Aphex 1401, 1402, 1403 Instruction Manual

I n s t r u c t i o n M a n u a l

Models 1401 - 1402 - 1403

Genuine

I n s t r u c t i o n M a n u a l

Aphex P/N xxx-xxxx

1401 Acoustic Xciter™

Models Covered:

All models have similar controls and features. The
range of adjustments and the internal parameters
are individually optimized for the different classes of
musical instruments.

Contents

1. Hook-up ............................

2. Controls ............................

3. Tune-Up.............................

4. Theory................................

5. Specifications....................

6. Limited Warranty...............

7. Service Information...........

Copyright 2002 Aphex Systems Ltd.

All Rights Reserved.

1402 Bass Xciter™
1403 Guitar Xciter™

4

8
11
14
21
22
23

Models 1401 through 1403

1. Hook-Up

1

3

2

Hot

Power

Instrument

Input

Active (In)

Passive (Out)

Instrument

Output

Wet(In)

Dry(Out)

Ground

Grounded(In)

Lifted (Out)

D.I. Balanced
150Ω Output

Mic Level

a. Direct By-Pass

When the unit is switched “off” (no effect) your instru­ment is routed directly to the output jack and does
not pass through any electronics.

b. Input

When plugging in, make sure you set the input
active/passive switch to match your instrument’s
pickup. This assures the optimum level and imped­ance match. The power is automatically switched

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Instruction Manual

on or off by inserting or removing the plug from
the input jack. Simply removing the plug from
your instrument does not turn off the Aphex unit.

c. Instrument Output

Connect this output to your amp’s input jack using
a good quality guitar cord. Use the same jack and
active/passive settings on your amplifier as you
would use if plugging the instrument directly into the
amp. That way, you’ll get normal volume and tone
when you switch the effect off, and your instrument
passes directly through the box to your amp’s input.

d. D.I. Output

Yes, your Xciter™ comes with a super quality bal­anced D.I. output! Pin 2 of the XLR is hot while pin 3
carries a balancing impedance to set up a true bal­anced line. Pin 1 is grounded through the ground­lift switch. The D.I. output can be connected to the
microphone input of any preamp or sound mixer and
runs a level of typically -50 to -60 dBu depending
on your instrument’s volume setting. You can switch
the D.I. output to either wet (with effect) or dry (with­out effect) buffered balanced output. The D.I. output

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Models 1401 through 1403

should normally be grounded. Don’t lift the ground
unless it actually eliminates hum or buzz.

e. External Power

When external power is used, the internal battery
becomes disconnected and will not experience a
power drain. A wide range of both a.c. and d.c.
supply voltages is acceptable for power (see speci­fications) and it does not matter whether the center
pin is positive or negative. Almost any existing foot
pedal or stomp box power unit will work as long as
the plug fits the jack. The power jack fits a standard
6MM x 2MM power plug as used by most popular
stomp boxes. The Aphex Model 9 power adapter
is specifically designed for Model 1401, 1402, and
1403 Xciters.

f. 9V Battery

You can use any type of 9V battery that fits the snap
connector. You can use rechargables, but the Aphex
unit does not supply a charging circuit. You must
remove the discharged battery to recharge it with
an external charger. We recommend using long life
alkalines. The internal battery is replaced by remov-

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Instruction Manual

ing 4 screws holding the bottom cover. You can
expect from 100 to 150 hours of continuous use from
a fresh alkaline battery. Useful life is ended when the
battery voltage drops below 5.5 volts.

To extend battery life, always unplug the input
when the unit is not in use.

Battery Location

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Models 1401 through 1403

2. Controls

a. Big Bottom® - What It Does

For bass instruments, it dynamically enhances the
low end by deepening and expanding the bass tones
according to an adaptive process. It’s not just boost.
The effect protects speakers while it extends their
bass producing capability. For acoustic instruments
it “brings out the box“. In other words, it adds a

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