Arcam ALPHA AV50 User Manual

ARCAM

ALPHA AV50 HOME CINEMA

AMPLIFIER HANDBOOK

Ssfoty instructions - Please read before operating this 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 - 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.

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:

7. Wall or Celling 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.

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.

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.

Basic Wiring Diagrams

Introduction

ENGLISH

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing this Arcam product. The Alpha AV50 is a sophisticated Home Cinema Dolby Pro

Logic amplifier which offers superb sound and picture quality.

The Alpha AV50 is a little more complex to connect up than

an ordinary amplifier. Please read these instructions carefully. Throughout this booklet there are diagrams of the Alpha AV50 front and rear panels. Each input and output is clearly numbered. The numbers correspond with those given in the instructions. A combination of your Hi Fi and video components can be connected to the Alpha AV50 - including the video inputs and outputs of your TV, video recorder, satellite decoder or laserdisc player. Switching inputs on the Alpha AV50 can also change the picture on your TV screen to match the source that you are listening to.

Please follow these instructions carefully and you'll have your

Alpha AV50 up and running in no time at all!

For ease of use, the Alpha AV50 is supplied with a CR45 infra-red remote control handset. Many functions are only

available via the remote control.

Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Additionally licensed under one or more of the following patents: U.S. 3,632,886, 3,959,590; Canadian numbers 1,004,603 and 1,037,877. "Dolby", Pro Logic and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.

LOCATING YOUR LOUDSPEAKERS

With the increasing integration of hi-fi and video equipment, it is now possible to recreate all the involvement and excitement of a visit to the cinema in the intimacy of your living room. A true Home Cinema set up conforming to Dolby

Surround requirements will need five loudspeakers in order

to recreate the surround sound experience: a front pair, a rear pair and a centre channel.

If you have them, you will probably use your present stereo loudspeakers as the main front loudspeakers. These should be positioned roughly equidistant to, and either side of your TV and typically 8-10 feet (2.4 - 3m) apart. The centre loudspeaker must be located close to your TV screen so that the picture and centre sound come from the same location.

In a Home Cinema setup, the centre speaker is very important, as much of the sound comes from this source.

The rear surround loudspeakers should ideally be placed behind the listening position or, if this is not possible, then to either side. The object of the rear speakers is to produce a diffuse, room filling sound. Locate the rear loudspeakers away from you and above your head so that they do not fire directly into your ears. The addition of a subwoofer to enhance the bass end of your system should also be considered. The location of a subwoofer Is less critical but should follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

PROBLEMS?

If your dealer is unable to answer any query regarding this or any other Arcam product

please contact Arcam Customer Support on -i-44 (0)1223 203203 or write to us at the

address on the back cover of this handbook and we will do our best to help you.

Installation

ENGLISH

w O ® V ® 00^00^ 0 0 00 0 0 0

INSTALLATION

Circled letters or numbers e.g. 0 refer to items on the diagrams situated above the corresponding text.

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 Support on one of the numbers on the back cover of this handbook.

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.

NOTICE FOR UK OWNERS ONLY

■ If the plug is removed then the remaining lead must be wired 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 (UK models only).

■ Warning: This apparatus must be earthed.

LOUDSPEAKER CONNECTIONS

■ This amplifier is fitted with BFA (British Federation of Audio) loudspeaker connectors, which are designed to meet EU safety standards. The connector will accept spade terminals, bare wires up to 4mm in diameter or a BFA plug. BFA plugs are available from your Arcam dealer.

■ Insert the red (positive) plugs of your speaker leads into the red terminals and the other plugs into the black terminals. If your speaker cable has bare ends, 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! The loudspeaker terminals are marked as follows:

to your right speaker ensuring correct polarity.

some systems, particularly where a large screen TV is used (around 1 .Om / 37" or larger), you may wish to use two centre speakers - one above and one below the TV. Ensure the centre speaker(s) are magnetically shielded, or the pictures on the TV tube could become permanently discoloured. Alternatively the two pairs of sockets can be used to bi-wire one centre speaker if it has separate terminals for the bass and treble drivers.

speakers here. Connect terminals © to your left rear speaker and terminals © to your right rear speaker, seen as you face the screen, ensuring correct polarity.

CONNECTING YOUR SOURCE COMPONENTS

MAINS SUPPLY CONNECTIONS

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

Audio inputs: Up to 7 different audio sources can be connected to the Alpha AV50. Four inputs are available for simultaneous audio and composite video, and three for audio only. All inputs have the same sensitivity and may be used with equipment other than that labelled, if you need to do so.

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