Arcam Alpha 3 User Manual

Alpha 3 amplifier handbook

Arcam Alpha 3 handbook

Introduction

The Arcam Alpha 3 integrated stereo amplifier has been
designed to provide a combination of high quality sound reproduction and
sophisticated styling. The Alpha 3 amplifier has five inputs for turntable,
compact disc player, tuner, video sound output and tape recorder.

The Alpha 3 provides outputs for both speakers and
headphones, and produces low level signals suitable for recording on to tape.
Although designed for simplicity of operation the Alpha 3 has comprehensive
tone control facilities which enable good results to be obtained with a wide
variety of programme material.

A matching Alpha tuner, Compact Disc player and Alpha
speakers are also available. Please ask your dealer or distributor for full
details, or write to Arcam at the address shown at the end of this booklet.

Installing and using vour Alpha 3 equipment

Mains connections

Check that the voltage setting of the amplifier, as indicated on
the back panel, is the same as the local mains supply. The wires in the mains

lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:

Green and yellow - Earth

Blue - Neutral
Brown - Live

As the colours of the wires in the mains lead may not
correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug
proceed as follows;

The wire which is coloured green and yellow must be
connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked by the letter E or by the

safety earth symbol or coloured green or green and yellow. The wire which is

coloured blue must be connected to the terminal which is marked by the letter

N or coloured black or blue. The wire which is coloured brown must be

connected to the terminal which is marked by the letter L or coloured red or

brown.

Export units for certain markets have moulded mains plugs

fitted as standard. If the mains plug is fused fit a 5 amp fuse for the Alpha 3

amplifier.

The AC supply inlet to the Alpha 3 amplifier uses a standard
I EC chassis mounting plug. The lEC line socket on your mains lead and the
I EC plug on the Alpha 3 units are a tight fit; before first using an Alpha 3
amplifier it is therefore important to ensure that the socket is pushed firmly
home into the chassis plug.

Rear panel connections

Please refer to diagrams on inside of rear cover

All inputs and tape outputs are via RCA phono connections.
For most equipment, the right hand channel output is

indicated by a red plug, and the left hand channel by a black or white plug.

Disc Input

This input is only suitable for use with turntables fitted with a
moving magnet or high output moving coil cartridge. If your turntable is fitted
with a low output moving coil cartridge you will need to use some form of
external step-up device (a transformer or head amplifier) between the cartridge
and the Alpha 3. If your turntable is fitted with a flying earth lead, connect it to
the ground terminal directly above the disc input. Nevertrv to use any other
audio equipment (such as a CD player or tape deck) through the disc input.
The input will be overloaded and the sound will be badly distorted.

CD, Video and Tuner inputs

These inputs may also be used as general purpose inputs for
sources with a line level output, such as a second tape recorder.

Tape input / output

Signals can be received from the line output, and sent to the

line input of a tape recorder via these sockets.

Speaker outputs

The speaker outputs will drive speakers within the range of
4 to 16 ohms impedance. The speaker binding posts will accept bare wires or
4 mm banana plugs. The speaker cable’s positive conductor must be
connected to the red terminals, and the negative conductor to the black
terminals. The positive conductor of the cable is usually marked as such, or

may have a ridge running down the length of the outer insulation.

When fitting 4 mm plugs, ensure that the positive conductor is
connected to the red plug, and the negative conductor to the black plug. When

using bare wires, strip back approximately 12 mm, (1/2") and twist the bare
ends tightly. Unscrew the binding post and insert the wire underneath, then

tighten. Check that no stray strands can short to other terminals, or to the

chassis.

Operating two pairs of speakers

If desired, it is possible to operate two sets of 8 ohm
impedance (or higher) speakers with the Alpha 3 amplifier. One pair is
connected to the ’direct’ speaker terminals, and the second pair is connected

to the ’switched’ terminals.

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Arcam Alpha 3 handbook

the time. The pair connected to the ’switched’ terminals can be muted by

The speakers connected to the ’direct’ terminals will work all

inserting a 1/4" (6.35mm) jack plug into the headphones socket on the front
panel of the amplifier. This jack plug can be stereo or mono, and need not be
connected to anything to operate the speaker mute switch.

Bi-wiring

, If your speakers are bi-wirable, you can conveniently use both

pairs of speaker terminals on the Alpha 3 to bi-wire your speakers, and
improve the sound of the system. Alternatively, the cable runs to each speaker
can be commoned together at the amplifier end, in order to leave a set of

terminals free to drive a second pair of speakers.

Speaker fuses

These are 2 amp fast blow 20mm fuses fitted internally. They
may blow if the amplifier is run continuously at very high level into the correct
speaker load, or run at high level into a speaker of too low an impedance
(usually less than 4 ohms), or used to drive two sets of low impedance
speakers, or run into a short circuit.

They are user-replaceable, and a spare fuse is provided
inside the amplifier. However, if they blow consistently in the absence of any of
the above conditions, please consult your dealer.

The speaker fuses are located inside the amplifier next to the
speaker terminals. If a fuse needs to be replaced, first switch off the
amplifier and unplug it from the mains. Remove the cover by unscrewing
the two screws on the top of the cover. Lift the cover slightly, and slide it out

towards the rear of the unit. The damaged fuse can now be removed.

Replacement of a new fuse is simply the reversal of this procedure. Do not

replace with a fuse of greater value than 2 amps (or with a ’slow blow’ or

’anti-surge’ type) since this will endanger both the amplifier and your speakers.

This will also invalidate your guarantee.

Front panel controls

Please refer to the diagrams on inside of rear cover

Input selector switch

The input selector switch, which is situated on the far left of

the front panel, selects which input signal is fed to the speakers and

headphones. The selected signal is also fed to the tape ’out’ sockets.

Tape monitor switch

The tape monitor switch is generally left in the ’off position

(switch out), so that the programme selected by the input switch is routed to
the speakers. When the tape monitor switch is depressed, the return signal
from the tape recorder is routed to the speakers.

The tape monitor switch also allows off tape monitoring if a

three head tape machine is being used. By depressing the switch the signal

recorded onto tape can be routed to the speakers, allowing direct A/B

comparisons as the recording is made. With the tape monitor switch

depressed the off-tape signal is the only signal available to the speakers.

Direct switch

When this switch is pressed in, the bass, treble and balance

controls become inoperative. The purpose of the direct switch is to bypass
these circuits. This can result in a slightly clearer and more dynamic sound.

This can be particularly effective when using the Alpha 3 with a top quality CD

player, but the action of the switch takes place on all inputs, not just the CD

input.

Volume

The volume control adjusts the sound level for both the

speakers and the headphones.

IMPORTANT!

BEFORE REMOVING THE COVER, ALWAYS SWITCH OFF THE

AMPLIFIER and UNPLUG IT FROM THE WALL SOCKET.

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Bass

The bass control cuts low frequencies when turned anti
clockwise and boosts them when turned clockwise. The flattest response is
obtained when the control is in the centre ’click’ position.

Treble

The treble control cuts high frequencies when turned
anti-clockwise and boosts them when turned clockwise. The flattest response
is obtained when the control is in the centre ’click’ position.