Arcam A60 User Manual

The A60+ Amplifier

Owner’s Handbook

A & R Cambridge Ltd.

Introduction

The A60+ integrated stereo amplifier has been designed to provide high quality sound reproduction and to blend unobtrusively with domestic surroundings.

The amplifier has four switchable inputs accepting signals from a turntable (fitted with a moving coil or magnetic cartridge), a tuner, a Compact Disc player and either a cassette or reel to reel tape recorder. It provides outputs for a pair of loudspeakers and for headphones, and low level signals suitable for recording on to cassette and open reel tape. Additionally, in the A60AP+, the pre and power amplifier sections may be split to permit more complex systems (e.g. using

ambisonics) to be assembled.

Although designed for simplicity of operation the A60+ has comprehensive tone control facilities

which enable good results to be obtained with a wide variety of programme material. Please study the manual carefully to ensure that you get the best results from your amplifier.

Remember your dealer is there to help you. He has full technical and service information for all A&R Cambridge products and considerable experience of their use in a variety of systems. If, however, he is unable to answer your query then do not hesitate to contact us directly.

Installing and using your AGO +

Back panel connections

A60AP+ IaP tuner and j

Model only I socket C.D. inputs

tape tuner

heat sink

mains cable inlet

\ compact disc disc

------1------

input sockets

Mains supply

The amplifier is normally set up for use with a nominal 240 volt 50/60 Hz supply. It can be modified for a nominal 220 or 120 volt supply by your dealer or by the manufacturer.

The mains lead should be terminated with a three pin (earthed) plug fitted with a five amp fuse. A 1 amp anti-surge mains fuse is fitted internally. It is recommended that the supply to the AGO be disconnected when the amplifier is not in use.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE AMPLIFIER COVER BE REMOVED UNLESS THE SUPPLY IS DISCONNECTED AT THE WALL SOCKET.

Do not put excessive strain on the mains cable fixing either at the amplifier or at the plug.

Loudspeakers

The outputs are suitable for driving loudspeakers of 8 ohms nominal impedance or higher.

“4-8 ohm” loudspeakers, when marked as such, may also be used. “4 ohm” loudspeakers may be

used if care is taken not to operate at very high levels. The loudspeaker terminals, will accept either wires or 4mm plugs. The upper set of three

terminals is for the left hand speaker, and the lower set for the right hand speaker. One side of your speaker (normally the - side) should be connected to the black terminal; the other (the

+ side) may be connected either to the red (direct) or to the white (switched) terminal. When the “direct” output is used loudspeakers and headphones may be used together; when the “switched” output is used, insertion of a jack plug into the headphones socket will automatically mute the loudspeakers.

ground

terminal

The A60+ is unconditionally stable and suitable for use with all types of loudspeaker leads, including the “high definition” types.

Heat sink

The heat produced by the amplifier is dissipated into the air by the heat sink, which will, along with the surrounding panel, become warm while the amplifier is on. The whole back panel may become quite hot if the amplifier is run near full power. THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL. However, if it becomes too hot to touch, switch off the amplifier at once and consult your

dealer.

Disc input

The output lead from your turntable should be plugged into the disc input sockets. To prevent hum pick-up in this very sensitive input, the cable must be screened and kept well away from mains wiring. If the turntable has a separate earthing lead connected this should be attached firmly to the amplifier’s ground terminal.

The disc input is normally suited to moving magnet or “high output” moving coil cartridges. If a

“low output” moving coil cartridge is to be used an additional internal plug-in pre-amplifier, the MC60, must be fitted (see page 9).

The disc input impedance can be user adjusted over a wide range by fitting the (optional) ULM/M or ULM/C plug-in loading modules for moving magnet and moving coil cartridges respectively. However, most cartridges will perform satisfactorily without any loading module fitted (see page 9 for further details of cartridge matching).

Tuner input

The tuner input is suitable for use with almost any AM or FM tuner or radio.

C.D. input/auxiliary output

The C.D. (Compact Disc) input will accept any other signal, but is particularly suitable for use with a Compact Disc player. This socket also provides an output for recording onto a second

cassette or reel to reel tape recorder (see page 6).

There is no C.D. socket on the A60AP+ as it is replaced by the “AP” socket (see below). The

C.D. input is retained and is accessible via the spare pins of the tuner socket (see page 7). The

auxiliary recording output is not available on the A60AP+.

AP socket

(pre-amplifier output/power amplifier input - A60AP+ model only)

The A60AP+ has the facility for the user to split the pre and power amplifiers into separate units. This allows signal processors (e.g. grapldc equalisers) to be inserted into the signal path or more complex systems such as ambisonic (surround sound) systems to be built up.

When the pre/power amplifier split facility is not required the DIN shorting plug (supplied with the A60AP+) should be inserted into the AP socket as this links the pre and power amplifiers

together so that the unit functions as a standard A60+.

Tape input/output

The tape input is designed to suit most cassette and reel-to-reel tape recorders and provides both input and output, with A/B monitoring facilities (see page 6).

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