JDS Labs Element III

SECTION 1: QUICK SETUP

Follow these steps to quickly set up your Element III:

1. STEP 01

   Connect the AC power adapter to the rear power jack (16VAC), then connect to a wall outlet.

   Diagram Description: Shows connecting the AC power adapter to the rear power jack (labeled 16VAC) and then to a wall outlet.

2. STEP 02

   Connect the USB cable between your computer and the USB jack on the Element III.

   Diagram Description: Shows connecting a USB cable between a computer and the USB jack on the device.

3. STEP 03

   Connect headphones to the front headphone output jack.

4. STEP 04

   Pressing the Power button turns the Element III on or off. Pressing the Headphone/RCA button toggles between headphone or RCA Output modes. Please see Connectivity and Computer Setup for additional help.

   Diagram Description: Illustrates pressing the power button to turn the device on/off and the headphone/RCA button to switch between output modes.

5. STEP 05

   Slowly raise the volume knob to an appropriate listening level. See listening tips on page 5.

   Diagram Description: Depicts turning the volume knob to adjust the listening level.

SECTION 2: CONFIGURATION

Automatic Gain

Element III handles audio logic for a blissful experience, automatically toggling the optimal gain state as you adjust volume. Low Gain is always active at volume levels from -127.5 to 0 dBFS. Continuing to turn the knob beyond 0 dB presents an on-screen progress bar, signifying a pending transition to High Gain. Element III automatically adjusts volume for a pleasant transition between gain states. You will see an effective volume range of 0 to 13.5 dB in High Gain.

Please observe safe listening habits under Listening Tips. Typical listening levels range from -50 dB to -20 dB for most dynamic and planar headphones, depending on your music collection and preferences.

Display

Element III displays status information while you interact, then vanishes so that your focus remains on listening.

Pressing down on the Volume Knob for 3+ seconds enters the Options Menu. Turn the knob to navigate up/down the options menu, and push the knob to make a selection.

Diagram Description: The display shows "ELEMENT III" at the top. Below are fields for "Input Mode", "Stream Format", "Sampling Rate", "VOL -26.0db", "HEADPHONE OUTPUT @ LOW GAIN", and "Current Gain".

SECTION 3: OPTIONS MENU

Display Settings

Pressing down on the Volume Knob for 3+ seconds enters the Options Menu. Turn the knob to navigate up/down the options menu. Push the knob to make a selection.

• Screen Timeout: Default: 5 seconds, with a range of 0 (never) to 120 seconds.
• Screen Contrast: HIGH, MED, OR LOW.
• LED Mode:
  • ON: LEDs will remain on while Element III is on.
  • 5 MIN STANDBY WITH SCREEN: LEDs will power off after 5 min of USB inactivity, and resume with audio.
  • LEDs will power off while the screen is off.
• Encoder Resolution: FULL, LOW.
• Encoder Steps: 0.5 dB, 1.0 dB.
• 2nd Harmonic Steps: Default: 0, with a range of -75 to 75.
• 3rd Harmonic Comp: Default: -20, with a range of -75 to 75.

Advanced Settings

DPLL BANDWIDTH

Default: 7, with a range of 0 to 15. This setting directly impacts jitter rejection, with the optimal value dependent on timing stability of your PC or audio source. Most audio sources produce stable audio when DPLL is set to 5. JDS Labs has conservatively increased the default DPLL value to 7 to support a wider range of sources, especially modern 4k TVs. If you encounter stuttering, try increasing DPLL Bandwidth.

SPDIF DE-EMPHASIS

The default value of ON automatically enables de-emphasis when an incoming S/PDIF stream contains such a flag, and otherwise disables de-emphasis. Setting to OFF bypasses auto de-emphasis.

DAC_FILTER

Options include FAST ROLLOFF, SLOW ROLLOFF, and MIN PHASE.

STATUS

Displays the current firmware version, USB Stream status (Active, Inactive), and internally recovered I2C Errors. This information is intended for factory Q/C checking. Please note I2C Errors can occur from strong ESD or other interference. Element III monitors for and automatically recovers from I2C errors.

FACTORY RESET

As the name suggests, Factory Reset clears all above settings to their default states. Upon reset, your Element 3 will default to -45 dB volume in Headphone Output mode via USB Input, and RCA Output will default to 0 dB.

SECTION 6: CONNECTIVITY

Inputs

Element III accepts digital input via USB or S/PDIF (optical). Press the volume knob to toggle between input modes.

Outputs

Element III provides headphone output and RCA Preamp Outputs. Press the Headphone/RCA button on the rear to toggle between output modes. Only one output is active at a time. Volume is adjustable in either mode, and saved to memory for easy transitions. Pressing an input or output button displays the current mode on the screen.

HEADPHONE OUTPUT MODE

Diagram Description: Shows Digital Input connecting to a DAC. The DAC connects to a Headphone Amplifier, which outputs to Audio to Headphones. The DAC also has a dashed line connection to RCA Jacks (Line-Output) labeled as Speakers Mute.

RCA OUTPUT MODE

Diagram Description: Shows USB Input connecting to a DAC. The DAC connects to a Headphone Amplifier, which outputs to Headphones Mute. The DAC also connects to RCA Jacks (Line-Output), which then output to Audio to Speakers.

Listening Tips

Set sampling rate to the highest integer multiple of your music collection. For example, use 192kHz for a collection of 48k and 192k audio files. Common streaming services and games tend to use 48kHz audio. Alternatively, you may install the optional XMOS drivers in Win 10/11 and use an ASIO capable app to achieve bitperfect sampling rate changes. Active sampling rate is displayed on Element III’s screen.

By default, Element III disables host operating volume controls for maximum fidelity and plentiful D/A headroom. Note Win 10/11 may still permit system level volume adjustments.

Element III can amplify headphones to dangerously loud audio. Listen safely to conserve your hearing: www.hearingloss.org

Operating Care

Element III uses a high current power supply and runs warm to the touch. Avoid covering the top and sides.

Do not lift the amplifier by its knob!

Element III can be safely powered on 24/7.

To ensure an optimal noise floor, always position headphone amplifiers as far away as possible from wireless devices.

SECTION 4: SETUP

Computer Setup

Element III requires no drivers in Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux, and modern versions of iOS and Android. You may download optional drivers for Windows at jdslabs.com/drivers to enable all bitrates, adjust Buffer Length (latency), and enable an ASIO endpoint. Be sure to select your new DAC as the default playback device:

Windows 10/11

1. Right click the volume icon in your taskbar and click: Open Sound Setting → Sound Control Panel
2. Click on “JDS Labs Element III,” then choose "Set Default."

Please refer to Listening Tips for optimal properties.

Diagram Description: A screenshot of the Windows Sound control panel showing "JDS Labs Element III" selected as the Default Device.

macOS

Ensure JDS Labs audio device is selected from Audio Devices.

Troubleshooting

No USB device or "Failed to Play Audio"

Cause: USB Device is not initialized.

Solution: Turn Element III off, then back on to reset the USB device.

Amplifier does not turn on

Cause: Missing, damaged, or loose power adapter connection.

Solution: Please see jdslabs.com/troubleshooting

LEDs flash repeatedly, or screen does not respond

Cause: Element III constantly self-monitors to automatically correct potential error states. Flashing LEDs or no screen activity indicate no response from the XMOS processor despite internal reset attempts. This may be caused by a power surge or extreme ESD event.

Solution: Please turn Element III off for at least 1 minute, and then back on. If behavior persists, please reach out to jdslabs.com/support

Element III reboots during use

Cause: Element III is designed to detect insufficient AC mains power, and may reboot when subjected to a severe brownout.

Solution: Ensure clean power is provided.

No sound from headphones

Cause: Wrong mode or incorrect connectivity setup.

Solution: Please see Connectivity on page 4. Double check all cabling and volume levels.

Power Adapters

ATTENTION: Incorrect power adapters can result in capacitor explosion hazards and device damage. Only use the power adapter included with your Element:

Compliance Information

Application for Council Directives 2004/108/EC, 2006/95/EC, 2002/95/EC. Conformity declared for EN55022:2011, EN611000-3-2, EN61000-3-3, EN55024-2.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules.