Arcam Alpha 9/9P User Manual

ARCAM

ALPHA 9/9P AMPLIFIER

HANDBOOK

Front & Rear Panel Diagrams

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Alpha 9 Integrated Amplifier

POWER AMPl. lEiER

SP2 PHONES POWR

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Alpha 9P Power Amplifier

Safety Instructions " Please read before operating the equipment ENGLISH

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 - Ali 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 Celling Mounting - The appliance should be
mounted to a wall or ceiling only as recommended by the

manufacturer.

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:

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.

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.

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

ENGLISH

INTRODUCTION

The Arcam Alpha 9 integrated amplifier, is derived from the
highly successful Arcam Delta 290 model. It is rated at 70 watts
per channel into 8 ohms. The Alpha 9 is extremely versatile and
suitable for both conventional and Audio Visual (home cinema)
based systems.

It can be used as an integrated amplifier or as a preamplifier to

drive external power amplifiers. The preamp out sockets also
allow the addition of an Alpha 9P power amplifier to give a true
bi-amplified system. In this configuration the power amplifiers
within the Alpha 9 integrated amplifier are retained to drive the
loudspeakers’ treble units whilst using the Alpha 9P to drive
their bass/midrange units.

In addition to this the Alpha 9 integrated amplifier can also be
used as a stand alone power amplifier via its “power amp in”

sockets or combined with suitable loudspeakers and an AV
processor, such as the Arcam Xeta 2, to form a very high

performance home cinema system.

The Alpha 9P is a matching 70 watts per channel power
amplifier designed to complement the Alpha 9 integrated
amplifier. It offers an easy upgrade path for owners of the
Alpha 9 integrated amplifier (or the Delta 290 integrated
amplifier) to provide a bi-amplified system.

It may also be used with Arcam’s Alpha 7 and 8 integrated
amplifiers, either as a simple power booster or as part of a high
performance bi-amplified system.
It can be used with almost any preamplifier and is ideal for
upgrading both hi-fi and Audio Visual systems.

This manual is in four parts:

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.

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.

SAFETY STANDARD

■ This product has been designed to meet the I EC 6!
international electrical safety standard.

MAINS SUPPLY CONNECTIONS

e 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.

This section has information relevant to both the Alpha
9 and Alpha 9P.

Alpha 9 integrated amplifier operating instructions.

C. Alpha 9P 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.

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.

CAUTION: Your Alpha 9 and Alpha 9P generate heat when in
use, particularly at higher volumes. It is therefore most
important never to obstruct the ventilation slots on the top and
bottom of the unit as this will cause overheating.

If the temperature of the internal heatsinks rises above a safe
level, then a thermal cut out inside the amplifier will operate.
The POWER LED on the front panel will turn amber and the
output protection relays will temporarily remove the feed to the
loudspeakers. The system will reset itself as the heatsinks cool
down.

Please note that under certain conditions it is possible for the
Alpha 9 or Alpha 9P's thermal cut out to operate when playing
music at very high levels.

This might for example happen when continuously playing
heavily compressed rock music "flat out" into low impedance
(4-6 ohm) speakers. If this happens to you, the cure is to turn
the volume down slightly and ensure the amplifier is properly
ventilated.

It is important to point out that when playing a heavily recorded
CD it is possible to drive the Alpha 9 at full power despite the
fact that the volume control is only at 10 or 11 o'clock. This is
because of the high output voltage from a CD player. However
the Alpha 9 also has to be capable of giving full power output
from much lower level sources, such as tuners and cassette
decks. Using these sources, the volume control setting will be

much higher before overload sets in.

Warning: This apparatus must be earthed.