Arcam Alpha 8P User Manual

ARCAM

ALPHA 7/8/8P AMPLIFIER

HANDBOOK

Front & Rear Panel Diagrams

ENGLISH

Alpha 7/8 Integrated Amplifier

©

© o	© © ©

Alpha 8P Power Amplifier

Saf©iy IflStniCtlOflS - Please read before operating the equipment

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

This product was designed and manufactured to meet strict quality and safety standards. There are, however, some installation and operation precautions which you should be particularly aware of:

1.	Read Instructions - All the safety and operating
	instructions should be read before the appliance is
	operated.
2.	Retain Instructions - The safety and operating
	instructions should be retained for future reference.
3.	Heed Warnings - All warnings on the appliance and
	in the operating instructions should be adhered to.

4.Follow Instructions - All operating and use instructions should be followed.

5.Water and Moisture - The appliance should not be

used near water - for example near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement or near a swimming pool, etc.

6.	Carts and Stands - The appliance should be used
	only with a cart or stand that is recommended by the
	manufacturer.
6A.	An appliance and cart combination should	be	moved
	with care. Quick stops, excessive force, and uneven
	surfaces may cause the appliance	and	cart
	combination to overturn.

7.Wall or Ceiling Mounting - The appliance should be mounted to a wall or ceiling only as recommended by the manufacturer.

8.Ventilation - The appliance should be situated so that its location or position does not interfere with its proper ventilation. For example, the appliance should not be

situated on a bed, sofa, rug or similar surface that may block the ventilation openings or placed in a built-in installation, such as a bookcase or cabinet that may impede the flow of air through the ventilation openings.

9.Heat - The appliance should be situated away from

heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves or other appliances (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

10.Power Sources - The appliance should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the appliance.

11.Grounding - Precautions should be taken so that the grounding means of the appliance is not defeated.

ENGLISH

12.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, convenience receptacles and the point where they exit from the appliance.

13.Cleaning - Unplug the unit from the mains supply before cleaning. The appliance should normally only

require a wipe over		with	a clean, dry, lint-free cloth. If
it	is heavily soiled then a		cloth slightly	dampened	with
a	water/washing up	liquid	solution may	be used.	Dry

the unit afterwards with a dry cloth.

We do not advise the use of furniture type cleaning

sprays/polishes as this can cause white marks,	which
are very difficult to remove, if the unit is then	wiped
over with water.

14.Power Lines - An outdoor antenna/ aerial should be located away from power lines.

15.Non-use Periods - The power cord of the appliance should be unplugged from the outlet when left unused for a long period of time.

16.Object and Liquid Entry - Care should be taken so

that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the enclosure through any openings.

17.Abnormal Smell - If an abnormal smell or smoke is

	detected	from the	appliance,	immediately turn the
	power off and unplug the unit from the wall outlet.
	Contact your dealer immediately.
18.	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.

19.Servicing - The user should not attempt to service the appliance beyond that described in the operating instructions.

All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.

Introduction & installation

INTRODUCTION
Arcam’s Alpha series of amplifiers is	designed	to be	the
finest sounding range of hi-fi amplifiers	currently	available	in

its price category.

The latest Alpha 7 and 8 models feature improved output circuit protection compared with their predecessors. They may also be upgraded at any time with the addition of the matching Alpha 8P or 9P power amplifiers.

The Alpha 7 amplifier is rated at 40 watts per channel into

8 ohms. The Alpha 8 and 8P are rated at 50 watts per

channel into 8 ohms. In addition	the	Alpha	8's	volume
control is motorised, allowing it to	be	operated		from a
suitable remote control handset such	as	those	supplied with
all Arcam CD players. Arcam’s	“Handi-Remote”,			model

CR30 is also suitable. This is available as an optional extra from your Arcam dealer. For the above reasons no handset is supplied with the Alpha 8 amplifier.

This manual is in four parts:

A.This section has information relevant to both the Alpha 7, 8 and Alpha 8P.

B.Alpha 7/8 integrated amplifier operating instructions.

C.Alpha 8P power amplifier operating instructions.

D.Instructions on how to bi-wire or to bi-amplify (“bi­ amp”) your loudspeakers.

N.B. Circled numbers e.g. refer to items on the diagrams inside the flap of the front cover.

Section A

INSTALLATION

O Check that your mains supply voltage agrees with the voltage setting indicated on the rear panel of the unit.

■ If your mains supply voltage is different, consult your

Arcam dealer or Arcam Customer Services on 01223 203203.

MAINS SAFETY

■	This product 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 a mains socket.

■Warning; This apparatus must be earthed.

NOTICE FOR U.K. OWNERS ONLY

■If the plug is removed then the remaining lead must be rewired as follows:

■The blue wire must be connected to the terminal which is coloured blue or marked with the letter N.

ENGLISH

The brown wire must be connected to the terminal which is coloured brown or marked with the letter L.

The green and yellow wire must be connected to the

terminal	which	is	coloured	green	and	yellow,		or
marked with the letter E or the safety earth symbol.
When	replacing	the fuse		in the	supplied		moulded
mains plug, the integral fuse holder/cover						must always
be refitted. Use a 5 amp fuse.
MAINS SUPPLY CONNECTIONS
o Insert the	lEC line		socket of	the mains lead			fully	into

the power inlet on the rear panel. Connect the other end to your mains supply.

Section B

ALPHA 7 /8 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER

Please refer to drawings inside front cover.

LOUDSPEAKER CONNECTIONS

■

Dependent on the market where the amplifier is

intended for sale it may be fitted with either “Camcon”

loudspeaker

connectors, which are designed to meet

EU

safety

standards,

or

with

4mm

loudspeaker

sockets.

In Europe the 4mm holes will have been blanked off in

order

to

comply with European product safety

regulations. These sockets will still accept bare wire or

pin terminations.

The “Camcon” connector will accept spade terminals,

bare

wires

up to 4mm in diameter or a “Camcon”

plug. “Camcon” plugs are available from your arcam

dealer.

/

■

Connect your loudspeakers so that the red (positive;

terminal on each loudspeaker is connected to the

appropriate

red terminal on the amplifier. Your

loudspeaker cables may be clearly terminated to show

polarity; if not, then the

positive

conductor

can usually

be identified by a ridge or coloured marking.

Ensure that no stray strands are allowed to touch

another cable or the amplifier's

casing.

This

can

cause a short circuit and damage your amplifier!

©,© SP1

-

DIRECT

CONNECTION

-

Connect

terminals

©

to your right speaker and terminals © to your left

speaker ensuring correct polarity.

©,® SP2 -

SWITCHED CONNECTION

-

To

drive

a

second

pair

of speakers, connect terminals © to the

right speaker and terminals © to the left speaker,

ensuring correct polarity.

Push

the

SP2

button

in

to

listen to this second set of speakers. To listen on headphones and mute the loudspeakers use the SP2 connection and release the SP2 button.