MP 2500 R - Audio Equipment T+A - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Audio Equipment / Network Audio Player
Brand	T+A
Model	MP 2500 R
USB DAC Generation	2nd Generation
Maximum Audio Sampling Rate	384,000 Hz / 32 Bit
Native Music Playback	Supported via Kernel Streaming on Windows
Kernel Streaming	Recommended for Windows XP
Supported Operating Systems	Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10; MAC OS X 10.6 or later
Minimum System Requirements	Intel Core i3 or comparable AMD, 4 GB RAM, USB 2.0
USB Connection	Direct connection to computer; no USB hub
Driver Package	T+A_USB_ASIO64
Driver Installation	Automated Setup Wizard from downloaded package
Windows Audio Device	T+A USB Audio (Digital Output)
MAC Audio Device	MP2500R HD-Audio
Recommended Audio Software	J. River Media Center, Foobar2000
Dimensions (W x H x D)	440 x 170 x 360 mm (estimated)
Weight	12 kg (estimated)
Power Supply	Internal mains power supply (estimated)

Frequently Asked Questions - MP 2500 R T+A

How do I install the USB driver for the T+A MP 2500 R on Windows?

Download the software package from the T+A website, unpack the ZIP file, double-click TuA_Drivers_win_32_64_Vxxxx.exe, then follow the Setup Wizard. Confirm each dialogue window (① to ⑧) and click Finish (⑨) once installation is complete.

What are the minimum system requirements for high-resolution audio playback with the MP 2500 R?

An Intel Core i3 or comparable AMD processor, 4 GB RAM, and a USB 2.0 interface are required. Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10, or MAC OS X 10.6 or later are supported.

Why should I connect the MP 2500 R directly to the computer without a USB hub?

Using a USB hub can cause signal degradation or unstable data transfer. The manual strongly advises connecting the MP 2500 R directly to a USB port on the computer to ensure reliable high-resolution audio streaming.

What is kernel streaming and why is it important?

Kernel streaming bypasses the operating system's kernel mixer, preventing unwanted resampling and preserving the original audio quality. The MP 2500 R supports native playback via kernel streaming on Windows, which is essential for achieving the best sound from high-resolution files.

How do I configure Windows sound settings for the MP 2500 R?

Open the Control Panel, select Sound, then mark 'T+A USB Audio ...' (Digital Output) and click Set default. Then open Properties and set the maximum sampling rate as recommended in the installation manual.

How do I set up the MP 2500 R as the sound output on a Mac?

Open Audio MIDI Setup from Utilities, select 'MP2500R HD-Audio', and enable 'Use this device for sound output'. In the format options, set the maximum sampling rate to 384000.0 Hz / 32 Bit.

What is the maximum audio sampling rate supported by the MP 2500 R?

The MP 2500 R supports high-resolution audio with a maximum sampling rate of 384,000 Hz at 32 bits, as set in the MAC OS configuration. This ensures studio-quality playback.

Can I use the MP 2500 R with software like J. River Media Center?

Yes, programs such as J. River Media Center and Foobar2000 offer excellent support for high-resolution audio. They can be configured to bypass the Windows kernel mixer, enabling native playback of files at their original sampling rates.

Is it safe to unplug the USB cable while the system is running?

No, you should never connect or disconnect the USB connection while the system is running, and the MP 2500 R should never be switched off during playback. Doing so can cause system crashes or damage the playback program.

What should I do if I experience playback problems with hi-res files?

Ensure that your software player is properly configured for kernel streaming and that the correct drivers are installed. If problems persist, contact the software manufacturer, as the MP 2500 R can only process the audio data it receives from the computer.

USER MANUAL MP 2500 R T+A

Treiber / Software Installationsanleitung (USB DAC – 2. Generation) Driver / software installation manual (USB DAC – 2nd generation)

The installer will guide you through the steps required to install T+A_USB_ASI064 on your computer.

WARNING: This computer program is protected by copyright law and international treaties. Unauthorized duplication or distribution of this program, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil or criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.

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⑥

7

⑧

⑨

All operating systems

System requirements 14

Notes on USB audio reproduction

Native music playback 15

Kernel Streaming 15

Installation and settings

Windows installation 16

Windows settings 19

MAC OS settings 21

Caution!

Text passages marked with this symbol contain important information which must be observed if the machine is to operate safely and without problems.

This symbol marks text passages which provide supplementary notes and background information; they are intended to help the user understand how to get the best out of the machine.

All operating systems

Please note that the illustrations in these installation instructions may vary from the displays on your own computer, depending on your system's configuration.

System requirements

(for playing high-resolution audio files at maximum sampling frequency)

• Intel Core i3 or higher or a comparable AMD Processor.
• 4 GB RAM
• USB 2.0 Interface
  • Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, or 10
  • or MAC OS X 10.6.+

We are unable to provide a general guarantee that the MP 2500 R will function perfectly with your computer, as this depends on the particular configuration of your machine's hardware and software.

Native music playback

(applicable to Windows systems only)

Computer operating systems do not support ‘native’ music playback as standard. This means that the PC always re-calculates the data to produce a fixed sampling rate, regardless of the sampling rate of the file being played. This conversion process is necessary in order to blend audio playback with other audio sources, e.g. the operating system’s system sounds (referred to as the ‘kernel mixer’).

An HD audio recording at, say, 96 kHz is always converted down to 48 kHz, and subsequently scaled to the output data rate set in the PC system settings, e.g. 44.1 kHz.

These resampling processes cause a partial loss of audio quality. If this is to be avoided, it is necessary to circumvent the kernel mixer's conversion process.

Since it is not possible for the MP 2500 R to influence the PC's internal handling of audio data, suitable music players with appropriate drivers and, in some cases plugins, must be installed on the PC; this software then circumvents the standard audio processing of the PC's operating system.

Programs such as J. River Media Center and Foobar 2500 offer good facilities in this area.

The Internet contains many forums and sources of information on the background to audio data processing using the PC.

This is the basic rule: in the final analysis the MP 2500 R is only able to convert the audio data which is delivered by the PC and its operating system.

Please note that possible software updates mean that we are unable to provide a general guarantee that files will play properly. If you encounter problems during playback, please contact the software manufacturer.

Kernel streaming

The term kernel streaming refers to the process used by the Windows operating system for transferring audio between media players and drivers. Kernel streaming involves different and in some cases multiple processes, depending on the operating system.

- For Windows XP we recommend the 'Kernel Streaming' process.

If your version of Windows supports different methods of kernel streaming, the setting is entered in Media Player.

To prevent fail functions and system crashes of your computer and the playback program, please note the following: Never connect or disconnect the USB connection while the system is running.

The MP 2500 R should never be switched off while playback.

Windows Installation

The device drivers must be installed before you connect the MP 2500 R to a computer.

This is the procedure:

• Download the software package from the T+A website:
  http://www.ta-hifi.com/support

- Unpack the ZIP-file.

- Double-click on the file TuA_Drivers_win_32_64_Vxxxx.exe to call up the Setup program.

- Confirm the installation by clicking on the 'Setup Software' button.

- The Setup program carries out the installation, running through a small number of steps.

- Confirm dialogue windows ① to ⑧ by clicking on the buttons marked by the mouse cursor.

- Once the installation is complete, terminate the process by clicking on the 'Finish' button ⑨.

The next section describes the system settings required.

①

②

Device Driver Installation Wizard

Welcome to the Device Driver Installation Wizard!

This wizard helps you install the software drivers that some computers devices need in order to work.

To continue, click Next.

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T+A_USB_ASIO64

Welcome to the T+A_USB_ASIO64 Setup Wizard

The installer will guide you through the steps required to install T+A_USB_ASI064 on your computer.

WARNING: This computer program is protected by copyright law and international treaties. Unauthorized duplication or distribution of this program, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil or criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.

Cancel

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Device Driver Installation Wizard

Completing the Device Driver Installation Wizard

The device driver installation wizard did not update any of your software for your hardware devices because it was not better than the software you currently have installed.

Driver Name

Status

√ T+A USB Audio (ta3846.

Ready to use

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Finish

Cancel

T+A_USB_ASIO64

Select Installation Folder

The installer will install T+A_USB_ASI064 to the following folder.

To install in this folder, click "Next". To install to a different folder, enter it below or click "Browse".

Folder:

C:\Program Files\T+A elektroakustik GmbH & Co KG\T+A_USB_ASIC

Browse...

Disk Cost...

Install T+A_USB_ASIO64 for yourself, or for anyone who uses this computer:

Everyone

Just me

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T+A_USB_ASIO64

□ ×

Confirm Installation

The installer is ready to install T+A_USB_ASI064 on your computer.

Click "Next" to start the installation.

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Setup - T+A elektroakustik GmbH & Co KG

□ ×

Completing the T+A elektroakustik GmbH & Co KG Setup Wizard

Setup has finished installing T+A elektroakustik GmbH & Co KG on your computer.

Click Finish to exit Setup.

Finish

⑧

T+A_USB_ASIO64

Installation Complete

□ ×

T+A_USB_ASI064 has been successfully installed.

Click "Close" to exit.

Cancel

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Close

Windows settings

When installation is complete, you can connect the MP 2500 R to your computer using any available USB port.

The MP 2500 R should always be connected directly to the computer. Please do not use a USB distributor (hub).

Windows should now detect the MP 2500 R automatically.

System settings:

• Windows 7 users first click on the 'Start' button and then on 'Control Panel'.
• Windows 8 + 10 users can use the keyboard shortcut 'WIN button + X button' to open a pop up window in which the 'Control panel' can be started.

① After the Control Panel is opened, select the 'Sound' entry.

①

② Mark 'T+A USB Audio ...' (Digital output) and click on 'Set default'.

②

③ Click on 'Properties' and set the maximum sampling rate as shown.

③

MAC OS settings

When installation is complete, you can connect the MP 2500 R to your computer using any available USB port.

The MP 2500 R should always be connected directly to the computer. Please do not use a USB distributor (hub).

Windows should now detect the MP 2500 R automatically.

System settings:

Open the utilities

① Select the 'Audio MIDI Setup' entry.

• Now mark 'MP2500R HD-Audio'.
• Check under settings ⚙️ 'Use this device for sound output'.
• Format At this point you can set the maximum sampling rate. This should be 384000.0 Hz / 32 Bit.