AVI Pre-Amplifier Owners manual

The AVI Laboratory Series Preamplifier

Owners Instruction Manual

For the use, care and maintenance of your Preamplifier

AVI Ltd

Suite 7 Lightpill Mill

Bath Road Trading Estate

Stroud

Glos. GL5 3QF

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

[email protected]

www.avihifi.com

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing an AVI Laboratory Series preamplifier. As the name
implies it is a precision instrument, meticulously hand built and tested and,
given the right circumstances will produce the best sound quality that
technology will allow.

We recommend that before you attempt to use your new preamplifier, you
carefully read the following instructions.

Installation

The preamplifier can have other units of the same size stacked on top of it but
it should be in a well ventilated, and not unduly dusty environment. If you are
using an AVI amplifier with another manufacturers products that “plop or click”
on switch on, then they should be turned on first and allowed a few seconds to
stabilise before switching on the power amplifier. An amplified “plop or click”
can sometimes damage loudspeakers.

Use good quality, screened coaxial phono to phono leads to connect CD players,
tuners, record players, VCR and DVD players. The make is not important but
the quality is. Locking phono plugs are inadvisable as are unscreened
interconnects.

AVI amplifiers are designed to be largely immune from cable effects
provided the correct type is used.

AVI products are exceptionally reliable but many of the faults we deal with are
damaged phono sockets caused by people who are not getting satisfactory
results and believe changing cables may cure the problem. This is extremely
unlikely as the biggest differences you will hear are caused by room acoustic
problems and then ancillaries like CD players and more particularly
loudspeakers. Many shops have appalling dem rooms with the result that
customers often end up with unsatisfactory loudspeakers, therefore if you are
worried about the sound you are getting, please contact us and, provided you
are able to describe reasonably accurately what it is that you do not like, we
will advise.

Power Amplifier Choice

Your Laboratory Series Preamplifier is capable of extremely high quality sound
reproduction and, although designed for use with AVI power amplifiers, can
drive a wide range of power amplifiers and active speakers.

The Remote Control Handset

All AVI products now use standard Philips RC5 codes and the Laboratory Series
Preamplifier comes with a One for All Handset. This can control up to four units,
all from different manufacturers. An AVI owner can customise this handset to
suit any system or, because the amplifier uses widely accepted codes, it may
be that a handset already in your possession will control it.

The One for All handset has comprehensive instructions for customising it to
suit your requirements and we suggest that you program the MD button to
operate your Laboratory Series Integrated Amplifier. The code number is

121142.

Control functions for the Laboratory Series Preamplifier are as follows:

Standby: Puts preamp into standby. NB. Only the

program up down control will bring it out of
standby again.

Program up/down brings unit out of standby (and back to last

input selected) and changes input selected.

Volume up/down controls volume and brings unit out of

mute.

Mute Press to mute and press again to regain

sound.

All these controls are located together in the lower half of the handset.

Phono Stage (if fitted)

If your preamplifier has been fitted with a phono stage then it will operate from
the Disc button on the front panel and the two phono sockets on the left rear
(viewed from the front). It is best to ask your dealer to select moving coil or
moving magnet for you but if you do it yourself you must observe the following
instructions.

Changing from moving coil to moving magnet

Switch off the amplifier and remove mains connector. This is absolutely
essential if damage is to be avoided. Using a matchstick or plastic knitting

needle of similar diameter, carefully insert it through the hole marked on the
back-plate until it reaches the push button. Very gently apply pressure until the
button clicks. Once you have done this, re-connect everything, power up the
amp and check that you have selected the right position. If you have to do it
again, switch the amp off, take out the mains lead and wait for five minutes
before repeating the operation. Do not apply more pressure than necessary to
operate the switch or damage may result.

Cartridge selection

Bearing in mind that most records are now irreplaceable, it is worth considering
a good quality, moving magnet cartridge as they track better and at a lower
weight than moving coil ones. This means that your records will last longer.

Your AVI phono stage is equally suited to either moving coil or moving magnet
cartridges and can easily be matched to specific ones by having phono leads
made up with a suitable resistor fitted in the plugs. Companies like Russ
Andrews provide a suitable service and we can advise the resistor value,
however the standard input load resistance is suitable for a wide range of
cartridges.

Specifications

Sensitivity MM 2mV 47K ohms

MC 500uV 220 ohms

Input Impedance MM 47kΩ

MC 220Ω

Equalisation 100Hz – 10kHz <+or- 0.1dB
(I.E.C. Characteristics) 20Hz-20kHz < + or – 1dB

Headroom + 26dB

Noise MM –76dB, MC –64dB

Distortion Well below noise floor.

Rear Panel connections and controls

In normal use your Laboratory Series Preamplifier can be left on standby. There
is no sonic gain in so doing, however if it is not going to be used for some time,
i.e., for a few days or whilst you are on holiday, then it should be turned of by
the main power switch that is located on the rear panel. It is a push button and
can be reached by putting your hand over the top of the centre of the unit and
then pressing it.

For ease of installation the phono sockets are in line with the button on the
front that selects them. i.e., if the unit has a phono stage then it will be the
first input on the left looking at the Amplifier from the front.

The RJ45 connectors are to provide output to either an electronic crossover to
make speakers active, a subwoofer crossover or, line level signals to two extra
zones where the main system sources may be accessed without affecting what
is being listened to in the main room. Special modules are available that must
be fitted into the preamplifier before these functions will work.

Although there is only one pair of outputs, your Laboratory Series Preamplifier
has outputs that can be used to Bi or Tri-Amplify certain types of loudspeakers
(check with AVI first) or to provide an output to another amplifier speaker
combination in another room.

Tape outputs can be selected whilst the unit is in standby so that recordings
can be made without the need to listen or, since the outputs are buffered, the
selected source can be delivered to a subsidiary system in another room.

SAFETY INFORMATION

If a mains fuse blows it should only be replaced with those shown below.
Disconnect the unit from the mains before you start.

Fuse ratings: 110/120 Volts T1A H

220/230 Volts T 0.5A H

Operate only from AC Mains.

The unit must be earthed.

Always disconnect the mains supply before making connections.

If the mains lead is damaged, replace it. Fuse rating should be 5A

If liquid is spilt into the works, disconnect the mains and return the unit for
repair with an explanation of what has happened.

Makes sure the unit is installed in a well-ventilated area, preferably free of
dust.

There are no user serviceable parts inside the case.

CLEANING

Use a soft damp cloth, nothing abrasive.

Do not use solvents of any kind and always disconnect from the mains whilst
cleaning

SPECIFICATIONS

Frequency response (-3dB)…………………………………………………<1.5Hz ->100kHz

Input impedance ……………………………………………………………….. 10K Ohms

Input sensitivity………………………………………….. ……………………. 200mV

Nominal output level…………………………………………………………….2V

Tape output Level (at rated sensitivity) ……………………………. 400mV

S+N/N Ratio ……………….……………………..…………………………….. >110dB

Absolute Phase …………………………………………………………………. +VE

Distortion (T.H.D)………………………………………………………………..<0.001%

AC Mains supply (factory pre-set) …………………………. 110-120/220-240V

AC mains consumption ………………………………………………………. 10VA max

Dimensions (W X D X H) ……………………………………………………. 315 X 350 X 95mm

Shipping dimensions (W X D X H) ……………………………………… 45 X 42 X 20 cms

Gross weight ……………………………………………………………………….. 7 Kg.

Guarantee Information

Your AVI Laboratory Series Preamplifier is guaranteed against defective
workmanship or materials for a period of two years from the date of purchase.
Misuse or abuse is not covered and the customer is required to pay for the unit
to be returned to our works.

If service or repair is required then your amplifier should be returned to us in
its original packaging together with a note explaining the problem and a return
address where someone is present to sign for it when it comes back.

Do not include handsets, mains leads or instruction manuals and do remember
that if the correct packaging is not used, we will supply a new set for which
there will be a charge.

This guarantee does not affect your statutory rights.

If it is impractical to return the unit for service because you are outside the UK
for example, AVI can supply comprehensive service information to enable a
local engineer to effect repairs.

Return Address:

AVI Ltd
Suite 7 Lightpill Mill
Bath Road Trading Estate
Stroud
Glos. GL5 3QF

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]

MI/MP Audio Zapper Quick Start Guide

Install 2 X AAA Batteries

Press and release MD button

Press and hold MAGIC button until the red light blinks twice

Press the following buttons in sequence:

VOL +

VOL –

VOL +

VOL +

CH –

VOL –

The handset is now programmed to control the S21MI Integrated Amplifier and
S21MP Preamplifier.