User manual TAG MCLAREN AUDIO PPA20

[. . . ] The PPA20 unveils, without any compromise, all of the music information in your record collection. The PPA20 has a sophisticated muting system which protects your hi-fi and prevents annoying, loud switching noises from reaching the output. A preamplifier that responds to low frequencies will `ring' for a long time in response to the sudden voltage changes that happen, for example, when you select a different input. A muting system that simply waited for the switching transients to die down naturally would take far too long to settle. To overcome this problem the PPA20 incorporates a technique developed by TAG McLaren 06 The inputs of the PPA20 have the correct loading for moving magnet and moving coil cartridges. Each input includes special load terminals which allow you to tailor the input to match any cartridge which may need special, non-standard, loading characteristics. [. . . ] Changing the input will return you to your chosen cartridge type for that input(2). 1. To further enhance your enjoyment of older recordings, which may be damaged or were recorded using non-standard methods, the PPA20 also has a bandpass filter and the capability to be switched to mono. bandpass filter The bandpass filter(2) cuts down both high- and low-frequency noise and is useful for listening to older records. In particular, the bandpass filter can be used to remove the high-frequency carrier signal from old quadraphonic recordings. You can use the bandpass filter and the low-frequency (IEC) filter at the same time to enhance the rejection of low frequencies. mono low-frequency (IEC) filter Use the IEC filter if you hear low-frequency `rumbling' noises that you might get, for example, from a warped record. Press the filter selector button marked riaa/iec on the front panel to switch from riaa to riaa/iec and back. The status of the filter is shown by an LED on the front panel labelled riaa or riaa/iec. The riaa LED indicates that the PPA20 is meeting the RIAA specification while the riaa/iec LED indicates that the IEC low-frequency filter is switched on as well. riaa riaa/iec When you listen to mono recordings you should select the mono setting. This setting will also enable you to listen to certain types of non-standard stereo recordings, albeit in mono(3). The mono setting only works when the bandpass filter is on. riaa/iec 1. 2. International Electrotechnical Commission A bandpass filter passes a band of frequencies and cuts out frequencies above and below the band. The bandpass filter in the PPA20 allows through frequencies between 40 Hz and 20 kHz You can use the mono setting to check the wiring of your cartridge. If the sound drops to a very low level when you switch to mono, then it is most likely that the phasing of your stereo channel connections is wrong 3. 18 19 filter and mono settings grounding selecting bandpass filter and mono The mode button allows you to select the bandpass filter and mono output. The setting you have selected is shown by one (or two) of three LEDs on the front panel marked direct, filter and mono (1). Pressing the mode button steps through direct, filter, filter and mono, and back to direct. The direct setting takes full advantage of the extremely wide bandwidth of the PPA20 achieved by the use of `Straight Line Technology'. Selecting filter and mono connects the stereo channels together to give the same signal on both channels. The mono setting can only be selected when the bandpass filter is on. direct mode The AC mains supply normally operates at either 50 or 60 Hz (depending on which country you are in). Under some circumstances, this can cause an audible hum in your loudspeakers. Should you have any problems with hum in your system, please contact your retailer. filter mono avoiding hum To minimise the possibility of mains hum in your system: do not link the ground terminals of separate audio units together. use screened cable for your signal connections and keep the left and right channel cables close together. grounding turntables on your . Consult the instructions for your turntable, tone arm and cartridge for the manufacturer's recommendations on grounding. If your tone arm has a separate flying lead, you should connect it to your PPA20 as follows: use the ground terminal below the PHONO 1 input for the turntable connected to PHONO 1 and the ground terminal below the PHONO 2 input for the turntable connected to PHONO 2. PHONO signal 2 load signal 1 load left left right right ground 1. When mono is on, both the filter and mono LEDs are lit 20 21 grounding outputs grounding your system All the units in the TAG McLaren Audio F3 Series are double insulated and do not require safety ground connections. Your system does not need to be connected to ground (audio engineers call this `floating'). [. . . ] The fuse carrier contains a spare fuse; this is the first one that you see when you open the carrier. There are no other user - serviceable parts inside the PPA20. service The only service you should do to your PPA20 is described on the left. All other servicing should only be carried out by one of our authorised service agents. If service is required, please contact your authorised TAG McLaren Audio retailer. [. . . ]