (AM or FM), a VCR, or a television set, the operation of its digital circuits may produce interference that would affect reception of weak broadcast signals. If this occurs, move the CD player away from other devices or switch it off when viewing or listening to broadcasts.

PLAYING COMPACT DISCS

A SIMPLE APPROACH

1	Connect a stereo cable from the L (left) and R (right) Line Output
	jacks to the corresponding CD inputs on your amplifier.
2	Connect the detachable AC power cord to the rear panel.
3	Plug the AC power cord into a wall outlet.
4	Press the POWER button to turn on the player.
5	Press the STOP/OPEN button to open the disc drawer.
6	Place a CD, label side up, in the tray’s circular recess. Be certain that
	the disc is centered within the recess.
7	Press PLAY/PAUSE. The drawer closes automatically, and the disc
	begins to play.
8	At any time you may press SKIP	or	to select different
	tracks on the disc.
9	Press PLAY/PAUSE if you want to stop play temporarily while
	keeping the pickup at its current position on the disc. (Press
	PLAY/PAUSE again when you want to resume playback.) Press
	STOP/OPEN once if you want to end play and re-set the pickup to
	the beginning of the disc, twice to open the drawer.

	REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS
GB	1. UNBALANCED LINE OUTPUT
	Connect an RCA cable from these jacks to your amplifier. Plug one end
	of a stereo audio cable into the Left (upper) and Right (lower) output
	jacks. Connect the other end of the cable to your stereo amplifier’s CD
	input, or to any other “line-level” input jacks (such as the AUXiliary
	inputs). Do NOT connect this cable to the amplifier’s PHONO input
	jacks. Make sure that the plugs are pushed home properly.
	2. BALANCED LINE OUTPUT
	Connections to an amplifier or preamplifier that uses balanced XLR
	input connectors, such as NAD S300.
	The wiring standard used for these connectors is:
	Pin 1: Chassis Earth (GROUND)
	Pin 2: Hot (+ OUT)
	Pin 3: Signal Ground (- OUT)
	THE BENEFITS OF BALANCED CONNECTIONS
	With a conventional (unbalanced) connection, audio signal current
	flows from the CD player to the amplifier via the cable’s centre
	conductor. To complete the circuit, audio signal current flows back to
	the CD player ground via the cable’s outer conductor. The outer
	conductor also serves as the cable’s shield.

When two audio components are connected together, power-supply noise and “leakage” hum may also flow on the cable shields, combining with the return audio current. The resulting distortion and noise may depend on the orientation of AC power plugs in their sockets. Designers of some audiophile cables combat this contamination by leaving the shield unconnected at one end. Since the shield is grounded at only one end, the performance of such a cable may depend on the direction of its connection, i.e. whether the shield is grounded at the CD player or at the amplifier.

A three-wire balanced connection avoids all of these uncertainties. The signal “hot” and return currents are both carried on inner conductors. The separate cable shield, connected to the amplifier chassis at both ends, protects the audio signal from all forms of interference and power-supply noise.

3. AES/EBU DIGITAL OUTPUT (BALANCED)

This is a professional standard digital output. The signal is available from the XLR/Cannon connector marked AES/EBU DIGITAL OUT, permitting the ultimate in high quality digital transmission with the best associated equipment.

The serial data output is taken after error correction but before digital-to-analog conversion and filtering. The output is transformer- isolated from the built-in D-to-A circuits.

4. DIGITAL OUTPUT

The digital playback signal is available at this output also.[BH2] It may be connected to any digital signal processor that conforms to the Sony/Philips (SPDIF) standard.

To use the digital output, connect a cable from this jack to the “CD digital” or equivalent input on a digital processor. For best results the cable should be a 75-ohm coaxial cable of the type used for video signals, with a BNC connection at each end.

5. NAD LINK IN/OUT

The NAD Link OUT connector allows remote-control commands to be relayed from this player to other products equipped with an NAD- Link (or compatible) input. To use this option, connect a cable from the NAD Link OUT socket to the NAD Link IN jack on another product.

The NAD Link IN connector allows this player to be operated by external control signals from a multi-room controller or remote relay system. Connect a cable from the controller (or from the NAD Link OUT jack on another NAD product) to the NAD Link IN jack on this CD player. Using both IN and OUT connections, remote control commands can be “daisy-chained” from one product to the next.

6. IEC AC MAINS (POWER) INPUT

The S500 comes supplied with a separate AC Mains cable. Before connecting the cable to a live wall socket ensure that it is firmly connected to the NAD S500’s AC Mains input socket first. Always disconnect the AC Mains cable plug from the live wall socket first, before disconnecting the cable from the S500 Mains input socket.

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