Audio Valve RKV Mk2 Owners manual
User Manual
for the
RKV - Mark II
tube headphone amplifier
We congratulate you with the purchase of this superb AUDIO VALVE HiFi component.
This handcrafted product has been manufactured according to your wishes,
and will allow you many years of musical joy.
AUDIO VALVE guarantees that this amplifier has been produced under the strictest manufacturing
guidelines, established through decades of tube amplifier design. Your RKV headphone amplifier
has been thoroughly tried and tested in all detail.
I personally guarantee the quality of this product
H. Becker
Manager Production & Development
Table of contents
1. Introduction and general information
2. Manufacturers information
3. Safety precautions
4. Intended use / Application
5. Factory assembly & getting started
6. Operating instructions
7. Technical data
8. Use of the Impedancer
9. Warranty
_____________________________________
1.Introduction and general information
Dear client, we congratulate you with your purchase of this superb AUDIO VALVE HiFi
component.
To safeguard maximum functionality and to avoid problems up operation, it is important that
you carefully study this user manual and that you follow all instructions therein precisely!
The RKV Mk II excels through a number of technical details that are unique for a tube based device
in this price category. By design only tubes are found inside the signal path of the RKV. Solid state
electronics are only used to create a stable voltage supply and to compensate for the low production
tolerances of tubes. The RKV ist build in double mono, i.e. each channel has its own power supply.
Even in devices at a much higher price range this feature is not a standard. For the technicians
amongst us; the RKV has been build as a differential amplifier, and therefore the output voltage is
always in phase with the input signal. Of course an ALPS potentiometer is used to control volume.
Like all other Audio Valve amplifiers the RKV is build inside a hard-coated case of laser cut steel
with gold-plated terminals. A few important notes:
The most successful Audio Valve tube amplifier is the RKV, that has been launched in 1984.
Traditional tube technology has been discarded and through new and uncommon solutions a
concept has been created, that was and is unique in the construction of amplifiers. However,
modern solid-state technology was not discarded and thus a product was build that reflects 40 years
of electronical development. The concept is copy protected by the patent DE 3200 51T.
Why a headphone amplifier? Can't we simply use the output of a receiver? The answer is a clear
NO. To faithfully reproduce the extreme dynamic range that modern CD-players allow, high quality
dynamic headphones need driving voltages that are much higher than those provided by the power
supplies of transistor devices. To allow adequate output levels was one of the requirements for the
new amplifier. In addition short-circuit protection and a technically impeccable reproduction with a
typical tube sound were major design goals. All these requirements were fulfilled with the RKV.
The concept of the RKV has no output transformer. It is a typical example of an OTL design. The
only problem that remained was to eliminate the signs of wear and tear normally associated with
tubes, e.g. increasing tolerances, humm, microfonie, etc. These problems generally take a lot of
effort to deal with.
By using a high-quality opamp a DC-servo could be created that eliminates all the negative aspects
of tubes. Even the base line settings are automatically stabilised, independent of the age of the tube.
Thus even tubes can be used that are approaching their end of life.
In summary, the servo control system prevents any losses in quality of sound during the entire lifetime of the tubes.
In case your headphone has a low impedance, we recommend to use the "Impedanzer" which has
outputs for 8 - 16 - 32 - 64 Ohm headphones. Also high-efficiency loudspeakers can be driven.
2. Manufacturers information
Factory address:
AUDIO VALVE, H. Becker,
Auf dem Streken 7
D-32689 KALLETAL
GERMANY,
Tel.: 0049 - (0) 5264 77 99
Fax: 0049 - (0) 5264 65 44 77
VAT.-ID. 125 673 965
Email: service@audiovalve.info
website: www.audiovalve.de
3. Safety precautions
Important: Please read the user manual before assembly and operation of the amplifier
Anyone, unable to comprehend the instructions stated in the user manual should not operate the
device.
Children and minors are not to use the device and should be kept at a safe distance from the device
while it is running.
The user is responsible for operating the device in an appropriate fashion and takes full
responsibility towards third parties. At first use electrical safety is to be checked through
professional assessment
Please check that the mains voltage printed on the rear panel of the amplifier corresponds with the
mains voltage in the country where you intend to use the amplifier.
Always check powercords and plugs for damage before use.
Disconnect the powercord before any service to the amplifier.
In the unlikely event of a failure of the device repairs may be performed by AUDIO VALVE
authorized technicians only.
Use ORIGINAL spare parts only!
Please take note of the fact that we decline product liability for damages caused by our devices,
parts and components as a result of:
a) Unprofessional and/or faulty and/or correct repairs that have been performed in other than
the by AUDIO VALVE approved repair facilities,
b) Usage of other than ORIGINAL and approved spare parts.
The RKV-Amplifier is subject to and complies with German security class 1 for devices with metal
housing. The device is grounded, and may not –by manipulation or otherwise- be ungrounded for
any reason! To prevent humm as a result of ground loops the electrical circuitry internally has been
disconnected from grounded mass!!
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