HANDBOOK/MANUEL/HANDBUCH/HANDLEIDING A70 Arcam A70 amplifier Amplificateur Arcam A70 Arcam-Verstärker A70 Arcam-versterker A70 English Français Deutsch N ederlands Safety guidelines CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN ATTENTION RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE NE PAS OUVRIR CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove cover (or back). No user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel. WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture. The lightning flash with an arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated `dangerous voltage' within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product. CAUTION: In Canada and the USA, to prevent electric shock, match the wide blade of the plug to the wide slot in the socket and insert the plug fully into the socket. Important safety instructions This product is designed and manufactured to meet strict quality and safety standards. However, you should be aware of the following installation and operation precautions: 1. Take heed of warnings and instructions You should read all the safety and operating instructions before operating this appliance. Retain this handbook for future reference and adhere to all warnings in the handbook or on the appliance. 2. Water and moisture The presence of electricity near water can be dangerous. Do not use the appliance near water ­ for example next to a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, in a wet basement or near a swimming pool, etc. 3. Object or liquid entry Take care that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the enclosure through any openings. Liquid filled objects such as vases should not be placed on the equipment. 4. Ventilation Do not place the equipment on a bed, sofa, rug or similar soft surface, or in an enclosed bookcase or cabinet, since ventilation may be impeded. The unit should be installed in a well-ventilated area. 5. Heat Locate the appliance away from naked flames or heat producing equipment such as radiators, stoves or other appliances (including other amplifiers) that produce heat. 6. Climate The appliance has been designed for use in moderate climates. 7. Racks and stands Only use a rack or stand that is recommended for use with audio equipment. If the equipment is on a portable rack it should be moved with great care, to avoid overturning the combination. 8. Cleaning Unplug the unit from the mains supply before cleaning. The case should normally only require a wipe with a soft, damp, lint-free cloth. Do not use paint thinners or other chemical solvents for cleaning. We do not advise the use of furniture cleaning sprays or polishes as they can cause indelible white marks if the unit is subsequently wiped with a damp cloth. 9. Power sources Only connect the appliance to a power supply of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the appliance. Warning: This is a Class I device and must be earthed. Warning: The mains plug is used as the disconnect device from the mains supply and shall remain readily operable. 10. Power-cord protection Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords and plugs, and the point where they exit from the appliance. 11. Grounding Ensure that the grounding means of the appliance is not defeated. 12. Power lines Locate any outdoor antenna/aerial away from power lines. 13. Non-use periods If the unit has a stand-by function, a small amount of current will continue to flow into the equipment in this mode. Unplug the power cord of the appliance from the outlet if left unused for a long period of time. 14. Abnormal smell If an abnormal smell or smoke is detected from the appliance, turn the power off immediately and unplug the unit from the wall outlet. Contact your dealer immediately. 15. Servicing You should not attempt to service the appliance beyond that described in this handbook. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel. 16. Damage requiring service The appliance should be serviced by qualified service personnel when: A. the power-supply cord or the plug has been damaged, or B. objects have fallen, or liquid has spilled into the appliance, or C. the appliance has been exposed to rain, or D. the appliance does not appear to operate normally or exhibits a marked change in performance, or E. the appliance has been dropped or the enclosure damaged. 17. Speaker connections Any speakers must be connected to the A70 using Class 2 wire (i.e., no connection to earth should be made). Failure to observe this precaution may cause the unit to be damaged. Safety compliance This product has been designed to meet the IEC 60065 international electrical safety standard. A70 E-2 Using this handbook Safety guidelines....................................... E-2 Important safety instructions ............................. E-2 Safety compliance............................................. E-2 Your amplifier may have been installed and set up by an authorised Arcam dealer. In this case, you may wish to go directly to the sections describing the use of this equipment. Using this handbook.................................. E-3 Safety ............................................................. E-3 Safety Safety guidelines are set out on the inside front cover of this handbook. Many of these items are common sense precautions, but for your own safety, and to ensure that you do not damage the unit, we strongly recommend that you read them. Installation ............................................... E-4 Positioning the unit ........................................... E-4 Connecting to loudspeakers ............................... E-4 Connecting to a power supply............................. E-4 Connecting to other equipment........................... E-5 Using your A70 amplifier ........................... E-6 Front panel controls .......................................... E-6 Recording ........................................................ E-7 Setting up your A70 amplifier ................... E-8 Using the remote control........................... E-9 CR-389 Remote Control ..................................... E-9 Bi-wiring and bi-amping loudspeakers .... E-10 Before you start ............................................. E-10 Bi-wiring your loudspeakers ............................. E-10 Bi-amping your system.................................... E-10 Service information ................................. E-11 Sound cuts out unexpectedly............................ E-11 Technical specifications .......................... E-11 Remote-control codes ............................. E-12 Guarantee ............................................... E-12 Worldwide Guarantee ...................................... E-12 On-line registration ......................................... E-12 A70 E-3 E nglish This handbook has been designed to give you all the information you need to install, connect, set up and use the Arcam A70 amplifier. The CR-389 remote control handset supplied with the A70 amplifier is also described. Contents Installation Positioning the unit Place your amplifier on a level, firm surface. Avoid placing the unit in direct sunlight or near sources of heat or damp. Ensure adequate ventilation. Do not place the unit in an enclosed space such as a bookcase or cabinet as both of these will impede air flow through the ventilation slots. Connecting to loudspeakers You can connect one or two pairs of loudspeakers to your amplifier, provided each pair is rated between 8­16. If one or both pairs have an impedance of less than 8, the combined load on the amplifier falls below 4 and could cause an overload. If so, the overload protection circuit may engage and the amplifier will not work. To connect one pair of loudspeakers, use the SP1 terminals. Caution: Do not over tighten the loudspeaker terminals or use a wrench, pliers, etc., as this could cause damage to the terminals which will not be covered under warranty. SP1 and SP2 terminals 4 Wiring your loudspeakers Both sets of loudspeaker terminals can be muted by pressing the MUTE button on the remote control. To switch SP1 and SP2 independently, use the front panel switches (see page 6, 2) or the remote control (see page 9). Your amplifier is fitted with industry standard loudspeaker terminals. The terminal accepts spade terminals or bare wires. To connect a spade terminal or bare wire, unscrew the red (or black) part of the loudspeaker terminal first. Insert the wire or spade terminal and screw it back up. Connect the right speaker to the terminals on the back of your amplifier marked R and the left speaker to the terminals marked L. Connect your loudspeakers so that the red (positive/+) terminal on each loudspeaker is connected to the red (positive/+) terminal on the amplifier. Your loudspeaker cables may be marked to show polarity (negative/­ and positive/+), if not, then the positive terminal can usually be identified by a ridge or coloured marking. Now connect your loudspeakers' black (negative/­) terminals to the black (negative/­) terminals on the amplifier. Ensure that no stray strands of inner wires are allowed to touch another cable or the amplifier's casing. This can cause a short circuit and damage your amplifier! Connecting to a power supply Mains lead The appliance is normally supplied with a moulded mains plug already fitted to the lead. If for any reason the plug needs to be removed, it must be disposed of immediately and securely, as it is a potential shock hazard when inserted into the mains socket. Should you require a new mains lead, contact your Arcam dealer. Wrong plug? Check that the plug supplied with the unit fits your supply and that your mains supply voltage agrees with the voltage setting (115V or 230V) indicated on the rear panel of the unit 2 before plugging in. If your mains supply voltage or mains plug is different, consult your Arcam dealer or Arcam Customer Support on +44 (0)1223 203200. The product must be earthed. Plugging in Push the plug (IEC line socket) of the power cable supplied with the unit into the socket (POWER INLET) 1 in the back of the unit. Make sure it is pushed in firmly. Put the plug on the other end of the cable into your power supply socket and switch the socket on. A70 E-4 Standby power For remote standby operation, the amplifier's control power supply is kept powered up all the time the unit is connected to the mains supply. The front panel power switch powers down all other circuitry. Power consumption in this mode is less than 2.5W. This means that even though the power switch is off, it may be possible to hear a slight hum coming from the mains transformer inside the amplifier. This is perfectly normal. If the unit is to be left unused for an extended period, we recommend that it is disconnected from the mains supply by switching it off at the wall socket, or by disconnecting the power lead. Connecting to other equipment The use of high quality interconnect cables to and from your amplifier is recommended to ensure the best sound quality. Sockets marked L (and R) on your amplifier should only be connected to sockets marked L (and R) on other equipment. All the line inputs have the same sensitivity and may be used with equipment other than that labelled, if needed. LINE OUT deck, etc. 6 ­ Connect this output to the audio inputs of any unit with a line-level input, e.g., tape TAPE/RECORD OUT 7 ­ Connect these output sockets to the input sockets of your cassette deck (usually labelled RECORD). TAPE/PLAY IN 8 ­ Connect these input sockets to the output sockets of your cassette deck (usually labelled PLAY). If you do not have a cassette deck you can use this input for other (line level) equipment, such as a CD player, tuner, VCR, etc., but not a turntable. DVD 9 ­ Connect this input to the audio outputs of a DVD player. bl ­ Connect this input to the audio outputs of your radio tuner. AV bk ­ Connect this input to the audio outputs of audiovisual equipment such as a VCR, laserdisc player, satellite or Nicam tuner. TUNER CD bm ­ Connect this input to the audio outputs of your CD player or DAC (digital to analogue converter). AUX bn ­ Connect this input to the audio outputs of any unit with a line level output, e.g. tape deck, tuner, etc. PHONO bo ­ Connect this input to the output of your record player. This input provides RIAA equalization and is compatible with most high output moving magnet ( ...