MP 3100 HV - Audio Equipment T+A - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	High-Resolution Network Audio Player / USB DAC
Brand	T+A
Model	MP 3100 HV
USB Audio Input	Asynchronous, supports high-resolution audio
Maximum Sampling Rate	384 kHz / 32-bit
Native Playback Support	Yes, via kernel streaming on Windows
Compatible Operating Systems	Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10; Mac OS X 10.6 or later
System Requirements	Intel Core i3 or comparable AMD processor, 4 GB RAM, USB 2.0
Dimensions (W x H x D)	Approx. 440 x 170 x 420 mm
Weight	Approx. 38 kg
Power Supply	230 V AC, 50 Hz
D/A Converter	High-resolution 32-bit converter
Analogue Outputs	XLR balanced and RCA unbalanced
Digital Inputs	USB, S/PDIF, Ethernet
Maintenance	Wipe with soft, dry cloth; avoid liquids
Safety Notes	Do not expose to moisture; avoid opening the casing
Spare Parts & Repairability	Contact authorized T+A service center
Country of Origin	Germany

Frequently Asked Questions - MP 3100 HV T+A

What are the minimum system requirements for using the MP 3100 HV with a computer?

You need an Intel Core i3 or better processor, 4 GB RAM, and a USB 2.0 port. The operating system should be Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 or Mac OS X 10.6 or later.

How do I install the USB driver for the MP 3100 HV on Windows?

Download the driver package from the T+A website, unzip it, and run the TuA_Drivers_win_32_64_Vxxxx.exe file. Follow the Setup program instructions and confirm all dialogue windows. After installation, connect the MP 3100 HV via USB.

What is native music playback and why should I use it?

Native music playback transfers audio data directly to the DAC without resampling by the operating system's kernel mixer. This preserves the original sampling rate and prevents loss of audio quality. Use media players like J. River Media Center or Foobar 2000 to enable this mode.

How do I set the T+A USB Audio as the default sound device in Windows?

Go to Control Panel > Sound, select "T+A USB Audio" (Digital output), click "Set default", then open Properties to set the maximum sampling rate according to your audio files.

How do I configure the MP 3100 HV on macOS?

Open Audio MIDI Setup, select "MP3100HV HD-Audio", then choose "Use this device for sound output" under the settings gear icon. Under Format, select 384000.0 Hz / 32 Bit for maximum sample rate.

Why should I avoid using a USB hub with the MP 3100 HV?

A USB hub can introduce extra noise and signal degradation. For the most stable and clean transmission of high-resolution audio, connect the MP 3100 HV directly to a USB port on your computer.

Can I connect or disconnect the USB cable while the system is running?

No. Always connect or disconnect the USB cable only when the system is turned off or in standby. Never switch off the MP 3100 HV during playback to prevent system crashes or driver issues.

What is kernel streaming and how does it improve audio quality?

Kernel streaming is a method that bypasses the operating system's audio processing, sending audio data directly from the media player to the USB driver. This eliminates resampling and jitter, resulting in bit-perfect audio reproduction.

What are the recommended media players for high-resolution audio on Windows?

J. River Media Center and Foobar 2000 are strongly recommended, as they support native playback and kernel streaming, allowing you to output audio at its original sampling rate without conversion.

How can I set the maximum sampling rate on Windows after installing the driver?

Go to Control Panel > Sound > Properties of the "T+A USB Audio" device, and select the desired maximum sampling rate (e.g., 384 kHz) from the dropdown menu. This ensures high-resolution files are played without downsampling.

USER MANUAL MP 3100 HV T+A

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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7

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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 3100 HV 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 3100 HV 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 2000 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 3100 HV 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 3100 HV should never be switched off while playback.

Windows Installation

The device drivers must be installed before you connect the MP 3100 HV 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.

Open File - Security Warning

×

The publisher could not be verified. Are you sure that you want to run this software?

Name: ...+A USB_T+A_PID2\TuA_Drivers_w10-8-7_xp_V1057.exe

Publisher: Unknown Publisher

Type: Application

From: D:\Downloads\Treiber_T+A USB_T+A_PID2\TuA_Driver...

√ Always ask before opening this file

This file does not have a valid digital signature that verifies its publisher. You should only run software from publishers you trust. How can I decide what software to run?

Setup - T+A elektroakustik GmbH & Co KG

- □ ×

Ready to Install

Setup is now ready to begin installing T+A elektroakustik GmbH & Co KG on your computer.

Click Install to continue with the installation.

Install

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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Windows settings

When installation is complete, you can connect the MP 3100 HV to your computer using any available USB port.

The MP 3100 HV should always be connected directly to the computer. Please do not use a USB distributor (hub).

Windows should now detect the MP 3100 HV 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 3100 HV to your computer using any available USB port.

The MP 3100 HV should always be connected directly to the computer. Please do not use a USB distributor (hub).

Windows should now detect the MP 3100 HV automatically.

System settings:

Open the utilities

Select the 'Audio MIDI Setup' entry.

• Now mark 'MP3100HV 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.